NSL Insider - R1 Preview: Portland V Phoenixby dazman, updated on Tuesday, May 02 2023, 01:05 am EST Introduction: After a long and ultra-competitive NSL season the playoffs are
finally here, easily my favourite time of the season. This is where the best of
the best gets to square off for bragging rights and the chance to claim the
coveted NSL championship. This first round Western Conference matchup pits the
1st seed Portland Trail Blazers against the 8th Seed
Phoenix Suns. Regular Season Recap: The Trail Blazers finished the regular season with an incredible 70
wins, finishing first in the Western Conference despite barely ever seeing
their 2 stars, Kevin Durant and Lebron James on the floor at the same time.
There was certainly no championship hangover in Portland as either James or
Durant would lead the team, alongside consistently great performances by Andre
Drummond, Josh Richardson and Jakob Poeltl. The Suns, on the other hand, had a slow
start to the season, before the mid-season acquisitions of Jalen Brunson and
Brandon Ingram came to town and alongside the much-improved Bol Bol and Nick
Richards were able to turn the ship round and scrape into the 10th
Seed in the Western Conference. From there, the Suns were able to defeat the
New Orleans Pelicans before a come from behind win against the Los Angeles
Clippers would see them secure a playoff berth. Head-to-Head: During the regular season, the Trail Blazers and Suns faced each
other 4 times, with Portland prevailing in all 4 games by an average margin of
26 points. Andre Drummond was huge in all of those games, while Kevin Durant
and Lebron James both got a chance to lead the Blazers to victory. Key Matchups: In this series, there will be several key matchups to keep an eye
on. Kevin Durant vs Brandon Ingram: Both long,
athletic and terrific scorers from anywhere on the floor, this matchup at
shooting guard will be pivotal to fuel the offense of both teams. It may come
down to their work on the defensive side of the ball. Who can slow down the
other more? Josh Richardson vs Jalen Brunson: Brunson
is the current darling of Suns GM Laddas and a huge reason for their
turnaround, Richardson has been incredible as a plug and play point guard.
Brunson needs to win this matchup and win it big for the Suns to be a chance
here. Lebron James vs Jaden McDaniels: Monumental
is the task facing McDaniels, he will be required to slow down the most
dominant force this league has seen in Lebron James, the ageless one. If Lebron
can do his usual thing the Suns will have a torrid time keeping it close. X-Factors:
While both teams have star players, there may be some X-factors that could have
a significant impact on the series. For the Trail Blazers, Andre Drummond has
been a constant source of rebounds, blocks, second chance points and
frustration for the opposition for multiple seasons now in Portland. Wherever
he goes, titles seem to follow. For the Suns, Nick �Big Dick� Richards has had
a terrific season and can also contribute in all the ways Drummond has. He will
need to. Strength: The Trail Blazers have many strengths, they
boast the league�s best offensive and shooting metrics. However, it is probably
their league best rebounding that probably contributes the most to the win
column, and aids in those offensive numbers. The Suns did finish 10th in the
West, so their numbers don�t stand out as much, but where they do shine is at
the free throw line, ranked 2nd best in the league. The Suns are
clearly aggressive at getting to the rim and therefore the free throw line. Weakness: The Trail Blazers have few weaknesses, but
probably the Suns main strength is their main weakness. They are poor at
getting to the free throw line, ranked 28th in the league. Perhaps
its because they are so good, defenders are rarely close enough to foul them,
who knows? The Suns main weakness is their offensive
efficiency. Their stars in Brandon Ingram and Jalen Brunson while great talents
haven�t exactly shot the ball consistently well, both having their fair share
of poor shooting games. They are also a young team which feeds into this
in-consistency. Prediction: The
Suns are young, exciting and a team on the rise, they have good shooters,
length on the wings and a really improved front court that can trouble you each
night. But It�s really hard to overlook the defending champs in this one. The
Blazers have two of the game�s best on the wings and terrific role players who
excel when the defence is preoccupied with the Portland stars. While I hope for
a really competitive and entertaining series, and really admire what the Suns are
putting together, I think, like in the regular season, the Trail Blazers will
be far too strong in this series, and will likely sweep the plucky Suns in 4
games. |
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