The Golden State Warriors have dominated the NBA in recent years. They have won three championships in the past four seasons and have represented the Western Conference in the NBA Finals all four years.
The Warriors' dominance has to end at some point, though. While they are still the favorites to hoist the Larry O'Brien Trophy in June, there are other teams who are capable of upsetting them in the playoffs.
One of those teams is the Portland Trail Blazers, who currently sit fourth in the Western Conference. On the surface, they don't appear to be a threat to Golden State's crown, but when you examine them further, it's not out of the realm of possibility that they could make a deep postseason run.
Although Portland has only won two playoff series since the Damian Lillard-CJ McCollum era began in 2013, it has qualified for the postseason every year. And the Blazers have finished fifth or better in the Western Conference in four of the past five seasons.
On two occasions during that timespan, the Warriors have been the ones to end the Blazers' season. So what could possibly make one think Portland has a chance to get the best of them?
Here are three reasons the Blazers can contend with the Warriors.
3. They Have a Backcourt That Can Match the Warriors
When it comes to the top backcourts in the NBA, the Warriors' Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson are head and shoulders above the rest. In fact, when all is said and done, they will likely go down as the two best 3-point shooters the game has ever seen.
But on any given night, either Lillard or McCollum is capable of going off. Like Curry and Thompson, both average over 20 points per game. Additionally, both are elite 3-point shooters and both are close to automatic from the free-throw line, much like their counterparts from Golden State.
Plus, in the case of Curry and Lillard, both seem to have that clutch gene that is impossible to teach. Both players want the ball in their hands late in games and chances are good they're going to make something happen when they get it.
Thompson and McCollum are really good in their own right, but both play second fiddle to their teams' leading scorers. Well, technically Thompson plays third fiddle behind Curry and Kevin Durant, who are actually the Warriors' top two scorers, but I digress.
Basically, what I'm trying to say is that when it comes down to it, Lillard and McCollum are capable of providing the Blazers with just as much scoring — if not more — as Curry and Thompson give Golden State on a nightly basis. They are expected to produce and more times than not, that's exactly what they do.
2. Their Big Two Has Become a Legitimate Big Three
If a team is going to give the Warriors a run for their money, it probably needs more than one or two players who can dominate a game.
Luckily for Portland, its big man has emerged as one of the top young centers in the league.
Fifth-year pro Jusuf Nurkic recently collected the first triple-double of his NBA career in a win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. For the season, he's averaging a double-double of 14.9 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. He's also one of the better passing big men in the game, as he's averaging 3.2 assists per contest.
On the defensive end, Nurkic is averaging 1.4 blocks and 1.1 steals per game. Furthermore, he's shooting 50.8 percent from the floor and 74.2 percent from the free-throw line, which is a great number for a 7-foot, 275-pounder.
Nicknamed the “Bosnian Beast,” Nurkic is having his best season to date after shedding 35 pounds prior to last season, when he averaged 14.3 points, nine rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. As mentioned, he has improved on those numbers in 2018-19 and has established himself as one of the best true centers in the NBA.
With the likes of DeMarcus Cousins and Draymond Green patrolling the paint for the Warriors, having Nurkic could be the key to upsetting Golden State in the playoffs.
Read more about the 24-year-old in the interview he recently did with GQ.
1. They Have a Young and Talented Bench
As is often the case with young players, the Blazers have gotten up-and-down production from their bench this season. But the Warriors' bench doesn't appear to be as strong as it has been in recent years, so that could help their cause.
Not only that, but Portland has gotten some huge performances from its bench in some of its best performances of the season. As a matter of fact, the Blazers have a Curry of their own — Stephen's younger brother Seth — who is presently second in the NBA in 3-point shooting at 48.2 percent.
Sharpshooter Nik Stauskas also comes off the bench for Portland, as does the versatile Evan Turner and big bodies such as Zach Collins and Meyers Leonard. All are capable of providing the Blazers with strong production.
That's not to mention the other two guys who start alongside Lillard, McCollum and Nurkic. Al-Farouq Aminu is Portland's starting power forward and Jake Layman starts at small forward. All five scored in double figures during the Trail Blazers' 110-109 overtime win over the Warriors on Dec. 27.
If the Blazers meet up with the Warriors in the playoffs, they will need consistent play from their big three as well as their role players and bench to have a chance. They have the pieces to contend with Golden State, but can they put them all together when it really matters?
Perhaps we'll find out in a few months.
Until then, it's back to the regular season, which will still offer one more matchup between the Western Conference foes on Feb. 13 in Portland.
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