NBA playoff action continues Saturday night as the Golden State warriors will try to take a commanding 3-0 lead on the Portland Trailblazers on ESPN. This series hasn't been that competitive, as the Warriors have won both games pretty easily against a Trailblazers team that can't match their star power. But the series moves to Portland, and the Trailblazers will be looking to play much better at home in front of the Portland faithful. Game three is huge in a best of 7 series, especially in this situation with one team being up 2-0. Let's take a look at game three, and see what the Warriors and Trailblazers need to do in order to get a win.
Better Shooting for Portland
If Portland wants to get a win in game three, they need to shoot the ball much better. In game two, the Trailblazers shot an awful 33 percent from the field. They shot an even worse 21 percent from three-point range in that game as well. Damian Lillard shot 5-17 from the field in game two. Lillard is the key to the Trailblazers offense, and if he has a bad night, the rest of the team will have a bad night as well. CJ McCollum also struggled in game two, shooting 4-17 from the field and finishing with 11 points. The backcourt of the Trailblazers needs to shoot the ball much better if they want to have a reasonable shot at beating the Warriors in game three. Not turning the ball over will play a big part in their success in game three.
In game two Portland had a total of 19 turnovers. Golden State will make you pay in transition, so Portland can't allow them to get turnovers.
Steph Curry Explosion
Kevin Durant is questionable for Saturday night's game with a calf injury. The Warriors fared just fine in game two, blowing out the Warriors 110-81. Steph Curry led the team with 19 points that night, but he is due for one of those unexplainable performances.
Curry averaged close to 30 points per game in Portland during the regular season, and he should be ready to quiet those fans at the Moda Center. Curry is averaging 24 a game in the postseason, but a below average 35 percent from three-point range. He will need to find his shot in this game, as the Trailblazers will come out swinging in the first quarter.
If he and the Warriors can survive the initial onslaught from the Trailblazers, they should be just fine for the rest of the game.
This game is critical for the Trailblazers, as their odds are terrible if they fall into a 0-3 hole against one of the best teams in the NBA. The Warriors are trying to make quick work of the Trailblazers, as the might need the extra day's rest for Kevin Durant. This game can be seen on ESPN at 10:30 Saturday night.
