RD1: #6 Portland Trail Blazers vs. #3 Denver Nuggets

[Real Deal]

[Real Deal]

Let's try this one.  Winner?  Best player of the series?  Any discussion?
I don't see Portland taking Denver to seven, and they'll have to if they want to advance.  They have the firepower, but nobody is stopping Jokic this series, and I don't see anyone being able to slow down MPJ, either, since he's now getting the ball much more.
Denver in 5 or 6, depending on whether or not Lillard drops 40+ in a couple of games.

[Real Deal]

Well, it's tied 2-2, and Portland actually has a chance to win the series here.  It's Joker vs. Lillard, and it all comes down to who has the better teammates.  Lillard has McCollum and Powell.  The Joker has...Porter Jr?  He's providing Denver with just 15/6 as basically the second option.

In Game 4, Jokic struggled shooting the ball (under 40%), and scored 16.  Nobody else scored over 12.  Porter Jr had just three.

Meanwhile, Lillard shot just 1/10 for 10 points, but Powell had 29, McCollum 21, Nurkic 17, and Melo scored 12 off the bench.  

Portland just has a lot of firepower.  Will that win them the series?  I'm starting to think so.