Portland center Jusuf Nurkic out for Game 1 of playoffs

But in the postseason opener – an entertaining 121-109 Game 1 win over the Blazers in Oracle on Sunday afternoon – that was separation time in Golden State’s direction, led by Draymond Green and a pack of veteran, motivated defenders that turned an 88-88 tie into a runaway fourth quarter win. He played 36 minutes and had a great game.

“When you block it at the rim, it’s a little different because that’s one of those plays where you’re within a half inch to a centimeter of being dunked on”, Green explained.

Pelicans: Cousins, traded to New Orleans from Sacramento in February, played in 17 games for the Pelicans and averaged 24.4 points and 12.4 rebounds a game. And then there’s the fact that history isn’t on Portland’s side. Two more steals, and he would have recorded the 18th five-by-five – at least five of each of the five major counting stats – in National Basketball Association history.

Don’t tell the Blazers that, though. It looked like a down-to-the-wire finish was in store until the Warriors pulled away in the second half of the fourth period. Los Angeles would be the preferred opponent as the Warriors went undefeated against them this year, winning by no less than 10 points each time. It’s going to be an exciting series. Meanwhile, the Blazers snuck into the playoffs at 41-41.

Sure, but a gentle reminder: Stephen Curry, on the home stretch of his second consecutive MVP season, missed the first three games of that semifinal series after hurting his knee against Houston in the first round.

Lillard’s comment came to his hometown TV crew, on an intentionally loaded question: “Blazers in six or seven?” We’re going in there to take a swing. But come on, he was clearly playing along and saying what he needed to say in that moment. Yet with Nurkic’s long-term future at stake, the Blazers are being cautious about his possible return.

“I wouldn’t call it demoralizing”, Portland coach Terry Stotts said.

Golden State may not fear (not that they ever did) the Blazers this year. They’re playing with a lot more confidence. Damian Lillard of The Portland Trail Blazers is one of them. Harden also had nine assists and seven rebounds, and Patrick Beverley had a playoff career-best 21 points along with 10 rebounds for the Rockets. I just tried to go out there and be me. “Damian, CJ, whoever it is, has to recognize that and the other guys have to be ready to make shots if it’s kicked out”. I think that’s just good for the game. Yet Vonleh’s agility and ability to switch on defense, means that he, at least in theory, has the tool to handle the matchup.

Stotts says, “Hopefully he’ll be back at some point in the series”. We got to go out there and play.

That’s enough. Lillard, the Oakland native, was down for an instant, the Trail Blazers were down for the day and Green was having a dream day on the court, full of victories, defense and emotional surges. Golden State is just too talented and too good for Portland.

Who do you think will win this game, HollywoodLifers? Perhaps, for all Lillard’s confidence, and for all his and McCollum’s brilliance, this speaks to the gap between teams like nothing else.

But that’s really all the Blazers have to count on right now.