Denver Nuggets: Portland Trail Blazers series preview

The addition of Normal Powell has been incredibly effective for Portland as it gives them another ‘3-and-D’ type wing. Since joining the team, he has averaged 18.8 points per game on 41.1 percent from three.

He is a bit undersized but plays bigger than his height standing at 6-foot-3. Powell is an active defender who will likely split time with Robert Covington defending Michael Porter Jr. With his ability to be an effective perimeter defender I can see him matching up with Porter for most of the time.

Porter stands at 6-foot-10 with an active handle and the ability to effectively get his shot off at all three levels. This season he has taken a leap in his development, especially after losing Jamal Murray for the season. Porter has stepped into Murray’s role as the secondary scorer to Jokic with ease, scoring over 23 points per game without him on the floor.

Robert Covington is a physical wing who can knock down open shots but more importantly take your best weapon out of the game. In this matchup, if the Blazers decide to go small he will likely be facing Aaron Gordon for most of his time on the court. Gordon has not played a large role since coming to the Denver Nuggets and it is unlikely that role increases with the defensive matchup of Covington breathing down his neck.

The signing of Powell also slides the aging Carmelo Anthony to the sixth man role, which fits him better at this stage in his career. Anthony has been more effective in spurts this season and can still get his own shot in the midrange and the post. The athleticism and length of Denver should give him problems, which makes him an extreme X-factor in this series.

If Powell, Covington and Anthony can outplay Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr, the Nuggets might be in trouble.