📆2019/4/15｜First round of playoffs
Trail Blazers 104 [win] 99 Thunder
★Enes Kanter｜20 points, 18 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 steals
After Jusuf Nurkic was retired on the eve of the playoffs, the Trail Blazers became the most undervalued early-stage seed and the only group of experts to face a higher-ranked team that predicted that they would lose in the playoffs. Fortunately, when others were looking down on him and the fans had no hope, the players did not give up on themselves. Fortunately, the Trail Blazers added Enes Kanter.
Facing the Thunder, which is hard to win in the season, the Trail Blazers played vigorously in this game. Unlike in the past against the Thunder, others were able to jump out when Damian Lillard was double-teamed, and Lillard frequently used big three-pointers. It extinguished the Thunder's counterattack momentum, but the biggest key was Kanter grabbing two important rebounds and stepping forward to score important points when progress was in the quagmire.
Kanter cannot replace Nurkic in terms of defensive organization, but he is far superior to Nurkic in terms of offense. His low post, footwork and non-cream characteristics allow the Trail Blazers to score points steadily in the penalty area.
Kanter has not been happy in recent years. Joining the Trail Blazers may be the happiest moment in recent times. In an interview, Kanter said that he just wants opportunities, "Because all I want is to play and win. A few days ago, I looked in the mirror and said, thank you so much for being here, having a great team, great teammates, believing in me, it feels great, I’m so grateful.”
How well Kanter can play in the penalty area will determine how far the Blazers can go in the playoffs. CJ McCollum also said that Kanter is of course the key to the team and the team needs him to move to a higher level.
More key figures:
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