MVP Finalists Face-to-Face for this West Semifinals Showcase! | Official Nuggets (#4) vs. OKC (#1) Series Thread!

[Street Knowledge]

OKC was historically great this season so if Jokic plays at this level and pulls it off that would be one of the great accomplishments ever

 

[tremonthustler1]

It doesn't have to be KD, that's just a hypothetical I threw out. But man they have 30 plus picks, the majority of them 1st rounders at their disposal. Last year they made no moves and helped facilitate Gafford to Dallas and that's the team that knocked them out of the playoffs. This year they're tops in the west with SGA the probable MVP of the league and you don't add another shooter/scorer to this mix to at least ensure a Finals appearance? Its only game one but man 'o man they better win this series and at worst make the WCF. We've been hearing about "the trade" for the past five f*cking years. "LOL @the Clippers" and all that nonstop!! If they don't win this series I'm going Atom Bomb nuclear on these b*tches!!

If they don't win this year, sure, go out and get Giannis if you can. I do believe they should consolidate.


Last year, they finished top seed. This year they won 68 games and cleaned up the West. Statistically they're only one of 3 teams that'll win it all (I'm not about to pretend this series is over yet even though all of those teams lost Game 1). I wouldn't have had urgency to do much more than tinker, especially when you have 2 guys on your team you're earmarking max deals to (Williams and Holmgren). Making Hayward their only move was a whiff. This year all they wanted was to be healthy by the time the playoffs started and until they played CTE ball last night in the 4th, that looked like a smart move.


One thing that works against them is that their bench is really good, but there's only 2 guys on that bench that you can maybe see starting elsewhere: Caruso and Wallace. The rest of their bench is tailor made to be nothing more than what they are, so if they have to make a trade, it's not like you can look at their wings /bigs and say "we'll just start ______ and be ok."

I said this earlier in the season, but if anyone thinks they need a KD type to be a second scorer alongside SGA, so be it, but then Jalen Williams can't be on the team anymore because there's no way you can give him a max, SGA his eventual supermax, Chet a max and KD or Giannis $60 mil a year.

 

[T.he I.nformant]

One obvious thing from Game 1 that's in Denver's favor -

They spent 40 minutes of every game in the 1st round having to defend the PnR on the high side to shut down the threat of Harden's shooting. This had Jokic scrambling to stunt and recover, regularly, and the Clips took full advantage of that by either finding the open man in the corners or throwing the ball down low to Zubac.

It was one of the main reasons why the Nuggets struggled to be consistent on offense because they were exhausted from having to constantly defend actions above the arc. Jokic, especially, floated in and out of games on offense because of all the energy the Clips forced him to use on defense.

They won't be covering as many miles on defense in this series because Shai's spots are typically from the elbows down, so in principle, they can play more drop coverage and don't need to cheat off their assignments the same. Neither Chet nor Hartenstein will be taking advantage of smaller players in the post like Zubac did either.

It feels like OKC is going to have to push the pace as much as they can to punish Denver and make it less of a halfcourt battle, because the Nuggets will gladly let Shai operate in the midrange if they can counter with Jokic in the post on the opposide end.

Good points. I think Denver is number 1 in fast break points but I just don’t know if a more uptempo pace is sustainable for them because of the lack of depth. OKC’s depth is a big advantage. They actually played 10 guys last night.

 

[Lord Beasley]

I will say, this playoffs is shytting on the "so and so couldn't play in this era" "basketball is boring" nikkas. Guys like joker, ant, Shai would have nikka ready to malice in the palace every night.

Joker alone would have nikkas on the bench lookin like Zo and Gary

 

[FAH1223]

They were so scared of Russ

And for those who hate on Jokic defense:

 

[Lil Bape the PostGod]

Nuggets are a wild team to watch

They are the definition of the “team you don’t want to play in the playoffs” … they could get blown out game 2…Then game 3 win a close game

You have no idea

But jokic gonna do MVP shyt regardless..even if his whole team get hurt and he gotta rely on strawther as his #2 for the night

 

[RubioTheCruel]

Good points. I think Denver is number 1 in fast break points but I just don’t know if a more uptempo pace is sustainable for them because of the lack of depth. OKC’s depth is a big advantage. They actually played 10 guys last night.

Nuggets rotation is 6.5 people. OKC got all these young legs, time to use them

 

[aceboon]

Chet/JDub are under surveillance. Weren't enough as 2nd and 3rd options against the Mavs in the 2nd round last year and shyt the bed last night.

 

[MicIsGod]

Chet/JDub are under surveillance. Weren't enough as 2nd and 3rd options against the Mavs in the 2nd round last year and shyt the bed last night.

At least Chet defends at a high level. Jdub is just not a 2 option at all.

 

[Primetime]

Steph Curry is not a "coach on the floor true point guard" at all, weird you brought him up. Ironically you said SGA is a SG that runs point, which exactly is what Steph is

He's a new age Reggie Miller, Rip Hamilton, Ray Allen type of shooting guard that from time to time can run your offense when needed

Not to mention, "closing out" a struggle offensive team like Houston with no actual stars or shot makers or playoff experience, isn't comparable to the fire power that OKC and BOS are facing. Now if he does it tonight/this series vs Ant-Man and MIN, then that's a different story.

 

[Scaaar]

I will say, this playoffs is shytting on the "so and so couldn't play in this era" "basketball is boring" nikkas. Guys like joker, ant, Shai would have nikka ready to malice in the palace every night.

Joker alone would have nikkas on the bench lookin like Zo and Gary

I was arguing with my pops about this. He swears that Shaq would just dominate Joker or put up better stats in this era. He holds on to that skinny Shaq timeframe like that wasn't just 3-4 yrs and the rest of it he was overweight. Shaq would be gassed out here trying to run the floor. But I realized that my Dad is just one of the OG haters that just thinks the 80-90s was the best ever and nothing and no one can compete...smh. that athleticism that he talks about with MJ that no one had it's dudes that are the 7th-8th man on the bench that do that casually. The game has evolved

 

[Saysumthinfunnymike]

These series all seem wide open...great playoffs

 

[MostReal]

Steph Curry is not a "coach on the floor true point guard" at all, weird you brought him up. Ironically you said SGA is a SG that runs point, which exactly is what Steph is

He's a new age Reggie Miller, Rip Hamilton, Ray Allen type of shooting guard that from time to time can run your offense when needed

incorrect

 

[JesusFOREVER]

Awful loss/ OKC does not look ready for this stage- Chet played horrible and I didn’t like their coach subbing him with 5 fouls and a substantial lead when Dort had Jokic at his wits end- Shai taking bad shots and playing lazy down the stretch- Jaylen Williams 5/20 and clip farming in the post game conference instead of addressing what he needs to do better and of course the two missed free throws- just an awful loss and now you’ve got a must win Game 2.

 

[JesusFOREVER]

Awful loss/ OKC does not look ready for this stage- Chet played horrible and I didn’t like their coach subbing him with 5 fouls and a substantial lead when Dort had Jokic at his wits end- Shai taking bad shots and playing lazy down the stretch- Jaylen Williams 5/20 and clip farming in the post game conference instead of addressing what he needs to do better and of course the two missed free throws- just an awful loss and now you’ve got a must win Game 2.

I also didn’t like how Shai in the post game interview glossed over all their mistakes like “that’s the game of life”- No that's the game of BASKETBALL and you gave it away- not attacking Jokic with 5 fouls- p**s poor rebounding and shot selection- a terrible close out on that last Gordon 3 by Holmgren- where was the urgency? And then you wasted a challenge I believe on a clear Shai foul on Jokic that would have come in handy later in the game- OKC needs to get it together and understand this is the playoffs and they’re up against a team that’s actually won a championship- they expected Denver to roll over with 11 seconds left down 1 it seems