|
|
Post by famicommander on Apr 26, 2023 1:26:38 GMT -5
How do the Suns even cover our starting 5?
Obviously Ayton on Jokic and Durant on Gordon.
But CP3 can't chase Murray around. So you stick him on KCP.
So that leaves Booker and Craig/Okogie to cover Murray and MPJ? That's a mismatch.
We match up better defensively on them than they do on us by a longshot.
|
|
|
|
Post by duh88 on Apr 26, 2023 3:31:41 GMT -5
When we consider the 3 rounds of the western conference playoffs - I felt that, from the start, the TWolves would be the most difficult opponent (yes, I actually said that). The reason why is because they had major size, they have ANT, and the combo of Kat and Gobert have played so little, that it presented the possibility for tricks up their sleeve.
(Of note - if Minny keeps Finch, I think they'll be a top four seed next year. This series was very helpful to them, in allowing them to figure out some winning formulas between Kat and Gobert - they looked damn good the last 2 games)
With that, I felt that as long as we beat the twolves in 6 games or less, it was a huge victory (5 games, without our guys being ran into the ground is wonderful!).
McDaniels being out was supposed to be a major victory for us - but NWA is even better (lol). Again - I'm going to go out on a limb and say that this Twolves series is going to be noted as the hardest one we'll face within the western race.
Not saying the rest of the playoffs will be easy (they won't be) - but every team we meet on the way forward in the west, we can be guaranteed that:
1. SIZE:
We will have the size advantage (especially with rebounds and offensive rebounds)
2. ONE-TRICK PONIES:
We'll already know whatever "one-tricks" the rest of these teams have (whereas Minny, we had no clue)
3. ANT:
No Anthony Edwards. I don't care what anyone says.... dude was the most dangerous perimeter player in the west. Don't have to worry about him anymore.
I'm really not scared of the Suns. Maybe I'm being way too cocky - they don't match up well with us, they are OLD, injurious, and they are running on massively tired legs.
Run those fuckers into the ground - 5 games.
|
|
|
|
Post by Coach Sticky on Apr 26, 2023 3:52:30 GMT -5
How do the Suns even cover our starting 5? Obviously Ayton on Jokic and Durant on Gordon. But CP3 can't chase Murray around. So you stick him on KCP. So that leaves Booker and Craig/Okogie to cover Murray and MPJ? That's a mismatch. We match up better defensively on them than they do on us by a longshot. KD guarding AG is going to end bad for PHX tbh. 4-out, Jokic top of the key, AG posting up KD right under the basket. slam dunk. |
|
|
|
Post by voodoo on Apr 26, 2023 7:14:48 GMT -5
I think that they would put Craig on AG and have KD guard MPJ
|
|
|
|
Post by freakns on Apr 26, 2023 7:33:29 GMT -5
How do the Suns even cover our starting 5? Obviously Ayton on Jokic and Durant on Gordon. But CP3 can't chase Murray around. So you stick him on KCP. So that leaves Booker and Craig/Okogie to cover Murray and MPJ? That's a mismatch. We match up better defensively on them than they do on us by a longshot. only thing is, no matter how good you matchup on Booker/KD they can still score... and CP3/Ayton pnr over Murray/Jokic? thats not going to be easy to guard. basketball is not simple 1 on 1 matchup and who has better players, wins. its about 5 vs 5 and system. and this is where Nuggets have the advantage. Phoenix has less then 15 games played with this team, there is no way their defensive rotations will be on point. this is why I would try wild stuff. first game will be as suggested, all normal stuff, to see who has the advantage. but I'd actually go different. first, put KCP on CP3 and AG on Booker. this would allow Jamal to take lesser defensive load and guard Craig/Okagie. Jokic ofc on Ayton. and yes, I know who KD is and I know this would leave MPJ on KD. but hear me out. KD is not some slick ball handler, drive to the hoop type of player. he basically have few simple moves to throw you out of balance, then shoot over you. and he can do that with pretty much same efficiency against AG and MPJ. I don't think AG can successfully slow him down. MPJ might actually be more equipped to go against KD with additional length he has on AG. in same time, as I said, you get AG on Booker and KCP on CP3, so you can much better cover CP3/Ayton pnr and have Murray not running like crazy in defense. and if we can keep Ayton and CP3 locked, and if AG can keep Booker at 20-25, I'm totally fine with KD scoring 50. |
|
|
|
Post by bignuggets on Apr 26, 2023 7:35:50 GMT -5
How do the Suns even cover our starting 5? Obviously Ayton on Jokic and Durant on Gordon. But CP3 can't chase Murray around. So you stick him on KCP. So that leaves Booker and Craig/Okogie to cover Murray and MPJ? That's a mismatch. We match up better defensively on them than they do on us by a longshot. Some Suns fan said they’ll put Okogie on Murray. Okogie played 33 mins last night. Craig played 17 minutes. So they may do that. Either way, attack Chris Paul. Jokic dominates DA. He needs to be physical and needs to be aggressive. Eventually they’ll double and Jokić will do what he does. |
|
|
|
Post by eathb on Apr 26, 2023 7:41:52 GMT -5
Grades
A Jamal, Brown, Green
A- Jokic, MPJ, Braun
B Gordon
C KCP
|
|
|
|
Post by nuggetshipster on Apr 26, 2023 8:49:08 GMT -5
I think that they would put Craig on AG and have KD guard MPJ I think Craig may start on the bench. Jokic and Gordon could dominante Ayton/Craig |
|
|
|
Post by nuggetshipster on Apr 26, 2023 8:53:47 GMT -5
BB is great and the CBA sucks
|
|
|
|
Post by Ring on Apr 26, 2023 9:06:35 GMT -5
He was missing a starter and probably the best backup big man in the league in this series Still. KAT was absolutely eating everybody when he drove. Same with Edwards. Like if your another team watching that series your calling plays to get inside. Minny shot 8-33 from 3 tonight. If they call more plays inside it's probably a different game. I think there's a ton of positives to take away from this game/series but the biggest concern is the rim protection. I loved Jokic's aggression and the fact that he kept firing but if the Wolves kept trying to punch him in the mouth inside this might be going 6 games. I think it's important to note that AG was too small for KAT and KAT did get away with a lot of hooks. Ant is like the most athletic 2 guard in basketball. Phoenix doesn't have the personnel to attack the Nuggets in that way. They are going to obliterate the Nuggets in the PnR though. Nuggets will have to win the math game. Suns are going to get a bunch of clean looks from the mid-range as the Nuggets will have to play drop. |
|
|
|
Post by JB on Apr 26, 2023 9:07:24 GMT -5
to be honest, I'm not brimming with confidence like some of my NT brethren. Murray is a Suns killer but something is clearly wrong with Jokic. and we're not beating this Suns team with Jokic only occasionally dominant.
I just hope Malone starts this series with the recognition that he can't stop both Booker and KD and he needs to pick his poison. I would make the former the focus since Durant has the more "unguardable" game.
|
|
|
|
Post by Ring on Apr 26, 2023 9:08:22 GMT -5
How do the Suns even cover our starting 5? Obviously Ayton on Jokic and Durant on Gordon. But CP3 can't chase Murray around. So you stick him on KCP. So that leaves Booker and Craig/Okogie to cover Murray and MPJ? That's a mismatch. We match up better defensively on them than they do on us by a longshot. Booker was absolutely incredible defensively in the Clippers series. He'll make Murray work, as will Craig. MPJ is an easy cover because he's not really involved in the half court offense. Jokic has to punish Ayton and AG had to punish KD inside with his strength. The Nuggets gameplan should be to continually switch CP3 onto Murray and then run 1-5 PnRs. |
|
|
|
Post by Ring on Apr 26, 2023 9:09:41 GMT -5
to be honest, I'm not brimming with confidence like some of my NT brethren. Murray is a Suns killer but something is clearly wrong with Jokic. and we're not beating this Suns team with Jokic only occasionally dominant. I just hope Malone starts this series with the recognition that he can't stop both Booker and KD and he needs to pick his poison. I would make the former the focus since Durant has the more "unguardable" game. Yeah I have the Suns in 6. I just can't buy into Jokic being able to defend CP3, Booker and KD running 2 man actions 100 times per game. Booker in 5 games vs LAC 37/5/6.5 on 60/47/86 shooting. Good luck with that. Hopefully Malone remembers how well CB defended him this year. The 2 games against Denver that the scrubs played in, Booker shot a combined 12-32. If they can contain Booker, they're going to win the series. I just don't have faith that they can do that. Booker is the key to the series. KD is going to give you 25-30 every night. He's the Suns Jokic. Ultimately this series probably comes down to who plays better...Murray or Booker. Two Kentucky guards. |
|
|
|
Post by nuggetshipster on Apr 26, 2023 9:13:14 GMT -5
to be honest, I'm not brimming with confidence like some of my NT brethren. Murray is a Suns killer but something is clearly wrong with Jokic. and we're not beating this Suns team with Jokic only occasionally dominant. I just hope Malone starts this series with the recognition that he can't stop both Booker and KD and he needs to pick his poison. I would make the former the focus since Durant has the more "unguardable" game. Just shut it down if Jokic is as bad as you think. No reason to play Murray 40minutes if they dont think Jokic will recover |
|
|
|
Post by Ring on Apr 26, 2023 9:16:34 GMT -5
to be honest, I'm not brimming with confidence like some of my NT brethren. Murray is a Suns killer but something is clearly wrong with Jokic. and we're not beating this Suns team with Jokic only occasionally dominant. I just hope Malone starts this series with the recognition that he can't stop both Booker and KD and he needs to pick his poison. I would make the former the focus since Durant has the more "unguardable" game. Just shut it down if Jokic is as bad as you think. No reason to play Murray 40minutes if they dont think Jokic will recover I think the Jokic injury has been way overblown. It's definitely a thing but it's much tougher to make jump shots and floaters when you're attempting them over both Gobert and KAT who are ridiculously long. Gobert gets no credit with how he defended Jokic but I think he did a really good job. You can't stop Jokic but Gobert made him work for everything. Jokic shot 50% from 3 in the series. I just don't believe he could do that if his wrist was a serious issue. He never really looked comfortable in this series IMO. He was rushing a ton of shots and kept trying to draw shooting fouls instead of trying to make his shots which also negatively affected his shooting numbers. Just yesterday he missed like 4-5 jumpers by trying to foul bait. In the bubble run (first series against Gobert with no other 7 footer to throw at him) Jokic for the series only shot 51.5%. This series he shot 48.5%. Somewhat close of a margin of error IMO |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Apr 26, 2023 9:19:41 GMT -5
Nuggets in 5
|
|
|
|
Post by TNF on Apr 26, 2023 10:33:07 GMT -5
You're amazingly optimistic.
|
|
|
|
Post by jimijam28 on Apr 26, 2023 10:58:10 GMT -5
Suns or nug in 6
|
|
|
|
Post by Ring on Apr 26, 2023 11:15:28 GMT -5
Defensive rating for the series below. Concerning of course.
Drtg with MIN
Jokic 117.2
KCP 112.7
Murray 112.6
Porter 110.5
Brown 107.3
Gordon 107.0
Green 105.8
Braun 92.9
Denver drtg w/o Jokic 83.2
|
|
|
|
Post by GBG on Apr 26, 2023 11:17:21 GMT -5
Suns in 6 is a good guess, and I think very likely if they don’t suffer any injuries.
Hoping for a Nuggets upset, obviously.
|
|
