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Post by Ring on May 15, 2023 7:45:19 GMT -5
This is the big one. The Lakers. Anthony Davis. Lebron James. Austin Reaves, who I'm terrified of. The Lakers have a ton of depth and they will have the whistle on their side. The NBA is licking their chops for a Lakers/Celtics Finals.
Jokic needs to be far and away the best player in this series for Denver to win. I hope he's ready for the challenge.
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Post by Coach Sticky on May 15, 2023 7:52:18 GMT -5
LETS FUCKKK
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Post by GBG on May 15, 2023 7:53:54 GMT -5
Better win game 1, or else…
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Post by Coach Sticky on May 15, 2023 8:41:47 GMT -5
or else sticky is gonna turn 0-1 into 4-1
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Post by jimijam28 on May 15, 2023 9:23:45 GMT -5
s**t thread
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Post by planaria on May 15, 2023 9:52:04 GMT -5
Lets hit them with a big time first punch. If the series extend, I really love the Nuggets chances (just take a look in how were Booker/Durant in the finals two games). So, it´s better to defend the first two games.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on May 15, 2023 9:52:19 GMT -5
LA Lakers 102
Denver 127
Bruce Brown with 18 points, 6 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block
Braun with 14 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 block, 1 assist
KCP with 25 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists
Thomas Bryant with 2 points, 5 rebounds, 1 block in 3 minutes
Easy win
Nuggets in 4
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Post by Ring on May 15, 2023 10:00:16 GMT -5
Lets hit them with a big time first punch. If the series extend, I really love the Nuggets chances (just take a look in how were Booker/Durant in the finals two games). So, it´s better to defend the first two games. Game 1 will set the tone. Lakers are well rested. They've won Game 1 on the road at Memphis and at Golden State. This is a must win game IMO. The Nuggets need to come out in this game and show that we are not Memphis or Golden State. This is a real team. A real series. Jokic has to be in Killer mode in Game 1 IMO. Force LA to adjust. |
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Post by freakns on May 15, 2023 10:50:59 GMT -5
This is defining series of Michael Malone coaching career. He wins, he gets a chance for NBA title and probably continue his tenure as Nuggets coach. He lose, he is done, and there aren't too many jobs waiting for him after it.
Its also defining series of Nikola Jokic playing career. He is the one who needs to show up big time. If Lakers put small on him, like Vando or Hachimura, to preserve AD as sort of safety, he needs to demolish them. Like, literally demolish them. Physically, skillfully, mentally... you name it. And if they try with AD, he needs to win that. Its AD, I don't think he can go 35/13/10 like against Phoenix, but he has to go at least 27/11/8 while holding Davis below 30. Nuggets are not winning this series if AD outplays him. Everything else comes from this. If Jokic is dominating, that will unlock Nuggets offense, and we know what that means... boom, boom, boom, over 130 offensive rating, everyone fully engaged. It will also crush Lakers spirit.
And as we already know, game 1 is going to be decisive factor. If Nuggets comes out fully locked, like they did against Phoenix and Minnesota, we are looking at 5 game series. 2-0, then take one in LA, close out in Denver. Just like Minny. they might win second in LA instead of first, but final result will be the same. Nuggets are more cohesive team, more talented team, they have home court advantage and best player in the series. Only thing Lakers have are LeBron's experience and willpower and referees help. But if Jokic shows he is the best player on planet earth no amount of referees help will save Lakers.
Be brave, be strong, be aggressive... win.
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Post by jimijam28 on May 15, 2023 10:56:03 GMT -5
Yawn
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Post by passtheballquick on May 15, 2023 11:05:39 GMT -5
It's on all Murray as always. When he plays good and smart we win. When he doesn't we lose even if Jokic posts lines like: 53/11 on 67% fg, or 30/17/17 on 58% fg or 43/11/6 on 58% fg. That's how a big hole Jamal creates when he's not playing well. Let's hope he turns the table now and plays consistently in each game. He will never get a better matchup than in this series
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Post by Ring on May 15, 2023 11:59:12 GMT -5
It's on all Murray as always. When he plays good and smart we win. When he doesn't we lose even if Jokic posts lines like: 53/11 on 67% fg, or 30/17/17 on 58% fg or 43/11/6 on 58% fg. That's how a big hole Jamal creates when he's not playing well. Let's hope he turns the table now and plays consistently in each game. He will never get a better matchup than in this series There's a ton of pressure on both Murray and Jokic. This is going to be the toughest series for Jokic on both ends of the floor. The #1 thing I'm scared of is Lebron switching MPJ onto him and then running a PnR. That is a recipe for disaster as MPJ is always going to be trailing and Jokic will be forced to guard Lebron and AD both going downhill. That's automatic. IMO this series is mostly going to come down to the role players. If MPJ,AG, Bruce and KCP outplay Reaves, Schroeder, D'Lo and Hachimura...pretty sure we're going to win this series. |
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Post by passtheballquick on May 15, 2023 12:20:01 GMT -5
It's on all Murray as always. When he plays good and smart we win. When he doesn't we lose even if Jokic posts lines like: 53/11 on 67% fg, or 30/17/17 on 58% fg or 43/11/6 on 58% fg. That's how a big hole Jamal creates when he's not playing well. Let's hope he turns the table now and plays consistently in each game. He will never get a better matchup than in this series There's a ton of pressure on both Murray and Jokic. This is going to be the toughest series for Jokic on both ends of the floor. The #1 thing I'm scared of is Lebron switching MPJ onto him and then running a PnR. That is a recipe for disaster as MPJ is always going to be trailing and Jokic will be forced to guard Lebron and AD both going downhill. That's automatic. IMO this series is mostly going to come down to the role players. If MPJ,AG, Bruce and KCP outplay Reaves, Schroeder, D'Lo and Hachimura...pretty sure we're going to win this series. I agree with pressure on both Jokic and Murray but it's not fair to compare Jokic vs Davis and Murray vs Schroeder/D-Lo matchups. One is as hard as it gets and the other one is as easy as it gets, this late in post season. I am assuming Jokic will be good enough (maybe not as efficient as normally) to win this game. Murray has to deliver and win his matchup with high efficiency. Role players may help but we need to get the most from players that take the highest# of shots. As far as LBJ goes, he'll get his but we need to keep testing him on D with Gordon playing physical and try to get his legs out or to make them pay if he doesn't defend |
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Post by scooter on May 15, 2023 12:38:39 GMT -5
Lets hit them with a big time first punch. If the series extend, I really love the Nuggets chances (just take a look in how were Booker/Durant in the finals two games). So, it´s better to defend the first two games. Game 1 will set the tone. Lakers are well rested. They've won Game 1 on the road at Memphis and at Golden State. This is a must win game IMO. Agree that the Lakers are rested — for now. But I’m actually going to disagree that game one is “must win” if the argument is that the Nuggets have no chance to win the series if they lose game 1. The Lakers are never going to be well rested after game 1 and that’s going to be a factor for both Davis and James. In 2021, the Bucks lost game 1 at home in the eastern conference finals, then won 4 of the next 5 games to polish off the Hawks in 6. Then the Bucks lost the first two games — in Phoenix — before beating the Suns 4 straight to win the Finals in 6. When a team is better it is capable of doing that. I think the Nuggets are better than the Lakers. Jokic is the best player in the series and he’ll wear Davis down and figure out whatever defensive schemes the Lakers use (I think they are going to start by doubling and jumping passing lanes because their half court offense stinks and they know they need a bunch of fast break points to win, but that is tiring). I think Murray is ready to and capable of taking his revenge for the 2020 series. I think players 3-6 on the Nuggets are just better than players 3-6 on the Lakers. And this Nuggets team is tough. They kicked the Suns’ ass in game 6 even though multiple guys in the Nuggets’ locker room were sick. They can deal with adversity — they’re not going to fold just because they lose a home game. They are prepared to have to wear the Lakers down if that’s what is necessary. You’re not getting any emotional hedge from me — I’m picking the Nuggets to take their revenge on the Lakers. They’ll win quickly or they’ll win in 7 but either way they’ll win. |
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Post by scooter on May 15, 2023 13:01:46 GMT -5
This is going to be the toughest series for Jokic on both ends of the floor. . I fail to see how this series is as tough for Jokic’s offense (except for some turnover potential) as was the TWolves. The TWolves size and big man defensive talent is real. Since Towns only played 29 regular season games, there was no legitimate test to see how good this version of the TWolves can be. I think we saw enough in the Nuggets series to know that it can still pose a ton of challenges to scoring in the paint, unless you have an interior player as great as Jokic. BTW, remember that the Lakers needed overtime — at home — to beat a short-handed TWolves team in the play-in game with Gobert out due to suspension from punching Kyle Anderson. The TWolves were also missing McDaniels due to his self-imposed suspension for punching a wall. And that was a game in which Edwards sucked, going 0-9 from three and 3-17 overall. |
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Post by famicommander on May 15, 2023 13:04:25 GMT -5
Easy work. Nugs in 5.
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Post by GBG on May 15, 2023 13:30:36 GMT -5
It’s 50/50, in my view, that the Lakers take one of the first two games of the series. It’s probably less than 50/50 that the Nuggets win one of the games 3 and 4 in Los Angeles. Thus, I think it’s plausible that game 5 will be the must-win as it will either be a 2-2 series at that point, or we could be down 3-1.
This Lakers team is excellent. You guys continue to underrate them. They are basically, with their current health and roster, at a level that would have made them, not us, the 1 seed if they had this team with full health all season and wanted to grab the 1 seed. They probably wouldn’t have been 1 seed, though, because even a healthy Lakers team would have wanted to load manage LeBron and AD plenty throughout the season. That naturally goes out the window here.
I still call for Nuggets to win this in 7, but there is a plausible chance we lose this series. Unfortunately.
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Post by Ring on May 15, 2023 13:32:26 GMT -5
This is going to be the toughest series for Jokic on both ends of the floor. . I fail to see how this series is as tough for Jokic’s offense (except for some turnover potential) as was the TWolves. The TWolves size and big man defensive talent is real. Since Towns only played 29 regular season games, there was no legitimate test to see how good this version of the TWolves can be. I think we saw enough in the Nuggets series to know that it can still pose a ton of challenges to scoring in the paint, unless you have an interior player as great as Jokic. BTW, remember that the Lakers needed overtime — at home — to beat a short-handed TWolves team in the play-in game with Gobert out due to suspension from punching Kyle Anderson. The TWolves were also missing McDaniels due to his self-imposed suspension for punching a wall. And that was a game in which Edwards sucked, going 0-9 from three and 3-17 overall. Anthony Davis is the best defender in basketball. |
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Post by Ring on May 15, 2023 13:33:21 GMT -5
It’s 50/50, in my view, that the Lakers take one of the first two games of the series. It’s probably less than 50/50 that the Nuggets win one of the games 3 and 4 in Los Angeles. Thus, I think it’s plausible that game 5 will be the must-win as it will either be a 2-2 series at that point, or we could be down 3-1. This Lakers team is excellent. You guys continue to underrate them. They are basically, with their current health and roster, at a level that would have made them, not us, the 1 seed if they had this team with full health all season and wanted to grab the 1 seed. They probably wouldn’t have been 1 seed, though, because even a healthy Lakers team would have wanted to load manage LeBron and AD plenty throughout the season. That naturally goes out the window here. I still call for Nuggets to win this in 7, but there is a plausible chance we lose this series. Unfortunately. The thing that scares me about the Lakers is on any given night, one of their role players can win them a game. Reaves. Hachimura. Walker. Russell. etc The Wolves had zero role players capable of that. Phoenix had 1 in Shamet. LA has like 4 or 5 of them. |
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Post by GBG on May 15, 2023 13:39:37 GMT -5
It’s 50/50, in my view, that the Lakers take one of the first two games of the series. It’s probably less than 50/50 that the Nuggets win one of the games 3 and 4 in Los Angeles. Thus, I think it’s plausible that game 5 will be the must-win as it will either be a 2-2 series at that point, or we could be down 3-1. This Lakers team is excellent. You guys continue to underrate them. They are basically, with their current health and roster, at a level that would have made them, not us, the 1 seed if they had this team with full health all season and wanted to grab the 1 seed. They probably wouldn’t have been 1 seed, though, because even a healthy Lakers team would have wanted to load manage LeBron and AD plenty throughout the season. That naturally goes out the window here. I still call for Nuggets to win this in 7, but there is a plausible chance we lose this series. Unfortunately. The thing that scares me about the Lakers is on any given night, one of their role players can win them a game. Reaves. Hachimura. Walker. Russell. etc The Wolves had zero role players capable of that. Phoenix had 1 in Shamet. LA has like 4 or 5 of them. Yep. AD and LeBron will, as a pair, hold their own against Murray and Jokic, unless Murray decides to go off for four or more games during the series. The secondary scorers will decide the outcome, assuming the key players stay healthy throughout. Lakers have many guys who can heat up as you mentioned. We have MPJ and, to some extent, KCP/BB. One guy who hasn’t been in Lakers rotation but wouldn’t shock me if he gets in a game and burns us with 3’s is….Malik Beasley. |
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