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Post by JB on Mar 19, 2024 22:48:43 GMT -5
fortunately this isn't the NHL. this is a stars league. and their depth will mean as much as ours during the Karl era when he had guys like Chandler, Corey Brewer, YMCAndre and McGee coming off the bench. That's true, but their starters are build to give our stars the most problems out of any starting 5 in the NBA. KAT/Gobert combo on Jokic and McDaniels/NAW/Ant combo on Jamal. Every Nuggets player in podcasts and interviews said that Wolves 1st round was the thoughest matchup for us and Wolves where without McDaniels and Reid + Ant is much better player than last year, also KAT/Gobert seems to started clicking as a 4/5 combo on both ends.Again, i am not saying that we are winning or losing that series. Prolly goes 7, but i would not put a single $ on that series outcome tbh. well the Nuggets had a pretty impressive run so that sort of like picking the skinniest person at fat camp. and we should also take into account that the Nuggets were essentially playing themselves in game shape after coasting through the last part of the season. but the T'pups are a formidable foe at full health, no doubt about it. but that hinges on KAT being healthy and if they rush him back so soon after a meniscus tear, they are putting their future at risk. |
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Post by Dante on Mar 19, 2024 22:51:10 GMT -5
I am not worried about Wolves long term, because starting next year they are in financial hell, i am worried about them only this season.
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Post by eathb on Mar 19, 2024 22:51:13 GMT -5
Even more important to get 1 seed.
Let's Minnesota/Dallas/Phoenix our three toughest matchups imo deal with each other
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Post by Dante on Mar 19, 2024 22:53:30 GMT -5
Even more important to get 1 seed. Let's Minnesota/Dallas/Phoenix our three toughest matchups imo deal with each other Exactly. Give me Kings/LAL first round, LAC/Pelicans 2nd round and OKC in the WCF. Perfect scenario. |
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Post by JB on Mar 19, 2024 23:01:02 GMT -5
I'm just grateful to be contending and for the dominant narrative around the league being "who can beat the Nuggets".
and as an aside, OIL WIN OIL WIN FU JIMI
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Post by jimijam28 on Mar 19, 2024 23:04:49 GMT -5
I'm just grateful to be contending and for the dominant narrative around the league being "who can beat the Nuggets". and as an aside, OIL WIN OIL WIN FU JIMI avs win also- fu Jb |
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Post by nuggetshipster on Mar 20, 2024 3:19:04 GMT -5
Feel like we on track. Bench hasnt been as big a problem as i feared
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Post by Ring on Mar 20, 2024 7:43:34 GMT -5
Feel like we on track. Bench hasnt been as big a problem as i feared The bench has been really good post all star and yet still in every game thread it gets blamed for losses. Like every thread it's literally the bench sucks and Murray sucks. s**t gets very annoying. Bottom line is the starting 5 has been very inconsistent. They'll have stretches where they look incredible and stretches where they just don't execute on either end of the floor. Dog days of the season for them as I'm sure they just want to get to the playoffs at this point. But the bench has been the best it's been in the Jokic era. Like it's literally been fine. People forget that basically every previous year we'd get outscored by 10+. Every game. This team is really good. Just need the starters to play more consistently. |
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Post by passtheballquick on Mar 20, 2024 9:17:49 GMT -5
Feel like we on track. Bench hasnt been as big a problem as i feared The bench has been really good post all star and yet still in every game thread it gets blamed for losses. Like every thread it's literally the bench sucks and Murray sucks. s**t gets very annoying. Bottom line is the starting 5 has been very inconsistent. They'll have stretches where they look incredible and stretches where they just don't execute on either end of the floor. Dog days of the season for them as I'm sure they just want to get to the playoffs at this point. But the bench has been the best it's been in the Jokic era. Like it's literally been fine. People forget that basically every previous year we'd get outscored by 10+. Every game. This team is really good. Just need the starters to play more consistently. Starters are inconsistent because Malone cut Jokic/Murray minutes which hurts every single starter. It's more than obvious by now that fuc*ing loser Reggie doesn't fit this team. Hiding him with the starters is the dumbest thing Malone did in the last year and a half braking the team chemistry. Murray is not capable of carrying the second unit (understandable as he's never been doing it) and being forced to do that is tiring him faster and it affects his game even with the starters. Cutting Jokic-Murray minutes is hurting this team more than anything in this basketball world |
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Post by TNF on Mar 20, 2024 9:18:37 GMT -5
Agree. Overall the bench is as good as we could have hoped, and they're just going to get better.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 20, 2024 11:00:12 GMT -5
Even more important to get 1 seed. Let's Minnesota/Dallas/Phoenix our three toughest matchups imo deal with each other I actually think the Pelicans would be the toughest matchup. Looks like they will get either the 4th or 5th seed. |
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Post by nuggetshipster on Mar 20, 2024 18:08:30 GMT -5
Stil think the draft night and offseason moves was a flop and missed opportunity. But the core is just too good
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Post by famicommander on Mar 20, 2024 18:32:00 GMT -5
Stil think the draft night and offseason moves was a flop and missed opportunity. But the core is just too good I like the Holiday signing and I still like the Strawther pick. Strawther has good defensive instincts and I could see him having a CB/Watson like year next year. Hopefully his shot comes along. Jury is still out on Pickett and Tyson but I would have preferred to see them get two year two-way deals instead of four year main roster deals. That would've given them until the end of next season to prove themselves and develop and then we'd have them as RFAs and could make a decision from there. I love DJ but we needed an upgrade. Zeke extension still extremely puzzling. Vlatko's injury left a tough hole to fill. Watson is already a better player than Vlatko but there are still roles Vlatko could fill better with his experience and versatility, and he'd free up Watson to play more to his strengths. |
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Post by duh88 on Mar 20, 2024 20:24:47 GMT -5
Regarding the TWolves game -
I've never seen a Nuggets victory that made me feel more unsettled about what's ahead. I don't care what anyone says - the TWolves won that game and completely blew us up, despite our being at full strength (and they were literally one-handed, missing Gobert, KAT and Naz). That was the best defense I've ever seen against the Jokic-Murry two-man game. They used size to bust it up. I've been saying since last season - the TWolves are our biggest competition. I'm worried we don't have the size to beat them (which is why I was hoping Calvin would get another big-man at the trade deadline). Our playoff hopes are going to rest partially on DAJ - not a position I like to be in.
Now the good news:
1. CHRIS FINCH:
Chris Finch completely showed all of his cards. He left NOTHING hidden for the playoffs. Had he concealed this, that could have bought him two victories against us in the playoffs. I think he's going ALL-IN for the 1st seed, so he can avoid us completely in the first two rounds. But Finch had a poor gamble here - he's given our coaches a full month to gameplan now.
2. CONDITIONING:
We won because the TWolves wore themselves out. They had an incredible 3rd quarter, and the wheels fell off - much like the Clippers in the Bubble Playoffs. This also explains why injuries are piling up on the Wolves - their conditioning is not championship level (and actually quite poor). Normally I would be worried that we'll have trouble beating the Wolves - but with their conditioning, I'm not convinced they'll make the 3rd round. If we do play them in the WCF, I expect us to route them, primarily because they'll have minimals legs left once they get there.
3. MPJ:
Many have written-off MPJ has a role player - quickly forgetting he's only 25. MPJ's best playing days are well ahead. Last night, we finally saw him go into ALPHA-mode. Those were not circus shots either - those were high quality looks, based on his cutting. I'm hoping that what we're seeing with MPJ is a good development arc and his entrance into alpha-mode. I think he's gotten tired of watching the Jokic-Murray magic act, while he sits in the corner eating s**t. MPJ finally showed off the dog in him last night. If it's here to stay, we won't just repeat - we're going to win the next 3 chips.
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Post by somborshuffle on Mar 20, 2024 23:48:05 GMT -5
Regarding the TWolves game - I've never seen a Nuggets victory that made me feel more unsettled about what's ahead. I don't care what anyone says - the TWolves won that game and completely blew us up, despite our being at full strength (and they were literally one-handed, missing Gobert, KAT and Naz). That was the best defense I've ever seen against the Jokic-Murry two-man game. They used size to bust it up. I've been saying since last season - the TWolves are our biggest competition. I'm worried we don't have the size to beat them (which is why I was hoping Calvin would get another big-man at the trade deadline). Our playoff hopes are going to rest partially on DAJ - not a position I like to be in. Now the good news: 1. CHRIS FINCH: Chris Finch completely showed all of his cards. He left NOTHING hidden for the playoffs. Had he concealed this, that could have bought him two victories against us in the playoffs. I think he's going ALL-IN for the 1st seed, so he can avoid us completely in the first two rounds. But Finch had a poor gamble here - he's given our coaches a full month to gameplan now. 2. CONDITIONING: We won because the TWolves wore themselves out. They had an incredible 3rd quarter, and the wheels fell off - much like the Clippers in the Bubble Playoffs. This also explains why injuries are piling up on the Wolves - their conditioning is not championship level (and actually quite poor). Normally I would be worried that we'll have trouble beating the Wolves - but with their conditioning, I'm not convinced they'll make the 3rd round. If we do play them in the WCF, I expect us to route them, primarily because they'll have minimals legs left once they get there. 3. MPJ: Many have written-off MPJ has a role player - quickly forgetting he's only 25. MPJ's best playing days are well ahead. Last night, we finally saw him go into ALPHA-mode. Those were not circus shots either - those were high quality looks, based on his cutting. I'm hoping that what we're seeing with MPJ is a good development arc and his entrance into alpha-mode. I think he's gotten tired of watching the Jokic-Murray magic act, while he sits in the corner eating s**t. MPJ finally showed off the dog in him last night. If it's here to stay, we won't just repeat - we're going to win the next 3 chips. I didn't feel great at the time but the positives I'm taking out of it is that we clowned the Twolves in the 1st half. Then we clowned ourselves in the 3rd and early 4th qtr. And instead of panicking, Jokic and MPJ took control of the game down the stretch. And then three 3s in the final 30 seconds - including two by Jaden McDaniels who can't shoot - basically trolled the Nuggets by making it look closer than it was. It's probably best not to read too much into those regular season games with so many variables that won't be at play in the playoffs. All I know is that, with KAT likely out, Minny only have one closer where as Denver have the formidable Jokic-Murray two man game and now MPJ who can shoot much better than anyone on the Twolves. I just can't see Denver losing the majority of close games to Minnesota. In crunch time, Denver wins 4 before Minnesota does. |
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Post by GBG on Mar 21, 2024 11:15:43 GMT -5
It’s far from certain that Denver will even face Minny in a postseason series, so why so much chatter about it?
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Post by Ring on Mar 21, 2024 11:40:44 GMT -5
It’s far from certain that Denver will even face Minny in a postseason series, so why so much chatter about it? I think it's because it's probably our toughest matchup on paper. If OKC gets the 1 seed I don't see any scenario where they get by LAC/NOLA assuming those teams stick at the 4/5. If the Nuggets finish 2, it's extremely likely its Denver/Minny Round 2. Again, nobody wants to accept it but the 1 seed is extremely advantageous and is important. It's not essential but it helps immensely. |
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Post by famicommander on Mar 21, 2024 12:05:35 GMT -5
Minnesota.
Is.
Too.
Stupid.
They will lose long before they face the Nuggets in the playoffs, and if by some miracle they don't we'll trash them in a series.
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