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Post by freakns on May 16, 2024 0:08:22 GMT -5
Three down, one more to go
Just like everyone predicted Nuggets sweep after game 2, in a same way everyone is predicting Nuggets to go through WCF after game 5. Well, job isn't over. Far from it. Wolves are shaken, thats certain. Nuggets have reclaim home field advantage, but thats about it. Because of 0-2 start, Nuggets advantage is minimal. They simply have to continue doing what they did after game two, which is playing stellar defense and be smart on offense, cut down mistakes.
The only adjustment I can see Wolves do is to stop pressuring Nuggets full court. Yes, they won two games with it, but Nuggets solve that. They have played hard as hell, but Nuggets responded. The only thing that is left is to play normal defense and hope Nuggets will miss. They will have to double Jokic and pray others miss. Can it happen? Absolutely. Thats why Nuggets have to respond in same way, by playing best defense they played so far, sustain that initial hit Wolves will deliver, then methodically dissemble Wolves defense, win, and avoid game 7 if possible. I really would like to avoid game 7 if possible, so lets win this one, what do you say?!
Cmon Nuggets, lets finish this most improbable comeback ever!
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Post by Camby's Left Nut on May 16, 2024 0:29:32 GMT -5
Gotta think Conley comes back for this one, so I'm curious how that changes how Denver defends Edwards. Harder to send doubles at him if it means leaving a 44% 3pt shooter open instead of NAW or McDaniels. Though I guess NAW went 4-8 anyway, and it still didn't matter. But even just having another creator to take the pressure off Ant should help give him.
Denver fighting back after being down 0-2 has been a thing of beauty...but like you said, there still isn't a lot of margin for error because of that early hole we put ourselves in. Now the roles have reversed and the Wolves are the ones with their backs against the wall and the whole world counting them out and saying this series is already over. They're back at home and are going to play with the most intensity and fight we've seen from them in the series. Winning 4 games in a row against any playoff team is incredibly hard...let alone a team of that caliber, on their own court, playing for their season. Going to need a big game from our guys and even better execution than we've seen in the past couple. Need to treat it as if it's also an elimination game for us, because even though a game 7 would be back at home...anything can happen in a singular game and they'd be coming in with renewed life and belief.
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Post by jimijam28 on May 16, 2024 2:57:57 GMT -5
s**t thread easy L
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Post by duh88 on May 16, 2024 3:52:11 GMT -5
We're going to win tonight.
KAT is injured and Conley is injured - which is unfortunate, but partly a result (imo) of poor conditioning. Many of the Wolves are also fatigued - again - poor conditioning.
I really don't know what adjustments Minny can make at this point? Our guys just have to play crisp and I know they will.
The XFactor is Christian Braun. Minny doesn't have adjustments for the defense now, with Braun getting a lot mins.
I had said we win this series as long as PWat gets mins against Ant - turned out to be Braun that got the mins and was effective.
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Post by somborshuffle on May 16, 2024 5:07:10 GMT -5
I'd be surprised if Conley plays. At his age if he tears his achilles it's basically career over.
And KAT is mentally done. He looks cooked.
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Post by Ring on May 16, 2024 6:18:29 GMT -5
So nervous about this one. Wolves crowd will be hot and all it takes is Ant going off for this game to go sideways. Nuggets need to bring intensity from the first whistle.
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Post by JB on May 16, 2024 7:57:17 GMT -5
I'm not worried.
TPups are learning the hard way that the NBA playoffs isn't a disney movie. there are no miracle 'Mighty Duck' runs where a bunch of upstarts defeat the defending champs and go on to win it all. there are levels to this s**t, and in 2019 I would much have rather take a L to the GOAT than Rodney Hood and Evan Turner, so they should consider themselves lucky.
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Post by JB on May 16, 2024 8:26:01 GMT -5
I'm expecting Minch to send the entire team at Joker this time around, considering leaving the 4xDPOY to deal with him in space cratered their defense. Rupert Gogurt has more DPOY titles than Hakeem, KG and Rodman, and Joker gets criticized for his accolades. hilarious.
I know Jamal caught flak because he didn't score 30, but his +/- (+11, third highest behind Pope and you-know-who) should be an indicator that he smartly deferred and played an ancillary role because his scoring wasn't needed. his scoring is needed this time and I'm looking for another signature game from him.
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Post by TNF on May 16, 2024 8:38:48 GMT -5
The Nuggets must come out totally focused once again. There are a lot of people, from fans to media-types, who have written off the T-Pups. The fans can be idiots, but the team must not come out over-confident, because if they do, anything can happen, and we damned sure don't want it to go seven.
Let's come out businesslike and move on to the Western Conference Finals.
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Post by JB on May 16, 2024 9:02:06 GMT -5
I promise you the Nuggets remember literally the entire NBA world writing them off and declaring the Wolves the next dynasty. to be fair, I wrote the Nuggets off as well, but that was more about Jamal dragging his dead calf around and throwing heatpads and towels, which was totally out of character for him and seemed to strongly indicate at the time that his injuries were unrecoverable.
Nuggets have championship mettle and know what's at stake. Tpups are reeling. you don't need to be a weatherman to know which way the wind is blowing, as the great Bob Dylan said.
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Post by wizardofcozz on May 16, 2024 10:28:21 GMT -5
I'm expecting Minch to send the entire team at Joker this time around, considering leaving the 4xDPOY to deal with him in space cratered their defense. Rupert Gogurt has more DPOY titles than Hakeem, KG and Rodman, and Joker gets criticized for his accolades. hilarious. I know Jamal caught flak because he didn't score 30, but his +/- (+11, third highest behind Pope and you-know-who) should be an indicator that he smartly deferred and played an ancillary role because his scoring wasn't needed. his scoring is needed this time and I'm looking for another signature game from him. I thought LAL and MIN looked good when they double Jokic hard. It's something I expect tonight! I think we can win, I just feel like we need 2 of (KCP, MPJ, Jamal) to have Good scoring games. If we get that, I feel like it's over! |
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Post by famicommander on May 16, 2024 12:10:03 GMT -5
I think maybe the Wolves will abandon the full court press. We effectively nullified it for three games in a row by letting Gordon, Jokic, and KCP take some time bringing the ball up the court to alleviate some pressure on Murray and his calf.
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Post by freakns on May 16, 2024 12:30:46 GMT -5
they are idiots if they continue to full court press
I've heard somewhere that second best offense in the league was Nuggets when Jokic bring the ball up. so once Nuggets solved that problem, their offense sky rocket
they have to hard double Jokic with someone staying on AG and Jamal and leave it to KCP and MPJ to beat them. yes, betting on KCP and MPJ not to hit wide open shots seems like crazy idea, but if Nuggets set their offense, nothing else works for them.
I fully expect this game to be decided in first quarter. if Nuggets can sustain initial Wolves hit, I doubt anyone but Edwards will have enough in themselves for 48 minutes of grinding. if they get to a good start, home crowd and adrenaline will work in their favor and Nuggets will be in problems.
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Post by famicommander on May 16, 2024 12:38:34 GMT -5
Brrrrruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuce  |
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Post by JB on May 16, 2024 12:41:22 GMT -5
ask for a buyout and come on home, Brucie.
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Post by famicommander on May 16, 2024 12:53:59 GMT -5
Wolves ticket prices are cratering. Tons of seats to be had for under 100 bucks. Fanbase is broken.
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Post by TNF on May 16, 2024 13:18:02 GMT -5
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Post by rock on May 16, 2024 13:26:20 GMT -5
ask for a buyout and come on home, Brucie. I bet this violates some rule but can we trade our FRP to Toronto for whoever, in exchange they buy bruce out and he signs with us? |
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Post by famicommander on May 16, 2024 13:29:28 GMT -5
ask for a buyout and come on home, Brucie. I bet this violates some rule but can we trade our FRP to Toronto for whoever, in exchange they buy bruce out and he signs with us? Toronto has a team option, they don't need to buy him out. They could just decline it. |
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Post by JB on May 16, 2024 13:36:00 GMT -5
ask for a buyout and come on home, Brucie. I bet this violates some rule but can we trade our FRP to Toronto for whoever, in exchange they buy bruce out and he signs with us? I'm 99.9% certain the Nuggets using a FRP in a quid pro quo to finesse their way out of the CBA is a clear and blatant violation and they would get dealt with harshly if they attempted it. |
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