He's very good but he does turn it over. Doesn't he lead the NBA in turnovers a game? Not bashing him. He's great. I'd take him in a heartbeat. But he does turn it over. And it took an epic playoff series by Murray to get by the Lakers last year. If he's only 90% in that epic series, he had Denver gets swept. Jokic was great too. But you know he's going to be great.
the biggest advantage the nuggets got over every other contender is when it comes down to the last 5 mins they have the most unstoppable 2 man action with Jokic and Murray and the defense has to respect MPJ, KCP and Gordon by the dunkers spot , where as other contenders would still result to iso or play going directly through their 1st or second option.
Idc for Denver but they got the best variety in a starting lineup from height,size,versatility,athletically,fastbreak,half court,interior,perimeter,offense,defense,go to stars and overall high iq that's tough to topple.
Jokic and Murray have too much to offer as a duo. There is no answer for this two man game. Jokic is chilling half the time and they are still competitive or even winning.
@@bronzeandsteel3344you know we’re built to beat you. And, yeah I’d be sweating too lol. But, nah man without KAT… we don’t have a shot. Maybe we annoy you but, it’ll be a six game series. If KAT comes back at 80%… that’s a different story. Either way respect cuz that game last night was so fun.
I can't shake watching Jokic absolutely abuse Chet in a game I watched early in the year. I think OKC would wear down pretty quickly in that series. I think there are many WCF matchups that OKC could win. But I don't think they'd fare well against a team with Denver's size. Their biggest weakness is defensive rebounding.
Nuggets fan, so I'm a lil biased. I think you're right to fear them. They're built to shut down the 3 point offense of Boston and force em inside to grind it out against Denver's size.
the Minnesota game wasn’t as close as the score suggested but i feel like the gap between the nuggets and everybody else isn’t as wide as last year. I actually think they’ve been more uncomfortable in games than 22/23
So last year if denver got memphis it would tougher hahaha, i hope denver got #2 or #3 seed this year instead of suns or mavs or clippers i pray for okc, min and pelicans
I was at that game. It could've easily turned into a blowout in the second quarter but credit the wolves for moving the ball and Ant playing amazing. Still nuggs in 4-5
I feel like Mavs, wolves, and Nola all have the best chance to beat nuggets. They all have long defenders and big centers. Not saying they will... they have the best chance tho.
The thing is they rarely play hero ball during clutch time, they remained unfazed amd run their sets, and that 2 man combo of Jokic and Murray was unstoppable last years playoffs, it's going to be the same this year
Wolves didn’t have towns, gobert and naz ried last night and gave them all they could handle. Wolves also have the best record against the west. Yes they can be beat.
@@Peca-sz6ytMinnesota also has been playing way better than last season????? Same with OKC???? Learn ball. Denver also said the wolves were their hardest series last season when they were literally worse than this year. KAT also was out most of last season and didn't get a lot of play with gobert
The game where OKC blew out the Nuggets was also a 2nd night of a back to back for the Nuggets. Not an excuse, but it was definitely a game where the Nuggets were sleepwalking, something they have shown they are prone to in the regular season but last years playoff run showed they can flip a switch and make sure that doesn't happen for a whole game.
Sure. They aren't a lock. No one is a lock. If they get that far OKC is a nightmare matchup for them. They have to defend 5 guys not like you have to do with most NBA teams defense 2.
As a Nuggs fan, I think we'll win the West again but not having Bruce is going to suck. While getting out of the West won't be a cakewalk, I'm mostly afraid of Boston, I think they have the best chance at beating us in a playoff sereis.
Boston’s shot variance is horrible when it gets down to grind it out playoff games. Denver is the type of team that would push Tatum and Brown back into their bad iso Habits late in games They also got AG, Braun, KCP and PWat to make life hard for Tatum and Brown Jokic will bury KP and Horford and Tillman in the paint Denver in 5 if BOS played them
@@Beau838 Yeah I agree about the bad shot variance in crunch time and we have defenders to throw at Tatum/Brown. But I don't think we beat them in 5, I think we win in 6.
I think the Thunder can. They have the personnel to actual pull off what Darvin Hamm was hoping the Lakers could do in the WCF. Play a fast game, minimize settled offense. Thunder have the speed, shooting, and ability to force turnovers. Lakers has none of that, and it still think it was there best bet to win.
Thunder don't have the experience. 7 game series where you get to plan and scheme totally different than regular season where you get a 1 pager and a good luck to prepare for a game. I don't know of any teams with such few play off experience to go far in the play offs at they first go around.
@@vantianhergheligiu12 It’s less about experience and more about basketball IQ. A lot of teams need experience to develop IQ. But Thunder are unnaturally composed and dialed in during crunch time.
If MPJ shoots like he usually does in the regular season, they are unstoppable. Even if he's not, Nuggets is still winning it all (they are not so reliant on his shooting that they are unable to adjust), they are more "beatable" in some sense. Their best strengths are their consistency and flexibility in their offense.
Considering they're primarily a post run team I'd be hella nervous if their 3 pointer were to develop even more than where it's at now. They're the weakest 3 point shooting team of the top 6 western teams (by not very much) but currently sit at #1 in the west.
What do you think is the reason why they've become a good defensive team? They almost have the same pieces from last season, Watson was the only notable change defensively and i think that he's not yet the defender that would be a needlemover
i think the timberwolves match up really well against them just how they are built. i think that could be a toss up, outside that i see them winning it all
As a nugget fans I think the 3 teams with the best chance would be: - 1. Wolves: One of the only teams with the personnel to bother both Jokic (Gobert guarding him or roaming off AG) and Murray (McDaniels defended him very well in the first matchup). - 2. Suns: Nurkic is one of the better Jokic defenders this year (Granted Jokic was playing pretty non-chalant in both games and Nurkic does foul a lot) and they have the tough shotmaking to match Denver - 3. Clippers: Can also match Denver's shotmaking while having a way better bench unit and pretty solid defense
I only think the wolves have a shot. Suns rely entirely on their big three for scoring, and if any of them go cold for a game or two, it's donezo. The clippers have James Harden (a notorious playoff choker) Kawhi Leonard (An injury prone player) and Paul George (An injury prone, notorious playoff choker). I am not worried about them at all.
My oppinion the team that has the best shot (mind you not a good one but the best out of everyone) is the Mavs. Kyrie and Luka can be the wild cards. I don't trust anyone else in the west to just go insane enough times and for sure not as insane as those 2 can go(again I say CAN and not WILL).
The Wolves were so badly injured last night and still were only a ANT 3 from tying. Plus MPJ went crazy in the 4th. A healthy wolves team will take this team to 7 games.
Could you cover the clippers some more in another video? I get the refs have been giving less calls after all star break but there is something else going on. They all look defeated before it’s even halftime.
I think it would be neat if the Sacramento kings could win a playoff series for the first time in my life. I have been following since Boogie and Jimmer were drafted. I've stayed after Boogie and Jimmer left. I'd like to see something go right and it lead to some kind of win. That being said, Keegan Murray would actually get vaporized by Jokic. Not even playing.
Full Strength Timberwolves will match up nicely to counter what Nuggets want to do on offense. But KAT might not be back to do that. However, Naz Reid is about as good as a fill-in for KAT as there is in the NBA, and he was also out for their last matchup that went to the final shot. I dont think any other teams in the west could do it in a series unless they are locked in like crazy.
When they beat them, in october lol, nobody cares about that game, nobody care about this game a few days ago and nobody will care for their next 2 games until playoffs. Those 7 games in playoffs is what matter not games in october or november
This might sound mad but I really think in the west the only team that could give them problems is the mavs, simply because Kyrie and Luka are the only 2 players who can match Jokic and Murray in the clutch, ofc the celtics are great but I back the nuggets to cook them tbh, maybe the bucks give them problems if Dame can go off
Weird situation where the teams that can beat the Nuggets probably can't beat Boston and vice versa. So even if the timberwolves or okc beat the Nuggets (moreso wolves), all it'll feel like is that Boston just got dealt a much better hand for the finals.
Nuggets over Celtics in 6. Brown or Tatum will go cold and Jokic and Murray will prove to be much better. Celtics can't target Jokic much in the pick and roll since he'll probably guard Jrue and dare him to shoot.
As a Nuggets fan from Denver.. I would love OKC in any round. I don't think they're actually good enough come playoff time. The wolves and Phoenix both have scary potential. Celtics are stacked.. All said I like the chances of repeating
well...I'm not even sure Mike Wilbon's dad (aka S. Gilgeous-Alexander) could take them all down on one hand...Wait and See, as the playoff-anticipation cliché goes.
They just played a Wolves team without KAT, Gobert and Reid (Wolves on a b2b), their 3 Jokic “stoppers” and you’re asking this dumb question?😭😭 Dallas would’ve slapped them if their role players showed up. And PHX straight own them… There’s no Jeff green or Bruce brown to save them this year. Can’t wait for them to get exposed in the playoffs.
In the regular season Denver can be beat on any given night, but in the playoffs no one is beating the Nuggets in a 7 game series, start planning for next year because this years champion is already decided.
Nuggets - Celtics, Nuggets are clear favorites. But in the West, Thunders/Nuggets/Timberwolves are pretty neck and neck. Given how random sports can be, I'd say each has a similar chance of making it to the finals.
