How One Adjustment Saved The Nuggets Season 

The last time Denver lost 2 straight playoff games. They went on to win 14 of their next 16 playoff games

Nuggets came back down 3-1 twice in 2020

Let’s not forget the 3 days’ rest to Murray’s calf.

Game 4, the Wolves decided to play a lot of man to man and try to play help defense. This led right into Jokic's hands. Jokic is a master of diversion. He'll threaten to go to the basket but Aaron Gordon is always there. 27 points from AG tonight. The Nuggets ate despite Ant's best efforts in a 44 point game for him.

This felt like the first game this postseason where the Nuggets played perfect from start to finish. That’s what they need if they have any shot at repeating. Great analysis. I wonder if the Wolves will counter this in some way.

It's crazy how the Nuggets dominated the playoffs last season, then cause they went down 2-0 everyone was talking trash and saying they're done for. They may still lose the series, the Timberwolves are a great team, but to completely flip on them cause of 2 games was crazy. Really shows you the old adage when you're at the top the only place you can go is down. I personally have the Nuggets in 7. Really impressed with how well the Timberwolves are playing. Ant Man broke out like I predicted he would in these playoffs.

Honestly this just shows how many casual fans are watching rn. Too count out Denver or jokic is crazy to me. Gonna be a fun series.

Playoff series are decided by adjustments. Nuggets adjusted, now lets see if the Wolves can.

Jamal was being stubborn instead of passing to Gordon when he was bringing the ball up the court walked right into the trap that’s why joker said trust the pass after the game.

Really insightful and well-articulated breakdown. First time seeing one of your videos but I'll definitely check out more.

Everyone on the timberwolves video was writing the Nuggets obituary… they’re quiet now

Good call. Small changes can make a huge difference.

Great analysis! Love your system breakdown!

"they have murray, but we have jaden McDaniels" ah game

can never think of a witty comment when I'm early

Excellent breakdown, thank you!

Awesome breakdown! This should get way more traction, well done

Excellent analysis. You definitely got my attention buddy

Good breakdown!

Got my subscription good breakdown

What saved their season was Jamal Murray not getting suspended for Game 3. The 3 day layoff allowed Murray to get healthy and for the Nuggets to recuperate both physically and mentally and make the proper adjustments. People prematurely coronated the T-Wolves but never underestimate the heart of a Champion. If the Nuggets win Game 4, they will win the series.

Great video!

Great analysis

Great break down - thanks.

Murray had 3 more days of rest and his calf felt better, that was a major factor.

It was because of the edit that Mike Malone made .

Now this is good excited to see what both teams are gonna cook up. Let’s go nuggets.

Nice observation on the Nugget's adjustment!!

Thank you for this! Just a fan with 0 baskeball IQ so I appreciate content like this a lot!

Murray finally got some explosion back. Just enough to keep the hand checking at bay

Your breakdown is way better than Thinking Basketball. Much respect!

I had no doubt nuggets would win game 3. Mike Malone is too good of a head coach, jokic and Murray are too good of a duo, and there’s a reason they won a chip last year

Simply, Murray was explosive. Injury is healing.

good analysis

Another great breakdown vid!

These next games gone be tough Minnesota got depth but Denver always had the iq no matter if they lost Bruce brown they in they prime still 😮‍💨💯💯

the edit did good from coach malone

amazing analysis ...love from india

There's nothing like the NBA playoffs where adjustments from game to game actually showcase the coach's skills. Or lack thereof for many teams.

Here We Go!

Finally came through

good coaching staff

Cool video

Interesting analysis. What can Wolves do to counter this?

Definitely a good adjustment and what also helped was the whistle. Game 2 they let the Wolves be a lot more aggressive. Jaden McDaniels had 3 fouls in the second quarter which made Ant have to guard Murray more possessions than they would have liked. Harder screens and different types of slot cuts and off ball action moved Min. I don’t know why Min stopped trapping the ball screen on Murray. They didn’t at all. Okay. Jokic will pass out of the short roll and make the right reads. Christian Brown and Aaron Gordon are not consistent shooters, let them beat you and close out hard to MPJ and make him put it on the floor. You can’t let Murray get so much space.

Wow this video is way higher quality than ur player glaze vids. Pls do more content like this

With Gordon and Joker playing Point Forward/Center brining the ball up the court, Jamal has a lot more time, space and speed to catch the ball in motion and go into attack while the defenders are still in scramble mode.

People act like Finch won't make adjustments as well... That's what playoff basketball is about.

Mevericks and okc please? Love your vídeos

Lakers fans think they are at the same level with the Wolves 😂

What happens if OKC denies or defends that free space at the corners? Nuggets go back to attacking the center ig And Ant not to be less aggressive than the first two games. Oof what a series, so many things need to go right for both teams (duh); very little tolerance for mistakes else it's lights out.

Garza with an F bomb heard round the world on the bench at 1:10 lol

Last night Wolves decided not to double-team Jokic that much. The result is obvious. He destroyed Gobert 1-1

Smart change

Nuggets finally woke up. They been sleep walking through this whole post season. They didnt get beat game 2 they straight up gave up. You can judge their mentality for that and thinking two games aint a big deal but the fact people suddenly thought the monstars stole all their talent is an absurd reaction. They had over a dozen give up and frustration plays aimed at the refs and not the wolves. Its weak to blame whistles though so make of that what you will. ANT and KAT look amazing this series though.

listening you speak makes me realise how coaches think

Was thinking ab this the entire game

Post mavs thunder vid please

where do you think the series goes from here, given these adjustments?

Jamal got them hall of fame fade and stop and pop badges lol man is a professional scorer, could probably avg 30 if he really wanted to

and now the series is 2-2!

a team needs to hire for analysis on film lol

I also observe that putting ball pressure on Anthony Edwards by Double Teaming him makes him to force turnovers or bad shot selection and not to get his Rhythm

Another adjustment they made was to tire them out. If they are going to play aggressive and physical on defensive, you can punish that by making them use their energy and run across the court with playmaking and passes. Ant was sweating so much so early.

As a wolves fan next game is literally what determines the series for us

So how do you defend the empty corner pick and roll? Seems impossible to actually stop since the space is so open.

The one adjustment was the refs started calling fouls on the timberwolves.

Look unbiased proffesional opinion how rare these days...Nuggets in 6

If I had to guess, I think the Wolves are gonna run more zone tonight to try to cover that open corner

coach michael malone is underrated

So how would the Wolves counter the empty side PNR? Do you switch? Ice?

I'm pretty sure the nuggets' coaching staff watched your previous video.

badass

3:57 "everyone's involved". :)

that is gsw defense last 2015-2018, and 2020, and gave them rings.

Yeah the REFS

Those Casual fans saying the Nuggets will be swept are either Lakers fans pretending to be Timberwolves fans.

but it's also because wolves defence was not as aggressive as game 2

You'd think coaches at this level would make these adjustments after a quarter or two.

Every team should apply that same strategy. Have 2 guys on 1 side of the court to run a 2 man game and the other 3 guys be on the other side of the court for spacing reasons. It’s the most ideal way to run offense cause it helps the offensive player read the D & double teams. It seems like common sense to do but too many times teams have players crammed up in the same area of the court wit terrible spacing and coaches make no adjustments to that. It seems simple but too many teams have the same bad habit of having terrible spacing. Coaches can learn a thing by watching breakdowns like this

“jamal murray isn’t versing the lakers😂” I laugh at all those bafoons, Jamal murray DOES this I been saying this

Game 4 will come down to the wire!

I believe that the twolves have the best chance to take down the defending champs with their defense against the one-two of Jokic and Murray, and the Nuggets dont have their height advantage unlike last year. Shout out to the Nuggets's coaching team for formulating this counter to push 2-2.

3 days rest plus not playing at altitude maybe were big factors for helping the nugs

Wouldn't a counter for the wolves be to bring help early from the weak side. One defender tags dunker spot the remaining defender plays two since they have three players so close on one side.

didnt get a chance to watch the game. why is ant holding his shoulder?

Let's not forget the Nuggets purified themselves in the waters of Lake Minnetonka.

i have to assume denver solved the problem of games 1 and 2...and now minn. needs to solve the problem of denver's movement...which they won't. it doesn't seem likely that denver will revert back to their style of play from the beginning of the series.

Hold on. Does that mean that attacking the middle is just worst than attacking the corner ? Im trying to understand what this implies as consequences

Not a good analysis when you forgot to mention the biggest adjustment was just Jamal getting healthier. All those you mentioned are inferior to it.

Tbh if Murray wasnt throwing up bricks in Game 1 they wouldve won that. He shot horribly in that game, but amazing in game 3

They won one game. Yall calm down.

This was a combo of Denver adjusting, and the Wolves coming out with seemingly no energy. I think we’ll see a different Wolves team tonight. (Admittedly a biased Wolves fan)

Well, that's not a really complex adjustment to make, nuggets has one of the best five men lineup in the history of basketball, they are up there with the 96 bulls 17 warriors 01 lakers and such, it's very logical to let your stars play to their strength, and take care of things like streetball, so as a coach Malone just do things to "clear strong side paths"

okay im a verified jamal murray hater but that pass 3:27 was kinda crazy

Minnesota has a problem with defensive rotations, Edwards is a liability here, reading poorly and arriving late many times. Denver is exploiting it very well with these pick&rolls setted to the wings and Jokic rolling into the middle(great passer).

I thought they made this illegal offense? to take away from mj??? when did the rule change?

I dont see how jamal wasn't suspended like Pat.....and why did they have like a week off?? Messed up twolves grove...

Only adjustment: the NBA letting Murray play after his tantrums.

That trap was blatant personal fouls on both players.