Don't forget AG! He made two crucial rebounds/saves, in both games 2 & 5, both of which resulted in 3 point plays. The outcome would have likely been different had AG not made those saves! Not to mention how much he produced in the series, both offensively & defensively. AG was scoring leader in one game; I think it was G3
They all trust each other so much, and all have developed their all around games, even Michael "Never Pass the Rock" Porter Jr. I told a coworker she should take a parlay bet on MPJ getting one assist in game five, and it would've hit if she took it. I wonder if she did?
Man Joker and Murray really cast a shadow on him but his the real hero of the LA series. It's not only Jokic and Murray anymore it's a trio now and it's hard to leave Gordon out, too
@@zobechibe371 tbh, more of this playoff season was about team synergy for the nuggets than anything, murray despite hitting those 2 game winning shots haven't been the same in terms of his 3 point shooting last year, unlike mpj who could pull off a lot of 3's (vital or not) or gordon who has been very good also in this season in the paint if jokic can't score on his own, it's all a team effort overall.
We were so patient with MPJ. And with Murray. And we had faith in coach Malone. Conley and Kronke built this team the right way and it's *beautiful* to watch.
This MPJ tribute was long overdue. In 2024, alongside Jokić, MPJ was the most reliable nugget (Dragica will get a heart attack). When you add AG and KCP to the formula Nuggets starting 5 are 3 levels above any other starting 5 in the league and next series Vs T-wolves will prove that. What nuggets are missing is the 6th man (no pun intended), ideal candidate in my opinion is another MPJ like sniper - Serbian Bogdan Bogdanović. I also think that P Watson deserves more playoff minutes.
Julian strawther could be developed into a lethal sniper coming off the bench hopefully he will get back into rotation with more minutes. P watt and braun are doing their jobs off the bench on the defensive end. If we can 20ppg between the 3 of them off the bench next season that be 🤌🤌
Denver most definitely doesn't need a 6th man, we already have watson, cb, strawther, jackson, even hunter tyson all off the bench, this denver team is absolutely unstoppable, they're MOST DEFINITELY going back to back
Agree with all and we have many young players on bench who can give chance to play and feel how is that that little kid is same sniper I don't know how call other center not Jordan but white dude I watch him play just few min and he was awesome give one 3pts have one block I think Malone can put him before Jordan Jordan is old and reflexes not good but he is huge and have strength but don't have stamina
Here in Denver we’ve known his potential for years. So fun seeing his big improvement this year. Becoming a complete player including defense. But his size and high release on his jump shot is unreal. He’s unblockable.
Denver plays as a TEAM. Sure, Jokic and Murray's two man game is the main stay, but the other guys just don't sit and watch. Gordan is always looking to cut to the basket, and if he doesn't get the ball on those cuts, he's heads-up enough to know when to clear and when to look to rebound. He had a huge offensive rebound late in game 5, leading to a Murray three. MPJ is always looking to spot up when Jokic and Murray draw the defense's attention and no longer just for threes. He's finding the open spot wherever and taking advantage. Caldwell-Pope can also knock down the open looks created by Jokic/Murray. They play excellently as a unit.
Bro, you got to realise by now Jokic also has a very strong two man game with Gordon. From the perimeter to paint it is with Murray and inside the paint, it's wth Gordon. And Gordon has started throwing up dimes to Nikola as well.
I think it's also important to remember he is only 25 and with all of his back issues, he hasn't had as much time earlier in his career to get comfortable and considering he played 81 games this year, it's safe to say he is finally FULLY healthy so the part you mentioned about him not having much of a handle, I think in the next couple of years you could see him develop one. I genuinely think his ceiling could be a legit number 2, which would give Denver a 1 and 2a/2b kind of team, especially come play off time.
You hit the nail right on the head. In addition, early in his time with the Nuggets, MPJ appeared hesitant to shoot when contested (I go back to the 7-game Portland series when he was guarded by the smaller Norman Powell). Now MPJ attacks those contests--and hits big shots.
Joker is going to do Joker things. Playoff Murray isn't completely here yet, but he shows up when it matters most. MPJ has been the ultimate X-factor. Nuggets don't win 4-1 if it weren't for him stepping it up big time each and every single game. He's just as easily one of the biggest reasons why the Nuggets have consistently mounted comebacks and kept games close.
My dude, this was vid was so spot on with MPJ. On top of his silky smooth shooting he has been dealing with some really rough family biz, and that aint easy on a dudes mind. Let's go Nuggs! "WE WANT MORE!"
Michael “possession ends here” Porter Jr. And this is fine because he hits most of his shots. Once Murray finds his playoff form, Denver is gonna be unstoppable again. Also, Jokic still operates at the second gear despite all of his nonsense stats.
This is what happens when you play with a "Larry Bird" type player like Nikola Jokic... I see lots of comps there He turns someone that could have easily just been good or solid... into someone that's great. MPJs career could have easily gone in the other direction... but he found a nice spot and he's playing lights out. He still has room to grow and i'm super stoked for him to be playing on a championship level squad! Great video
Watching MPJ play in the bubble , versus watching him now is night and day, he has improved every aspect of his game, he used to be a bad defender and wasn’t that effective off ball, but he totally upped his game and improved im all the weak areas , great all around player and elite scorer ,
Jokic is the most patient father I have ever seen. If I had to raise a brat like LeBron, I'd be in jail from the amount of times I'd whup that boy for acting a fool
a lot of people say or the media that when denver lost brown and green from the bench it will hurt them this year but the difference this season is an improved porter jr, defensive kcp and watson.
mpj could be the one to turn the balance beetween nuggets and wolves towards the nuggets, he's a bit streakish still but omg when he's hot he seems unstoppable
MPJ getting drafted by the nuggets was best case scenario, very few teams would have gave him the time to develop and go through everything with his back
I was just talking about this with a friend a few days ago. MPJ is healthy, confidence back and has also matured and understands the game much better than he used to which is also helping him make great decisions when he gets the ball and has elevated his defense and rebounding. He's like Boston/Miami Ray Allen, except younger and taller. Dude is so efficient with how he impacts the game and with defenses already extending themselves to the max trying to deal with everything Jokic brings to the table plus containing Murray (who you NEVER want to let get hot), what do you have left to throw at MPJ who's become an almost certain bucket. It's deflating for even the best defenses.
Finally, someone gives credit to Porter in his great playoff against the Lakers. I rooted for the Lakers but noticed and appreciated Porter and Porter deserves to be mentioned with Jokic and Murray for winning games. Gordon did as well in terms of timely rebounds and smart plays. However, Porter was very consistent offensively and the Nuggets needed every point they got to beat the Lakers.
I remember last year being upset at MPJ during the NBA Finals, but this man has suddenly become one of my favorites, he doubles down on the whole “Michael never swing the rock Porter Jr” and PROVES it wins games, love the guy 💛💙
I'm a huge fan of the Nuggets from their huge accomplishments from last year. One thing I want people to realize was that they had trouble getting their peak performance this time around with the Lakers, and I don't think the Lakers bothered them, I did not see the magical plays that I was accustom to seeing from. Every game was close, but that's because Nuggets keeps starting the game already behind the Lakers in scoring, and they have an up hill battle. They made the bar so high last year, I mean they beat everyone LITERALLY EASILY, they were way above all the team, they were on a separate level on their own, like god level good, and made every look like G-League, and they were breaking all sorts of historical records, and made everything look easy. I know it's only the first round, and I hope they are just start, and go to a different gear because the landscape is different this year. Dallas and Clippers finally got their acts together; Timberwolves are no slouch, Celts only got way better, Sixers are a dark horse as you can see with their bout against the Knicks, and Thunder are Western dark horse. All I'm saying, as fans lets not think this is automatic, and reality is Nuggets seem a step slower this year. Off course, I'm rooting for this team, just holding my breath for what's out there. If they keep on starting slow in every game, they may go against a younger team who can keep up the fight, ala Wolves or Thunder. I still believe this team will win with their experience and warrior mentality.
Porter maybe only has barely been mentioned in mainstream media, but we def talking about how huge and great he's playing here in Denver! He had a rough playoffs and NBA finals last year so its great to see him play awesome and make up for the loss of Bruce Brown. Also great to see him play well through the tough time with his family.
Jokic has the perfect complimentary players around him, MPJ was supposed to be the #1 pick the year he was drafted but his back injury caused him to slip. Murray is the perfect PG for their system and Jokic.
MPJs jump shot technique is superb. When he jumps, his natural momentum carries his legs forward in front of him. Defenders will foul him if they try hard. MPJs shooting coach during the off season is the same dude who trained Steph Curry. Look it up.
People have been giving Jamal wayyyyy too much credit. Yes, he did hit the big shots in the 4th but the reason why Nuggets had to play from behind was because Jamal was throwing up so many bricks and caused them to fall behind. Jamal didn't have a single efficient game in the series. And in the final game, he took 28 shots to score 32 points. Without MPJ hitting those ridiculous shots, AG pulling those key rebounds and Jokic being Jokic, Nuggets would have been swept. Jamal is the reason the games were so close. Nuggets are on upset alert if Jamal repeats his performance from the 1st round.
Remember he has #1 player in the nation untouchable unstoppable then he injured his back had surgery which one of the craziest things ever like he said patience is key took his time to recover it’s like he knew he’ll be back and healthy man what a journey to watch the high school phenom become a superstar
Mpj always looked stiff post back injury, that fact he can still play at a high level is impressive. If he never got injured I think he would have had people debating him vs Jayson Tatum in terms of skill
A good roster, decent players to go play and connect around the superstar, and good chemistry are the greatest recipes for a perfect NBA contender, not mashing around with a bunch of stars together and expecting perfect results. Phoenix learns that the hard way.
You beat me to it! I was planning on doing an mpj breakdown analysis on my podcast. I’ve been telling people all week how we’re witnessing him enter his prime. 6”10 with a jumper is crazy. Carrer playoff highs in shooting percentages. Yeah he’s like that
I have been screaming this for 3 games. MPJ flew under the radar with Murray's heroics, but he balled all series. Super-efficient too. They'll need it against Minnesota.
I love watching those plays in slomo and watching LBJ completely fuck up the defence and leave his player wide open for the cut. He's a hopeless defender.
6man, I've been watching your videos for awhile now. You certainly know your stuff, and I enjoy your content. I'm a 50+ year Nuggets fan and a Denver native. It's nice to see you be so objective and honest in evaluating what has become a great team. It's true. MPJs development has now reached the point where he is truly a deadly alternative to the 2 man game of Jokic and Murray. You could almost call it a four man game, with MPJ now attacking off the dribble as well as sharpshooting from the 3 point line. Add in Gordon stalking the baseline for put backs and lobs, and you have a devastating combination. Doubling Jokic or Murray means playing with a blowtorch. Then there's the other side of the Nuggets: the defensive end. Just watch their rotations and coverage, particularly at crunch time in the 4th quarter. Each player knows where and when to be. The unsung hero here is KCP, or Kentavious Caldwell-Pope. He's a lockdown defender with quick feet and long arms, and he'll toss in a three or big drive to the basket for good measure. Minnesota has justifiably been praised for their quality defense, both during the regular season and the playoff sweep of Phoenix. However, the Nuggets present a difficult task a quantum leap higher than the Suns. It's going to be a hell of a series.
MPJ is such a devoted sniper! When he has to dunk, he does it like an awkward chore: "Ok, I'll put the ball right into the basket with my own two hands, point blank...what's a sport in this even?"
Michael Porter Jr. is such a mythic name...Classic mythic metaphor of a Dynastic name...Think about the heroic narrative of the Hero's Journey to the Sacred Mountain to bring back the ring from the Dragon who hoards the treasure in the cave in the Heart of the Mountain....these are the guys guided by their Wizatd Lard the Magnifiscent Malone who has tamed the Fun Loving Giant known as the Joker, Air Gordon is his faithful side kick while the trickster known as Jamal magically makes the day by making play after play, then come Young Prince Michael Porter Jr. who inherits the Dynasty that never was a winning kingdom...and so it goes...this is a heroic team lead by a leader who denies fame and glory in order to show America that it is PLAY that wins the game...The gypsy horse whisperer is teaching America that competition and winning will come to those who are magician , masters of tge Art of shooting hoops as a remembrance of humans as hunters and gatherers who made great fun hitting their mark to win the day...What a heroic story of transformation through the divine play of these artful players of the rubberball game. Imagine it was the Olmeca and Maya who develop and refine the Rubberball Game in a court where it was two on two as players played as twins that complemented one-an-other in order to cooperate, communicate, cooperate, and coordinate their play to shoot the rubberball through the hoop. Basketball is at heart a Mesoamerican Game that is a migrants game that became an African American game that became a global game that is a universal game...This Golden Team of Nuggets is changing the attitude of the game....the hard ass days of Prima Donna like players like Bird, MJ, Kobe, and poor LeBron shows us that "meanies" are not good for a team spirit...those days of screaming at your team mates and not showing commaraderie are OVER. Just look at LeBron complaining at his team mates when he can't hit the game winning three pointer...pass the ball to Reaves or whoever else to win the game...This is what Jokic loves to see...Jamal Murray making the game winning hoops...this is genius narrative, a heroic story of a real team...think of Scotty Pippen and Kukos, Kerr and the Australian Giant and all the others who made MJ the hero he is, was and always will be because of the Sacred Hoops of Phil, the Zen Master...We are seeing a new way of playing b-ball through a new attitude to the Game and its play amongst team mates who make the Team first and winning a natural result of PLAYINGVTHE GAME AS A TEAM...HOW FUN IS THIS AS NUGGETS FAN SINCE BEFORE David Thompson at the Denver Collisium where the National Western Rodeo and Horse show where...amazing how Denver changed...heroic and demonic at the same time...God Bless the Rockies as we remember the Arapahoe and Kiowa, Ute and Shoshone...and all of Indigenous America who are on the return as America begins to remember in order to acknowledge those Original People who lived on the Great Plains where the Buffalo herded themselves up into South Park and beyond...Colorado Land of the Red Rocks of Garden of the God's...Heroic Colorado...and finally in the greatest team sport on earth...b-ball baby...
bro i love that you made a video about MPJ, watching the games, sure murray hit big shots and jokic is jokic, AG had some game saving plays too, but MPJ shot SO consistently/efficiently and hit timely shots that i feel like he kind of got swept under the rug
@@JamesMiller-lb3sk DLo is never a consistent 3rd option. When he's on he is. Reaves is a bit different. Because he can get to the paint he can playmake or get to the line and knock down foul shots. I think next year Reaves ups his points average. But I think he's more a 17-19 ppg guy than a 20-22 ppg guy. I think the biggest issue with the matchups for teams is size. Porter Jr, when his 3 ball is falling, is a problem. A 6'10" guy knocking down shots like that is a problem. He averaged over 20 ppg and no 3rd guy on th eLakers did in this series. DLo is the only one who could but he's not close to consistent and not a good playoff performer.
You have to be an idiot, it's way more than that, Jokic and Murray are also INFINITELY BETTER than lebron and ad or any other duo in the league, the lakers lost cus they had the all around inferior team
i'm glad MPJ found his shot this season. i remember him struggling last year during the playoffs. not sure they would have beat the lakers this year without him.
Been saying this for a while, but if MPJ wasa #1 option for 2-3 years, he'd be a top 25 player in the league. The nuggets now have 2 seven footers doing things we've never seen before.
Technically Nuggets has 1 All-Star but I’m telling you the team has 4 All-Stars, three of them haven’t been recognized. But they don’t care, all they care is about winning. Even Jokic don’t care about being an All-Star. That’s what I love about this team. It’s a “team”.
It’s crazy how the nuggets just won with 3 of their main pieces being actually hurt pretty bad in Murray, Jokic and Pope, even AG was hurt too. The lakers had 1 injury which was debatable in AD in that last game.
MPJ's 3 point shooting can be a bit overstated since it's always a spot up 3. Though he has improved quite a lot this season driving to the basket and those midrange shots. Complete 180 from last season's playoffs. He still is a massive liability on defense and rebounding especially when comparing to Braun and Watson. Overall his improvement has been spectacular but no way in hell can you start saying denver has a big 3. MPJ was super clutch in that lakers series though.
For the past 2 years I’ve been telling anyone who will listen about MPJs improvement. I’ve been saying since his rookie season, if he works on his handle and starts being willing to take contact at the rim rather than avoid it. He used to try to go around people now he’s using his 6’ 10” frame and dunking on them.
Michael Posession Ends Here Porter He even commented about the memes on his podcast, and imho, gave a brilliant answer, basically said: Well guys, i know i shoot a lot. But i play with the Joker, He knows what i do, and if he gives me the ball, he wants me to shoot it.