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The 76ers and Knicks series that just finished was pretty dope too. One other note. The GM who built Denver was Tim Connelly. He moved to Minnesota and is building that team. So this match-up has some deep roots.
Yeah I meant to mention that along with finch and nori both being assistants in Denver. MN acting Head Coach Micah Nori was actually jokic’s summer league coach lol
This aged like fine wine after my analysis on game 1. Some of the points you made were spot on with jamal murray struggling against McDaniels and NAW, and Denver's problems against the Lakers carrying over to this game. Good analysis Hardwood!!
Nah, personally I don't think they will eliminate them i see everyone saying Minnesota will win and i can see that but that's the main thing about the Nugs, underestimating them i just cannot imagine Jokić and Murray not ending the series with a win, Denver in 6
Naw, Wolves are the underdogs. Everyone is with the defending champs. So that makes Wolves the ones that will need to shock everyone again. Everyone was also on SUNS side too but too soon JR. lol It's a way better story line for the world if Mn wins and move on to maybe a ring. That's a better history record breaking story!! Ant and the wolves will make history and upsets. That sounds better for the media to cover for a long time lol.
I got nuggets in 7. The nuggets are a mixture of the warriors and spurs of the 2010s, where casual ball fans aren't that invested in their playstyles as it is seen as boring team ball, plus there's no drama just straight hoops, plus they similar to gsw where they are kind of hated and always do well in the 3rd quarter of games. i think this will be an amazing series as the twolves have the best defense and a nice upcoming team but the nuggets championship experience and altitude home court advantage will decide it and the nuggs have the best closer rn in Murray so i got nuggets
Pretty good analysis but you forgot something. Anyone in the nuggets team is like a ticking bomb ready to explode when they needed it the most. I have nuggets in 7
I'm a wolves fan, and have them winning. But for real that is the truest statement. I know that it could be any of Denvers starting 5 that could get it that day. So dangerous
@@EggscellentSheets the truth is, it's the only match up I'm excited about. I'm rooting for my nuggets but if your wolves win they deserve it. Whoever wins will emerge as the champion at the end.
"The Wolves have no chance" is exactly what Suns fans last in the first round and talking heads around the NBA said in the first round... Both teams gotta play the game. Yes, Denver is an entirely different animal, but really, the strategy to beat them is strangely similar to how we beat the suns. Let their star player in Jokic do what he's gonna do and focus on Porter and Murray. KAT I think will overwhelm Aaron Gordon. KAT just NEEDS to stay out of foul trouble. KAT HAS to play a clean and polished series. Offensively, target Jokic and Murray.
i totally agree. last years series kat was actually averaging more points per minute than ant but couldn't stay on the floor bc he was fouling too much
AG is one of the if not the best defenders you can throw on Kat. Dudes gonna be in mad foul trouble the whole series. Has to guard jokic on one end then go up against a tank of a defender in AG on the other end of the floor. The series is mostly gonna come down to jokic and ant and who can execute down the stretch.
@lynpugs wolves defence isn't just size. They swarm the passing lane and put whole court pressure on you. Denver gonna gas early and min gonna pull away on the third consistently
@@un-taimmusic9229 he's a very good play he's got a great future nobody's saying that nobody that hasn't common sense to say that but Denver does have answers and Denver's got the players that are magically amazingly great too Jamal The Joker mpj Gordon all those guys are great even kcp and that and any one of them could step up on a given time it just blows me away that you got these people in comments that love and I mean love to run their mouth and they disrespect Denver is unbelievable I've never seen the disrespect so badly last time I seen it this bad was against one when my spurs were winning titles it's funny that these people love to disrespect teams that play team basketball and and then when they come back and win the series they've got nothing to say exactly my point
Wolves in 4. Last year playoff they kept losing a 20+ point lead in the forth quarter because the coach never calls timeout to stop momentum he only called a timeout after they lost the lead. Also didn't have mc Daniel or reed when they were always leading the games by +15.
Murray's shooting percentage is consistently poor in the first round; he had almost the same shooting percentage against the Lakers as he did against Minnesota in the first round last season. And yes, you're underestimating the Nuggets by only predicting 2 wins for them in the series, but you'll see that the Lakers weren't that bad. Denver wasn't shooting well, but they still found a way to beat a very motivated Lakers team. And I'm confident that Denver will find a way to eliminate the Minnesota team hyped up by the media. Just like last year, Denver was the first seed, but in the media, they were considered underdogs against the Suns or Lakers. However, we all saw the outcome last year...
If you told someone in the 90s that a wolves vs nuggets series would be pivotal to the future direction of 2 future 1st ballot hall of famer's careers..... they would tell you your a fkn liar and walk away.
One thing i think is important to note is that Tim connely is the gm of the wolves and he was the gm of the denver nuggets and he drafted jamal & jokic. He might have some insider info about the weaknesses that they have as he spent a lot of years with the nuggets.
The wolves got better, simply because jmac and Reid playing now, on the other hand Denver's bench got thinner. The Joker will be doing joker things but the offense of Gordon MPJ and Murray will be tested against Jmac Gobert NAW and ANT. I think for Denver Gordon is the key (on both ends of the floor) if he could up his shooting outside could boost or put pressure on the wolves defense. For the Wolves, it would be Jmac and KAT if both players could get to 20pts per game, it will be over for the defending champs. Wolves in 7...
Bro, I just want you to know, people are gonna watch you just because you ain’t an AI. And yo branding fye. Take it as far as you can imagine man. This ain’t replaceable
Boy oh boy where do I even start, Dear Hardwood you are genuinely the most beautiful amazing handsome intelligent man on this earth, the world without would crumble and would be a very dark place. My Dearest Hardwood, With every video, you enchant the court, weaving tales of glory and triumph. Your prowess on the hardwood resonates with the beating of my heart, for in your game, I find the essence of greatness. boy oh boy…Hardwood…wood…..king….ever since i laid my eyes on you i’ve never watched basketball the same. the way you analyze the game and put out videos just motivates me to get up everyday. In a world where legends rise and fall, there exists a titan among titans, a colossus whose greatness transcends the bounds of the court and touches the very fabric of our collective imagination. His name? Hardwood. To merely call him a basketball youtuber would be an injustice, for Hardwood embodies more than just athletic prowess. He is a paragon of excellence, a maestro orchestrating. In the realm of hoops, one name shines bright, Hardwood, a beacon of might. With each video, he claims his reign, Inspiring millions with his basketball game. Oh boy oh boy.. Hardwood, huh? heh Ever since he joined the league.. he's been the epitome of excellence and kindness. he's wonderful in every way possible. He's my everything.
I tried to tell yall ant and shai are better than tatum and said zi was crazy.. ant averaged 31 ppg against kd suns on almost 50 40 90 at 22 years old in the west.. he is on a different level and him and wemby will be the faces of the league in 5 years, league is in amazing hands
Though I disagree with your overall prediction, I do think your point about MPJ is correct. If he keeps playing at his current pace, then Ant isn’t gonna be the only superstar born in these playoffs. People forget, because it’s been so long, but his comp was KD for a reason. If he plays like a star then you have to make tough choices because you can’t guard all 3. Nuggets in 6
Suns had no size their defence is what last in the regular season? Wolves have been glazed with that matchup and they are going to lose because of that Denver in 5
It's kinda surprising how few people believe in the Celtics. I don't think they beat the Nuggets and i haven't looked into their matchup vs the Wolves/Thunder, but i guess people don't believe Tatum is that guy
They just randomly put up stinkers. And now KP has a calf strain. Could very well end up winning it all and have us all looking silly. But I’m not a believer over these two teams.
I don't think a few role players from Minnesota can make up a gentlemans sweep. And Gentlemen of the nicest kind. Jokic missed a very late game FT attempt or this would have been a sweep. Nuggets in 6. The Wolves are so young. They need to build scar tissue. KAT will fade in the crunch, and the Nuggets execute in the clutch. The Wolves don't have enough to keep up with Denver.
Ant hasn't yet proved his ability in clutch playoff. They won by big margins against the Suns. If they have a big lead on Nuggets in the 4th they will win. But if its close in the 4th, the Nuggets are anazing in clutch moments and that pedigree will get them through.
Denver dominated the Celtics during the regular season and went to and two against the Timberwolves so I would say that this series is the more important basketball series
It wasn't just about tomorrow Murray it was also without mpj mpj wasn't playing in that series when Denver was injured in 2021 let's be honest let's stop leaving out information not to mention that was a whole different team they've got like 14 new players that were not even on that Squad so let's make sure we get all the points across and then as you seen Denver got revenge on Phoenix when they were healthy they destroyed them and they would have swept them this year
I kinda don't mind either winning. I would love to see the wolves win their first title like the nuggets last year, but I think you're underestimating the contribution Peyton Watson, Christian Braun and Reggie Jackson will have on the series. Denver just takes it imo. I might be wrong but I can't ignore the playoff experience and how clutch they are.
I absolutely could be. But according to the Lakers series Malone doesn’t trust those guys. Denver had the lowest total bench minutes played of anyone in the first round. Minnesota is a far deeper team than LA. It will be interesting to see what levers Malone pulls
@@hardwood_yt we don't know exactly the game plan of Malone. Last year they prepared different strategies for different teams plus anyone from the nuggets team is like a ticking bomb that can explode at any given time. I'm not underestimating the wolves but I got the nuggets in 7.
Accurate prediction. Jamal and KCP aren't shooting the ball well early in the games outside of a few streaks. AG losing his 3 ball is going to bite them in the ass when they don't have to guard him on the perimeter. Timberwolves just look like a better team with better offense and defense.
Kinda funny the Nuggets played a C- version of themselves in the first half of every Lakers game. Managed to erase a 20pt deficit, which is crazy. Lucky for them Murray is still the most clutch player in post-season history. His 4th quarter stats are off the charts. AG struggles with 3 ball, this is not new, Denver wants him to have it though. Despite 3 ball attempting AG and players coming out cold, 4 of the starters still average 20pts a game. Forgot to mention MPJ and Jokic…. Lol Good luck.
This series is about who goes to the western conferencce finals and has absolutely nothing to do with the future of the NBA. Breath, people and return to reality. Over the last couple of weeks the future of the NBA has been Wemby, SGA, Luka, Zion, the nuggets and Celtics. Have you tried breathing and just let the future reveal itself in due time. What's the hurry?
This series gonna come down to coaching and I’m not betting against Mike Malone he’s proven many times to be able to crack a team game plan coming back 3-1 twice in the same playoffs I can see the wolves taking a 2-0 lead then the nuggets figure them out and win in 6
Well, you didn't at all mention maturity -- the type that's understood on a basic human level. IMO Denver has more of that to back up what they're good at when things get tough 🏀. Therefore: the edge goes to the Nuggets
What if the wolves sweep them? Not saying it's gonna happen, but i have a feeling this series won't turn out in Denver's favor. Timberwolves are scary good. Just my two cents worth.
the point is. If the Wolves win, Anthony Edwards skyrockets. If Nuggets win...they are on the path of dynasty and he continues his ascent into the GOAT conversation