Friday 3/29 NBA Game Thread

[bisme37]

It's a 12 game Friday with huge implications for the West playoffs if you're into that sort of thing!

- Nuggets and Wolves battle for #1 in West
- Thunder host Suns looking to move from #3 to #2, Suns looking to climb back out of play-in
- Mavs vs Kings - DAL looks to stay in 6th and move 2 games up on SAC, while SAC looks to pull even with DAL and own h2h tie breaker
- Houston goes for 11 in a row as they continue to push for Play-in spot
- Lakers go for 6 in a row, visit Pacers on NBA TV
- Clippers host Magic as they look to stay ahead of NOP for #4
- Warriors visit Hornets as they try to hold off HOU for #10
- Plus other stuff like Cavs vs Sixers and Knicks vs Spurs but I'm tired of typing things now so enjoy

[UcanUwill]

Lets go Hornets I guess. Micic is due for next MVP award.

[CelticSooner]

Question for Nuggets fans, what is your teams biggest weakness?

Edit: what not who

[ChipotleWest]

Question for Nuggets fans, who is your teams biggest weakness?

Not a Nuggets fan and I don't watch a lot of their games but I can take a guess. Reggie Jackson.

[UcanUwill]

I would be a little worried about MPjr, he is important piece and he has been great, but sometimes he can get cold for several games, and I wonder how the whole development over his brother could effect his game. Nuggets are the team to beat without question, but they do not have same depth as the Celtics, and if MPjr. has a bad stretch, it could be bad for them.

[scrabbarista]

Question for Nuggets fans, what is your teams biggest weakness?

Edit: what not who

1.I don't have great confidence in the starting five's ability to stay healthy: all players barring maybe MPJ (ironically) have been banged up this season; they're coming off a long postseason; they're pushing for playoff position, which may add wear. If one of that five goes down, things get pretty rickety from 6-8.

2. The three-man bench is majorly unproven. Braun being the most trusted guy tells you all you need to know. If a situation arises where Jackson/Watson becomes hard to play, then the other six may have to play more minutes, which raises point (1.) again. If you don't want a "who" here, then the answer could be bench depth or ball-handling.

3. The offense could dry up against a good defense that knows how to play off of Gordon, Watson, Braun, etc.. Minny could shut them down, and Boston could slow them enough to make it up on offense. If Murray and Gordon play lots of bench minutes (as expected), does a strong defense and a bit of luck take care of Jokic with the bench players?

I know this isn't X's and O's centric, but it's how I could see Denver losing.

[Johnny Tomala]

Lakers, Clippers, Thunder, Nuggets, Mavericks.

[scrabbarista]

Lakers are unbeatable!

[Goomba3666]

Not sure why Nuggets-Wolves aren't on ESPN. NBA really fuming every bag.

[scrabbarista]

Not sure why Nuggets-Wolves aren't on ESPN. NBA really fumbling every bag.

espn is showing young women basketball teams tonight.

[jkvonny]

Not sure why Nuggets-Wolves aren't on ESPN. NBA really fumbling every bag.

espn is showing young women basketball teams tonight.

Also March Madness on the mens side on the other channels.
Sweet 16/Elite 8 weekend.

[CelticSooner]

Question for Nuggets fans, what is your teams biggest weakness?

Edit: what not who

1.I don't have great confidence in the starting five's ability to stay healthy: all players barring maybe MPJ (ironically) have been banged up this season; they're coming off a long postseason; they're pushing for playoff position, which may add wear. If one of that five goes down, things get pretty rickety from 6-8.

2. The three-man bench is majorly unproven. Braun being the most trusted guy tells you all you need to know. If a situation arises where Jackson/Watson becomes hard to play, then the other six may have to play more minutes, which raises point (1.) again. If you don't want a "who" here, then the answer could be bench depth or ball-handling.

3. The offense could dry up against a good defense that knows how to play off of Gordon, Watson, Braun, etc.. Minny could shut them down, and Boston could slow them enough to make it up on offense. If Murray and Gordon play lots of bench minutes (as expected), does a strong defense and a bit of luck take care of Jokic with the bench players?

I know this isn't X's and O's centric, but it's how I could see Denver losing.

Good stuff but that doesn’t make me feel much better about a potential matchup lol the entire league will be hoping Jokic gets worn out if they want to beat them.

[scrabbarista]

Question for Nuggets fans, what is your teams biggest weakness?

Edit: what not who

1.I don't have great confidence in the starting five's ability to stay healthy: all players barring maybe MPJ (ironically) have been banged up this season; they're coming off a long postseason; they're pushing for playoff position, which may add wear. If one of that five goes down, things get pretty rickety from 6-8.

2. The three-man bench is majorly unproven. Braun being the most trusted guy tells you all you need to know. If a situation arises where Jackson/Watson becomes hard to play, then the other six may have to play more minutes, which raises point (1.) again. If you don't want a "who" here, then the answer could be bench depth or ball-handling.

3. The offense could dry up against a good defense that knows how to play off of Gordon, Watson, Braun, etc.. Minny could shut them down, and Boston could slow them enough to make it up on offense. If Murray and Gordon play lots of bench minutes (as expected), does a strong defense and a bit of luck take care of Jokic with the bench players?

I know this isn't X's and O's centric, but it's how I could see Denver losing.

Good stuff but that doesn’t make me feel much better about a potential matchup lol the entire league will be hoping Jokic gets worn out if they want to beat them.

Make lots of 3's!

Oh, I'm more worried about the other four starters' health than Jokic's. But any of the five being hobbled could be the difference in a series.

[jkvonny]

Question for Nuggets fans, what is your teams biggest weakness?

Edit: what not who

1.I don't have great confidence in the starting five's ability to stay healthy: all players barring maybe MPJ (ironically) have been banged up this season; they're coming off a long postseason; they're pushing for playoff position, which may add wear. If one of that five goes down, things get pretty rickety from 6-8.

2. The three-man bench is majorly unproven. Braun being the most trusted guy tells you all you need to know. If a situation arises where Jackson/Watson becomes hard to play, then the other six may have to play more minutes, which raises point (1.) again. If you don't want a "who" here, then the answer could be bench depth or ball-handling.

3. The offense could dry up against a good defense that knows how to play off of Gordon, Watson, Braun, etc.. Minny could shut them down, and Boston could slow them enough to make it up on offense. If Murray and Gordon play lots of bench minutes (as expected), does a strong defense and a bit of luck take care of Jokic with the bench players?

I know this isn't X's and O's centric, but it's how I could see Denver losing.

Good stuff but that doesn’t make me feel much better about a potential matchup lol the entire league will be hoping Jokic gets worn out if they want to beat them.

I would try to get the starters (one of the best starting core in the NBA) worn out and get to their bench (not the greatest).
Celtics have more depth and deeper team IMO.
Also double teaming seems to be effective on Jokic at times, forcing their other starters to shoot well (risky tho).
Attack their defense with Pick n roll. And shoot yall usual 3s (when yall get hot, unbeatable), Nuggets doesn't like to get in 3 ball shootouts (they dont shoot lots of 3s). The Suns tends to match up well with them because of this.

[scrabbarista]

1.I don't have great confidence in the starting five's ability to stay healthy: all players barring maybe MPJ (ironically) have been banged up this season; they're coming off a long postseason; they're pushing for playoff position, which may add wear. If one of that five goes down, things get pretty rickety from 6-8.

2. The three-man bench is majorly unproven. Braun being the most trusted guy tells you all you need to know. If a situation arises where Jackson/Watson becomes hard to play, then the other six may have to play more minutes, which raises point (1.) again. If you don't want a "who" here, then the answer could be bench depth or ball-handling.

3. The offense could dry up against a good defense that knows how to play off of Gordon, Watson, Braun, etc.. Minny could shut them down, and Boston could slow them enough to make it up on offense. If Murray and Gordon play lots of bench minutes (as expected), does a strong defense and a bit of luck take care of Jokic with the bench players?

I know this isn't X's and O's centric, but it's how I could see Denver losing.

Good stuff but that doesn’t make me feel much better about a potential matchup lol the entire league will be hoping Jokic gets worn out if they want to beat them.

I would try to get the starters (one of the best starting core in the NBA) worn out and get to their bench (not the greatest).
Celtics have more depth and deeper team IMO.
Also double teaming seems to be effective on Jokic at times, forcing their other starters to shoot well (risky tho).
Attack their defense with Pick n roll.

Maybe single Jokic with the starters and double him in the middle of the game when he plays with the bench.

I dunno!

[jkvonny]

Good stuff but that doesn’t make me feel much better about a potential matchup lol the entire league will be hoping Jokic gets worn out if they want to beat them.

I would try to get the starters (one of the best starting core in the NBA) worn out and get to their bench (not the greatest).
Celtics have more depth and deeper team IMO.
Also double teaming seems to be effective on Jokic at times, forcing their other starters to shoot well (risky tho).
Attack their defense with Pick n roll.

Maybe single Jokic with the starters and double him in the middle of the game when he plays with the bench.

I dunno!

I added this to my post as welll " And shoot yall usual 3s (when yall get hot, unbeatable), Nuggets doesn't like to get in 3 ball shootouts (they dont shoot lots of 3s). The Suns tends to match up well with them because of this."

True. BTW, what you stated.

[Goomba3666]

Not sure why Nuggets-Wolves aren't on ESPN. NBA really fumbling every bag.

espn is showing young women basketball teams tonight.

Good point.

[scrabbarista]

Can't wait to see the hoopin' tonight! I actually am into this sort of thing! Hope there are some good games!

[Goomba3666]

I truly believe the only team the way of the Wolves is the Nuggets. And honestly, it's gonna take some really good play from MPJ and Gordon for them to beat the Wolves in 7.

They don't even have to hide Conley due to the amount of size/ athleticism in the back court and front court. Truly a nightmare

[canada_dry]

I would be a little worried about MPjr, he is important piece and he has been great, but sometimes he can get cold for several games, and I wonder how the whole development over his brother could effect his game. Nuggets are the team to beat without question, but they do not have same depth as the Celtics, and if MPjr. has a bad stretch, it could be bad for them.

He struggled in the finals and they still dominated. He's more of a luxury than a necessity tbh, and that's perfect for him.

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