Game 42: Denver Nuggets (29-12) vs. Indiana Pacers (27-15) - 8:00 PM ET

ducler · Post #1 » by **ducler** » Sun Jan 19, 2020 8:40 pm

Post #2 » by **NuggetsWY** » Sun Jan 19, 2020 9:59 pm

Turner is active, so Jokic will have his hands full unless Malone matches Jokic against Sabonis and puts Grand on Turner - which could make sense.

Warrens will be a tough match-up for Barton IMO. But if Porter starts at SF, I think that favors Denver.

Barton would match-up much better against Lamb than Warren. If Craig does start, I anticipate the Pacers sagging off from him based on how they've played some other teams.

it might surprise some, but I like Morris covering Brogdon and I don't really expect Brogdon to slow down Morris much.

Post #3 » by **THE J0KER** » Sun Jan 19, 2020 11:43 pm

Early this month Denver beat Indiana in Indianapolis with MPJ scoring career-high 25 points despite playing just 22 minutes. He should start this game, and maybe Plumlee too. I don't like too much Jokic-Plumlee playing together, but maybe against Sabonis-Turner duo, it makes sense.

Post #4 » by **THE J0KER** » Mon Jan 20, 2020 3:36 am

26-41 disaster in 4th. Opponent's center makes triple-double, so we can see how our opponents feels often because of the Jokic. Also Indiana bench player played like all-star shooting 9-10 (6-7 for 3p). But we still should win this.

Manolito · Post #5 » by **Manolito** » Mon Jan 20, 2020 5:40 am

Malone is trash, what a useless Guy.

He closed the game with a lineup Barton Craig Grant Plumlee Jokic

What is he thinking?? What does actually Craig bring to this team? Of course Plumlee missed two key free throws, similar to @Warriors game

Is Connelly alive? Nuggets last 10 games has the worst 3pt % (31%). Tonight 3/23. How long do they need yo wait until they trade for a shooter?

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Manolito · Post #6 » by **Manolito** » Mon Jan 20, 2020 1:24 pm

MPJ started really cold (0/5 FG) but in the fourth quarter he scored three buckets in a row...and he gets benched!!! To close the game with Craig Grant and Plumlee, smh Malone!!

Another loss to Malone and Barton duo, this team is not going to have a deep PO run as long as any of these two is in around.

Post #7 » by **NuggetsWY** » Mon Jan 20, 2020 2:41 pm

As Manolito said :noway:

What was Malone thinking with his closing lineup? I've always thought Jokic belonged in closing lineups but Malone likes to pull him for Plumlee. Unfortunately Plumlee likes to play up close on outside shooters so they can blow right by him for an easy layup.

I get it, Malone likes Barton but why does he slide into the lane leaving a read-hot McDermott wide open in the corner for a late game three? Barton's defense has always focused on making spectacular plays but not the less spectacular cover-your-man defense. He should be pulled for late game defense.

Playing Craig for a closing lineup would be fine, if Malone did the offense-defense swap with Barton - but late games require some offense too. Craig's offense isn't there and Plumlee can't hit a free throw. Tonight's closing rotation made no sense.

But this game shouldn't have been that close. We had a nice start (on defense anyway). Then we let the Pacers back into the game for two quarters of even play and then we took a nap in the 4th quarter.

If my memory is working correctly, Jokic scored 28 points in the first two quarters and only 2 free throws in the fourth quarter. What's really crazy is that he only took two shots and one of those was a ridiculously deep three at desperation time. I suspect he was frustrated at not getting any shots. Even crazier still, Jokic had no assists at all in the 1st & 4th quarters and only four assists in the 2nd & 3rd quarters.

Jokic needs to touch the ball and/or get the ball in the low post. He is our best player and we need him to have the ball in his hands. We need to have him running the offense. We need to have him shooting.