Nuggets - Potential Playoff Matchups

[The Rebel]

One more thing what is with the whole the Nuggets should just be happy to be in the playoffs? I trace it back to the whole stop talking and let the team do the talking last year, but **** we were a couple of bad bounces away from the western conference finals last year as the 4th youngest team in NBA history to even make the 2nd round, and we are 1 1/2 games out of 2 despite tanking 2 games and having as many injuries as any of the other contenders this season. Hell Jokic put up the 8th best stat line in NBA playoff history on his 1st trip to the playoffs. The disrespect from other fans and national broadcasters is bad enough, but from our own fans?

I am going to say it since so many won't, **** the Lakers, **** the Clippers, **** the Rockets, **** the Jazz, the Thunder, the Mavs, the Trailblazers, just **** them all and if you think we are lucky to be in the playoffs than **** you too. Our team deserves to be in the talk about contenders as much or more than any of them. I am tired of the disrespect, I am tired about hearing how they all have proven playoff performers and we don't despite what happened last year, I am tired of hearing how we may be dangerous in a few years. **** that, the disrespect is out of hand and **** those of you feeding into it, it is bull.

[THE J0KER]

PLOT TWIST: Houston also suddenly want to choose Lakers over Clippers for some reason!? They today tanked game vs Spurs playing without Harden.

Maybe true Rockets motivation for that is not to escape Clippers in WC-SF but Mavs in 1st round of the playoff, I'm not sure. Utah without important scorer Bogdanovic, and Oklahoma as a team which overachieved in regular-season seem arguable as a more welcome position.

Doncic playing in the bubble like a legit MVP candidate and KP rises suddenly in Orlando into an all-star level player. But we have BIG3 now, and once playoff starts I guess Joker will turn once again into true all-NBA first-team level monster. Eventual Nuggets-Mavs series will be the best 1st round matchup, followed by Celtics-Sixers.

[NuggetsWY]

One more thing what is with the whole the Nuggets should just be happy to be in the playoffs? I trace it back to the whole stop talking and let the team do the talking last year, but **** we were a couple of bad bounces away from the western conference finals last year as the 4th youngest team in NBA history to even make the 2nd round, and we are 1 1/2 games out of 2 despite tanking 2 games and having as many injuries as any of the other contenders this season. Hell Jokic put up the 8th best stat line in NBA playoff history on his 1st trip to the playoffs. The disrespect from other fans and national broadcasters is bad enough, but from our own fans?

I am going to say it since so many won't, **** the Lakers, **** the Clippers, **** the Rockets, **** the Jazz, the Thunder, the Mavs, the Trailblazers, just **** them all and if you think we are lucky to be in the playoffs than **** you too. Our team deserves to be in the talk about contenders as much or more than any of them. I am tired of the disrespect, I am tired about hearing how they all have proven playoff performers and we don't despite what happened last year, I am tired of hearing how we may be dangerous in a few years. **** that, the disrespect is out of hand and **** those of you feeding into it, it is bull.

Many thought Murray was just boasting or whatever when he said the Nuggets can beat anyone - if the team is playing well.

Let's consider "the team"

Starters - there aren't many teams that can match them, not for best of seven
Jokic - already proven to be the best passing center of all time and he just happens to have a decent outside shot and some good post moves and advanced metrics say his defense is better than he is given credit for
Millsap - an elite PF that may be nearing the end of his career but he can still play above average (even superior) defense and hit some threes and score down low
Porter - probable playoff starting SF who is already shocking people with his scoring and handles - defense is a problem, but he makes the effort and will get better
Harris - elite defender and if he gets his stroke back - WOW!
Murray - the perfect complement to Jokic - he can score in team play or one-on-one and makes a solid effort on defense (getting better there for sure)

Bench - came close to beating the Laker starters
Plumlee - not a great shooter but he impacts the game by getting to the rim and protecting the rim - and he just happens to have decent handles and decent passing skills
Grant - he's an excellent 3pt shooter from the corner and he runs the baseline well - his defense is definitely above average and he can guard the big SFs of the league and even big PFs aren't much of a problem
Barton - looks to be a wing bench player, a position he once excelled at - without a doubt he's a better player today than he was back then - can't wait to see him against other teams' benches
Morris - unspectacular but so steady and solid he could start for several other teams

Other players that might get some minutes, especially in case of injury
Craig & Dozier
but let's not forget the Wild Card named Bol

If all works out well, they could definitely beat anyone in a seven game series this year and for next year, I expect teams will be trying to figure out to match up with Denver.

[THE J0KER]

Dallas is officially now #7 seed after losing to Portland in a weird playoff-level game.

We can face them as #2 seed if we beat Clippers tomorrow, and then in the final round beat Raptors with Clippers lose to Oklahoma. We should beat Clippers anyway and then lose to Toronto.

With both remaining games lose we still can switch 3rd seed for 4th seed and face Lakers instead of Clippers in WC-SF.

[The Rebel]

Spoiler:

One more thing what is with the whole the Nuggets should just be happy to be in the playoffs? I trace it back to the whole stop talking and let the team do the talking last year, but **** we were a couple of bad bounces away from the western conference finals last year as the 4th youngest team in NBA history to even make the 2nd round, and we are 1 1/2 games out of 2 despite tanking 2 games and having as many injuries as any of the other contenders this season. Hell Jokic put up the 8th best stat line in NBA playoff history on his 1st trip to the playoffs. The disrespect from other fans and national broadcasters is bad enough, but from our own fans?

I am going to say it since so many won't, **** the Lakers, **** the Clippers, **** the Rockets, **** the Jazz, the Thunder, the Mavs, the Trailblazers, just **** them all and if you think we are lucky to be in the playoffs than **** you too. Our team deserves to be in the talk about contenders as much or more than any of them. I am tired of the disrespect, I am tired about hearing how they all have proven playoff performers and we don't despite what happened last year, I am tired of hearing how we may be dangerous in a few years. **** that, the disrespect is out of hand and **** those of you feeding into it, it is bull.

Many thought Murray was just boasting or whatever when he said the Nuggets can beat anyone - if the team is playing well.

Let's consider "the team"

Starters - there aren't many teams that can match them, not for best of seven
Jokic - already proven to be the best passing center of all time and he just happens to have a decent outside shot and some good post moves and advanced metrics say his defense is better than he is given credit for
Millsap - an elite PF that may be nearing the end of his career but he can still play above average (even superior) defense and hit some threes and score down low
Porter - probable playoff starting SF who is already shocking people with his scoring and handles - defense is a problem, but he makes the effort and will get better
Harris - elite defender and if he gets his stroke back - WOW!
Murray - the perfect complement to Jokic - he can score in team play or one-on-one and makes a solid effort on defense (getting better there for sure)

The one spot I would disagree with you is that Millsap is an elite PF or a superior defender, the good news though is that he is turning into an elite shooter, which helps the offense and his biggest weakness on defense which is the athletic perimeter guys like Davis. The good news is that bot Grant and Bates-Diop are good defending against those guys.

Bench - came close to beating the Laker starters
Plumlee - not a great shooter but he impacts the game by getting to the rim and protecting the rim - and he just happens to have decent handles and decent passing skills
Grant - he's an excellent 3pt shooter from the corner and he runs the baseline well - his defense is definitely above average and he can guard the big SFs of the league and even big PFs aren't much of a problem
Barton - looks to be a wing bench player, a position he once excelled at - without a doubt he's a better player today than he was back then - can't wait to see him against other teams' benches
Morris - unspectacular but so steady and solid he could start for several other teams

The good thing is that they can all play off the ball well enough to not totally destroy the offense when Barton decides it is time to iso 10 times in a row.

Other players that might get some minutes, especially in case of injury
Craig & Dozier
but let's not forget the Wild Card named Bol

I did not watch the scrimmages, but watched Bol last night, I am still not sold on him. I see a guy not quick enough to keep up with the athletic forwards, forcing the team to keep an athletic Center on the court at all times. I also do not see him ever being more than a good backup big. Not a bad guy to have, but not someone we should be depending on if we expect to go far in the playoffs.

If all works out well, they could definitely beat anyone in a seven game series this year and for next year, I expect teams will be trying to figure out to match up with Denver.

It depends on health, we do not have the glaring weaknesses that most teams have, which also hurts some guys for recognition. I call it the AI affect in sports fans. People only remember what they are told about a player, so many just watch their team, highlights on youtube, and the sports shows. They end up thinking all the role players are borderline stars on teams with no coverage and that all the role players on superstar's teams all suck outside of the occasional game. When we were kids it was always the stars blamed for failures, today it is the opposite. Lebron has always been a huge beneficiary of that AI affect, but the stars like Jokic, Murray, and hopefully MPJ soon are not rated as highly as they should be.

[TunaFish]

Dallas is officially now #7 seed after losing to Portland in a weird playoff-level game.

We can face them as #2 seed if we beat Clippers tomorrow, and then in the final round beat Raptors with Clippers lose to Oklahoma. We should beat Clippers anyway and then lose to Toronto.

With both remaining games lose we still can switch 3rd seed for 4th seed and face Lakers instead of Clippers in WC-SF.

What a weird dilemma for the Nuggets. If the take the 2d seed they play Dallas. They may want to drop to the 4th seed and possibly play OKC. In that event, Houston takes the 3d seed and plays Utah. The Lakers and the Clippers are about equally difficult in the second round so pick your opponent. Does seeding even matter at this point with these teams?

Therefore, play your whole team all the way to the end of the roster, rest your starters as much as you can and not worry about winning or losing the next two games. I think this is what Malone has on his mind.

[skywalker33]

Dallas is officially now #7 seed after losing to Portland in a weird playoff-level game.

We can face them as #2 seed if we beat Clippers tomorrow, and then in the final round beat Raptors with Clippers lose to Oklahoma. We should beat Clippers anyway and then lose to Toronto.

With both remaining games lose we still can switch 3rd seed for 4th seed and face Lakers instead of Clippers in WC-SF.

What a weird dilemma for the Nuggets. If the take the 2d seed they play Dallas. They may want to drop to the 4th seed and possibly play OKC. In that event, Houston takes the 3d seed and plays Utah. The Lakers and the Clippers are about equally difficult in the second round so pick your opponent. Does seeding even matter at this point with these teams?

Therefore, play your whole team all the way to the end of the roster, rest your starters as much as you can and not worry about winning or losing the next two games. I think this is what Malone has on his mind.

Realistically, ALL the Nuggets know this, I can almost guarantee we will tank our next game vs. LAC to ensure we are not that 2nd seed. Expect to a lot of KBD, Dozier and Bol in a very loose flowing offense as part of their "developmental" plan

[TunaFish]

Dallas is officially now #7 seed after losing to Portland in a weird playoff-level game.

We can face them as #2 seed if we beat Clippers tomorrow, and then in the final round beat Raptors with Clippers lose to Oklahoma. We should beat Clippers anyway and then lose to Toronto.

With both remaining games lose we still can switch 3rd seed for 4th seed and face Lakers instead of Clippers in WC-SF.

What a weird dilemma for the Nuggets. If the take the 2d seed they play Dallas. They may want to drop to the 4th seed and possibly play OKC. In that event, Houston takes the 3d seed and plays Utah. The Lakers and the Clippers are about equally difficult in the second round so pick your opponent. Does seeding even matter at this point with these teams?

Therefore, play your whole team all the way to the end of the roster, rest your starters as much as you can and not worry about winning or losing the next two games. I think this is what Malone has on his mind.

Realistically, ALL the Nuggets know this, I can almost guarantee we will tank our next game vs. LAC to ensure we are not that 2nd seed. Expect to a lot of KBD, Dozier and Bol in a very loose flowing offense as part of their "developmental" plan

This could get interesting in the sense that the Clippers may be doing the same thing

[Manolito]

Looks irrelevant, but would be great if Houston losses his last game (vs PHI).

We have their FRP, if they win (and OKC not, which is somehow likely vs LAC) it will be 25th, if they lose 23th

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