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2018-19 Western Conference Playoff Race

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Re: 2018-19 Western Conference Playoff Race 

Post#241 » by THE J0KER » Sun Jan 20, 2019 6:22 am

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Unfortunately, Houston and Oklahoma stole wins today with last seconds threes, so our #2 spot is far away from secure, especially once March starts with our horror March-Aprill schedule. But at least it is nice to see we winning routinely games we supposed to win. In the last 5 weeks, upset vs Suns was the only loss from games where Nuggets are bold favorites to win. If we win next 4 games (road game vs Utah is toughest one) Malone still has chances to coach the all-star game, because Warriors have two risky games on the East in the same period (Boston and Indiana).
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Re: 2018-19 Western Conference Playoff Race 

Post#242 » by Lala870 » Sun Jan 27, 2019 5:53 am

Top 8 minus the clippers is what I predicted. Lakers should make up ground once Banana boat captain returns.

Im not sure why so many people had the spurs missing the playoffs
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Re: 2018-19 Western Conference Playoff Race 

Post#243 » by THE J0KER » Sun Jan 27, 2019 12:58 pm

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Another great month is close to the end, and if we use the fact that our team is healthy, that Memphis gave-up from the playoff race, and that A.Davis is injured, road games vs Grizzlies and Pelicans is not that dangerous, and we can finish January with a great 12-4 record despite that shocking loss in Phoenix. I expecting another good month in February, but despite it looks now like we are bonded for #2 WC seed spot, we actually still not secured even TOP3 status. For a team with a perfect 22-4 record at home and not so impressive 11-11 on the road, worst case schedule scenario is to have much stronger opponents on the road, and exactly that is what will happen with Denver during March and April where 10 out of 12 Nuggets road games are vs 2019 playoff teams (maybe 11 if Washington reach playoff too)! So, despite what current standings say or future standings at the end of the February, we still not get rid of Houston and Oklahoma in WC TOP3 race!
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Re: 2018-19 Western Conference Playoff Race 

Post#244 » by THE J0KER » Sat Feb 2, 2019 8:14 am

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Denver is back once again on TOP of the West after January 15, after winning 5 straight games lately. GSW is healthy, so #1 at the end is not a realistic goal, but after winning Houston tonight Denver is clearly #1 favorite to reach #2 seed, and almost secured for TOP3 seed.
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Re: 2018-19 Western Conference Playoff Race 

Post#245 » by NuggetsWY » Sat Feb 2, 2019 11:42 am

THE J0KER wrote:Image

Denver is back once again on TOP of the West after January 15, after winning 5 straight games lately. GSW is healthy, so #1 at the end is not a realistic goal, but after winning Houston tonight Denver is clearly #1 favorite to reach #2 seed, and almost secured for TOP3 seed.

Our next seven games should easily result in 5 or 6 wins - of course 7 wins would be nicer. :D
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Re: 2018-19 Western Conference Playoff Race 

Post#246 » by THE J0KER » Sun Feb 3, 2019 1:27 am

NuggetsWY wrote:Our next seven games should easily result in 5 or 6 wins - of course 7 wins would be nicer. :D

Our next 3 (road) games are perfect test how this team change mindset on the road. At home, we are almost perfect already last season with league #3 best record at home, and this season we have no problems at home in general even when multiple starters are missing the game. On the road, we are much better this season than last season, but the biggest reason for that is fact that we are just pathetic last season on the road. Last season we would lose at least two out of these three road games vs these teams ranked somewhere between #15-#20 in the league.

First, tonight game vs Minnesota is especially interesting because it is our Division rival and team which kicked-off Denver from playoff last season in overtime of last season last game. Also, if Denver wins, I think Malone would reach all-star coach job this month!
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Re: 2018-19 Western Conference Playoff Race 

Post#247 » by THE J0KER » Sun Feb 10, 2019 4:58 am

Oklahoma overturned -22 halftime deficit tonight in Houston and won, which is good news for Denver staying TOP3 at the end of the regular season, but not so good for our chances to stay #2 seed because OKC is our main threat. Lakers didn't bring another star to LBJ before the trade deadline, so I don't see how Lakers can improve from current #10 spot to better than #7 seed, but maybe Houston may drop also to #6-#7 seed on purpose, which will force them to face DEN or OKC already in 1st round, but at least they can't face GSW before eventual WC final. So despite TOP3 seed status, we can easily to face TOP5 WC team (Houston or Lakers) already in 1st round.

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The good news for Denver after losing 3 straight games on the Eastern road trip is that in next 7 games we playing at home 6 times, with no surprise if we stay unbeaten in all these upcoming games.
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Re: 2018-19 Western Conference Playoff Race 

Post#248 » by skywalker33 » Sun Feb 10, 2019 5:22 am

My little conspiracy theory - Nuggets are just laying it down to get that WAS 2nd round pick. All we need to to drop down to the 24th slot and we can get the (currently) 38th pick :lol:
Texas Chuck wrote:I'd like to see Utah, and Denver lose


Exactly as I've been saying all along !!
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Re: 2018-19 Western Conference Playoff Race 

Post#249 » by THE J0KER » Sun Feb 10, 2019 10:48 am

skywalker33 wrote:My little conspiracy theory - Nuggets are just laying it down to get that WAS 2nd round pick. All we need to to drop down to the 24th slot and we can get the (currently) 38th pick :lol:

We are #26 right now (aka #4), but I see before the end of the regular season Oklahoma and Philadelphia overtaking us at the end...

For those who forget it, Denver already traded 2nd round picks of 2020, 2021, and 2022. https://basketball.realgm.com/nba/draft/future_drafts/detailed
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Re: 2018-19 Western Conference Playoff Race 

Post#250 » by eathb_au » Sun Feb 10, 2019 2:35 pm

There's a legitimate chance that we drop below OKC and Portland in the standings. Just disappointing after the giant lead we built and considering that we dropped out of the previous two playoffs by 1 game. This team doesn't value games enough.
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Re: 2018-19 Western Conference Playoff Race 

Post#251 » by THE J0KER » Sun Feb 10, 2019 4:38 pm

eathb_au wrote:There's a legitimate chance that we drop below OKC and Portland in the standings. Just disappointing after the giant lead we built and considering that we dropped out of the previous two playoffs by 1 game. This team doesn't value games enough.
Team which have legitimate chances to overtake Denver is Oklahoma and with Denver assistance Houston if they make a perfect run after upcoming Capela comeback. For other teams are too late, except if Denver collapses on an epic way. For example, in the next 7 games is realistic to expect just about 1 Denver loss, but in the next 8 Portland games at least 5 should be lost!

DENVER (37-18) NEXT 7: MIA SAC @DAL LAC OKC UTA NOP
PORTLAND (33-21) NEXT 8: @DAL @OKC GSW @BKN @PHI @CLE @BOS @TOR

That means in last 20 games if Denver achieves 10-10 record Portland needs 18-2 to overtake Nuggets!
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Re: 2018-19 Western Conference Playoff Race 

Post#252 » by U hova » Mon Feb 11, 2019 3:37 pm

Sometimes the team plays like it's expecting to win too.
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Re: 2018-19 Western Conference Playoff Race 

Post#253 » by skywalker33 » Mon Feb 11, 2019 4:52 pm

U hova wrote:Sometimes the team plays like it's expecting to win too.


This is a good team, shouldn't they play with that type of confidence ?
Texas Chuck wrote:I'd like to see Utah, and Denver lose


Exactly as I've been saying all along !!
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Re: 2018-19 Western Conference Playoff Race 

Post#254 » by NuggetsWY » Mon Feb 11, 2019 6:34 pm

skywalker33 wrote:
U hova wrote:Sometimes the team plays like it's expecting to win too.

This is a good team, shouldn't they play with that type of confidence ?

If they don't play with confidence, then we probably need to get rid of most of our players and coaching staff. I know that I am one fan that believes this Nuggets team can beat any team in the NBA - when they play their style. I surely do hope they believe that too!
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Re: 2018-19 Western Conference Playoff Race 

Post#255 » by THE J0KER » Thu Feb 14, 2019 5:18 am

THEORY CONSPIRACY ALERT: Is it just me, or Houston Rockets, arguably TOP5 team on the West, now when is too late for them to reach TOP3 seed, intentionally trying to escape #4&#5 seeds (do not meet with GSW before the eventual final) targeting Denver/Oklahoma in 1st round of the playoff?
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Re: 2018-19 Western Conference Playoff Race 

Post#256 » by NuggetsWY » Thu Feb 14, 2019 5:21 am

THE J0KER wrote:THEORY CONSPIRACY ALERT: Is it just me, or Houston Rockets, arguably TOP5 team on the West, now when is too late for them to reach TOP3 seed, intentionally trying to escape #4&#5 seeds (do not meet with GSW before the eventual final) targeting Denver/Oklahoma in 1st round of the playoff?

:lol: If so, they need to sit Harden down for a few games.
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Re: 2018-19 Western Conference Playoff Race 

Post#257 » by THE J0KER » Thu Feb 14, 2019 5:51 am

NuggetsWY wrote:
THE J0KER wrote:THEORY CONSPIRACY ALERT: Is it just me, or Houston Rockets, arguably TOP5 team on the West, now when is too late for them to reach TOP3 seed, intentionally trying to escape #4&#5 seeds (do not meet with GSW before the eventual final) targeting Denver/Oklahoma in 1st round of the playoff?

:lol: If so, they need to sit Harden down for a few games.
4-8 teams are very tied in rankings, they can't risk worst case scenario, #8 place and face GSW already in the 1st round of the playoff.
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Re: 2018-19 Western Conference Playoff Race 

Post#258 » by skywalker33 » Thu Feb 14, 2019 6:03 am

THE J0KER wrote:
NuggetsWY wrote:
THE J0KER wrote:THEORY CONSPIRACY ALERT: Is it just me, or Houston Rockets, arguably TOP5 team on the West, now when is too late for them to reach TOP3 seed, intentionally trying to escape #4&#5 seeds (do not meet with GSW before the eventual final) targeting Denver/Oklahoma in 1st round of the playoff?

:lol: If so, they need to sit Harden down for a few games.
4-8 teams are very tied in rankings, they can't risk worst case scenario, #8 place and face GSW already in the 1st round of the playoff.


Well the Warriors are just 1 game ahead of the Nuggets, how close to the 8th spot do teams want to get just to avoid the Warriors ??
Texas Chuck wrote:I'd like to see Utah, and Denver lose


Exactly as I've been saying all along !!
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Re: 2018-19 Western Conference Playoff Race 

Post#259 » by The Rebel » Thu Feb 14, 2019 6:47 am

skywalker33 wrote:
THE J0KER wrote:
NuggetsWY wrote: :lol: If so, they need to sit Harden down for a few games.
4-8 teams are very tied in rankings, they can't risk worst case scenario, #8 place and face GSW already in the 1st round of the playoff.


Well the Warriors are just 1 game ahead of the Nuggets, how close to the 8th spot do teams want to get just to avoid the Warriors ??


Teams are not to that point of the season right now, nobody is worrying about playoff positioning to avoid other teams until the last few games of the season. As you allude to that is a dangerous game especially this early in the year, you lose a game or two right now and have a major player miss a couple of weeks later in the season and you could easily be out of the playoffs in this conference. There are only 6 games separating 4-10th seed right now.


I think the Rockets biggest issue is that Capela has been out. He may be the most underrated player in the NBA. While his overall game is limited, his finishing ability and defensive ability add considerably to that team. Faried has helped them on offense, but his lack of effort and size on defense is killing that team.
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Re: 2018-19 Western Conference Playoff Race 

Post#260 » by THE J0KER » Fri Feb 15, 2019 3:33 am

Capela will be back after ASG, so we will see is Houston late often unexpected loses product of calculations to escape GSW before WC final (to not be #4 and #5 seed if GSW reaches #1).

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