Game 1 : Sacramento Kings (0-0) @ Denver Nuggets (0-0) - 9:00 PM

ducler · Post #1 » by **ducler** » Wed Dec 23, 2020 8:47 pm

skywalker33 · Post #2 » by **skywalker33** » Wed Dec 23, 2020 11:08 pm

Hopefully, we won't underestimate this or any other opponent this season. My biggest concerns tonight are Fox's speed and Murrays consistent poor starts to the season, time for him to realize superstars play the whole season like they do in the bubble !!

Post #3 » by **THE J0KER** » Wed Dec 23, 2020 11:11 pm

These Kings can't beat this healthy Nuggets team, only Nuggets can beat themselves underestimating a lottery-team-level opponent. Shocking upsets against underdogs during the regular season are some kind of trademark of the Nuggets past two seasons, which is actually expected from such a young team, but it would be a little bit too much if they going to be careless already at the opening day of the season. After all, all key players are more experienced now than in 2018 or 2019, and coach Malone too, so an eventual upset tonight would be something really shocking. Kings are a wild team and can be very dangerous on the sudden day, but all is in the Nuggets' hands.

Most interesting things to watch:
- Jokic and Murray start of the season. In the past, they both usually have a cold start but somewhere in December, they start to play in full force. But this season starting in late December!
- Harris offense, Porter's current level and defense, and everyone's minutes.
- Barton status (he is a starter, but what about minutes, and will he finish both halves) and Bol Bol status (real backup at least while Green is out, or only garbage time)
- Bagley shape and rookie Tyrese Haliburton as potential "steal of the draft"

skywalker33 · Post #4 » by **skywalker33** » Thu Dec 24, 2020 12:25 am

Heard JaMychel is out, more PT for Bol

skywalker33 · Post #5 » by **skywalker33** » Thu Dec 24, 2020 3:02 am

Jamal MIA, seems he HATES to start the season :banghead:

davoarid · Post #6 » by **davoarid** » Thu Dec 24, 2020 3:02 am

PJ Dozier looks like a completely new player from the guy we saw last year. Beating guys off the dribble, tough D, crashing the boards. My goodness.

skywalker33 · Post #7 » by **skywalker33** » Thu Dec 24, 2020 3:09 am

No Bol yet, kinda surprises me.

skywalker33 · Post #8 » by **skywalker33** » Thu Dec 24, 2020 3:19 am

Morris must be on vacation with Jamal, both 0-4 tonight. Let's hope the 2nd half sees them return from LaLa land.

skywalker33 · Post #9 » by **skywalker33** » Thu Dec 24, 2020 3:31 am

Fox trying to make a name off of Jamal's new reputation.... :banghead:

skywalker33 · Post #10 » by **skywalker33** » Thu Dec 24, 2020 4:26 am

Wonder if Murray will have the BALLS to step up to the podium tonight ??

skywalker33 · Post #11 » by **skywalker33** » Thu Dec 24, 2020 4:50 am

Thanks, Jamal, a great way to start the season. Maybe Malone should've looked at RJ on the bench, probably had more fire. PATHETIC HOME LOSS !!

davoarid · Post #12 » by **davoarid** » Thu Dec 24, 2020 4:57 am

We gotta stop shooting layups when we have a 2-point lead with 5 seconds to play!

Mickey8 · Post #13 » by **Mickey8** » Thu Dec 24, 2020 5:01 am

Good old Barton, I forgot his greatness and him taking the matter to his hands when the game is on the line . Denver is about to start the season with 0-2.

skywalker33 · Post #14 » by **skywalker33** » Thu Dec 24, 2020 5:18 am

Terrible inbound pass by MPJ, though should've been called a foul, Jokic was clearly mugged.

Timmyyy · Post #15 » by **Timmyyy** » Thu Dec 24, 2020 5:24 am

Obviously pretty disappointing. Only a few guys showed up for work and those ones did a great carrying job right until the end. So props to them. A few thoughts:
- Jokic looks amazing (so annoying he had that TO at the end, otherwise perfect game). It always amazes me how good his defense looks compared to his athletic ability and reputation on that end. He will never be a rim protector, but he definitely protects the paint area with his positioning, smarts and early shooting motion blocks and stripes. He was the only reason that game didn't end in a complete disaster.
- MPJ looked great on offense and had some great flashes on defense. But most of the time he is pretty busy making stupid mistakes on D. Early foul trouble too. But good game overall, looked like everybody was hoping he would be looking I guess. I am glad he started.
- PJ Dozier...man, I love this guy. Good defense, solid offense. Does all the little things you want from a wing role player. I seriously think he could be a role playing starter. Obviously for us right now that won't be possible, but if Gary Harris wouldn't be such a high thought of player in the Nuggets association I could somewhat see him taking that spot at some point.
- Barton started of hot and then made one stupid decision after the other. Really annoying to watch. Did he and Murray scream at each other in that one sequence and then Will didn't get back on D? Or was that me misinterpreting the situation? I don't know, but anyways, I think he will be gone next offseason and maybe even demand a trade during this season. I guess I won't cry about that one...
- Millsap looked really good. He is still so impactful. Glad we still have him around.

Malone rather playing 4-guard-lineups with Dozier as the PF than to bring in Bol or Zeke was a big takeaway of the game. I mean Dozier looked good nonetheless and these lineups weren't the biggest problem of the game. Still the question remains if this was just a matchup thing since the Kings do not really have a lot of big guys at the 4 or if this is the general plan in case some minutes free up at the 4. Somewhat think this won't go well against other teams.

Post #16 » by **THE J0KER** » Thu Dec 24, 2020 5:32 am

I can't believe we lost the game vs underdog on a day when Jokic makes 30-15-15 type of triple-double!?

Murray and Morris combine 2-15 from the field while all Nuggets backcourt players shooting 1-12 for threes. But that would explain why we lost against some good team, not Kings. The defense was not good, Kings outrebounded Nuggets (including 17-10 in offensive rebounds), refs have some scandalous decisions in key moments, Barton trying hero-ball is always flirt with disaster (better if Malone replaced Murray with true PG like Monte or PJ), and Kings are few times very lucky. But still, I can't believe this is happening.

The most positive thing is officially confirmed what we see already during the preseason that Jokic is 100% ready and stronger, and also Malone not continued with that unnecessary SF-starter farce. Of course that MPJ belongs to Denver's starting five as our clearly 3rd best player already.

eathb_au · Post #17 » by **eathb_au** » Thu Dec 24, 2020 5:44 am

We're almost unbeatable when Jokic gets a TD, I can't believe we lost at home to arguably the worst team in the West.

FilNugsFan · Post #18 » by **FilNugsFan** » Thu Dec 24, 2020 6:38 am

Missed the game, but that was some crazy ending. It sucks coz we simply had no business losing to Sacramento. Jokic was obviously awesome, but it sure is gonna be tougher winning games with that kind of output from Murray.

DaFan334 · Post #19 » by **DaFan334** » Thu Dec 24, 2020 7:11 am

Malone needs to drill end of game situational play into his players heads at some point. Will should have dribbled out that dunk attempt until he or someone else was fouled just like Craig should have done in the playoffs when he almost cost us the game going for meaningless points. Dumb play on Barton, but everyone in during crunch time needs to know how to play it.

One other thing, the NBA has to change the rule if they are going to review a play and it is an obvious foul, they have to allow the officials to call it. The out of bounds on Jokic was embarrassingly bad.

eathb_au · Post #20 » by **eathb_au** » Thu Dec 24, 2020 7:54 am

Fellas today we hit a new low in a lack of wing defense is that Harrison Barnes who is one of the worst forwards in the league being able to play like to his Vs us