2025 NBA PLAYOFFS West First Round: #4 Denver Nuggets vs #5 LA Clippers (Series tied 2-2)

[Wolfgang630]

It’s kind of nice to have a blowout. Wayyyy less stressful lol

[ejftw]

I love how everyone is assuming the series is over when it's 1-1. Cleary people don't remember 2020 or how those games went.

2020, the Clippers had a scumbag by the name of Montrezl Harrell that was a turncoat.

[KGDirkTD_Fan]

I know folks have been obsessed with the Lakers/Warriors as dark horse contenders but the Clippers have been underestimated in that regard. They look like the #4 team behind OKC/Cavs/Celtics. Short sample size so we will see if that holds.

[Raps in 4]

It's sad how bad this team has fallen off in two short years. They are just so un-fun to watch, it's so depressing.

The team was never that good. The only reason they won the title was Murray got hot at the right time. Relying on a streaky (and injury-prone) player to get hot for you to win isn't a recipe for sustained success.

Blah blah blah. They were clearly the best team in the NBA in 2023. Don't start with that.

I didn't say they weren't. A team of Jokic + another All-Star is good enough to win the title any season. The problem is that second All-Star is only an All-Star for a few weeks at a time, and is a scrub the rest of the time. You don't know when you're going to get All-Star Murray and when you're going to get bum Murray.

[HotRocks34]

This version of Denver is over.

Two of your three highest paid guys can't be Murray and MPJ and you expect to contend.

The owners better wake up now.

If this isn't fixed next year, I'm gone if I'm Jokic. They're throwing away your prime.

Jokic needs to ask for the ball, because the team cannot initiate offense without him, it's really bad.

He's stuck because he knows they'll triple team him.

Other guys have to be able to consistently make plays to take advantage of the coverage against Jokic and they just can't do it.

Teams used to double Jokic and now they're tripling him. Why not? No one else can do anything consistently.

I'm kind of glad this is happening because it is showing what the team is without Jokic. A disaster.

[guynumber45]

This is the new wave in the NBA. 2 star players surrounded by incredible depth. There's a reason why Shai and Tatum will likely be in the finals while Giannis/Jokic will be gone in round 1 even though the latter are the superior players. Depth is more important than ever to win.

[LakersSoul]

Are the Nuggets done?

[jokeboy86]

Jokic and Giannis both need to demand out in the off-season.

If they were American they would but since they're not they won't. Jokic is content to basically let the GMs/Front Office to do their jobs and players to adjust to it. Giannis is too scared to leave Milwaukee because it's the only city he's known since he's been in this country. They're stuck.

This is very true. i wish Euro players were more vocal (and disloyal, to an extent).

I can't figure out why and even their agents don't put any pressure on their teams(other than to pay them). Gasol didn't even make noise about wanting to leave Memphis if I recall before the Lakers trade. And small markets take advantage of foreign superstars not saying anything too.

[OldSchoolNoBull]

Zubac for Muscala seems to fly under the radar of bad trades, but it looks pretty bad.

[Wolfgang630]

This version of Denver is over.

Two of your three highest paid guys can't be Murray and MPJ and you expect to contend.

The owners better wake up now.

If this isn't fixed next year, I'm gone if I'm Jokic. They're throwing away your prime.

Jokic needs to ask for the ball, because the team cannot initiate offense without him, it's really bad.

He's stuck because he knows they'll triple team him.

Other guys have to be able to consistently make plays to take advantage of the coverage against Jokic and they just can't do it.

Teams used to double Jokic and now they're tripling him. Why not? No one else can do anything consistently.

I'm kind of glad this is happening because it is showing what the team is without Jokic. A disaster.

Yep. Why double Jokic when you know you can triple team him and the team isn’t good enough to make anything happen? You make it even more harder for him to score and get turnovers and the other guys don’t punish you.

[KyRo23]

Hey at least Jokic is on pace for a triple double

[f4p]

I love how everyone is assuming the series is over when it's 1-1. Cleary people don't remember 2020 or how those games went.

I mean, this game isn't even over.

[SpurNani]

Umm yeah he can lose this series. The clippers are the better team and they have James Harden and Kawhi vs Jokic

This doesn't make sense.

Jokic is being labeled a top 10 player of all time by many. Jokic should have 5 MVP awards according to many.

If he's that great, there's no way he loses this series. LA is not far better talent wise and certainly not even close to being so talented that a 5 time MVP can't beat them with Murray, Porter, Gordon, Braun, etc.

So which is it...

Jokic is not top 10-15 all time and not a 5 time MVP? Because that kind of talent beats the Clippers.

1 Jokic
2 Kawhi
3 Harden
4 Zubac
5 Powell
6 Jamal
7 Gordon

That’s the difference.

Yeah Norman Powell who was averaging 12 points on 10-26 shooting through the first two games is better than Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon lol

Keep copping pleas for your boy Jokic

[OldSchoolNoBull]

If they were American they would but since they're not they won't. Jokic is content to basically let the GMs/Front Office to do their jobs and players to adjust to it. Giannis is too scared to leave Milwaukee because it's the only city he's known since he's been in this country. They're stuck.

This is very true. i wish Euro players were more vocal (and disloyal, to an extent).

I can't figure out why and even their agents don't put any pressure on their teams(other than to pay them). Gasol didn't even make noise about wanting to leave Memphis if I recall before the Lakers trade. And small markets take advantage of foreign superstars not saying anything too.

I hope they both stay. Last thing I want to see is new superteams formed.

[doogie_hauser]

I really want legacy/franchise goat players like Joker and Giannis to retire as a Nugget and Buck

Hate this modern day culture LeBron and KD have created in being Ring Chasers.

Staying loyal to the team that drafted you and made you a superstar should not be regarded as a bad thing

[SpurNani]

Hey at least Jokic is on pace for a triple double

Thats all that matters. Jokic can get his pretty numbers so his man fans can say look it’s not his fault.

Dude is beyond passive.

[Raps in 4]

This is very true. i wish Euro players were more vocal (and disloyal, to an extent).

I can't figure out why and even their agents don't put any pressure on their teams(other than to pay them). Gasol didn't even make noise about wanting to leave Memphis if I recall before the Lakers trade. And small markets take advantage of foreign superstars not saying anything too.

I hope they both stay. Last thing I want to see is new superteams formed.

If OKC gets a super team, I wouldn't even be mad. Presti is a **** genius that put them in a position to trade for anyone by drafting and trading well to accumulate talent.

I get mad when LA/Miami get super teams without needing to actually do anything, just because they have beaches.

[f4p]

This is going to be an interesting off-season for Nuggets.

The only move they have is to trade Jokic. No one is taking MPJ, Murray, AG, Nnaji or Saric on their contracts. And Braun is a restricted FA after next season so i doubt many teams would be interested in overpaying him a season early.

They have no tradeable picks.

Maybe they could swap Watson for something but it wont be better than Watson.

I have never seen a team burry their star in mediocrity like this.

I mean you never trade jokic unless he specifically asks. You can just bottom out and try to regroup with him. Rebuilding just to try to get another jokic (there are none) is not a good strat.

[durden_tyler]

First 6 minutes of the 3rd quarter will define Jokic's legacy. (LOL, i just want them to make a comeback)

[ejftw]

First possession of the second half, Harden falls asleep and the Nuggets get a bunny.

But Aaron Gordon missed a bunny