2025 NBA PLAYOFFS West First Round: #4 Denver Nuggets vs #5 LA Clippers (Series tied 1-1)

[IG2]

Jokic is not going to have any high scoring games in this series with the way LAC's guarding him. They don't outright double him, but the moment he puts it on the floor and takes a dribble he's hounded by 3-4 guys. The late defensive collapse also makes it hard for him to set guys up.

[Marvin Martian]

Kawhi with no knee problems would have been in the GOAT discussion.

Absolutely not. Leonard is not a natural playmaker; he is score first. LAC had to get him a real PG because he and Paul George couldn't run the offense.

[Exp0sed]

Why are we talking like Jokic is being single covered lol. He's literally being swarmed by 3 clippers as soon as he's in the paint.

Plenty of possessions he’s been stifled by Zu.

Which ones? Aside from that contested three. He's taken 6 shots and is 3-6.

He's literally being swarmed everytime.

stifled?

he's not forcing the issue vs. Zubac and the double\triple teams instead he's facilitating. he has "only" 5 assists but could have easily had 10 in the first half alone. some very easy shots were missed after great setups from the Joker

he played an amazing half imo, wasn't fed enough by his teammates tho, Nuggets cast is pretty boneheaded..

[Dubnation]

LeBron and Steph are lucky Kawhi is made of glass. The last decade would have looked a lot different with him playing regularly. Peak Kawhi is easily up there with those two in terms of impact.

Steph isn't exactly the paragon of durability. You know this right?

[scrabbarista]

Salutations my astute Fam,

Nugget Power! Mile High Might! We Shall Prevail!

Nugget Power! We Shall Prevail!

[OkcSinceSGA]

Plenty of possessions he’s been stifled by Zu.

Which ones? Aside from that contested three. He's taken 6 shots and is 3-6.

He's literally being swarmed everytime.

stifled?

he's not forcing the issue vs. Zubac and the double\triple teams instead he's facilitating. he has "only" 5 assists but could have easily had 10 in the first half alone. some very easy shots were missed after great setups from the Joker

he played an amazing half imo, wasn't fed enough by his teammates tho, Nuggets cast is pretty boneheaded..

So the 30 ppg has been turned into a bailout 3 guy and playmaker. If that happens all series Denver won’t do much.

Zu was a +5 with 10/8

Jokic was a 0 net rating with 8/4/5 2 turnovers.

[Tracymcgoaty]

Plenty of possessions he’s been stifled by Zu.

Which ones? Aside from that contested three. He's taken 6 shots and is 3-6.

He's literally being swarmed everytime.

stifled?

he's not forcing the issue vs. Zubac and the double\triple teams instead he's facilitating. he has "only" 5 assists but could have easily had 10 in the first half alone. some very easy shots were missed after great setups from the Joker

he played an amazing half imo, wasn't fed enough by his teammates tho, Nuggets cast is pretty boneheaded..

It's homerism talk. Ain't nobody watching that game saying Zubac is stopping Jokic. He's got 4 guys on him as soon as he puts the ball down.

[cjx]

Who's the better son of Air Jordan, Kawhi, Ant or Jimmy? Let me know. Thank you

[turnaroundJ]

33 years old with bone on bone knees. gotta admit i didn't think kawhi still had THIS but damn he's as good as ever. worth the contract despite all the missed games, insanely.

[Exp0sed]

Which ones? Aside from that contested three. He's taken 6 shots and is 3-6.

He's literally being swarmed everytime.

stifled?

he's not forcing the issue vs. Zubac and the double\triple teams instead he's facilitating. he has "only" 5 assists but could have easily had 10 in the first half alone. some very easy shots were missed after great setups from the Joker

he played an amazing half imo, wasn't fed enough by his teammates tho, Nuggets cast is pretty boneheaded..

So the 30 ppg has been turned into a bailout 3 guy and playmaker. If that happens all series Denver won’t do much.

they'll do plenty if he'll have 20 pts and 20 asists every game and yes - Clippers are an elite defensive team and Zu is a top 3 matchup for a team wanting to slow down Jokic

[MartyConlonOnTheRun]

LeBron and Steph are lucky Kawhi is made of glass. The last decade would have looked a lot different with him playing regularly. Peak Kawhi is easily up there with those two in terms of impact.

Steph isn't exactly the paragon of durability. You know this right?

yeah but steph might not have had as many rings...hell KL stole one of them

[Tracymcgoaty]

LeBron and Steph are lucky Kawhi is made of glass. The last decade would have looked a lot different with him playing regularly. Peak Kawhi is easily up there with those two in terms of impact.

Steph isn't exactly the paragon of durability. You know this right?

yeah but steph might not have had as many rings...hell KL stole one of them

You mean when both Klay and durant went down and they basically put 4 guys on Steph the rest of the series

[Ari_Emanuel]

Kawhi is still that dude. Jokic vs Kawhi is hands down the most compelling first round match up.

And you wouldnt know it because only Lebron/Lakers and Steph exist to the national media in these playoffs. If they go out early they'll start freaking out again

You aren't wrong

[scrabbarista]

Who's the better son of Air Jordan, Kawhi, Ant or Jimmy? Let me know. Thank you

Biologically speaking, Kawhi is an impostor. The other two are legitimate illegitimate sons. I like ANT, because he moves like Jordan.

[ejftw]

Another wide/wide ish open shot clanked

[ejftw]

Another wide/wide ish open shot clanked

And another

[OkcSinceSGA]

Powell has to be pulled. This is dumb

[jokeboy86]

Guess that calf is alright lol. Jokic with a prime athletically Gordon would have been lob city or the modern Kidd/Martin. Highlights daily

[OkcSinceSGA]

Harden’s floater becoming elite is something else this late career.

[ejftw]

So, anyone gonna ask how that's a foul on Zu