WCQF | P1 (2) Denver Nuggets vs (7) San Antonio Spurs

[jason bourne]

What do the Nikola Jokic fans say now?

They might say that Jokic is a 24 year old, 7 foot-250 lb center and is leading his team into the playoffs for the first time in years as the number 2 seed in the Western Conference. They also could point out that his season numbers for 2019 are 20.1 points per game, 51.1 % shooting, 10.8 rebounds per game and 7.2 assists per game. At age 23, he became the third-youngest player to reach 20 triple-doubles with only Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson ahead of him. In his 22nd career triple-double on 1/19/2019 he passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to move into second place on the NBA all-time triple-doubles list by a 7-footer.

I say as long as he can play, we are in for a ride.

Also this:

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

C'mon. Jokic has the stats, but doesn't have the history to back it up in the playoffs. I think Spurs coach Greg Popovich will come up with something up his sleeve to upend the stats minded Nugz in a long series. Jokic has to rise to the occasion or else it could be an embarrassing one and done for the #2 seed.

[spikeslovechild]

Spurs in 6

[wojoaderge]

Spurs in 6

I agree, but I feel they have win it 6 or less

[Sgt Major]

C'mon. Jokic has the stats, but doesn't have the history to back it up in the playoffs.

Absolutely. However, his stats make us very confident that he can lead team in the playoffs too. Those are not empty numbers.

[spikeslovechild]

Spurs in 6

I agree, but I feel they have win it 6 or less

Jokic 3PT shot has been awful this year.

His value and on court contribution is totally different without it. If he continues to struggle with it in the playoffs it could be a short series.

[Pillendreher]

From what I can gather, the Nuggets started playing their "real starters" 20 games ago. In those 20 games, they were actually better defensively than offensively: +0.7 defensively and -0.4 offensively, relative to league average. What gives?

[Ballerhogger]

Nuggets in 7 I think Jokic is enough to get over the hump but i would not be supersized if the spurs won this series. There role players will have to play well to end sooner. I think LMA looks pretty good right now.

[manchambo]

They might say that Jokic is a 24 year old, 7 foot-250 lb center and is leading his team into the playoffs for the first time in years as the number 2 seed in the Western Conference. They also could point out that his season numbers for 2019 are 20.1 points per game, 51.1 % shooting, 10.8 rebounds per game and 7.2 assists per game. At age 23, he became the third-youngest player to reach 20 triple-doubles with only Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson ahead of him. In his 22nd career triple-double on 1/19/2019 he passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to move into second place on the NBA all-time triple-doubles list by a 7-footer.

I say as long as he can play, we are in for a ride.

Also this:

Read on Twitter

Read on Twitter

C'mon. Jokic has the stats, but doesn't have the history to back it up in the playoffs. I think Spurs coach Greg Popovich will come up with something up his sleeve to upend the stats minded Nugz in a long series. Jokic has to rise to the occasion or else it could be an embarrassing one and done for the #2 seed.

WTF does "stats minded Nugz" mean? If the Nuggets, and especially Jokic, were concerned with stats, Jokic would be scoring 25+ per game, which he could easily do, albeit to the detriment of their team game.

[manchambo]

Nuggets in 7 I think Jokic is enough to get over the hump but i would not be supersized if the spurs won this series. There role players will have to play well to end sooner. I think LMA looks pretty good right now.

As a Nuggets fan, I have a lot of confidence that Jokic will play well. He is simply a special player, and there's never been any evidence of him playing worse in high pressure situations. In the final game of last season, which was essentially a playoff game between Denver and Minnesota, Jokic put up 35 and 10, including a number of key 4th quarter scores.

If it goes badly, I think it is far more likely to be due to players like Murray, Harris, Barton, and Beasley not holding up to playoff pressure. And going back again to that loser-goes-home game last year against Minnesota, Denver ultimately lost because essentially everyone except Jokic turtled in overtime. Murray, especially has made strides in clutch plays this season--he has been cold blooded in a number of games. But you don't know how everyone will perform with playoff pressure until you see it.

[Ballerhogger]

Nuggets in 7 I think Jokic is enough to get over the hump but i would not be supersized if the spurs won this series. There role players will have to play well to end sooner. I think LMA looks pretty good right now.

As a Nuggets fan, I have a lot of confidence that Jokic will play well. He is simply a special player, and there's never been any evidence of him playing worse in high pressure situations. In the final game of last season, which was essentially a playoff game between Denver and Minnesota, Jokic put up 35 and 10, including a number of key 4th quarter scores.

If it goes badly, I think it is far more likely to be due to players like Murray, Harris, Barton, and Beasley not holding up to playoff pressure. And going back again to that loser-goes-home game last year against Minnesota, Denver ultimately lost because essentially everyone except Jokic turtled in overtime. Murray, especially has made strides in clutch plays this season--he has been cold blooded in a number of games. But you don't know how everyone will perform with playoff pressure until you see it.

It will be best first round sereis for sure

[Sgt Major]

Jokic had more than five games in which he needed only one more basket, rebound or assist for a triple-double, but he didn't care and spent the closing minutes on the bench. He's not chasing stats, he really cares only about his own team.

[JimmyRustle]

I'll take Pop and the Spurs over Denver's inexperience and horrible play recently. Spurs in 6

[CIN-C-STAR]

I don't really know what to expect in this series, but I'll just say that, as a Spurs fan, I'm thrilled we got Denver.
Not because of their lack of experience or any of the matchup stuff, but because I love watching Jokic play, and the rest of the team seems like good guys too. Jokic and Giannis are probably my favorite non-Spurs players to watch in the league.
Compared to having to watch a series against Houston full of Harden flops and travels and CP3 whining and dirty plays, this feels like a bball blessing.
Good luck Denver fans. Your team has had a great season regardless of how it ends and you have a lot to look forward to.

[jason bourne]

WTF does "stats minded Nugz" mean? If the Nuggets, and especially Jokic, were concerned with stats, Jokic would be scoring 25+ per game, which he could easily do, albeit to the detriment of their team game.

Haha. It sounds as though you are gripping already for the Nugz matchup vs the Spurs. Understandable, when the Nugz have one of the youngest rosters, if not the youngest, in the WC playoffs. OTOH, Spurs have playoff tested DeMar, LaMar, Gay, Beli and more. They also have the edge in coaching of Pops v. Malone. I got the Spurs in 7, so your team will give a battle. If it goes seven, then either team could win and advance to the second round.

[bon]

Also, as much as everyone hates on Derozan (myself included), the whole worst playoff performer ever thing is a bit overblown. He has had good series in the past. And on this team he is not the first option and he has mostly played team ball here. Aldridge is going to feast on Denvers front line and will be our go to. So it's not like we're depending on Demar to carry us because our PG is injured and a playoff choker also like the old Raptors teams

It's not overblown at all. He's statistically one of the few worst multi Allstar playoff performers of all time. http://bkref.com/tiny/jtRsl.

The Spurs aren't good defensively so unless Aldridge is putting up 40 points a game by himself every night, they're going to need DeMar to contribute at a good level on the offensive end. If he plays like he usually does in the playoffs the Spurs won't make it out of the series.

[Richard Miller]

C'mon. Jokic has the stats, but doesn't have the history to back it up in the playoffs. I think Spurs coach Greg Popovich will come up with something up his sleeve to upend the stats minded Nugz in a long series. Jokic has to rise to the occasion or else it could be an embarrassing one and done for the #2 seed.

Hard to have history when he just turned 24 two months ago. Chance to make some finally.

[Bornstellar]

Also, as much as everyone hates on Derozan (myself included), the whole worst playoff performer ever thing is a bit overblown. He has had good series in the past. And on this team he is not the first option and he has mostly played team ball here. Aldridge is going to feast on Denvers front line and will be our go to. So it's not like we're depending on Demar to carry us because our PG is injured and a playoff choker also like the old Raptors teams

It's not overblown at all. He's statistically one of the few worst multi Allstar playoff performers of all time. http://bkref.com/tiny/jtRsl.

The Spurs aren't good defensively so unless Aldridge is putting up 40 points a game by himself every night, they're going to need DeMar to contribute at a good level on the offensive end. If he plays like he usually does in the playoffs the Spurs won't make it out of the series.

I get what you're saying. But DD is not relying on an oft injured PG who routinely shrinks in the playoffs to be his 2nd option. And against the front line that Denver has I honestly wouldn't be surprised if LA does put up 40 on them because they have no one who can guard him one on one. Playing Denver allows SA to start Poeltl and with him, LA, and White on the court the Spurs are a much better team defensively.

I still think Denver will win. And I understand why people are quick to put Derozan down. All we can do is wait and see

[Wigginstime]

Everyone is concerned about Jokic's performance but i expect that to be completely irrelevant. Knowing Pop, my guess is he focuses more on stopping the Denver guards. Jokic can score all he wants as long as he isn't facilitating.

Denver's Record
When Jokic gets 8 or more assists: 30 - 6
When Jokic has less than 8 assists: 23 - 21
When Jokic has less than 5 assists: 9 - 10

Moral of the story - you beat Denver by not allowing Jokic to become a playmaker. Don't double Jokic when he is in the post - he always finds the open defender. He has one of the highest IQs and court vision of any center in the history of the NBA. Make Jokic score and not pass. I fully expect Pop to allow Jokic to get 25 points a night. Jokic scoring isn't a problem. Its when he gets the offensive games of Murray, Harris, Barton, and Millsap going that Denver becomes scary.

[Young_Star11]

Could be a series where neither side wins on the road. In that case, Denver win in 7.

[manchambo]

WTF does "stats minded Nugz" mean? If the Nuggets, and especially Jokic, were concerned with stats, Jokic would be scoring 25+ per game, which he could easily do, albeit to the detriment of their team game.

Haha. It sounds as though you are gripping already for the Nugz matchup vs the Spurs. Understandable, when the Nugz have one of the youngest rosters, if not the youngest, in the WC playoffs. OTOH, Spurs have playoff tested DeMar, LaMar, Gay, Beli and more. They also have the edge in coaching of Pops v. Malone. I got the Spurs in 7, so your team will give a battle. If it goes seven, then either team could win and advance to the second round.

I have no idea how this relates to your claim that the Nuggets are "stats minded."