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BelgradeNugget wrote:This is from the most important game these teams played in the regular season. Game 80 for both teams, that decided 1-3 positions in the west ( we all know Denver lost that 1st in the west losing to Spars, but that is another story)
Game was played in Denver, KAT didn't play so result is not important here, something else is reason I brought it here

https://www.espn.com/nba/recap/_/gameId/401585792

Jamal Murray added 20 points in 27 minutes and Michael Porter Jr. scored 18 for the Nuggets, who pulled away by holding Anthony Edwards without a bucket in the fourth quarter. Edwards led Minnesota with 25 points but was a non-factor in the fourth as Denver's reserves put on a show featuring Peyton Watson's six blocks and Christian Braun's rim-rattling dunks.
Edwards said Jokic kept blocking his way to the basket, so he had no choice but to dish and his teammates' shots just weren't falling: “He’s just there, so there’s nowhere for me to go," Edwards said.
We knew what this game was going to determine,” Edwards said. “If we won it, we knew we were going to possibly be the No. 1 seed, and if we lost it, we knew they’d possibly be the No. 1 seed. I think we cared before but now that we lost we can’t do nothing about it.

Denver find a way to slow Edwards down. On the other end of the court

Scoring 41 points to go with 11 rebounds and seven assists, Jokic made 16 of 20 shots against the NBA's best defense while being guarded most of the night by the league's top defender, Rudy Gobert, along with Naz Reid.

Alatan wrote:

TheFire wrote:Yup. He’s too big for him. Watson and Braun might be a better cover against him.

Edwards 6' 4", 225 lbs
KCP 6' 5", 204 lbs

Ant is a great player and few if any can slow him down but lets drop this dumb narrative how Ant is some giant compared to KCP.

Shaka_Zulu wrote:

Alatan wrote:

TheFire wrote:Yup. He’s too big for him. Watson and Braun might be a better cover against him.

Edwards 6' 4", 225 lbs
KCP 6' 5", 204 lbs

Ant is a great player and few if any can slow him down but lets drop this dumb narrative how Ant is some giant compared to KCP.

It's not height, when they face, Ant is just too strong and explosive for KCP in that match up. KCP better against actual guards, while Ants style is like a ferocious and relentless wing. In regular season and even last years playoffs Ant was going off vs KCP.



While also you can't really put Gordon on Ant because that means Gordon is not under the basket where he does his most damage offensively and defensively. He is big and athletic, and can hang with big wings/forwards, but Ants pretty fast and plays mostly on perimeter, waste for Gordon to be patrolling perimeter most of game.

Alatan wrote:

TheFire wrote:Yup. He’s too big for him. Watson and Braun might be a better cover against him.

Edwards 6' 4", 225 lbs
KCP 6' 5", 204 lbs

Ant is a great player and few if any can slow him down but lets drop this dumb narrative how Ant is some giant compared to KCP.

AlexanderRight wrote:KCP is maybe quick enough but not strong enough. Aaron Gordon is definitely strong enough but not quick enough. Mike Malone got his homework cut out for him.

I'd send consistent doubles with Porter and KCP. Put Gordan on KAT. Force McDaniels/Walker/Gobert to swing the series.

Wallace_Wallace wrote:If it helps you sleep, Mike Conley played Jamal Murray twice in the playoff, Utah against Denver in 2020 (31.6 on 68% TS), last year Wolves against Denver (Murray 27 on 60% TS). He’s probably looking at Conley like food.

rapstarter wrote:Anthony Davis just averaged 28/16/4 on 67 TS% (which is probably more than you could ask from Ant) and the Lakers still lost in 5. Nuggets don't have to shut down Ant to win. That said, Minnesota is a better team than the Lakers so I imagine they will have a much better chance.

zimpy27 wrote:Yeah not sure if Denver needs to stop Ant, if anything I'd be trying to encourage him to score at his usual 56% TS.

I'd be more concerned with reducing KAT and Gobert impact for this particular series.

BigGargamel wrote:I mean really, no one can guard Ant. Just like no one can guard Jokic.

Gordon shut down Towns last year. It would be foolish to move him off of that assignment.

lambchop wrote:

Ugly Duckling wrote:Pls tell me Malone is just hiding his game plan, because I can't think of anyone in the league who could potentially do a better job guarding Ant than Aaron Gordon.

I know Gordon isn't considered an elite defender, but no one can stop Ant and Gordon is athletic enough to stay close to him and make it as difficult as possible. Defense on Ant is going to have to be played in the air and KCP doesn't live up there.

https://youtu.be/w_fqDBPZXlQ?si=i4bQAZRL_14G63XM

That's not how defense works. Defense is played before Ant is in the air. There's a certain baseline of athleticism that is needed to be able to compete with those kind of guys. As long as that is given, other skills are what are truly key. It's the same reason Bruce Bowen was the primary defender on prime Kobe, Tmac, LBJ or why the Grizzlies stifled Blake Griffin with Zach Randolph and Marc Gasol. None of those defenders were worried about challenging guys in the air.

Danny Green would be another example. He did a lot of the heavy lifting defensively alongside Kawhi against the likes of prime Westbrook, KD, LBJ, Wade etc. JJ Barea on LBJ might be another one, but that might be too extreme.
I could go on and on. Anyway, being a great raw athlete really isn't essential when it comes to defense.

stoo wrote:if gordon takes on ant, i beleve mpj will rotate to kat, not kcp like most people think. also, why can't kcp guard ant?

doogie_hauser wrote:No, but on the other hand, can anyone from the Wolves guard Jamal Murray (who is a killer in the playoffs) ?

Going to be an all time classic series I am sure of it.

Nuggets in 7.

Alatan wrote:

Shaka_Zulu wrote:

Alatan wrote:
Edwards 6' 4", 225 lbs
KCP 6' 5", 204 lbs

Ant is a great player and few if any can slow him down but lets drop this dumb narrative how Ant is some giant compared to KCP.

It's not height, when they face, Ant is just too strong and explosive for KCP in that match up. KCP better against actual guards, while Ants style is like a ferocious and relentless wing. In regular season and even last years playoffs Ant was going off vs KCP.



While also you can't really put Gordon on Ant because that means Gordon is not under the basket where he does his most damage offensively and defensively. He is big and athletic, and can hang with big wings/forwards, but Ants pretty fast and plays mostly on perimeter, waste for Gordon to be patrolling perimeter most of game.

KCP is a better option than AG. People have this crazy belief how AG is some kind of lockdown defender while in actuality is is pretty average against guards. His advantages come against bigger stronger wings. Ant would just blow by him every time.
A healthy KCP is actually pretty fast and great at guarding fast players. He is also a good screen navigator and a master when it comes to stealing the ball from relaxed ballhandlers. The only problem is that KCP tweaked his ankle pretty badly last game so he might not be a 100% for the rest of the playoffs.

rapstarter wrote:Anthony Davis just averaged 28/16/4 on 67 TS% (which is probably more than you could ask from Ant) and the Lakers still lost in 5. Nuggets don't have to shut down Ant to win. That said, Minnesota is a better team than the Lakers so I imagine they will have a much better chance.