Thursday 10/24 NBA Game Thread

[thelead]

Stan called it out, the Wolves were playing off of Braun. Not sure what the answer is because there isn’t anyone you can bring in off the bench to replace him either. They need a trade.

And with that said, Braun was the only one on the nuggets with a positive +/- tonight (+8) and was 8/15 from the field with 2 blocks and 2 steals. I don't think he was the problem at all.

Sure, but he didn’t look like the solution either. Single game +/- is always misleading, but nothing I saw tonight says he’s going to help. OKC wasn’t bothering to guard him.

I think the bigger issue is that they pay Murray like a superstar and he's not even an all-star... which is why they can't afford to keep shooters (and defenders) like KCP. Plus, if Westbrook is going to play 20+ mpg to 'run the offense', might as well forget any championship aspirations.

[Chuck Everett]

And with that said, Braun was the only one on the nuggets with a positive +/- tonight (+8) and was 8/15 from the field with 2 blocks and 2 steals. I don't think he was the problem at all.

Sure, but he didn’t look like the solution either. Single game +/- is always misleading, but nothing I saw tonight says he’s going to help. OKC wasn’t bothering to guard him.

I think the bigger issue is that they pay Murray like a superstar and he's not even an all-star... which is why they can't afford to keep shooters (and defenders) like KCP. Plus, if Westbrook is going to play 20+ mpg to 'run the offense', might as well forget any championship aspirations.

The real issue is Gordon and MPJ. They are talented players. They just are not going to be able to scale up enough offensively. Gordon isn't going to learn how to make open 3's at this stage in his career. And they can't win games defensively. Realistically, the way for Denver to win is the same way Sacramento has to win, by scoring a lot of points. They don't have the personnel (or rim protection) to lock down the paint and win slugfest games.

[thelead]

Sure, but he didn’t look like the solution either. Single game +/- is always misleading, but nothing I saw tonight says he’s going to help. OKC wasn’t bothering to guard him.

I think the bigger issue is that they pay Murray like a superstar and he's not even an all-star... which is why they can't afford to keep shooters (and defenders) like KCP. Plus, if Westbrook is going to play 20+ mpg to 'run the offense', might as well forget any championship aspirations.

The real issue is Gordon and MPJ. They are talented players. They just are not going to be able to scale up enough offensively. Gordon isn't going to learn how to make open 3's at this stage in his career. And they can't win games defensively. Realistically, the way for Denver to win is the same way Sacramento has to win, by scoring a lot of points. They don't have the personnel (or rim protection) to lock down the paint and win slugfest games.

they paid MPJ based on potential and the hope that he would continue to improve... and they lost that bet. Sucks that for their fanbase because they are truly stuck right now even thought they have a (easily) top-5 player on their squad.

I just don't get the Murray extension because it just happened and they KNOW what they have in him. I would have told him good luck finding anything better than $40 per and use the savings to resign KCP. GM's have got to get smarter with their cap space.

[doogie_hauser]

And with that said, Braun was the only one on the nuggets with a positive +/- tonight (+8) and was 8/15 from the field with 2 blocks and 2 steals. I don't think he was the problem at all.

Sure, but he didn’t look like the solution either. Single game +/- is always misleading, but nothing I saw tonight says he’s going to help. OKC wasn’t bothering to guard him.

I think the bigger issue is that they pay Murray like a superstar and he's not even an all-star... which is why they can't afford to keep shooters (and defenders) like KCP. Plus, if Westbrook is going to play 20+ mpg to 'run the offense', might as well forget any championship aspirations.

Only injuries have prevented Murray from becoming an All Star imo (he definitely is an all star talent)

Losing KCP was a massive blow but Murray was worth the extension, esp as Denver has traditionally never been a massive draw city for free agents/stars.

OKC is younger and has a lot more depth at this point than Denver but all that counts for naught come playoff time.

Would be foolish to dismiss the Nuggets completely after one loss (against arguably the second favourites to win the chip)

[Doranku]

Chet gonna be better than Wemby but y'all ain't ready for that

[thelead]

Sure, but he didn’t look like the solution either. Single game +/- is always misleading, but nothing I saw tonight says he’s going to help. OKC wasn’t bothering to guard him.

I think the bigger issue is that they pay Murray like a superstar and he's not even an all-star... which is why they can't afford to keep shooters (and defenders) like KCP. Plus, if Westbrook is going to play 20+ mpg to 'run the offense', might as well forget any championship aspirations.

Only injuries have prevented Murray from becoming an All Star imo (he definitely is an all star talent)

Losing KCP was a massive blow but Murray was worth the extension, esp as Denver has traditionally never been a massive draw city for free agents/stars.

OKC is younger and has a lot more depth at this point than Denver but all that counts for naught come playoff time.

Would be foolish to dismiss the Nuggets completely after one loss (against arguably the second favourites to win the chip)

Murray's games played the last 4 years:

59
48
65
59

How a team can give a player with that history a max extension is beyond me.

[Patches Perry]

I don't think OKC has separated themselves from the rest of the west (namely Minnseota and Dallas) but I can't believe how much talent and depth they have. They're both top heavy and deep. I'm knocking on wood they don't have unfortunate injuries.

Shai looks to have deepened his bag. Aaron Gordon used to be one of the most effective defenders on him, and Shai had no trouble beating him tonight.

Chet looks a little stronger in his ability to hold his ground and a little more polished. He was more active off the dribble as well, and effective in doing so.

Wiggins looks like he has improved as well. He was way more competent off the dribble and more polished. I can't believe they secured him for 5 years for 45 mil. He is 25 and will be a very useful player for them for his prime years. One of the best contracts in the NBA right now imo.

Dub and Joe had bad games and overall the Thunder shot pretty bad but their defense (and Denver's bad shooting) made up for it.

I still think OKC may be missing a frontcourt piece in the way of a big forward. Guys like LeBron or Giannis or even Aaron Gordon are often too quick/fast for their bigs but too big for their guards. Dub played a lot of PF last year and did it competently, and he also guarded Gordon well tonight, but it's still a mismatch imo. Especially on the glass. I thought Dieng played a good 13 minutes tonight though, and he fits that big forward bill. We'll see if Heartenstein can change that equation.

Just one game though.

[Chuck Everett]

I think the bigger issue is that they pay Murray like a superstar and he's not even an all-star... which is why they can't afford to keep shooters (and defenders) like KCP. Plus, if Westbrook is going to play 20+ mpg to 'run the offense', might as well forget any championship aspirations.

The real issue is Gordon and MPJ. They are talented players. They just are not going to be able to scale up enough offensively. Gordon isn't going to learn how to make open 3's at this stage in his career. And they can't win games defensively. Realistically, the way for Denver to win is the same way Sacramento has to win, by scoring a lot of points. They don't have the personnel (or rim protection) to lock down the paint and win slugfest games.

they paid MPJ based on potential and the hope that he would continue to improve... and they lost that bet. Sucks that for their fanbase because they are truly stuck right now even thought they have a (easily) top-5 player on their squad.

I just don't get the Murray extension because it just happened and they KNOW what they have in him. I would have told him good luck finding anything better than $40 per and use the savings to resign KCP. GM's have got to get smarter with their cap space.

I think the organization is content with one ring, but also they kind of got unlucky. Their success is built on the backs of having four guys who are all either going to be on 2nd or 3rd contracts, but the CBA changed right after they won. Mike Malone's staff is also not developing any of these young guys. Not even with the G-League. If the goal is to win a title and we all know the bench is the weakness, the only thing you can do is coach them up and throw them into the fire to improve. Overplaying your core four does nothing.

[Patches Perry]

Chet gonna be better than Wemby but y'all ain't ready for that

Please don't start this. Wemby is operating on GOAT potential/expectations and Chet is in a totally different lane now. I say that as someone who is a huge Chet fan, much more than Wemby.

[Klomp]

Ant Man won the Wolves the game but JuJu (Randle) put them in the position to win it and not get blown away by the Kings.

And Minnesota got rid of KAT and his albatross salary/contract.

Donte a nice supporting piece/contributor off the bench.

Minnesota will be fine.

Randle shot 13-17 (.765) tonight.

He showed us something that was one of the biggest issues I had with Towns over the years. If Towns was on a heater, he would stop shooting. In fact, his highest FGAs in a game shooting .601 or better was just 15. Last year, Randle's lowest FGAs in such a game was 16.

[BigGargamel]

You have almost half a year to bounce back and quiet critics after a bad playoff loss, and you shoot 35% and score 87 points. That's pretty pathetic.

[Oscar9992]

The new owner of Wemby?

Read on Twitter

[Dubnation]

Read on Twitter

Not a single player in the league can guard the 2025 MVP. 3 steals and 3 blocks too!

that carry/crossover that got AG to bite really pisses me off. That ish gets called in pick up games across the globe and the NBA just allows it.

No one relies more on carrying than SGA lol

He'd like a word with you.

[Klomp]

Read on Twitter

[Klomp]

Read on Twitter

[DonaldSanders]

It's going to be a really long season for Denver if Westbrook, Strawther and Watson is the best their bench has to offer.

I don’t understand how Denver fans didn’t riot when they saw that bench unit on paper. I knew it was going to be thin, but didn’t realize it was this bad.

I was told Westbrook & Saric were clear upgrades

Saric was buried on the bench by the end of last year on a team that didn't make the playoffs. Westbrook can't stick anywhere for a reason.

[DCasey91]

I've had my mind and gut made up for more than 3 years, Chet > Wemby don't care what happens from here on out.

Massive massive fan I think he's all the way special.

Full chillin in the main carriage all aboard OKC woooohoo!!!

[xb3at band1tx]

that clippers/thunder trade going down as top 5 worst trades in NBA history

[John Murdoch]

Nuggets are in troublee, finally we can advance to the wf again

[SlimShady83]

WEMBY "Is Not Him"