2025 NBA PLAYOFFS West Semifinals: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #4 Denver Nuggets (Series tied 1-1)

[MyTake_1]

Thunder plays a type of game I don't want to watch.

[bledredwine]

Shai just made people saying he didn't deserve MVP look prettttty bad.

Let's see if he keeps this up.

[Sofia]

Nuggets lucky Westbrook had a good game to keep it close

[MMyhre]

I had OKC in 5 and I am not changing it. Game 1 was lucky but it woke OKC up, pissed Shai off (rightfully so, my god the Jokic fans are fast to downplay him, quiet now?).

[Deathray]

Objectively it wasn't a surprising result considering how good the Thunder are, how grueling Denver's schedule has been and how emotional the game 1 win was.

Denver's problem is no secret, their starters have to dominate and if they have an off night they've got no bench other than Westbrook. It's pretty much impossible to win a championship in that situation these days.

[hardenASG13]

maybe you're watching so much jokic you forgot what defense is and think it causes injuries

No. Elevating someone off the ground when they're trying to make a move across the lane causes injuries.

A lot of guys were cheap in this game, like Caruso. Williams is crossing the line. Caruso didn't.

Again, on the playground, that's not going to fly.

sorry wandavision, your twisting reality powers won

Alright, well, hot rocks is completely delusional. Good to know. Jokic jumped on his back! Plain to see. Should've been a flagrant on Jokic. He's been very dirty and resorting to bush league tactics. You're allowed/supposed to be physical with a guy when he's trying to cross the lane. This is the NBA playoffs. You're not allowed to just jump on a guys back like a fish when someone doesn't let you cross the lane. I don't think I've ever seen a star player blatantly try to foul out of a game in the third quarter before.

Imagine him vs the early 2000s pistons lol.

[hardenASG13]

Nuggets lost their composure… they seriously think packing at this point… you can’t lose like this and expect to turn around to win a series… their season is over at this point

You obviously werent following the Clippers Nuggets series. They are champions, it takes more than one poor game to break them. Sounds more like wishful thinking.

This isn't the Clippers. OKC actually has a superstar, shooting, and depth.

[hardenASG13]

If people don't understand what took place in the Jokic and Williams play here's what happened.

Jokic is trying to move at like a right angle compared to Williams' movement. Jokic is basically moving in a straight line and Williams backs up into that path while Jokic makes the move.

It's possible that Williams intended to do it but I doubt it. I hope not. But yeah Jokic was in a very vulnerable position there and it's fortunate that he didn't get hurt.

You're allowed to front a guy who is trying to move a cross the lane. You do it with your legs and core. You're not allowed to jump on a guys back when he does that to you. It's the NBA playoffs. This is what playoff defense is. Embarrassing game for Jokic, and Embarrassing series of posts for you. You're not being close to objective or missed all basketball pre Jokic. That was a disgraceful game.

[hardenASG13]

you have never played basketball or been on a court if you think Jaylin Williams was dirty there and it wasnt Jokic being soft and dirty.

LIke never

Was thinking the same thing. This is fronting the post, which is done with your legs and core. The offensive player would usually have to continue out of the lane to catch the ball or try to spin in front of the defender. Jokic decided to jump on his back.

This play was only a small play though and takes away from the bigger picture of this game.

[hardenASG13]

I don't quite see it. Williams is trying to take position by getting lower (normal basketball play), and then Jokic just jumps (don't quite know why). Williams isn't running/jumping into Jokic, so I don't quite seem the issue. The only reason this is being discussed is because Jokic jumps and puts himself in an awkward position, no? Seems like a basketball play to me

Williams was trying to get low, that's true.

But as Jokic started to move side to side, Williams kept driving backwards. Not low to the ground but at the opposite angle (right angle) to how Jokic was trying to move.

Again, I doubt it was intentional but it was dangerous. Jokic got elevated in the air with his legs taken out. Not good and as the result of Williams driving backwards, not just lower to the ground.

It's like Shaq being guarded by a small. For the little guy to compete he has to literally throw his body into Shaq. That's what happened here. It's dangerous.

Yes, he's trying to drive him under the rim, to avoid an over the top pass since he's fronting him, or force him out the other side of the lane. This is extremely common in post defense lol

[Michael Jackson]

Something tells me Nuggs are conserving energy having secured the split and home court.

Or they have OKC right where they want them based on PO pattern of late lol

Yeah they want to turn it up in the altitude but OKC has enough legs that it won't be a huge advantage like it was with the clips or Lakers in the past. Still an advantage

That's taking nothing away from OKC, I should add. They came ready to play. Regardless of the score though it still only counts as one game. Nuggs surely consider it as job done already in OKC.

We'll see as Shaq said the first few minutes of the 3RD. After that, maybe rest starters to keep them energized and healthy. They know what a long grind it is.

Denver’s altitude is oft underrated. The Nuggets pace suits that advantage, and obviously they are more acclimated to it. OKC being younger than the clips or lakers helps but it still gives the nuggets an edge. Even though this was a statement game it is still 1-1 with a crafty Denver team going home.

[Infinite Llamas]

No Scott Foster for game 3 so that’s at least one advantage OKC will lose…

[MrPainfulTruth]

I love the physicality of the PO's, but this is just lopsided whistle. You can not let OKC grab, push, bump, hack Jokic every single time, and then blow the whistle on moving screens in a row, or at a marginal contact to SGA.e.

Translation: “I love the physicality except when it affects the player(s) I like, then it's unfair and over the top.”

Embarrassing take.

[MrPainfulTruth]

Shai just made people saying he didn't deserve MVP look prettttty bad.

Let's see if he keeps this up.

So you think Shai was the difference maker in this game? Like, if you put Shai on this team, surroudn him with those guys like Murray and MPJ, and put Jokic on that roster that showed up for OKC today, it would have been a different result?

Really?

[Bloodbather]

Thunder plays a type of game I don't want to watch.

The exact opposite for me. Love the tenacious, physical, disruptive defense fuelling a high tempo offense.

On the other hand, Jokic is my favorite player to watch, so it's fun to watch the two clash.

[bledredwine]

Shai just made people saying he didn't deserve MVP look prettttty bad.

Let's see if he keeps this up.

So you think Shai was the difference maker in this game? Like, if you put Shai on this team, surroudn him with those guys like Murray and MPJ, and put Jokic on that roster that showed up for OKC today, it would have been a different result?

Really?

Are you trying to tell me Jokic outplayed Shai's 50 point game or that Shai had nothing to do with that absolute slaughter?
Best record, check. Last game, best player by far with the win? check. And that was a playoffs game.

I've been a Denver fan (2nd fav team) since the Melo days, but I'm not going to blindly call Jokic MVP when the team is struggling.
Winning is a part of MVP, if we like it or not. It would be very boring if you simply gave it to the best player.

[TravisScott55]

OKC is bad coaching down the stretch away from being up 2-0

[CobraCommander]

Plus minus doesn’t mean anything of course - but SGA was PLUS 51 in 30 minutes… it’s like he was in the pre-game looking at the nuggets like…



This SGA is an actual problem….

[CobraCommander]

Shai just made people saying he didn't deserve MVP look prettttty bad.

Let's see if he keeps this up.

So you think Shai was the difference maker in this game? Like, if you put Shai on this team, surroudn him with those guys like Murray and MPJ, and put Jokic on that roster that showed up for OKC today, it would have been a different result?

Really?

That SGA was PLUS 51 - about 20 more than the next closes Thunder player - it was a weird weird weird night. His impact was insane- 34 and 8ast ain’t crazy but that plus 51 is a playoff record… sga was on one… it happens my man- respect greatness and enjoy getting to see SGA vs Jokic… last game Jokic was a god

These refs need to swallow those whistles if they want us to watch tho

[bledredwine]

Shai just made people saying he didn't deserve MVP look prettttty bad.

Let's see if he keeps this up.

So you think Shai was the difference maker in this game? Like, if you put Shai on this team, surroudn him with those guys like Murray and MPJ, and put Jokic on that roster that showed up for OKC today, it would have been a different result?

Really?

That SGA was PLUS 51 - about 20 more than the next closes Thunder player - it was a weird weird weird night. His impact was insane- 34 and 8ast ain’t crazy but that plus 51 is a playoff record… sga was on one… it happens my man- respect greatness and enjoy getting to see SGA vs Jokic… last game Jokic was a god

These refs need to swallow those whistles if they want us to watch tho

Exactly. I don't understand how you can watch that game and not see the immense impact of SGA.
He was phenomenal.

And Jokic had 6/16 for 17 with 6 turnovers, so it's not like he had a remarkable game and no help. It was the whole Nuggets who sucked in comparison.