2023 West Semifinals | (1) Denver Nuggets VS (4) Phoenix Suns (DEN WINS 4-2)

[cam24thomas]

With 2 games left in this series, and 4 of the players capable of scoring 50 in playoff games (Durant, Booker, Jokic. Murray), we may be about to see Michael Jordan's 63 point playoff record finally dethroned if one of the games goes into overtime especially

[Exp0sed]

btw, is Ayton really hurt or is he just giving a big ole' f*** u to the the Suns org and teammates?
after what transpired in the previous game, I have a hunch it's the latter

[spanishninja]

Jokic won't have the point guard who can't execute two man game if Murray is out today , Brown have zero chemistry with Jokic in that department. All he doe's is driving the basketball to the rim, he's bad at passing the ball back to Jokic. I hope Murray plays tonight. If he does Denver have the good chance with Ayton being out tonight.

worst thing for the Nuggets will be a sick Murray trying to play hero ball
best thing for the Nugget will be Murray sitting out, if they win game 6 in PHX without Murray - they may finally realize he doesn't really help them all that much and will be looking to trade him

you think Brown can't play a litle pnr? or get a handoff and shoot behind a Jokic screen? get serious..
yeah, they'll play differently but imo this lineup is better as long as it means more is going thru the Joker as a result

Jokic had just 27% usage during the rs and u were very critical about it and about him not being aggressive enough
he upped that to lead the Nuggets with 33% in the playoffs

compare that with say...Embiid , who had 37% in the rs padding stats in blowouts but went down to 31% in the playoffs
both 2nd options (Harden and Murray) are at about 27% these playoffs

that's way too much for Murray
you can't have Jokic going for 50% haha, because he'll get tired and will be easier to defend when u know they got to him almost every time, but I think their ideal mix is somwhere higher, say Jokic goes to 37-40% in this one game - I think it'll make the Nuggets better

this is a closeout game, while game 7 is in Denver I don't trust the Nuggets in a game 7
Malone should take a page from Thibs page and unless the Joker is gassed or in foul trouble, I would honestly leave him on the floor as much as possible tonight (especially with Murray being out or not a 100%)

he'll have time to rest if they get the job done tonight

don't worry. remember the Suns' game 7 last year?

[Exp0sed]

Jokic won't have the point guard who can't execute two man game if Murray is out today , Brown have zero chemistry with Jokic in that department. All he doe's is driving the basketball to the rim, he's bad at passing the ball back to Jokic. I hope Murray plays tonight. If he does Denver have the good chance with Ayton being out tonight.

worst thing for the Nuggets will be a sick Murray trying to play hero ball
best thing for the Nugget will be Murray sitting out, if they win game 6 in PHX without Murray - they may finally realize he doesn't really help them all that much and will be looking to trade him

you think Brown can't play a litle pnr? or get a handoff and shoot behind a Jokic screen? get serious..
yeah, they'll play differently but imo this lineup is better as long as it means more is going thru the Joker as a result

Jokic had just 27% usage during the rs and u were very critical about it and about him not being aggressive enough
he upped that to lead the Nuggets with 33% in the playoffs

compare that with say...Embiid , who had 37% in the rs padding stats in blowouts but went down to 31% in the playoffs
both 2nd options (Harden and Murray) are at about 27% these playoffs

that's way too much for Murray
you can't have Jokic going for 50% haha, because he'll get tired and will be easier to defend when u know they got to him almost every time, but I think their ideal mix is somwhere higher, say Jokic goes to 37-40% in this one game - I think it'll make the Nuggets better

this is a closeout game, while game 7 is in Denver I don't trust the Nuggets in a game 7
Malone should take a page from Thibs page and unless the Joker is gassed or in foul trouble, I would honestly leave him on the floor as much as possible tonight (especially with Murray being out or not a 100%)

he'll have time to rest if they get the job done tonight

don't worry. remember the Suns' game 7 last year?

maybe they learned from it

[spanishninja]

worst thing for the Nuggets will be a sick Murray trying to play hero ball
best thing for the Nugget will be Murray sitting out, if they win game 6 in PHX without Murray - they may finally realize he doesn't really help them all that much and will be looking to trade him

you think Brown can't play a litle pnr? or get a handoff and shoot behind a Jokic screen? get serious..
yeah, they'll play differently but imo this lineup is better as long as it means more is going thru the Joker as a result

Jokic had just 27% usage during the rs and u were very critical about it and about him not being aggressive enough
he upped that to lead the Nuggets with 33% in the playoffs

compare that with say...Embiid , who had 37% in the rs padding stats in blowouts but went down to 31% in the playoffs
both 2nd options (Harden and Murray) are at about 27% these playoffs

that's way too much for Murray
you can't have Jokic going for 50% haha, because he'll get tired and will be easier to defend when u know they got to him almost every time, but I think their ideal mix is somwhere higher, say Jokic goes to 37-40% in this one game - I think it'll make the Nuggets better

this is a closeout game, while game 7 is in Denver I don't trust the Nuggets in a game 7
Malone should take a page from Thibs page and unless the Joker is gassed or in foul trouble, I would honestly leave him on the floor as much as possible tonight (especially with Murray being out or not a 100%)

he'll have time to rest if they get the job done tonight

don't worry. remember the Suns' game 7 last year?

maybe they learned from it

maybe it's Maybelline

[Mickey8]

I can find you ten different web pages where he's listed as 7"' tall. And I don't need any web page, there is an eye test

there are just as many pages that list him as not a true 7 footer. Anyway, an inch or two of height is obviously not doing **** against Jokic anyway.

have u seen Jokic next to other big men?
he's 7 ft tall, yeah he was listed at like 6'11 earlier in his career but since they standarized it and redid the measurements he was upped to 7'0 and to me he's clearly 7'0

Well you are wrong , Jokic was never listed 7" not even in Europe. And I see him next to other 7" tall players all the time including Ayton and he's visibly shorter than them. But again he has solid wingspan 7"3 and huge body, he doesn't look small on the court.

[Exp0sed]

there are just as many pages that list him as not a true 7 footer. Anyway, an inch or two of height is obviously not doing **** against Jokic anyway.

have u seen Jokic next to other big men?
he's 7 ft tall, yeah he was listed at like 6'11 earlier in his career but since they standarized it and redid the measurements he was upped to 7'0 and to me he's clearly 7'0

Well you are wrong , Jokic was never listed 7" not even in Europe. And I see him next to other 7" tall players all the time including Ayton and he's visibly shorter than them. But again he has solid wingspan 7"3 and huge body, he doesn't look small on the court.

in Europe listing is without shoes
I think Jokic is 7'0 with shoes and probably a touch under without

[Mickey8]

don't worry. remember the Suns' game 7 last year?

maybe they learned from it

maybe it's Maybelline

I don't trust Denver in game 7's even at home. They played two game 7's in the bubble which they won but one they lost was at home against Portland. I know that was the first post season for Jokic and Murray but still the Suns have so much more experience with Durant , who played so many big games. He's due to have great game in Denver. To be or not to be , for Denver tonight.

[Wolfgang630]

I think you need Jamal just for his presence that the team will have to guard. Just be a PG if he can’t do too much on offense.

[Exp0sed]

I think you need Jamal just for his presence that the team will have to guard. Just be a PG if he can’t do too much on offense.

I don't get what the big deal is
Murray "creates" shots that are tough shots by in large, all that spinning into jump shots must be fun as hell at a pickup game and he can def make tough shots, but at the end of the day if u take really tough shots ur gonna be at about an avg efficiency even if ur really good at hitting those tough shots (unless ur someone who can shoot as good as Curry or shoot + size like KD)

in this particular series for instance, Murray is 49/108 from the field and 10/32 from 3
he doesn't get to the line very often either. u think that's so hard to replace? it isn't imo

say the Nuggets run their usual plays and can't get much of out it, clock is winding down instead of going to Murray who will dribble-dribble and take a tough shot - just have Jokic take a jump shot - u think he'll convert less than Murray? I doubt it, Jokic can make tough shots too and he can just shoot over people with his frame and his high arch and release

I really don't see what Murray bring to the table for a team that's got a creator (for himself and others) as good as Jokic is

[Ryoga Hibiki]

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/a/aytonde01.html

could just be jokic's posture.

I can find you ten different web pages where he's listed as 7"' tall. And I don't need any web page, there is an eye test

there are just as many pages that list him as not a true 7 footer. Anyway, an inch or two of height is obviously not doing **** against Jokic anyway.

very few guys are true seven footers.
even Embiid isn't

[Wolfgang630]

Mark Jackson is the voter who didn’t vote Jokic for mvp. Unbelievable you can’t even have the guy top 5, but somehow Donovan Mitchell was above him.

Chuck already roasted the person who left Jokic off and now we know who it is. Dude can’t even get a coaching gig again I wonder why. Not saying it’s related to this, but no one in the NBA wants to hire him

[enigmatics]

btw, is Ayton really hurt or is he just giving a big ole' f*** u to the the Suns org and teammates?
after what transpired in the previous game, I have a hunch it's the latter

He quit / refused to get back into in Game 7 vs. the Mavs last playoffs. This is just more of the same.

The man is the proverbial me-first athlete. Rather than even attempt to win a 'chip this year with two of the NBA's best players he's sulking. It's mind blowing. He could still finish out the year on a strong note and then ask to be traded. He'll never sniff an NBA title for the rest of his career.

[nomansland]

I think the Nuggets could close out this series tonight, but I'm expecting a game 7.

i honestly hope it ends tonight. pretty stress-inducing season for Suns fans. let's put us out of our misery.

Hombre, it's been a good series. Obviously I hope the Nugs win tonight but the Suns have held their own.

[nomansland]

Honestly, I think Landale plays Jokic pretty well and the Suns won't miss Ayton that much in that matchup. Jokic will still play really well, but Landale has been pretty tough. But Biyombo will struggle mightily against Jokic and that's where the Suns might worry.

[mademan]

Ayton got paid and stopped GAF. lmfaoooo

[MarcusBrody]

Honestly, I think Landale plays Jokic pretty well and the Suns won't miss Ayton that much in that matchup. Jokic will still play really well, but Landale has been pretty tough. But Biyombo will struggle mightily against Jokic and that's where the Suns might worry.

I think the issue is that if Landale gets in foul trouble (or just needs a break), Biyombo - as you say - is not the ideal matchup against Jokic. Ayton - whatever you think about him - is notably better so a Ayton-Landale 1-2 is just much better than a Landale-Biyombo combo. I expect the Nuggets to go right at Landale starting off the game.

[Mickey8]

Honestly, I think Landale plays Jokic pretty well and the Suns won't miss Ayton that much in that matchup. Jokic will still play really well, but Landale has been pretty tough. But Biyombo will struggle mightily against Jokic and that's where the Suns might worry.

Landale has nothing on Jokic. If he guards him one on one without doubling, he'll get smoked very bad.

[cjx]

Ayton is going to miss game 6, I see Mile High Might is wearing down the Suns mentally and physically ,

The Nuggets are imposing their will on the Suns,

Give Plastic Baby Watson some minutes to guard Book!

[CptCrunch]

Ayton gonna get dumped for expiring and a late first this off-season to a non-contender. I'm sure of it.