2018 Rockets vs 2023 Nuggets

[Matt15]

Who wins in 7?

[rk2023]

While I think the Rockets were better within their respective years, I think they aren’t an ideal team to guard Denver - to the point where I would take the Nuggets in 6 or 7.

[RCM88x]

While I think the Rockets were better within their respective years, I think they aren’t an ideal team to guard Denver - to the point where I would take the Nuggets in 6 or 7.

Both teams feel like problematic matchups for each other. Denver's main weakness defensively is probably spread PnR and Houston was a master of that.

[ShotCreator]

I've only ever seen Draymond bother Capela in the NBA playoffs. He even really battled Embiid in his post-Rockets career. In the 18 Playoff run alone he outplayed Towns and Gobert. Capela was a beast, Nene was a stud, Tucker was an absolute monster come playoff time in this stretch from 18-20. Healthy Luc Mbah a Moute, Paul, Ariza, Tucker to all do spot duty on Murray.

Luc being the best I've ever seen at containing penetrators and just swallowing their momentum with his length and strength, and so nimble at the same time. The only man I've ever seen to have a known reputation to being able to defend Kawhi well without help, and even locking him down at times.



Nene could possibly flat out guard Jokic without help defense. Ridiculously strong brute with length, great hands, and a lifetime of being a savvy post defender.

I don't really think I have to talk Harden and Paul.

Rockets should be expected to win that in 6. If they were primed to beat 18 GS in 6 or 7, they'd get Denver out of there with surprising(to some here) ease.

Denver doesn't have that many ways to beat them. But I'd admit it'd be a fun series at times.

I want to note, Jokic/Murray vs Harden/Paul is mostly a wash. Though like I said, Houston has the defensive talent to really make them uncomfortable and take away their first 2 or 3 favorite moves/sets/habits both in terms of play calls and just personal playing habits.

But the Rockets supporting cast is tiers above the Nuggets. I feel guilt even calling them a supporting cast. They were just really good at basketball.

[Doctor MJ]

Who wins in 7?

So obviously this is coming off of the conversations pertaining to these Nuggets possibly being the best since the Steph-KD Warriors.

ftr, I do consider the '17-18 Rockets to be the best of the non-Warrior teams from that era. It's possible that in a matchup LeBron's Cavs would find a way to come out on top, but just based on how dominant the teams were in the regular season and who gave the Steph-KD Warriors the biggest scare, the Rockets would seem to be the choice.

As such, my instinct would be to go with the Rockets over the Nuggets just based on overall performance.

[Doctor MJ]

I've only ever seen Draymond bother Capela in the NBA playoffs. He even really battled Embiid in his post-Rockets career. In the 18 Playoff run alone he outplayed Towns and Gobert. Capela was a beast,

With the caveat up front that I'm not really looking to argue against the Rockets here, something that I only learned of recently that's relevant here:

'Let's roll the dice': How the Denver Nuggets nailed the 2014 NBA draft -- and selected Nikola Jokic

Jokic flourished in the 2014 Nike Hoop Summit, a Portland showcase. (By chance, Jokic and Jamal Murray were teammates.) The "turning point," Juc said, was how Jokic handled Clint Capela, a projected lottery pick who now has made $87 million playing in the NBA. The Nuggets' personnel department had a group chat going. It erupted after Jokic's performance.

"That was the key moment for our decision-making process," Juc says.

There seems to have been a recurring them of Jokic outplaying other draft prospects but still not being taken all that seriously as an NBA prospect. I'd expect it had to do with seeing other guys as "upside" guys while the unimpressive body of Jokic struck people as a dead end. Of course, it's interesting because it's been noted by some that fat = potential in disguise. Whether this is true generally, clearly it would have been wiser for teams back in 2014 to see Jokic as someone with serious upside who was already better than more hyped prospects.

[NBA4Lyfe]

the nuggets hated playing hardens rockets

i think they even tanked in the 2019 playoffs to avoid playing houston in the first round. Jokic hated defending the pick and roll and harden was one of the most dominant pick and roll guards ever

[ShotCreator]

I've only ever seen Draymond bother Capela in the NBA playoffs. He even really battled Embiid in his post-Rockets career. In the 18 Playoff run alone he outplayed Towns and Gobert. Capela was a beast,

With the caveat up front that I'm not really looking to argue against the Rockets here, something that I only learned of recently that's relevant here:

'Let's roll the dice': How the Denver Nuggets nailed the 2014 NBA draft -- and selected Nikola Jokic

Jokic flourished in the 2014 Nike Hoop Summit, a Portland showcase. (By chance, Jokic and Jamal Murray were teammates.) The "turning point," Juc said, was how Jokic handled Clint Capela, a projected lottery pick who now has made $87 million playing in the NBA. The Nuggets' personnel department had a group chat going. It erupted after Jokic's performance.

"That was the key moment for our decision-making process," Juc says.

There seems to have been a recurring them of Jokic outplaying other draft prospects but still not being taken all that seriously as an NBA prospect. I'd expect it had to do with seeing other guys as "upside" guys while the unimpressive body of Jokic struck people as a dead end. Of course, it's interesting because it's been noted by some that fat = potential in disguise. Whether this is true generally, clearly it would have been wiser for teams back in 2014 to see Jokic as someone with serious upside who was already better than more hyped prospects.

Oh make no mistake, Capela is not the ideal Jokic Center hypothetically. His frame was too long and the center of gravity isn't low enough.

That's why LeBron and Draymond looked better than Davis. Draymond took away the first few moves and habits, early in last years series, Jokic eventually adjusted and killed, but that's all you need is just a couple games of meh, not bad but meh. By the time he gets acclimated it may be too late if it's already 2-0 or 2-1.

Nene is a different story IMO. But Capela's energy, is not something that can be just thrown aside. His glass work, running the floor, and switching defense is really what made him stand out in Houston in the postseason. He just outworked the guys I mentioned in a noticeable way.

I think Capela's rolls to the rim would be problematic, the floor running. They'd likely put Tuck on Jokic, and have Capela dive down there, and that'd be enough IMO. Nene with spot duty off the bench. I can see Houston taking away Jokic's first option for a few games. They were good enough.