2024 NBA Playoffs: West Semifinals: #2 Denver Nuggets vs #3 Minnesota Timberwolves (MIN WINS 4-3)

[Residual-Heat]

Yeah im excited about this match up too. Should be a close series. Nuggets in 7.

[Optms]

Gobert and KAT are frauds. And ANT man isn't experienced enough.

Another cake walk for Denver.

[JustBuzzin]

That Jokic noise will get quiet after Ant pulls off the upset.

Wolves in 7.

#YearOfTheAnt

[BooomBaby]

Gobert and KAT are frauds. And ANT man isn't experienced enough.

Another cake walk for Denver.

Agreed on all points...

Denver in an easy 6.

[NyKnicks1714]

I've always been mildly peeved by second round games that start before the first round is over. Feels wrong somehow.

[TimberKat]

Gobert and KAT are frauds. And ANT man isn't experienced enough.

Another cake walk for Denver.

Agreed on all points...

Denver in an easy 6.

Gobert and Towns are less fraud than 92% of all NBA players. Which includes many players on DEN with two exceptions and one is bang up.

[Statlanta]

I wouldn’t be surprised if Denver lost this game

[Statlanta]

I've always been mildly peeved by second round games that start before the first round is over. Feels wrong somehow.

But at the same time you can market it as having 1 game every day until the Finals

[Mrakar]

I could see this series go either way. Nuggets are the favourites IMO bcs they are proven, but you prove yourself by beating a champ and that is what Minny has to do.

Key things for Denver:
- Murray needs to be better. Yes he got 2 game winners but 40% from field and 30% from 3 is not enough in this series
- Porter has to have a good series like he had against the Lakers, he will be realise valve for Jokic and Murray
- KCP has to get his 3pt shot back. His defense is always there and even though Ant is though matchup because of the size, i still trust him on that side of the ball.
- Watson and Braun - Nuggets have to get something from their bench. Watson is maybe ideal guy to try on Edwards but if he cant hit anything he will be unplayable.
- Team defense. Edwards is fast and athletic, Conley is smart and savvy and there is no way Jokic can handle that even though his position is great. His athletic abillities are just not close to be good enough to keep up with these guys even in a drop. They need that team defense and rotations have to be perfect.

Key things for Minny:
- Ant has to be great, not good, great. See how i didn't even mention Jokic's offense, because we know we are getting 30, 15 and 10 every night. Minny needs that from Ant. He has a good matchup here because KCP is too small, Porter is not quick enough and there is no rim protector inside.
- Mcdaniels shot - if he is hitting corner 3's that is a game changer for Minny, he doesnt even need to do anything else on offense, just that would be great
- Gobert's defense on Jokic. Yes we all know Gobert is a great defensive player, and he will sometimes be on Jokic and sometimes on Gordon trying to help from the side. However, history has tought us that Jokic always has great games against him. Im not sure if it is something personal or what, but Gobert needs to step up and make Jokic work for every point and every assist.
- Limit down mistakes on offense as in turnovers and bad shots. Nuggets have a tendency to stick with teams(Not just Lakers) and then finish them late. Even if Minny gets a lead they have to play like they are down 10 and not relax for a second. That will be something to monitor, especially since we know that Minny has black holes on offense sometimes..


All things said, i just hope we have a great series without injuries. I will be rooting for the Nuggets, but i wouldnt be pissed if Minnesota wins.

[Capn'O]

A purist series if I ever saw one

[eminence]

During the regular season Minnesota experimented with Towns on Jokic and Gobert on Gordon a fair amount, I'm curious what defensive matchups they decide to go with to start.

[BelgradeNugget]

During the regular season Minnesota experimented with Towns on Jokic and Gobert on Gordon a fair amount, I'm curious what defensive matchups they decide to go with to start.

To be honest Quin Snyder used similar strategy on Jokic first, using Derrick Favors as primary defender and Rudy Gobert helping from behind. It took Jokic few games to figure it out, but now he is fine with that (before Lakers used Rui adjusment last year in the playoffs and almost beat us )

[ChipotleWest]

Dirk is going to sub for Shaq tonight on Inside the NBA, take dat with chew.

[Mauro Pedrosa]

Alright, **** it. I’m picking the Wolves in 7

[namlede]

Denver in 5. Denver still has the 2 best players if Murray is healthy. Murray is one of the best playoff performers this decade.

[JM00n69]

Wolves 100% gave us the most trouble last playoffs and they're at full health now. Should be a really good series if both play to their top level and everyone stays relatively healthy. Let's **** go!

[CodeBreaker]

Denver loses Game 1

[JM00n69]

Denver loses Game 1

Wouldn't be surprised. Nugs have played poorly in the first round and opened badly in every game. It's seemed to me like there was a lack of confidence/lack of a proper game plan to start games. Pretty lucky to come back in a few of them and close it 4-1. Hope they go into this series with a better mindset.

MPJ was the only really good and consistent player. Hit his 3s, got to the basket when closed on and was really good on the boards. And he really tried on D, great effort but he wasn't really challenged on that end. AG had one amazing game, hope he can bring that energy again.

I want Jok and Murray to come out strong start of the game and make a statement. Rest of the team feeds off their energy and they were playing too cautiously against LA to start the games. That wont work against Wolves.

Hoping for a good one!

[LeBronSpaghetti]

Dirk is going to sub for Shaq tonight on Inside the NBA, take dat with chew.

That’s awesome

[PlatinumState]

I feel whoever wins game one is gonna take the series.