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

[Mk0]

2023 was definitely the weakest the West has been in the 21st century

Yeah I’m not throwing shade or anything but throughout history there’s plenty of teams that don’t repeat and it’s because things fell right for them in that season they did won and there’s a big target on their back the next season.

To win back to back chips you have to be incredibly good. The Duncan Spurs couldn’t even manage it.

Last season was a bad year for the NBA (IMO). This doesn't take anything away from the Nuggets title, but a lot of injured teams (Bucks, Grizz) when it mattered the most. This season has been much better as far as game play and great teams.

The two teams in your example were injured and out this year too

[GrandTheftRondo]

2023 was definitely the weakest the West has been in the 21st century

Yeah I’m not throwing shade or anything but throughout history there’s plenty of teams that don’t repeat and it’s because things fell right for them in that season they did won and there’s a big target on their back the next season.

To win back to back chips you have to be incredibly good. The Duncan Spurs couldn’t even manage it.

Last season was a bad year for the NBA (IMO). This doesn't take anything away from the Nuggets title, but a lot of injured teams (Bucks, Grizz) when it mattered the most. This season has been much better as far as game play and great teams.

This year actually has quite a few injuries too but the West is a lot more loaded.

East is cooked with injuries so I’ll be disgusted if Boston doesn’t storm to the finals

[ChipotleWest]

Yeah I’m not throwing shade or anything but throughout history there’s plenty of teams that don’t repeat and it’s because things fell right for them in that season they did won and there’s a big target on their back the next season.

To win back to back chips you have to be incredibly good. The Duncan Spurs couldn’t even manage it.

Last season was a bad year for the NBA (IMO). This doesn't take anything away from the Nuggets title, but a lot of injured teams (Bucks, Grizz) when it mattered the most. This season has been much better as far as game play and great teams.

The two teams in your example were injured and out this year too

Should have mentioned that this Wolves team was injured last year. No McDaniels no Reid against the Nuggets, then Anderson went down in Game 4.

[Mk0]

Why is Chris Finch doing the post game? Reggie Miller told me that he was just a puppet for the ventriloquist Nori.

[Tyrone Messby]

People don't appreciate how big looking Bruce Brown and Jeff Green is, especially with Deandre Jordan and Reggie Jackson getting a year older. Denver has zero depth, it is a serious problem.

Nuggets last season also played a depleted Wolves team, a Suns team that got thrown together at the deadline and a Lakers team that capitalised on a weaker West.

West is built different this season.

2023 was definitely the weakest the West has been in the 21st century

2020 bubble.

[Wile E. Coyote]

Malone said the body language of his team was concerning. That was an understatement.

[Chuck Everett]

it isn't the same roster

People don't appreciate how big looking Bruce Brown and Jeff Green is, especially with Deandre Jordan and Reggie Jackson getting a year older. Denver has zero depth, it is a serious problem.

Part of it is by design. The cap just squeezes good teams and brings them back down the earth. Denver has $135m tied up in Jokic, Murray, MPJ and Gordon. Once you put a team together, you have a small window where your team is developed and talented enough to win, but also not so top heavy with contracts that you can't fill out your starting lineup and bench.

Minnesota is a year or two behind Denver with the same problem. Let's say they win the chip this year, they've got so much money tied up in their top 4 that it'll be difficult to keep key pieces like Reid and NAW. Even Gobert will be hard to retain beyond next season unless he takes a huge paycut.

I'd argue it might be harder to stay a champion than to become a champion.

Spot on. For Minnesota, after next season (2024/25) Reid and NAW can be free agents. This build with this specific group can only really exist for 2-3 years before they have to make moves on the margins. However, if my three guys are Ant, KAT and Rudy, I like my chances.

[TheProdigy]

Maybe the Suns weren't that bad afterall.

[socal74]

2011 Lakers last defending champs to go down 0-2 with HCA .
Mavs swept them and won the NBA title that season (upset the Heat).

How do you upset another when you are the better team?

Defending Champs losing is always an upset. They hold the belt. It is like that in every sport.

I'm not talking about the Lakers. The guy mentioned the Heat being upset by the Mavs like that team won multiple championships already at that time. Dallas was clearly the better team when they faced off.

[LaLover11]

Why is Chris Finch doing the post game? Reggie Miller told me that he was just a puppet for the ventriloquist Nori.

Nori just signed a 3 yr max contract with the Lakers that's why Finch is in the post game interview

[Mk0]

Maybe the Suns weren't that bad afterall.

Narrator: They were that bad after all

[GeorgeSears]

It's over. Congrats to the TWolves. They were the better team all season, and have proved it again in this series. They are far superior in basically every category. There's not one thing I can look at and say the Nuggets have an advantage in.

Honestly, I do not care if the Nuggets get swept. My hope would be that a sweep results in a deep introspective look into the roster and coaching.

There's a structural deficiency here. It showed itself in the regular season, and became more apparent during the playoffs. I think as Nuggets we ignored the signs and pretended this team would get it together, it never did.

[G R E Y]

Denver needs two things they don’t have:

1) Healthy playoff Murray
2) Someone to defend Ant

3) Far more consistent 3s shooting. They're 12th of 16 PO teams in efficiency.

Denver cleary needs LeBron
Murray/Jokic should be on the phone asap like Draymond and beg him to join them next season

Just looked up why you mentioned him. Yeah career high this past season at 41% is super impressive.

[AleksandarN]

Malone said the body language of his team was concerning. That was an understatement.

I knew when they started with the refs. Terrible. They deserved to lose by 30 tonight.

[durden_tyler]

This is still a shocking 2-0 lead. i had a big Minny (+1) series bet and plan was to (semi)hedge when the line goes to Denver +1.

i doubt i’d even trust Denver +1.5 now and will just run with the initial bet.


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[bbms]

wolves massive favorites for the western conference title

[RAPSinCAPS]

Seriously, it is incredible what the wolves are demonstrating right now. How can you not see them as the championship favorites? Maybe that haul for gobert isn't looking so bad eh?

[TheGOATRises007]

Wolves fans deserve it. They've been through NBA hell for so long.

They've got an incredible team. Would be stunned if they don't make the finals at this point.

[Optimus_Steel]

Maybe the Suns weren't that bad afterall.

Nah the Suns were still bad. But Minny is really really good.

[AleksandarN]

It's over. Congrats to the TWolves. They were the better team all season, and have proved it again in this series. They are far superior in basically every category. There's not one thing I can look at and say the Nuggets have an advantage in.

Honestly, I do not care if the Nuggets get swept. My hope would be that a sweep results in a deep introspective look into the roster and coaching.

There's a structural deficiency here. It showed itself in the regular season, and became more apparent during the playoffs. I think as Nuggets we ignored the signs and pretended this team would get it together, it never did.

I definitely think charges need to be made.