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

[thinktank]

McDaniels is +50 and has 5 points.

[firedavidkahn]

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[Jamaaliver]

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[trueballer7]

Interesting. Reffs calling the Wolves by 90s-early 00s standards on defense seems to have a severe impact on the game. All of that modern basketball superiority, the shooting, the face up excellence, the superlative team strategy of creating space, just about vanished completely in an instant. I wouldnt write off the Nuggets just yet, but it seems they will have to counter in the same manner if they want to compete. They need to take it to the Wolves defensively. If they manage to adapt to the continuus intense physicality, its going to be a glorious series, old school stuff.

They don't have the personnel to do it. Malone really thought that guys like Braun and Watson could replace BB and Jeff Green.

That may be, that may be, but they still have to try and strike back by which point we can determine whether it is lack of the proper personnel or a general athletic deficit. After all, current NBA is about teams dancing at the same beat, the victor being whomever missteps less. It might be a challenge they weren't prepared to cope with anyway, having to fight instead of dancing.

[dc]

McDaniels is +50 and has 5 points.

Definitely gotta credit McDaniels for how he's developed. I remember him being a highly touted HS prospect who kind of disappointed in college and was seen as immature with a poor attitude.

He's really bought into his role in the pros.

[r0drig0lac]

So when people question why some fans (like me) are so nostalgic for 2000s basketball, this is why. Yes, there was a lot of bad, unimaginative offense. But the there was a better balance of skill and physicality. Basketball, and sports, is about more than just pure skill. It's about being about being able to combine your skill with physicality to impose your will on an opponent. Who cares if you can make a pretty step-back three if you can't handle a grown man getting into you.

The Wolves are taking advantage of the league's more lenient officiating since the All Star break and challenging the Nuggets physically. And the Nuggets are backing down. The Nuggets got pushed around and frankly embarrassed themselves. They were like the guy in pick up who calls touch fouls and everyone mocks between runs. I want to see them bounce back and match the force of the Wolves in Game 3.

this

[cursedsportsfan]

McDaniels is +50 and has 5 points.

Definitely gotta credit McDaniels for how he's developed. I remember him being a highly touted HS prospect who kind of disappointed in college and was seen as immature with a poor attitude.

He's really bought into his role in the pros.

Agree 100%. Watching him in the pac-12 I never imagined him becoming this player

[510TWSS]

Man how did teams miss on Naz Reid this badly

Naz was a chubby center in college. He spent his first year mostly in the G-League. It’s not surprising teams missed him - he deserves a ton of credit for developing himself to this level

Props to Reid he been giving the Warriors the business since he stepped on the court lol. I remember being like who is this guy?!

[ItsDanger]

Let's give some credit to Chris Finch who has grinded his way through the coaching ranks to get where he is now. Especially after some ups and downs on Minnesota team last season. Made defense exciting again.

[akula1488]

wolves have a very balanced roster and ideal 7 man rotation for the playoffs. can’t say the same for other teams except Boston

[lambchop]

So when people question why some fans (like me) are so nostalgic for 2000s basketball, this is why. Yes, there was a lot of bad, unimaginative offense. But the there was a better balance of skill and physicality. Basketball, and sports, is about more than just pure skill. It's about being about being able to combine your skill with physicality to impose your will on an opponent. Who cares if you can make a pretty step-back three if you can't handle a grown man getting into you.

The Wolves are taking advantage of the league's more lenient officiating since the All Star break and challenging the Nuggets physically. And the Nuggets are backing down. The Nuggets got pushed around and frankly embarrassed themselves. They were like the guy in pick up who calls touch fouls and everyone mocks between runs. I want to see them bounce back and match the force of the Wolves in Game 3.

Truth. We've seen the 50, 60 and 70 point games decrease ever since the rule changes. Even someone like Jokic who clearly uses his body to his advantage has seen his numbers take a hit against this kind of physical defense. All of a sudden guys who are generally solid handling the ball are struggling.

I also feel as though guys with more raw athleticism benefit from this style of play. Edwards reminds me of the SGs of the 90s and early 2000s where we had Kobe, Vince, Tmac, Wade etc. all in the league at the same time. Those guys could simply run past defenders.

Anyway, if this is brand of basketball that will be played in the NBA moving forward, this are looking great when you blend in the overall all around skill that players have these days.

[AleksandarN]

Great breakdown on the game by Legs and Adam here.

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[BlacJacMac]

Murray may be the first NBA player that I've ever seen literally throw in the towel...

[Enso]

Denver’s gotta punch them back in the mouth it’s now or never, someone’s gotta play them some Rocky montages on repeat

[Enso]

Mike Malone needs to start showing some coaching adjustments.. He is out there getting exposed

Nuggets GM won't stand for much of this.

Malone might get fired this offseason with all the other great coaching candidates out there

Charles Lee
Darvin Ham
Mike Budenholzer

lol he’s not getting fired

[Shaka_Zulu]

That should be an ejection and arguably a suspension

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/275622/Marc-Davis-Jamal-Murray-Should-Have-Received-Tech-Not-Ejection-For-Throwing-Heat-Pad-Onto-Floor

Stupid, dangerous, easily avoidable. What a bum.

Don't suspend him. Making him play game 3 against this Wolves defense might be the worst punishment.

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[Michael Jackson]

That should be an ejection and arguably a suspension

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/275622/Marc-Davis-Jamal-Murray-Should-Have-Received-Tech-Not-Ejection-For-Throwing-Heat-Pad-Onto-Floor

Stupid, dangerous, easily avoidable. What a bum.

Don't suspend him. Making him play game 3 against this Wolves defense might be the worst punishment.

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IT is so great to see being a Bulls fan and I saw damn near every game from 88-2000 (yeah I watched nearly every game from the bad years lol... and I started watching in 84 because my sister made me...Anyway, this is so much like the doberman defense of the championship Bulls. It is such a throw back. The younger and near prime legs giving Denver fits they didn't have with LA.

[TinmanZBoy]

Bruce brown is solely missed in this fight… not only he would have brought toughness and intangibles to the Nuggets, but also he was a viable secondary ball handler who plays both ends…

[og15]

So when people question why some fans (like me) are so nostalgic for 2000s basketball, this is why. Yes, there was a lot of bad, unimaginative offense. But the there was a better balance of skill and physicality. Basketball, and sports, is about more than just pure skill. It's about being about being able to combine your skill with physicality to impose your will on an opponent. Who cares if you can make a pretty step-back three if you can't handle a grown man getting into you.

The Wolves are taking advantage of the league's more lenient officiating since the All Star break and challenging the Nuggets physically. And the Nuggets are backing down. The Nuggets got pushed around and frankly embarrassed themselves. They were like the guy in pick up who calls touch fouls and everyone mocks between runs. I want to see them bounce back and match the force of the Wolves in Game 3.

Truth. We've seen the 50, 60 and 70 point games decrease ever since the rule changes. Even someone like Jokic who clearly uses his body to his advantage has seen his numbers take a hit against this kind of physical defense. All of a sudden guys who are generally solid handling the ball are struggling.

I also feel as though guys with more raw athleticism benefit from this style of play. Edwards reminds me of the SGs of the 90s and early 2000s where we had Kobe, Vince, Tmac, Wade etc. all in the league at the same time. Those guys could simply run past defenders.

Anyway, if this is brand of basketball that will be played in the NBA moving forward, this are looking great when you blend in the overall all around skill that players have these days.

Definitely better to see more physicality allowed defensively because it is allowed offensively.

The Ortg in the playoffs so far is 112.1, which based on roster build and strategy makes sense. For example it was 107.4 in the 07-08 playoffs and 108.7 Ortg in the 13-14 playoffs, so the 110-112 range makes sense as opposed to the 115 range we were seeing most of the regular season.

[Mk0]

Ant has to smell blood in the water now after that little temper tantrum by Murray. He’s gonna cut his heart out of his chest like he did to Beal.

Ant Man is Mola Ram confirmed