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

[Shaka_Zulu]

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Pre game wolves players be like this (after Ant press conference talking about they will come hard, but we ready to punch back lol):

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[ForeverTFC]

Anybody else hype for tonight? The NBA is the best man.

[Optms]

Nuggets are divas. The entire team. Will be happy when the Wolves eliminate them.

Murray should be suspended for game 3. Ridiculous that he's playing.

[Jaqua92]

This really could get interesting. I think this series is over. I think it's also just as likely that Denver wins tonight as it is that the series is over.

I imagined Denver wins tonight, the wolves win game 4, Denver wins game 5 and then the Wolves close it out in game 6.

That being said, this Denver core has come back down three games to one on two separate occasions. Also, a team has come back from a 2-0 deficit almost every season in recent years. If there's any team that can grab stranglehold of a series when their backs are against the wall, it's Denver.

Denver isn't winning this series now, too injured, in my opinion. But they ARE winning tonight I think. And if they somehow come back to game 5 with the series tied 2-2, I guarantee you the Wolves won't win another game this series.

It's possible. Unlikely, but possible.

[ForeverTFC]

This really could get interesting. I think this series is over. I think it's also just as likely that Denver wins tonight as it is that the series is over.

I imagined Denver wins tonight, the wolves win game 4, Denver wins game 5 and then the Wolves close it out in game 6.

That being said, this Denver core has come back down three games to one on two separate occasions. Also, a team has come back from a 2-0 deficit almost every season in recent years. If there's any team that can grab stranglehold of a series when their backs are against the wall, it's Denver.

Denver isn't winning this series now, too injured, in my opinion. But they ARE winning tonight I think. And if they somehow come back to game 5 with the series tied 2-2, I guarantee you the Wolves won't win another game this series.

It's possible. Unlikely, but possible.

Exactly this. You know Minny is going to come out to knock them out tonight. If Nuggets can take this game, I wouldn't count them out even if they drop game 4.

I have a feeling that we are going to either see Jokic remind us all that he's the best player in the game or Ant will announce to the world that his only intention is to slay the king. This game should be epic.

[Jaqua92]

This really could get interesting. I think this series is over. I think it's also just as likely that Denver wins tonight as it is that the series is over.

I imagined Denver wins tonight, the wolves win game 4, Denver wins game 5 and then the Wolves close it out in game 6.

That being said, this Denver core has come back down three games to one on two separate occasions. Also, a team has come back from a 2-0 deficit almost every season in recent years. If there's any team that can grab stranglehold of a series when their backs are against the wall, it's Denver.

Denver isn't winning this series now, too injured, in my opinion. But they ARE winning tonight I think. And if they somehow come back to game 5 with the series tied 2-2, I guarantee you the Wolves won't win another game this series.

It's possible. Unlikely, but possible.

Exactly this. You know Minny is going to come out to knock them out tonight. If Nuggets can take this game, I wouldn't count them out even if they drop game 4.

I have a feeling that we are going to either see Jokic remind us all that he's the best player in the game or Ant will announce to the world that his only intention is to slay the king. This game should be epic.

I don't buy the Ant hype yet, even if he still has a big series. I still think he's on a hot run, and I think the Wolves will get mangled by the Celtics. But we will see what Denver does.

Part of me feels like they're too physically beaten up to handle the physicality. But we will see.

[winforlose]

This really could get interesting. I think this series is over. I think it's also just as likely that Denver wins tonight as it is that the series is over.

I imagined Denver wins tonight, the wolves win game 4, Denver wins game 5 and then the Wolves close it out in game 6.

That being said, this Denver core has come back down three games to one on two separate occasions. Also, a team has come back from a 2-0 deficit almost every season in recent years. If there's any team that can grab stranglehold of a series when their backs are against the wall, it's Denver.

Denver isn't winning this series now, too injured, in my opinion. But they ARE winning tonight I think. And if they somehow come back to game 5 with the series tied 2-2, I guarantee you the Wolves won't win another game this series.

It's possible. Unlikely, but possible.

Exactly this. You know Minny is going to come out to knock them out tonight. If Nuggets can take this game, I wouldn't count them out even if they drop game 4.

I have a feeling that we are going to either see Jokic remind us all that he's the best player in the game or Ant will announce to the world that his only intention is to slay the king. This game should be epic.

I don't buy the Ant hype yet, even if he still has a big series. I still think he's on a hot run, and I think the Wolves will get mangled by the Celtics. But we will see what Denver does.

Part of me feels like they're too physically beaten up to handle the physicality. But we will see.

You say that, but if you look at how the Wolves ran the Suns off the line, why can’t they do the same to the Celtics?

Regarding the Nuggets, what makes you think they can take a game without the altitude advantage? The Wolves are a high energy defense that is constantly running and closing out and rotating. In Denver the altitude makes it harder and provides the ultimate home court advantage. In Minnesota the wolf pack will move better and have more stamina. They also are clearly in the heads of the Nuggets and will have target center giving them even more energy. I mean it has been 16 days since the Wolves have played at home. It has been 20 years since the Wolves played a round 2 home game. The Wolves won 4 major awards this year, all of them first time in franchise history, and all of those trophies being presented tonight. For those who don’t know, Naz is 6th man, Rudy is DPOY, Mike is Teammate of the year, and Karl won the NBA’s humanitarian of the year (it has an official name with Kareem’s name in front but that is basically what it is.) This much glory will without doubt have the Wolves on their toes. Meanwhile Jamal, Reggie, and KCP are all moving slow and MPJ is coming off his worst playoff game. Also worth noting is Jaden will spend more time on MPJ in this one, and that will not go well for him. Even if Jokic drops 50 I am not sure Denver can drop 100.

[KGDirkTD_Fan]

Anybody else hype for tonight? The NBA is the best man.

Waiting too long for game 3, I'm just addicted to WOLVES & NUGGETS BASKETBALL COME ON!!!!

[stoo]

reminder

[Doranku]

Anybody else hype for tonight? The NBA is the best man.

Excited to see what Joker is made of. He's never been in a position like this with a team capable of winning.

[KGDirkTD_Fan]

Anybody else hype for tonight? The NBA is the best man.

Excited to see what Joker is made of. He's never been in a position like this with a team capable of winning.

He's got to put up 20+ shots tonight right? I want to see a takeover game from him...a statement game. I think this has to happen at some point...a contested Jokic floater over Gobert has to be better than the Murray ISOs or pick and roll mid rangers.

[Woodsanity]

Nuggets are divas. The entire team. Will be happy when the Wolves eliminate them.

Murray should be suspended for game 3. Ridiculous that he's playing.

Only Murray is a diva and ironic Lakers fan talking about divas.

[Sealab2024]

Anybody else hype for tonight? The NBA is the best man.

Excited to see what Joker is made of. He's never been in a position like this with a team capable of winning.

He's got to put up 20+ shots tonight right? I want to see a takeover game from him...a statement game. I think this has to happen at some point...a contested Jokic floater over Gobert has to be better than the Murray ISOs or pick and roll mid rangers.

The number is 25. If you can force Jokic to shoot 25 shots the Nuggets winning percentage plummets. One would think the answer would be Joker all night long but that's not how the nuggets win. They win by Joker doing just enough to draw double teams off picks that get teams into rotation or zoning on the weak side and letting Nikola pick teams apart. When they need iso buckets like that they that they generally go with Murray.

[Special_Puppy]

Anybody else hype for tonight? The NBA is the best man.

Excited to see what Joker is made of. He's never been in a position like this with a team capable of winning.

If Murray+KCP are absolutely hobbled injuries then his team isn’t capable of winning

[Special_Puppy]

Delete

[Special_Puppy]

Anybody else hype for tonight? The NBA is the best man.

Excited to see what Joker is made of. He's never been in a position like this with a team capable of winning.

If Murray+KCP are absolutely hobbled by injuries then the Nuggets aren’t capable of winning lol

[TinmanZBoy]

I suspect this game is going to be determined by how physical the refs allow the TWolves to play… if they ref like last game, the Nuggets will have no chance, if they blow a couple of quick whistles on TWolves, the Nuggets might steal one…

[DonaldSanders]

I suspect this game is going to be determined by how physical the refs allow the TWolves to play… if they ref like last game, the Nuggets will have no chance, if they blow a couple of quick whistles on TWolves, the Nuggets might steal one…

Yeah I think that's accurate. I wonder if the league pushed back some at the refs, watching other games after this one I've seen a lot more fingernail fouls called. Much less 'let 'em play' type stuff, my guess is we won't get another Prison Ball game like the last one. Bummer because I think most people prefer suffocating defense being allowed.

[winforlose]

I suspect this game is going to be determined by how physical the refs allow the TWolves to play… if they ref like last game, the Nuggets will have no chance, if they blow a couple of quick whistles on TWolves, the Nuggets might steal one…

In other words, the Nuggets can only beat the Wolves with help from the refs. The Nuggets are so dramatically inferior that in an honest series they get swept. This is what is wrong with the NBA.

[BlacJacMac]

I suspect this game is going to be determined by how physical the refs allow the TWolves to play… if they ref like last game, the Nuggets will have no chance, if they blow a couple of quick whistles on TWolves, the Nuggets might steal one…

Yeah I think that's accurate. I wonder if the league pushed back some at the refs, watching other games after this one I've seen a lot more fingernail fouls called. Much less 'let 'em play' type stuff, my guess is we won't get another Prison Ball game like the last one. Bummer because I think most people prefer suffocating defense being allowed.

I find it interesting that the national narrative has been variations of "I was blown away by Minnesota's defense".

People are loving the idea of real, physical defense - while also being totally sick and tired of foul hunting.

That along with the idea that the league was apparently trying to head in this direction more post ASG, makes me hope the officials will not be the main show going forward...