2025 NBA PLAYOFFS West First Round: #4 Denver Nuggets vs #5 LA Clippers (DEN leads 1-0)

[Los_29]

Clippers should win if healthy. If they don’t, then Jokic is even better than I thought.

[HotRocks34]

I have no real feeling for this series but I don't think Zubac is going to be able to slow down Jokic much, regardless of what has happened in the past.

Leaning between Nuggets in 7 and Clippers in 6. I don't see the Clips winning Game 7 in Denver like last year. That Nuggets squad was exhausted and I don't think they are this time around.

If Murray gets hurt, though, this could get very rough for Denver.

I'll go Nuggets in 7.

[HotRocks34]

Julian Strawther seems to be in the doghouse in Denver, as does Zeke Nnaji.

If Denver tries to play only 8 guys or has to rely on Jordan much, I'm not sure how that's going to work out for them. My guess is not great.

[Mrakar]

Clippers opening up as underdogs is wild to me. I’m hammering the **** out of them, easy money.

Its only because when setting the lines they are counting in the health. We were burned by Kawhi health couple of times already. If everyone is healthy Clippers are the favourites, they have more talent behind their best player. Jokic will have to play 44 minutes per game probably, Murray should also but his legs will not allow it.

[MrBigShot]

I have a feeling that Murray is going to crap the bed again this year.

[Mamba Mentality]

If we get playoff Jamal, think Nuggets take this. He will make or break the series for them.

Hobbled and going up against Kris Dunn, good luck.

[pepe1991]

Key match up will be Harden vs Murray.
And whoever sucks less on defense among them.

Clippers have more bodies to throw, they also have more defenders to use. Nuggets really can't afford any starters to be off as they are 6 men team.

[cpower]

healthy clips in 6. Starting 5 just too good. Harden though could be the wide card since his finishing ability has gone now. If harden gets you an efficient 25, i dont see what Nuggets can do.

[Sharkboy242]

Read on Twitter

Both bigs have really held each other below their averages recently when matched up. What I’m curious about is with Zu finally getting touches and having an expanded offensive role if it’s the same.

Ps.. the Denver fan who kept denying him holding Jokic way below his norm on shooting here is some data.

Both bigs really seem to affect each other defensively.

Nurkic in Portland and Ayton in Phoenix were once "Jokic specialists", but when they met in the playoffs, it was a different story.

Again.. when it comes to top 15 all time players, multi MVP’s… “stopping” or slowing them is just making them work and holding them a little under their norm. Anyone who watched 04 Pistons vs Lakers KNOWS from watching that Ben Wallace bothered Shaq more than any other big mostly, but the stats show 27 ppg on like 62% TS.

He won’t be able to stop Jokic. The goal is he wears him down more than usual and can make him miss an extra shot or two. If you do that, it can swing a game, especially in a longer series. Zu’s conditioning this year is light years better than previous years. He’s one of the few with size to body up Jokic.

And in the same vein, Aaron Gordon is the perfect player to defend Kawhi Leonard.

[OkcSinceSGA]

Nurkic in Portland and Ayton in Phoenix were once "Jokic specialists", but when they met in the playoffs, it was a different story.

Again.. when it comes to top 15 all time players, multi MVP’s… “stopping” or slowing them is just making them work and holding them a little under their norm. Anyone who watched 04 Pistons vs Lakers KNOWS from watching that Ben Wallace bothered Shaq more than any other big mostly, but the stats show 27 ppg on like 62% TS.

He won’t be able to stop Jokic. The goal is he wears him down more than usual and can make him miss an extra shot or two. If you do that, it can swing a game, especially in a longer series. Zu’s conditioning this year is light years better than previous years. He’s one of the few with size to body up Jokic.

And in the same vein, Aaron Gordon is the perfect player to defend Kawhi Leonard.

Yes. Harden and role players/bench is probably a bigger X factor

[PlatinumState]

It does look dire for Denver but the Clipps win streak of 8 games is bound to leave them tired. Denver in 7

[_NoMas]

Denver has a big size advantage in the front court and, despite being a big MPJ critic I think this could be his series. If Dunn starts on Murray I don’t think they have anyone to match up with MPJ, who should feast

[kazyv]

harden will inevitably choke, kawhi will inevitably break down. nuggets in 7

[nomansland]

Powell has a way of roasting the Nuggets every single time. He's the guy that scares me a bit in this matchup.

We know Zubac plays Jokic better than just about anyone but Jokic will still leave a big mark on the series. Question is whether he can trust the rest of the team. I am confident that Gordon is going to show up big on both sides of the court. Braun won't let the team down. What we get from Porter and Murray is really the difference. I feel pretty good about Murray actually because he usually kills it in the playoffs but Porter is their weakest link.

I kind of like that the Nuggets are the underdogs here. Always better to fly under the radar and people calling them broken or whatever haven't been watching since Malone was fired. Adelman was going to get a HC job next season somewhere and he's really good so although Lue is a good coach too I really don't think there's an advantage on either side there.

Reluctant to pick either side but I would be surprised if the series didn't go 7 games.

[Shanghai Kid]

This is a jokic legacy series.lakers in 5

[Mavrelous]

Best series of the 1st round IMO, looking forward.

[MrPerfect1]

If Kawhi and Harden are both healthy I'm taking the Clippers in 7. Just seems like a series that will go 7 either way honestly. Kawhi goes off in game 7 and makes us think he's back to himself, then gets a hang nail and misses the rest of the playoffs.

I'd advise going against Harden if you think it is going to Game 7 lol

[Frankie]

Clippers are my dark horse this post season. I would take them in 6 over Denver.

[Ssj16]

Read on Twitter

Batum is actually gonna be much better than Powell come playoff time. Same with Bogi. They have been on fire lately after putrid starts.

Does this take into account Murray's ceiling where he can be a top 5 player on any given night in the playoffs?

[Ssj16]

Denver has a big size advantage in the front court and, despite being a big MPJ critic I think this could be his series. If Dunn starts on Murray I don’t think they have anyone to match up with MPJ, who should feast

It is sad that MPJ is a wildcard and rightfully so. But his size allows him also to clean the glass and I've seen him raise his defensive game in the playoffs. I've said this before earlier in the season and I believe this even more now in the playoffs, if I'm the Nuggets coach, I'd try and get MPJ going early.

If MPJ's offense is going (which is a big if), Nuggets look like a different team.