2025 NBA PLAYOFFS West First Round: #4 Denver Nuggets vs #5 LA Clippers (Series tied 2-2)

[dockingsched]

Here’s the video that shows clearly hand off the ball

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[EArl]

Fingers were literally on the ball. Ref's are trash.

The ball was literally in the net.

His hands were literally still on the ball.

Technically, yes, but the ball had gone through the rim already, which is technically a made shot. The play ends the second the ball goes past the rim.
What they should have done is give 0.01 seconds on the game clock, which wouldn't have mattered for the game.

[AleksandarN]

Jokic cmon man box out lol

So he has to challenge the shot and box out at the same time. And if he boxed out and not contested the shot he would get ridiculed. Man I over estimated your basketball knowledge and understanding of the game.

[Green89]

Here’s the video that shows clearly hand off the ball

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A little blurry here and it looks like the frame rate skips slightly, as it doesn't show the ball smoothly leave his hand, it jumps to a frame where the ball is already out.

[durden_tyler]

Anyone still doubting Jokic’s place in the all-time rankings after this game?


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[Dupp]

His fingers were still touching the ball 100%

Dunno if that matters if the ball is past the cylinder or not.

In saying that the ball wasn’t even all the way past the rim.


So how does it count?

[TimberKat]

Here’s the video that shows clearly hand off the ball

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A little blurry here and it looks like the frame rate skips slightly, as it doesn't show the ball smoothly leave his hand, it jumps to a frame where the ball is already out.

There is only 60 frames per second. If you go frame by frame it will feel skipping. You can try to calculate how far a basketball will travel in 1/60 of a second. I think the other angle that shows the finger tip on the ball is a false frame that was smooth from 2 frames. You can see the bottom of the square light up but the top is not. Also, you can't tell if the finger is on the ball from that angle.

[Capn'O]

The dunk was awesome. Count it!

[ken6199]

So would MPJ get the one game suspension per rules? Or sth we should not expect NBA to stick to their own rules, as usual.

[Cubbies2120]

Here’s the video that shows clearly hand off the ball

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A little blurry here and it looks like the frame rate skips slightly, as it doesn't show the ball smoothly leave his hand, it jumps to a frame where the ball is already out.

Secaucus has better views than we'll get. It counts.

[Boardbreaker]

I haven't watched any post game but was Lue ever questioned about the lineup he had on the floor that last possession? Bench full of plus defenders yet he has guys like Bogi, Norm and Harden on like they were the ones with the ball.

[TimberKat]

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My god.

These maybe false frames that was smoothed from other frames. Maybe just fake news on X. There should only be 60 real frames per second. I don't think you can capture it light up from bottom to top with 60 frames. I expect all the light should light up at the same time. All decisions should be make with real frames at reply center.

[Wolfgang630]

Jokic cmon man box out lol

So he has to challenge the shot and box out at the same time. And if he boxed out and not contested the shot he would get ridiculed. Man I over estimated your basketball knowledge and understanding of the game.

Joker is the only player who has to do everything and still be alive by the end of it lol

[tamaraw08]

Anyone still doubting Jokic’s place in the all-time rankings after this game?


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bbbbbbuttt he airballed his last shot

[Wolfgang630]

Aaron Gordon like the Predator out there

[ejftw]

I haven't watched any post game but was Lue ever questioned about the lineup he had on the floor that last possession? Bench full of plus defenders yet he has guys like Bogi, Norm and Harden on like they were the ones with the ball.

Defense is usually called by JVG, and my assumption is going to be that he was rolling with the squad.that scrapped back, led by that end of the floor, and didn't want to disrupt it.

Bogi was especially vital with his scrappy (and apparently worlds strongest man worthy) play in the defensive scheme.

I def would've assumed he would've went with Dunn-Jones-Simmons-Kawhi-Zu

[Boardbreaker]

I haven't watched any post game but was Lue ever questioned about the lineup he had on the floor that last possession? Bench full of plus defenders yet he has guys like Bogi, Norm and Harden on like they were the ones with the ball.

Defense is usually called by JVG, and my assumption is going to be that he was rolling with the squad.that scrapped back, led by that end of the floor, and didn't want to disrupt it.

Bogi was especially vital with his scrappy (and apparently worlds strongest man worthy) play in the defensive scheme.

I def would've assumed he would've went with Dunn-Jones-Simmons-Kawhi-Zu

Batum was an option as well. Idk I get the reasoning of going with the 5 that brought you back but this feels like a coaching mistake. Of course no one talks about this if Norm/Harden boxes out lol.

[ejftw]

I haven't watched any post game but was Lue ever questioned about the lineup he had on the floor that last possession? Bench full of plus defenders yet he has guys like Bogi, Norm and Harden on like they were the ones with the ball.

Defense is usually called by JVG, and my assumption is going to be that he was rolling with the squad.that scrapped back, led by that end of the floor, and didn't want to disrupt it.

Bogi was especially vital with his scrappy (and apparently worlds strongest man worthy) play in the defensive scheme.

I def would've assumed he would've went with Dunn-Jones-Simmons-Kawhi-Zu

Batum was an option as well. Idk I get the reasoning of going with the 5 that brought you back but this feels like a coaching mistake. Of course no one talks about this if Norm/Harden boxes out lol.

Definitely with Nico, hell, I'd have played Kobe over Bogi as well (though that brings PTSD of Daniel Ewing losing Raja Bell).

Have to say tho, usually, it's on the offensive end where you ride the hot hand on what is expected to be the final possession. Can't say I've ever seen it be done on the defensive side like this

[OldSchoolNoBull]

Everybody's debating whether it should've counted or not, but in just in terms of how that play went down, it gives me big NC State 1983 vibes. When Dereck Whittenburg took the shot, it was going to be way short, and Lorenzo Charles came out of nowhere to grab it in the air and dunk it. Except Jokic's shot was going to be long instead of short.

That's what popped in my head when I saw it.

Hell of a reference. I wasn’t alive then but have seen that highlight a million times and thats spot on.

Yeah I wasn't alive either, not for another year and a half after that, but in addition to having seen the clip a million times, I also recently watched the 30 for 30 about that whole cinderella run a few weeks ago, so it was fresh in my mind.

[MarcusBrody]

The problem for a Nuggets is their guards can't make forward progress without a screen. They literally needed consistent screens in the backcourt to get a step and gain separation when bringing the ball past half court. That's wild for guards at the NBA level.

It's also why the Denver offense has been so predictable. Jokic can't vary where he starts from or sets up as the guards (and wings) need screens at the top of the key or they can't even move laterally.

A good amount of the credit should go to the Clippers here. Kawhi and Dunne are nightmares to dribble against, but it was telling that even Bogdanovic was looking like a menace out there (and Powell and Harden looked good). Its been an issue all year, but ad the intensity and physicality has cranked up, Denvers perimeter limitations - especially current Murray's - have become apparent.