2025 NBA PLAYOFFS West Semifinals: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #4 Denver Nuggets (Series tied 1-1)

[HotRocks34]

Why are you guys talking about this play for like 20 pages? It had no bearing on the outcome of the game because Denver was down by like 50 when it happened.

It would be a dirty play if it was intentional. But it doesn't look intentional. Nobody got injured. It's a completely pointless discussion.

Denver needs to not suck in game 3 if they want to win. It's that simple.

Because it's emblematic of how OKC was approaching their defense against Jokic during the game, for one.

Secondly, there seemed to be confusion about what actually took place in the play. So I found the video and then discussed it, as did others.

You're right, Denver needs to be better. But the refs need to call fouls if OKC is going to try and goon Jokic, too.

OKC has a rep. Everyone knows what it is. Gordon pointed it out after the game.

[TinmanZBoy]

Why are you guys talking about this play for like 20 pages? It had no bearing on the outcome of the game because Denver was down by like 50 when it happened.

It would be a dirty play if it was intentional. But it doesn't look intentional. Nobody got injured. It's a completely pointless discussion.

Denver needs to not suck in game 3 if they want to win. It's that simple.

Really nothing new, not the first time Denver was overwhelmed by physical plays… just have to bring it next game… but seriously this has becomes a pattern for this Denver team, not looking good for them

[Lalouie]

I see mpj was awesome again

6'10 playing like 6'3

[MrPainfulTruth]

I see mpj was awesome again

6'10 playing like 6'3

As were Murray and Braun. Two of those three max players, too. When Russ is your second or third best guy you have no business being in the 2nd round of the west...just think of all the teams that are alraeady out including the Lakers and the Clippers

[HotRocks34]

Aaron Gordon explained things perfectly after Game 2.

Gordon is one of the more articulate interviews in the league and he nails it here as regards OKC's fouling of Jokic.

I love physical play. But I don't like when the refs don't call it the same on both sides and I don't like when the refs call fouls on the responder rather than the initiator. That's what happened in Game 2, as Gordon is basically saying.

Also at about 38 seconds in the interviewer mentions the play we've been talking about, "when Jaylin (Williams) backed into (Jokic)."

Correct. When Williams backed into Jokic, not when Jokic jumped on Williams. That's the proper description of what took place.

[Gatorade Sax]

Patches Perry wrote:
Spread for game 2 is -11.5. That's incredibly high after what we saw game 1.

Gatorade Sax wrote:
In all honesty, not that surprising.

It’s basically job done on this road trip and they may pack up early if a desperate okc gets the jump on them (they need to).

Coming off a 7 game series vs a team on a sweep layover, books counting on Denver potentially resting some bodies I’d say.

#1772‬ » by ‪BigGargamel‬ » Tue May 6, 2025 10:46 pm




“Resting players and conceding a game in the second round of the playoffs like it's some random game in February. The takes, I can't deal with them. It's the playoffs.”


Hmm..Let’s see how this post aged. Keeping in mind, I was quoting another user regarding the betting spread..yet this fella decides to jump in with the take nobody was asking for. Apologies for the awkward quotes, last thread was locked and couldn’t quote it properly.

OKC get the early jump (they needed to).

Denver pack it up early with 3 starters playing mid 20s and Jokic topping out with 32 minutes. Seems like the white flag was raised and players were indeed rested. Might’ve had something to do with tired legs (you know..the team coming off the 7 gamer vs the team that got the easy sweep).

Spread is easily covered by OKC, Denver pack it up early and head home with the split, pretty standard stuff.

ThE TaKeS, I cAnT dEaL wItH tHeM..

Boggles the mind that people spend so much time on this forum, yet seem to have such a poor grasp on how NBA basketball actually plays out most of the time.

[HotRocks34]

ESPN is on it.

[Raps in 4]

I see mpj was awesome again

6'10 playing like 6'3

As were Murray and Braun. Two of those three max players, too. When Russ is your second or third best guy you have no business being in the 2nd round of the west...just think of all the teams that are alraeady out including the Lakers and the Clippers

Calvin Booth and Tim Connelly should be in jail right now.

It's crazy to me how so many GMs luck out into drafting all-time greats (LeBron, Giannis, Jokic, Luka) and then completely fumble the process of building around them. I honestly feel ChatGPT could build a better team around Jokic than these two did.

[Optms]

Why are you guys talking about this play for like 20 pages? It had no bearing on the outcome of the game because Denver was down by like 50 when it happened.

It would be a dirty play if it was intentional. But it doesn't look intentional. Nobody got injured. It's a completely pointless discussion.

Denver needs to not suck in game 3 if they want to win. It's that simple.

More like play defense.

Nuggets so far are the worst team in the entire playoffs in defensive rating, only the Heat were worse. Advance numbers all indicate it. They can't defend within 10 feet of the basket and are now giving up open 3's. Rotations are poor and they absolutely refuse to close out on shooters. Even the Lakers weren't this bad.

[AmIWrongDude]

I’m begging that blaming refs when losing by 50 doesn’t become the new norm but it seems like thats where we’re headed

[lethalizer]

Oh my god the ref thing is still going on?

Okay, just calling it like I see it. I don't think a certain Serbian player should resort to dirty plays when he sees he's getting blown out during a playoff game.

Just calling it like I see it.

(Am I doing this right?)

[psimanic1]

I’m begging that blaming refs when losing by 50 doesn’t become the new norm but it seems like thats where we’re headed

no one is blaming refs for what happened after 30+, it's what they didn't call to start the game and what let OKC get to 30+, you see the diff? If you will let one team play 90s defense, let the other do it to or scrap the refs alltogether and let the guys play it out...

[Mavrelous]

Speaking of demoralizing, that avalanche was a textbook definition of it...

[stoo]

i really hope denver's locker room shares the state of mind of their fanbase now

total despair and scared

I'm so totally scared

[Sharkboy242]

Jokic would be too OP if he got a fair whistle. The league cant have that.

[Andri]

I love the physicality of the PO's, but this is just lopsided whistle. You can not let OKC grab, push, bump, hack Jokic every single time, and then blow the whistle on moving screens in a row, or at a marginal contact to SGA.

And then, the level of disrespect Jocic takes is astonishing. Shaq was also officiated as the biggest guy vs small ones, but on the other hand, he run away with some, while Jokic seems to take and take on both ends.

Again, you know there is home-cooking going on when you see Foster is in for this particular game.

[The-Power]

I love the physicality of the PO's, but this is just lopsided whistle. You can not let OKC grab, push, bump, hack Jokic every single time, and then blow the whistle on moving screens in a row, or at a marginal contact to SGA.e.

Translation: “I love the physicality except when it affects the player(s) I like, then it's unfair and over the top.”

[SpreeS]

I see mpj was awesome again

6'10 playing like 6'3

As were Murray and Braun. Two of those three max players, too. When Russ is your second or third best guy you have no business being in the 2nd round of the west...just think of all the teams that are alraeady out including the Lakers and the Clippers

Calvin Booth and Tim Connelly should be in jail right now.

It's crazy to me how so many GMs luck out into drafting all-time greats (LeBron, Giannis, Jokic, Luka) and then completely fumble the process of building around them. I honestly feel ChatGPT could build a better team around Jokic than these two did.

Problem is teams 2nd/3rd options market price. They all wants max and free agents market would pay them max money, b/c of bad or avg teams have money to do it. With second apron rules teams need to choose to who to pay money or for 2nd/3rd players or for deep roosters. All champion teams were in same situation. And BOS/OKC/CLE will be in the same situation very soon.

Teams need to understand that Porter/Anunoby/Brown/Murray/Garland/Lavine/Gobert/Ingram can’t cost you 40/50mln per year.

[psimanic1]

I love the physicality of the PO's, but this is just lopsided whistle. You can not let OKC grab, push, bump, hack Jokic every single time, and then blow the whistle on moving screens in a row, or at a marginal contact to SGA.e.

Translation: “I love the physicality except when it affects the player(s) I like, then it's unfair and over the top.”

Translation: "I love the physicality but when both teams are allowed the same amount"

[JM00n69]

I love the physicality of the PO's, but this is just lopsided whistle. You can not let OKC grab, push, bump, hack Jokic every single time, and then blow the whistle on moving screens in a row, or at a marginal contact to SGA.e.

Translation: “I love the physicality except when it affects the player(s) I like, then it's unfair and over the top.”

He's point very clearly was to call it same for both sides you donut.