2025 NBA PLAYOFFS West Semifinals: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #4 Denver Nuggets (Series tied 2-2)

[sikma42]

No one is a choker or fake star. This ish is hard you guys lol. Best player on the team gets the most defensive attention and you have to adjust to the adjustments in real time. It's mentally and physically exhausting and even the greatest players can struggle.

I wish fans would view the game as a team sport rather than so much focus on individuals and which guy is better than the other guy.

We’ve watched generations of stars step up through this. People have bad games but what’s happening to Jokic is just a bit different than most. He seems [emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6][emoji6]]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]][emoji[emoji[emoji6]][emoji[emoji6]]]% shut down which is just weird unless he’s hurt


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[maxpower8888]

This game came down to which team was less **** down the stretch, and Denver just managed to **** OKC. Jokic needs to clutch up the rest of the series.

[bluemj32]

No one is a choker or fake star. This ish is hard you guys lol. Best player on the team gets the most defensive attention and you have to adjust to the adjustments in real time. It's mentally and physically exhausting and even the greatest players can struggle.

I wish fans would view the game as a team sport rather than so much focus on individuals and which guy is better than the other guy.

1000%, I hate to be one of those guys but I feel most who make statements about people being trash or a chocker etc:

1. Ppl typically don't watch other games outside of their team.

2. Haven't been watching very long

3. Haven't played an organized team sport before at a high level (high school or above).

4. Just hate just to hate

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[Bank Shot]

This series so far shows why LBJ is arguably the goat. Even though scoring is not his first and foremost strength, he always showed up in series like this. Modern and latest MVP candidates look like they are not in the same tier with guys like LBJ and MJ. Both Joker and SGA looks horrific. So next time while bashing LBJ, remember this series.

2011 NBA Finals

2007 Finals too

[Optms]

That's enough Jokic is the best player ever talk I think

You think but it wont stop unfortunately.

[life_saver]

The fact that this is series is tied is an indictment on the Thunder. Denver isnt a Championship caliber team this year. They sacked their coach days before the playoffs started.

Denver has multiple players that have won a championship. Their bench sucks but their starting 5 the same from 2 years ago. The Nuggets new coach has been with them since 2017, it's not like he's some random guy with no coaching experience.

Only thing I would correct though is that this is not the same starting lineup as previous 2 years...KCP was starter in prior 2 seasons

[darkse1d]

Up 6 going into the 4th, okc had nothing going for them after a disaster 3rd quarter. Then the nuggets went into complete meltdown. Stopped playing defense, gave up open 3s to no-name players who wouldn't sniff a game in the playoffs on a real contending team. And then jokic completely melted down the stretch.

[JM00n69]

CLAP CLAP CLAP to the OKC team! Well done tonight!

[uncleduck13]

Going up 3-1 was the only path the victory for Denver. They had to put these young Thunder in that dreadful/demoralizing deficit. Kill their confidence completely.

[HotRocks34]

SGA was better than Jokic down the stretch tonight. Credit where it's due. That's the first time in three close games that was the case.

But the game turned for good with both guys on the bench early 4Q.

[Wolfgang630]

Nuggets can steal game 5 and end this in 6. It’s that simple

[picc]

Nuggets have nothing left. I expect a blowout in game 5, followed by a single digit loss in game 6.

By far, this was the worst postseason of Jokic's career. Out of 11 games, he was great in only 3, and bad to average in the other 8. The standard he set was high and he failed to live up to it.

It's disappointing to see, but it also means this team is basically going to get blown up after this.

No reason to blow it all up. We see what Denver can look like when healthy and clicking. All they need is a backup big.

They need a hell of a lot more than that. Outside Jokic,Gordon, and Braun I would make everybody else available. Denver’s problem is they basically have no good 2-way players aside from maybe Gordon

No they don't. If Jokic played halfway decent tonight they'd have a 3-1 lead on a 67-win one seed with the best net rating in history. How much better do you think they have to be? Are they playing the Redeem Team next?

A good backup big and Jokic playing to his ability and they are as good as anyone.

[WestbrookGOATed]

This series so far shows why LBJ is arguably the goat. Even though scoring is not his first and foremost strength, he always showed up in series like this. Modern and latest MVP candidates look like they are not in the same tier with guys like LBJ and MJ. Both Joker and SGA looks horrific. So next time while bashing LBJ, remember this series.

2011 NBA Finals

He thought we forgot

[MoneyTalks41890]

Shai gives a shout out to everyone’s mom in the world. Dudes married.

[Infinite Llamas]

Shai smiling at the end of game 3 will go down as an iconic moment. Thunder back in the drivers seat.

Yeah cause he played a world beater of a game tonight. Game was won for OKC when he was on the bench lol

[Tracymcgoaty]

SGA was a scrub this game why didn't they interview the guys who actually won them the game?

Come back home bald eagle these guys are cringe.

[bucknut]

Adelman first coaching mistake. Staying in the 2-3 zone with a lead. Wide open looks

[Archx]

Jokic’s inability to get any good clean passes off this series has been really interesting.

OKC has really studied his passing lanes and tendencies well.

That's really interesting because Mavs killed OKC with that kind of game last year. I guess they learned this time.

[Optms]

Okc needs to be better if they want to win the chip. This lack of execution won't do against the Knicks/Celtics

[Pistol_Pete]

Well done OKC. Odd, ugly game to watch, but a win is a win. Hopefully Denver pulls a surprise in game 5