2025 NBA PLAYOFFS West Semifinals: #1 Oklahoma City Thunder vs #4 Denver Nuggets (OKC WINS 4-3)

[Wolfgang630]

Didn't realize we were writing fanfiction now about NBA teams.

I'm all ears if you have a better reasoning..? I assume you don't and you'd rather just mock instead of providing one, but I'm more than happy to entertain any theories you may have as to why they're randomly waiting 2 weeks longer this year than in past years. They'll likely announce it Monday -- as soon as the series is over -- which will be almost the 3rd week of May. It's a horrible marketing strategy for the NBA to wait this long, and the NBA is known for their marketing. So why wait this long? Genuinely curious. Do tell.

and why would the NBA gives a **** about what the Thunder organisation wants?

It's more likely the NBA was betting on OKC to advance and give Shai his award after beating Jokic but it might end up being terrible if Denver wins.

They always give it before the second round ends. It should’ve been given already. Nothing wrong with thinking the Thunder and/or Denver didn’t want it announced now.

[Sealab2024]

I got the Nuggies. They have the experience factor. OKC is gonna be at full stress level for the next 2 days. Restless nights, edge practices, tight nerves, etc. meanwhile Denver knows exactly what a game 7 is and is probably still upset at last years 20 points collapse against Minnesota. They'll be the more controlled relaxed team throughout. It'll look close but I expect the Nuggets to control most of the game included the end.

[Woodsanity]

Its gonna be really tough to win in OKC with Aaron Gordon hurt.

Hamstring injuries don't just go away. Gordon will be very limited.

I don't jump to any conclusions. Has anyone even officially said "hamstring" yet? Or is it just based on where he grabbed it? In any case, he looked to be in discomfort but not in a huge deal of pain there at the end. There's just not much info. I'm holding out hope.

He looked really off in game 6. He only had 5 points.

[PistolPeteJR]

Do they announce the MVP award before this game? Taking way longer than usual. If Shai gets his MVP ceremony right before the game starts that would add some nice drama to this game.

They should most certainly not present the award before Game 7, it's a massive distraction for the players, particularly Shai.

[kwajo]

Do they announce the MVP award before this game? Taking way longer than usual. If Shai gets his MVP ceremony right before the game starts that would add some nice drama to this game.

They should most certainly not present the award before Game 7, it's a massive distraction for the players, particularly Shai.

Yeah it seems like it's in everyone's best interest to not announce it during the series between two of the finalists, not to mention they get to milk the drama of calling them both "potential MVP" throughout the game promos.

[OldSchoolNoBull]

Its gonna be really tough to win in OKC with Aaron Gordon hurt.

Hamstring injuries don't just go away. Gordon will be very limited.

I don't jump to any conclusions. Has anyone even officially said "hamstring" yet? Or is it just based on where he grabbed it? In any case, he looked to be in discomfort but not in a huge deal of pain there at the end. There's just not much info. I'm holding out hope.

He looked really off in game 6. He only had 5 points.

I know, but I thought the injury only happened in the last minute of the game?

[Woodsanity]

I don't jump to any conclusions. Has anyone even officially said "hamstring" yet? Or is it just based on where he grabbed it? In any case, he looked to be in discomfort but not in a huge deal of pain there at the end. There's just not much info. I'm holding out hope.

He looked really off in game 6. He only had 5 points.

I know, but I thought the injury only happened in the last minute of the game?

Only good thing is there are three days to rest. A grade 1 hamstring sometimes can heal in a few days-a week. So maybe he won't be that limited in game 7.

[GeorgeSears]

Do they announce the MVP award before this game? Taking way longer than usual. If Shai gets his MVP ceremony right before the game starts that would add some nice drama to this game.

It's not because of the drama, it's because they probably think it'll influence the game by providing added motivation for runner-up's team.

[hardenASG13]

The true MVP. Damn shame he's going to be robbed of that award for the 2nd time in 3 years when it's so blatantly obvious that he is not only the best player in the world, but the most valuable player to his team as well. Wild.

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So they have 3 top 17 players then? The complaints about supporting cast should stop, right? Is Brunson doing more with less if we go by these ratings? Is SGA?

Jokic cooked Harden. Just let it go already fam. Your obsession with Joker is too much.

Your obsession with my username needs to be let go, fam. I'm not a Harden fan, check my post history on that. Nice deflection from my point though, classic sharkboy....you must really like sharks! Or maybe you are a shark?

[Wolfgang630]

Some folks are really obsessed with Jokic lmao

[TinmanZBoy]

At one point, Jokic had iHart as his backup in Nuggets… talking about Nuggets don’t have a backup center

[Dadouv47]

I'm all ears if you have a better reasoning..? I assume you don't and you'd rather just mock instead of providing one, but I'm more than happy to entertain any theories you may have as to why they're randomly waiting 2 weeks longer this year than in past years. They'll likely announce it Monday -- as soon as the series is over -- which will be almost the 3rd week of May. It's a horrible marketing strategy for the NBA to wait this long, and the NBA is known for their marketing. So why wait this long? Genuinely curious. Do tell.

and why would the NBA gives a **** about what the Thunder organisation wants?

It's more likely the NBA was betting on OKC to advance and give Shai his award after beating Jokic but it might end up being terrible if Denver wins.

They always give it before the second round ends. It should’ve been given already. Nothing wrong with thinking the Thunder and/or Denver didn’t want it announced now.

I know there's nothing wrong about it but we just don't know what really happened so to tell team X or Z didn't want the award to be announced is silly

[BigGargamel]

I really don't like moral victories and it would suck if Denver loses game 7, but I'm really proud of how these guys bounced back and are giving the Thunder everything they could handle. They were ready to roll over and die before Malone got fired.

[darkse1d]

If Gordon is out, don't see anyway that nuggets can come away with a win.

Also I expect Jaylin Williams to have a huge game considering how bad he's been all series and now everyone is talking about how bad he's been.

[BigGargamel]

At one point, Jokic had iHart as his backup in Nuggets… talking about Nuggets don’t have a backup center

I know people like to comment on all 30 teams even though there's no way to know about all teams, but Hartenstein was absolutely terrible when he was with Denver. He could rebound and block a shot, but was less than a non factor on offense. Hart worked hard to become a good player, and Denver brought him back to the NBA, but that was about it. He was awful.

[MrPainfulTruth]

At one point, Jokic had iHart as his backup in Nuggets… talking about Nuggets don’t have a backup center

That was a very different version of Hartenstein

[Ssj16]

Watch on YouTube

Is it just me or does this feel like it's from 1970, lol.

[MrPainfulTruth]

If Gordon is out, don't see anyway that nuggets can come away with a win.

Also I expect Jaylin Williams to have a huge game considering how bad he's been all series and now everyone is talking about how bad he's been.

There are a couple of guys due to have a big game, MPJ more than everyone else. I dont want to hear about his shoulder any more; he was just as bad all season in the key games. Its a mental problem, not a physical one.

I see your point with Nuggets needing Gordon, but realistically he wasnt really there in game 6 and they still won because Jokic played great and so did Murray and unexpected and unpredictable, Strather manifested himself on the floor, in meaningful minutes, and got hot. That could happen again, or its Watson next time or Braun rediscovers his shot or Westbrook does. There is always hope.

[Wolfgang630]

Don’t game 7’s tend to be rough overall? There tends to be a lot of missed shots. There’s lots of nervousness and anxiety. I don’t see J Williams will all of a sudden have a great game in the most pressurized game of his life. He’ll probably be better, but not great.

[TeamFirst]

Some credit should def also go to Adelman. Been great how he managed the minutes without much depth. Its insane they are now in game 7 vs the best team in the nba after it almost seemed their season was ruined. The Clippers have also been underrated, i think they could have gone far with peak kawhi if the nuggets had not stopped them.