Game 76: Washington Wizards (31-46) @ Denver Nuggets (51-24) - 8:00 PM ET

[ducler]

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[NuggetsWY]

Really looking forward to watching Millsap vs Portis. Two different players but an interesting matchup IMO.

Loving the Beal vs. Harris matchup even more. In my opinion, Beal is the player that Harris is most similar to in terms of both ends of the court and style of play.

Surely do hope Jokic looks to score a little more in this game. He should be able to score rather easily (but he'll take a beating when he's down low).

[THE J0KER]

Something is seriously wrong with this guy Bobby Portis, or he can't control himself if someone's name is NIKOLA. ! He almost broke Jokic nose in a move which may be intentional (he must be frustrated with Jokic monster start 14-6-2-2-1 in just 8 minutes).

[manchambo]

I’m upset about Jokic getting thrown out for very little.

I’m more upset that Barton, Harris, and others couldn’t step up and make a play.

[manchambo]

Of course Barton missed it.

[THE J0KER]

Jokic was the best player in the game, but he is to blame for this dumb loss. But also, I can understand him this time - Bobby Portis committed 3 flagrant fouls today on Jokic, no one is called (actually twice there is no call at all, not just flagrant). Two of these fouls can injury player, and third was dirty play from behind when Jokic loses his mind realizing there is no call.

A team without Jokic and Murray looked scary weak.

BTW, before this week Denver never scored less than 30 points in the 2nd half, but this week team doing it twice!!?! Wrong way to end one of the most successful seasons in franchise history.

[NuggetsWY]

#1 reason the Nuggets lost? Hmm, because Jokic lost his cool? Again? Or was it because the Nuggets decided to play the "S-defense"? "S-defense" is what I call our "Statue-defense".

Harris' game was very disappointing; at both ends of the courts.
Barton was shooting almost as bad as a 55 year old YMCA player and he took 15 shots!
Millsap had a double-double with 16 rebounds. Probably our MVP of the game.

Plumlee had 9 points with 11 rebounds. He's becoming a clear favorite for our 6th man of the year. I say that simply because he's more consistent than Morris & Beasley.

[eathb_au]

Legitimately worried about the playoffs, we're a real chance to exit in the first round. I'm sorry, like no good teams in the West lose to the Wizards at home. This is arguably our easiest game to win in like 5 years.

[Revived]

I love Jokic’s game but he has to learn to keep his composure. Jokic was right, he got fouled, but move on because he’s too important to the team imo to get thrown out of the game.

The superstars in the league get upset over calls and complain but they don’t get agitated most of the time. That’s what Jokic has to learn to do.

This was what, his 3rd or 4th ejection of the year?

If he gets a reputation for being hot tempered and verbally abusive then it’s gonna carry him throughout his entire career (like Cousins). And that’s not a good thing.

[NuggetsWY]

I love Jokic’s game but he has to learn to keep his composure. Jokic was right, he got fouled, but move on because he’s too important to the team imo to get thrown out of the game.

The superstars in the league get upset over calls and complain but they don’t get agitated most of the time. That’s what Jokic has to learn to do.

This was what, his 3rd or 4th ejection of the year?

If he gets a reputation for being hot tempered and verbally abusive then it’s gonna carry him throughout his entire career (like Cousins). And that’s not a good thing.

3rd ejection and it's too late; he already has a reputation as a flopping whiner

[manchambo]

I have three competing disappointments about this game: Jokic not keeping his cool in that situation, not having a single other player step up to finish off the game in the absence of Murray and Jokic (the choking--particularly missing three free throws in a row--was bad), and a referee being so eager to eject a star player in a tight game.

[flow]

Came over here to see your all's reaction to Malone's media session after the game - getting on Jokic instead of the refs. I didn't like it. Get on Jokic all you want in your office, and you should, because you're right that he can't be getting tossed from games. But Jokic was getting mugged throughout the night and was getting no calls. You have got to stick up for your superstar in front of the media if you want the refs to treat him like a superstar instead of a scrub. And if you want to attract FA stars in the future. Be angry at the no-calls moreso than at your player's behavior when the mics are on. Some of those no-calls were inexcusable.

[SkillzFromThe6]

Y'all already know what I'm going to say. So I'm just going to say nothing.

[manchambo]

Came over here to see your all's reaction to Malone's media session after the game - getting on Jokic instead of the refs. I didn't like it. Get on Jokic all you want in your office, and you should, because you're right that he can't be getting tossed from games. But Jokic was getting mugged throughout the night and was getting no calls. You have got to stick up for your superstar in front of the media if you want the refs to treat him like a superstar instead of a scrub. And if you want to attract FA stars in the future. Be angry at the no-calls moreso than at your player's behavior when the mics are on. Some of those no-calls were inexcusable.

I don't know. He probably already addressed this with Jokic in private. And it needs to stop, so he's escalating the pressure to get Jokic to take the issue seriously.

[NuggetsWY]

Came over here to see your all's reaction to Malone's media session after the game - getting on Jokic instead of the refs. I didn't like it. Get on Jokic all you want in your office, and you should, because you're right that he can't be getting tossed from games. But Jokic was getting mugged throughout the night and was getting no calls. You have got to stick up for your superstar in front of the media if you want the refs to treat him like a superstar instead of a scrub. And if you want to attract FA stars in the future. Be angry at the no-calls moreso than at your player's behavior when the mics are on. Some of those no-calls were inexcusable.

I don't know. He probably already addressed this with Jokic in private. And it needs to stop, so he's escalating the pressure to get Jokic to take the issue seriously.

I hope Malone has addressed this privately in the past. It's been mentioned here before. Jokic needs to stop and he shouldn't need his coach to tell him that.

By the way, Malone has thrown other players under the bus before. So it's no big shock.

[The Rebel]

If someone slaps me straight in the nose, grabs me from behind and bear hugs me, and than tries to grab the top of my shoulders to pull me back as I run by him than I am going to say something to the refs. This crap that Jokic is getting is bull, why should he at 23 years old keep his composure while being physically assaulted and having the refs ignore it and a coach and team full of teammates that will do nothing to back him up? If I was Jokic than you would not have wanted to be in the lockerroom with me after that game, and I would be looking to get the **** away from Malone who cares more about the money that I made him than he does about standing up for what is right.


Also if you do not think that the Wizards were being dirty go back and watch the game, that knee to Murray's upper ankle was no accident either, and the refs and our coaching staff want to blame Jokic?


I am disappointed in Nuggets fans who instead of blaming the NBA refs are blaming him, as if any player in the league would handle it differently. Hell the Warriors were openly mocking these very same refs to no consequences for 1 missed call just 2 nights prior and had no consequences.


Also can someone tell me why it is the black refs that Jokic always had trouble? Same with Gobert, Jeremy Lin, MIrotic, Porzingis have all had problems with the same ones, can anybody explain why that does not involve race because at this point I am ready to say that Marc Davis, Tony Brothers, Leon Wood, and Marat Kogut are all racists pieces of **** that the NBA needs to replace.


As for the game, the Wizards were allowed to play dirty and with the help of the refs took our 2 best players off the court last night, the NBA and their refs cost us this game. We are used to getting screwed in a sports league where we are 1 of 30 supposedly equal teams, but the league, media, and refs treat us like after thoughts and our fans accept it. Nuggets fans need to find some pride and stop allowing our team and ourselves to be openly disrespected, it is not going to help in the playoffs, it is not going to help in the media, and it is not going to help with the league, the only thing that will is if you guys grow some **** balls and demand to be treated like a 2nd seed team gets treated. Until then we will continue to be screwed.

[nayyyyyyyyo09]

If someone slaps me straight in the nose, grabs me from behind and bear hugs me, and than tries to grab the top of my shoulders to pull me back as I run by him than I am going to say something to the refs. This crap that Jokic is getting is bull, why should he at 23 years old keep his composure while being physically assaulted and having the refs ignore it and a coach and team full of teammates that will do nothing to back him up? If I was Jokic than you would not have wanted to be in the lockerroom with me after that game, and I would be looking to get the **** away from Malone who cares more about the money that I made him than he does about standing up for what is right.


Also if you do not think that the Wizards were being dirty go back and watch the game, that knee to Murray's upper ankle was no accident either, and the refs and our coaching staff want to blame Jokic?


I am disappointed in Nuggets fans who instead of blaming the NBA refs are blaming him, as if any player in the league would handle it differently. Hell the Warriors were openly mocking these very same refs to no consequences for 1 missed call just 2 nights prior and had no consequences.


Also can someone tell me why it is the black refs that Jokic always had trouble? Same with Gobert, Jeremy Lin, MIrotic, Porzingis have all had problems with the same ones, can anybody explain why that does not involve race because at this point I am ready to say that Marc Davis, Tony Brothers, Leon Wood, and Marat Kogut are all racists pieces of **** that the NBA needs to replace.


As for the game, the Wizards were allowed to play dirty and with the help of the refs took our 2 best players off the court last night, the NBA and their refs cost us this game. We are used to getting screwed in a sports league where we are 1 of 30 supposedly equal teams, but the league, media, and refs treat us like after thoughts and our fans accept it. Nuggets fans need to find some pride and stop allowing our team and ourselves to be openly disrespected, it is not going to help in the playoffs, it is not going to help in the media, and it is not going to help with the league, the only thing that will is if you guys grow some **** balls and demand to be treated like a 2nd seed team gets treated. Until then we will continue to be screwed.

Wow, I agreed with you for very small parts of this but cmon man. You lost all my respect the second you brought up racism, the refs simply don’t respect Jokic because he hasn’t done anything worthwhile in the nba like make the All NBA team or won a championship. Does that make it right? No. Does that make it racism? Helllllllllllll no. And yeah while the wizards (Bobby Portis) were playing dirty, that was not an intentional shot on Murray’s ankle. Why the hell would Beal have any beef with Jamal? You seem to forget that the media and most players don’t care about Denver and if anything, the Wizards would want to do anything to get rid of the GSW dynasty so if they ever got to the finals, it wouldn’t be an immediate loss. Beal is the 4th best SG in this league and for you to disrespect him like that is asinine. Other than that, yeah I agree that Malone and co should have backed up Jokic way more than they did and when Jokic got ejected, Malone in specific should have been the first one on the court in the Refs face. Another note, Malone CARES about this team and while I have my doubts that he’s the correct fit for our coach, the players have grown fond of him as he has of them. So please before you go around throwing senseless and immature comments like the ones above, stop and contemplate what you wrote for at least a minute or two.

[NuggetsWY]

I lived near Orlando when Shaq joined the league. He was beat up far worse than Jokic gets and it took him time to deal with it. The unspoken but well known truth was that Shaq was so big and so strong, that the refs didn't feel the "fouls" were impacting his game.

Jokic faces much of the same except the game has changed. They allow much less physical contact today than when Shaq played. Yet if you watch the games, Jokic is much stronger than the majority of the people he plays against.

I'm not saying this is right, but he must learn how to deal with this.

[Maf]

Well, I took day off so I won't write so pissed off. Barton, Beasley- If I hate your performance more then Lyles you must know you were doing extra terrible.

Speaking about Lyles- 3 from 17 shooting since his return to the line up. So happy he's back...

About Jokič- Kinda understand he should be able to control his emotions, but seriously, he's Balkan, they're just very emotional. And loud. And over-acting. And I won't blame him because I exploded on the basketball court sometimes, too. What is bad, totally agree with Rebel, that Malone doesn't back him up. So he (Malone) can think Jokič need this lesson and he hates this behavior of Jokič. Still, back him up in front of referees and kill him in the locker room! No, Malone won't say a word, won't get a T for protecting his players. Very dissapointing.


Ok Nuggets. Gimme next 4W's and I am willing to forget this game.

[The Rebel]

If someone slaps me straight in the nose, grabs me from behind and bear hugs me, and than tries to grab the top of my shoulders to pull me back as I run by him than I am going to say something to the refs. This crap that Jokic is getting is bull, why should he at 23 years old keep his composure while being physically assaulted and having the refs ignore it and a coach and team full of teammates that will do nothing to back him up? If I was Jokic than you would not have wanted to be in the lockerroom with me after that game, and I would be looking to get the **** away from Malone who cares more about the money that I made him than he does about standing up for what is right.


Also if you do not think that the Wizards were being dirty go back and watch the game, that knee to Murray's upper ankle was no accident either, and the refs and our coaching staff want to blame Jokic?


I am disappointed in Nuggets fans who instead of blaming the NBA refs are blaming him, as if any player in the league would handle it differently. Hell the Warriors were openly mocking these very same refs to no consequences for 1 missed call just 2 nights prior and had no consequences.


Also can someone tell me why it is the black refs that Jokic always had trouble? Same with Gobert, Jeremy Lin, MIrotic, Porzingis have all had problems with the same ones, can anybody explain why that does not involve race because at this point I am ready to say that Marc Davis, Tony Brothers, Leon Wood, and Marat Kogut are all racists pieces of **** that the NBA needs to replace.


As for the game, the Wizards were allowed to play dirty and with the help of the refs took our 2 best players off the court last night, the NBA and their refs cost us this game. We are used to getting screwed in a sports league where we are 1 of 30 supposedly equal teams, but the league, media, and refs treat us like after thoughts and our fans accept it. Nuggets fans need to find some pride and stop allowing our team and ourselves to be openly disrespected, it is not going to help in the playoffs, it is not going to help in the media, and it is not going to help with the league, the only thing that will is if you guys grow some **** balls and demand to be treated like a 2nd seed team gets treated. Until then we will continue to be screwed.

Wow, I agreed with you for very small parts of this but cmon man. You lost all my respect the second you brought up racism, the refs simply don’t respect Jokic because he hasn’t done anything worthwhile in the nba like make the All NBA team or won a championship. Does that make it right? No. Does that make it racism? Helllllllllllll no. And yeah while the wizards (Bobby Portis) were playing dirty, that was not an intentional shot on Murray’s ankle. Why the hell would Beal have any beef with Jamal? You seem to forget that the media and most players don’t care about Denver and if anything, the Wizards would want to do anything to get rid of the GSW dynasty so if they ever got to the finals, it wouldn’t be an immediate loss. Beal is the 4th best SG in this league and for you to disrespect him like that is asinine. Other than that, yeah I agree that Malone and co should have backed up Jokic way more than they did and when Jokic got ejected, Malone in specific should have been the first one on the court in the Refs face. Another note, Malone CARES about this team and while I have my doubts that he’s the correct fit for our coach, the players have grown fond of him as he has of them. So please before you go around throwing senseless and immature comments like the ones above, stop and contemplate what you wrote for at least a minute or two.

Yep, my saying that the way Jokic is reffed could be racial is way off base in a league where the best player openly admitted that he hated and avoided white people all the way through high school. Where Draymond Green and several analysts have stated that Steph Curry does not get enough respect from refs or other players because he is not black enough. Where many have said that the reason Jeremy Lin has always struggled to stay with a team was because of his race. A league where 1 of 30 member organizations is currently being sued for racism against white people. A league that studies have shown African american support white players at a considerably lower rate than African American players. A league where even current players say that guys use their skin color as a basis for trash talk. A league where 2 stars openly said that Larry Bird an all time top 5 player was only considered good because he was white. Yep it could never be racially motivated that our white Center who should be considered the best in the game is overlooked by former players, openly disrespected by other players, and ignored or thrown out of the game by African American refs. Nope not ever. Now if you want to have an honest discussion we can do that, but in the league where a guy that happens to be white is always stereotyped than you should be aware that you are likely going to lose the argument.


https://sports.yahoo.com/news/draymond-green-steph-curry-light-skinned-players-want-make-soft-162527235.html
http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/22854238/former-employee-sues-atlanta-hawks-claiming-discrimination-whites

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/17/opinion/sunday/the-color-of-fandom.html

Explain to me why Jokic draws considerably less fouls on post ups, and do not use attitude in a league where Draymond Green exists.

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As for Beal taking out Murray, I am sure it was all an accident, him changing direction on his fall and just happened to be bringing his knee forward into Murray's ankle, go rewatch it if you do not believe me.