Playoffs Game 3 WCSF: Denver Nuggets (2) @ Portland Trail Blazers (3) - 10:30 PM ET

[Blaze the Nugz]

Much respect to the Nuggets for that gritty performance. The series could easily be 2-1 Denver -- it's obviously not even close to being over yet.

I was looking at the box score this morning and noticed that Plumlee only played 12 minutes last night. What's up with that? It's only 3 minutes below his postseason average, but the game was 68 minutes long. Jokic played 65 at C, Milsap played 49 at PF -- so there were 22 PF/C minutes left over and Plumlee played 12 of those. Given how weak Portland was on the glass in game 2, I'm surprised Malone didn't try to go big and exploit that weakness more. Plumlee is a guy who could bang with Kanter (who has shied away from contact due to his injury) and who is too strong for Collins to stop. What do you guys make of Malone not forcing the issue in the paint more against Portland's weak front-court depth? I understand that Plumlee is limited offensively, but I think his physicality and defense would offset that against a weaker opponent like Collins/injured Kanter.

[NuggetsWY]

Much respect to the Nuggets for that gritty performance. The series could easily be 2-1 Denver -- it's obviously not even close to being over yet.

I was looking at the box score this morning and noticed that Plumlee only played 12 minutes last night. What's up with that? It's only 3 minutes below his postseason average, but the game was 68 minutes long. Jokic played 65 at C, Milsap played 49 at PF -- so there were 22 PF/C minutes left over and Plumlee played 12 of those. Given how weak Portland was on the glass in game 2, I'm surprised Malone didn't try to go big and exploit that weakness more. Plumlee is a guy who could bang with Kanter (who has shied away from contact due to his injury) and who is too strong for Collins to stop. What do you guys make of Malone not forcing the issue in the paint more against Portland's weak front-court depth? I understand that Plumlee is limited offensively, but I think his physicality and defense would offset that against a weaker opponent like Collins/injured Kanter.

Plumlee has a nice relationship with Morris but truthfully, he hasn't been real effective against San Antonio or Portland, especially on the boards. I get that with San Antonio. They play some physical bigs but Portland really only has one physical big, so Plumlee should be getting boards. The play we don't see much of when Jokic & Plumlee are out there together is Jokic in a high post throwing to Plumlee down low - maybe coming in along the baseline. Against Portland, that seems like a play that should work.

Malone's rotations are often puzzling. It took him months to figure out that Barton was great coming off the bench but not so good as a starter. It wasn't until the Spurs playoffs that he finally figured that out. He loves Barton & Plumlee so he leaves Lyles & Hernangomez sit on the bench. Against San Antonio, I get that but it just seems like Lyles and/or Hernangomez might matchup well against Portland's forwards. Some coaches have their system and make the players fit; some coaches adapt their system to their players. Popvich is a great example of the later and Malone sure seems to be the former.

[Moonbeam]

Karma is a bitch. Jokic is intentionally trying to hurt Kanter with cheap shots that aren't called. When Jokic gets hurt, I will be here to laugh about it.

It's too bad we don't have a healthy Nurk and Jokic, because we'd be smashing you guys rather than just barely winning.

I know I am not a mod here, but knock it off. Laughing at a prospective injury is classless.

[Moonbeam]

^kind of a condenscending post especially after their win. No way we see this post applauding the Nuggets team after a loss.

Well, I did do just that after Game 1 on the General Board. If Portland loses the series, I’ll be congratulating the Nuggets.

[skywalker33]

^kind of a condenscending post especially after their win. No way we see this post applauding the Nuggets team after a loss.

Well, I did do just that after Game 1 on the General Board. If Portland loses the series, I’ll be congratulating the Nuggets.

Beyond being a mod, moonbeam has always been a class act in every forum I’ve seen him, you can hang here anytime in my book. And thanks for trying to clean up over here

[skywalker33]

Seems to me our high quality bench is being outplayed in this series by quite a bit

[NuggetsWY]

Karma is a bitch. Jokic is intentionally trying to hurt Kanter with cheap shots that aren't called. When Jokic gets hurt, I will be here to laugh about it.

It's too bad we don't have a healthy Nurk and Jokic, because we'd be smashing you guys rather than just barely winning.

I know I am not a mod here, but knock it off. Laughing at a prospective injury is classless.

If any mod were ever to get out of line here, I would respond quickly. As every mod knows, we are expected to adhere to a higher standard. Moonbeam, you are welcome to correct/teach on this board anytime you feel the need!

[NuggetsWY]

Seems to me our high quality bench is being outplayed in this series by quite a bit

That's one of the things that puzzles me, but it isn't just about our bench being outplayed. It seems as though Malone has made up his mind to play 9 guys and nothing is going to change his mind.

According to ESPN; Minutes played:
47.7 - Jokic
41.7 - Harris
41.3 - Murray
36.3 - Millsap --- those are our "four starters" that Malone is depending on

26.0 - Beasley
25.0 - Craig
24.0 - Barton
16.0 - Plumlee
15.3 - Morris --- those are our "five bench players" and they are giving us around 35 ppg but it is their defense that seems to be hurting us. Well, that and our starters refusing to begin playing until after the first 12 minutes of the game have passed.

Craig may be starting but Malone is using him like a bench player. His shooting/scoring is not impressive but let's face it, he's in there for defense and he's pretty good at defense.
Barton is rebounding at 7 boards per game and actually handling the ball fairly well but his shooting is 37.5%-40%(3s) and tht hurts us. He is playing almost the same minutes as when he started.
Beasley is playing more mpg than Craig and all other bench players. I love his game but he isn't being very productive.
Plumlee seems to have forgotten what a rebound is and he's not scoring. Portland doesn't have anyone except Kanter that could matchup with him and he is very disappoint in my opinion.
Morris seems to be playing about as expected and that's decent.

So that leaves me to ask, why not give Lyles & Hernangomez some minutes? If they are hot, play them. If they play decent defense, play them. If not, sit them down but they ought to be given a chance (especially based on what they did when given decent minutes this year).

[The Rebel]

Lyles and Barton had very good chemistry last season, if you are going to play Barton off the bench with Plumlee, why not bring in Lyles? His midrange shooting will at least spread the floor a little bit and you can cut Jokic and Millsaps a combined 12 mpg to keep them fresher.

As far as that goes, why not bring in Juancho to spot up at the 3 line, I know he lost his confidence but just having him as a threat should open the floor up a little. Right now the only one that seems dependable from 3 is Beasley and 1 guy is not enough to spread the floor.

I am so tired of the Trailblazers pushing the narrative that Jokic was dirty, there were articles from a national writer and a Denver Post writer actually proving that is has been the other way around.

This loss was on Malone, not bringing in anybody fresh for the 20 minutes of overtime was too much, at least throw Beasley out there in the 2nd or 3rd overtime so someone had semi fresh legs.