Game 70 (bubble#5): Denver Nuggets (45-24) vs Utah Jazz (43-26)

[THE J0KER]

There is a strange paradox behind this game. Whatever happens today, chances that these two teams will meet each other in 1st round of 2020 playoff will significantly rise! The only difference is if Denver beat Utah most probable WC scenario is Denver as #3 seed and Utah as #6 seed, but if Jazz beat Nuggets most probable WC scenario is Nuggets as #4 seed and Jazz as #5 seed.

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I would call this game somehow "historic" with Denver Nuggets for the first time ever playing as "BIG3" team

Both teams do not care too much about win, and because of decent chances to play again this summer (in playoff) I'm not sure will that motivate their coaches to test their plan-A strategy today for that eventual series or not.

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But with Murray and Mitchell both in, at least we know both teams will compete seriously and try to win today, so who cares will they use plan-A or plan-B strategy for that.

[skywalker33]

With Millsap and Murray back in the lineup, seems apparent that chemistry is not there. MPJ looks out of sorts and we still are having issues guarding the 3-pt shots. Grant looks good off the bench again.

[THE J0KER]

1st quarter 15-29 was one of the worst quarters we played this season. Only two players actually disappointed, but we can't survive against tough opponents when Jokic and MPJ, two players with the team's highest TS% shooting just 1-9.

Jokic should stop with that "point guard" type of the games, especially now when Murray is back. It will be interesting to see how MPJ will react in 2nd half after 1st half 0-5 nightmare (including 0-4 threes).

GOOD THINGS: Grant and Morris definitely are ready for the playoff, and Murray seems fit and healthy.

[skywalker33]

MPJ coming back to lead the team in scoring, just shows he really is a #1 scorer for this team. Considering his 2-pt 1st half he just makes it seem so natural. Tags only 8 rebounds, is he coming back to "normal" with a 21/8 game ??

[Manolito]

Malone should be fired tonight

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[skywalker33]

Malone should be fired tonight

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You're hilarious, you said you don't care if we get 3rd or 4th seed so this game doesn't really matter, yet you want Malone's head.....wanna say why he should be fired ?? And he hasn't even LOST this game...yet.

[skywalker33]

And THERE"S the rust, Murray, of all players misses BOTH free throws....

[skywalker33]

Definitely HARD FOUGHT game, shows we can takes UTH's best shot and walk away standing !!

[Manolito]

Come on! Murray also scored amazing shots at the end of regular time and overtime.

Almost triple double in 40minutes after 5 months without playing a game...and still complaining.

Btw I did not like the two man show during OT. As soon as somebody else got involved (Grant), easy buckets appeared.

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[skywalker33]

Come on! Murray also scored amazing shots at the end of regular time and overtime.

Almost triple double in 40minutes after 5 months without playing a game...and still complaining.

Btw I did not like the two man show during OT. As soon as somebody else got involved (Grant), easy buckets appeared.

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Murray is our BEST free throw shooter, I was just pointing out the irony of HIM missing 2 free throw in crunch time after missing all of the previous restart games.....

And I thought Malone did a great job coaching this team to a win, he'll still be our coach unless he doesn't get us into the WCF, then all bets are off.

[skywalker33]

This win shows me 2 options.

1) Either we WANT Utah in the playoffs or we should/would have lost this game

2) We are now in the playoff preparation mode and need to integrate Jokic/Murray/MPJ/Grant to start to build their chemistry over the last 4 games. This win leads me to believe we need to focus on the playoffs and not the seeding.

[skywalker33]

The GOOD: Four players 20+pts, 3 double-double players shot 37% from 3-pt and still not at full strength
The BAD : Gave up important leads at the end of the game, TWICE and allow 55% from 3-pt.
The UGLY: Still unknown if/when Harris and Barton comes back

[THE J0KER]

Just like I predicted, this game may be strange and weird, but both teams will try to win.

Our two most efficient scorers Jokic and MPJ shoot 1-9 in 1st half but 17-30 in the rest of the game which not only means improved FG% but also much more aggressive game (they are also just 2-2 from FT in 1st half, but 12-12 in the rest). MPJ was out of gas in both overtimes, but note that he never played before restart single 30+ minutes game, but now played 45 minutes game twice!? Despite terrible 1st half and blank OTx2, 2nd half played on his new standards is enough for a good grade, including team highest +/- on +13.

But the biggest news today is not Joker and MPJ which after pathetic 1st half prove themself once again in the rest of the game, but Jamal Murray which body was definitely ready. His shooting is rusty after a long pause, so we see today rare 1-4 FT from him, but the best is to see him fit and healthy. Murray was 23-12-8, and he misses triple-double only because of zero assists in 1st half where for some reason Jokic has too much point guard duties.

Last season in playoff Morris was totally out of shape, and right now he playing some of his best basketball, while last season we didn't have Grant, so Nuggets are a much stronger team now than in 2019 not only because of Porter.


BAD THINGS: 2nd time in the row our opponents made franchise record in threes!? To be honest, I have no clue how on Earth team shooting 9-37 (24%) for the 3pt beat team which shoots 22-55 (40%) in a game where teams are tied in rebounds!? Also, while I waiting when Malone will finally stop with these last-minute substitutions with Jokic, he starts the same with Porter. Can you imagine Houston playing final minute without Harden and Westbrook because they are not elite defenders? Or next season GSW without Curry and Klay, or Nets without Durant and Irving? That is ridiculous, and after all, coach must trust in his stars.

[The Rebel]

MPJ looked terrible in the 1st half on both ends, but he showed why he should be starting by the end of the game. He scored enough to make his stat line look respectable and his defense the 2nd half and the overtime was actually considerably better. I do think we should have fed MPJ a couple of plays in the overtimes. It was obvious that Murray was exhausted and Jokic with MPJ the last few games works well in the 2 man game.


The chemistry was really off in that 1st half, but it seemed to get straightened out the 2nd half.


Was I the only one shaking my head at Reggie Miller that 1st half? It was obvious the entire Jazz defense came out doubling Jokic and clogging his passing lanes, unfortunately with Craig and Millsap on the court it is not so hard for a good defensive team. Millsap has shot the ball extremely well from 3 this season, but he is still streaky and teams force him to make 1 before they cover him. That is why teams need other stars and struggle to win with just 1. You knew Jokic would end up scoring and putting up his numbers, but we needed a couple of other guys to show they could figure it out as well. Murray, Grant, and finally MPJ scoring finally forced the Jazz to open up.

Is Millsap on a minute restriction? Did anybody else notice the lineup late in the 4th through the end of the 2 overtimes? It was Murray/Morris/MPJ/ Grant/ and Jokic. Mitchell was hitting some crazy hot shots, but he was pretty well covered on most of them. Overall I thought the defense was pretty good. If Harris can rediscover his jumpshot, that can be a championship type of lineup. While Porter has to get better on defense, you can see the benefit of 2 athletic forwards that can beat guys to the rim. Millsap just is not fast enough some nights with the small 4s everybody is using but he and Barton off the bench with Morris is one hell of a 8 man lineup.

[NuggetsWY]

Jokic & Porter had a rough 1st quarter but that may be because of their game. They are both quite team-oriented; especially Jokic. With the addition of Murray and with Millsap back, chemistry was probably still being worked out.

Jazz played all five of their starters 39+ minutes with four of them getting 40+ minutes and they were all effective.

Most impressive Nugget stat for me was just ten turnovers.

Worst Nugget stat for me was the 24% 3pt shooting. If they give the ball to Jokic and move, they score better and not just from three point range.

Most impressive player of the game? Mitchell? Well, some great shots but a low FG%. The same could be said of Murray, but for his first game back, to play 40 minutes and still being effective at the end of the game? THAT IS IMPRESSIVE!

[Mickey8]

Jokic is the most frustrating player to follow, there is no excuse for him having halves when hes scoreless or he scores couple of points, he needs to be aggressive from the get go , thats what superstars do,his coach should react when hes that passive . Porter is far from being team oriented player , hes looking to score every time he has the ball in his hands, with the return of Murray he became second option offensively when Jokic feels like not playing.

[NuggetsWY]

Jokic is the most frustrating player to follow, there is no excuse for him having halves when hes scoreless or he scores couple of points, he needs to be aggressive from the get go , thats what superstars do,his coach should react when hes that passive .

Agreed

Porter is far from being team oriented player , hes looking to score every time he has the ball in his hands,

Nope, disagree. He'll probably never be a big-time assist guy, but he'll pass the ball often enough. Frankly, I wish Jokic & Murray & Harris would shoot more.

[skywalker33]

Jokic is the most frustrating player to follow, there is no excuse for him having halves when hes scoreless or he scores couple of points, he needs to be aggressive from the get go , thats what superstars do,his coach should react when hes that passive . Porter is far from being team oriented player , hes looking to score every time he has the ball in his hands, with the return of Murray he became second option offensively when Jokic feels like not playing.

Yeah, I've complained about his bi-half production approach but he always seems to come thru most of the time, so end results and all. Imagine if he did put back-to-back halves, he'd destroy the league.

Porter does need to work more as a facilitator but his role has always been the #1 scorer, but he's only 22 and can work on his game in the future. Right now I am OK with him being a scorer AND a rebounder, both areas he's currently excelling at. Enjoy it and allow the kid to grow into a bigger role.

[TunaFish]

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[Mickey8]

I dont have anything against Porter, hes the talented scorer and that's what he should do, look to score , I just don't see him as somebody who makes plays for others. His role is reduced with the return of Murray , especially in the closing time of the game,but he still had enough of shot attempts in the game.