2019-20 NBA Season Discussion

[ShotCreator]

Jokic Murray pnr is no lie one of the most unstoppable plays in nba history. In all my years of watching ball I don't think I've seen a play that made you feel so helpless.

It really is some form of what the Curry/KD high pnr should have been but Durant just never actually committed to screening.

If you have two guys who are dangerous with a live dribble off the screen and triple threat against a mismatch it’s gonna be a matter of their patience cause there’s no ideal way to defend it.

I said before the series, this essentially Jokic + some mystery ATG guard Murray has played like in the playoffs + the athleticism for a top 10 defense.

That’s a very tough team to beat.

This may as way well be Jokic/Kobe or Jokic/CP3 out there.

[MyUniBroDavis]

That comeback failing is all on lebron. Wastes half the shot clock for 4 straight possessions doing nothing but dribbling.

I mean he and rondo made it happen in the first place, and rondo/kuz/kcp all missed good looks or had dumb turnovers

Definately could have been better at the end there

[Clyde Frazier]

Murray is looking like what I call an "anatomy doesn't make sense" guy (see harden, giannis, Zion, etc). He's 6'4" and kinda stout, yet has huge hands and incredible hang time on his drives. His agility around the rim and ability to absorb contact is super impressive. He also makes the frowned upon jump pass usually look like a good idea. I just marvel at how he finds seams in the defense that aren't really there. Never gives up on being able to make a play with the ball. Similar to Nash in that regard. A joy to watch.

[MyUniBroDavis]

I just realized something

Why tf dont the lakers run the bron and AD pick and roll anymore?

Like they literally dont run it lol its so weird

[GSP]

I just realized something

Why tf dont the lakers run the bron and AD pick and roll anymore?

Like they literally dont run it lol its so weird

What they ran it a few times this game and Ad scored over Jokic a few times off the roll and got fouled a couple times too

[Doctor MJ]

I really can't believe how good Murray is. If he's really this legit, combined with the way Jokic delivers against tough competition, the Nuggets are a title contender for a long time to come.

[Heej]

If MPJ pans out I'm taking Denver as the dynasty of the 2000s barring KP learning how to kill switches in the post and basically becoming a scoring focused version of Jokic to pair with Luka.

As for why Bron and AD don't run pnr and kill Jokic on the switch, it's probably gonna be a spam play that Vogel keeps in the bag for later on in the series like Kerr used to with Steph-KD.

Should be interesting to see how the nuggets pick apart the zone. Jokic got to the nail immediately after the first timeout so I'm thinking that defense gets reduced to a gimmick by next game. Great move by Vogel tho, completely forgot they had that in the back pocket. That's why he's an NBA coach and im just a measly blog boi

[Heej]

Murray is looking like what I call an "anatomy doesn't make sense" guy (see harden, giannis, Zion, etc). He's 6'4" and kinda stout, yet has huge hands and incredible hang time on his drives. His agility around the rim and ability to absorb contact is super impressive. He also makes the frowned upon jump pass usually look like a good idea. I just marvel at how he finds seams in the defense that aren't really there. Never gives up on being able to make a play with the ball. Similar to Nash in that regard. A joy to watch.

He's so sneaky athletic I love it haha. I was thinking today watching him play, at 6'4" he just has raw power and size at the PG position. He's already shown a penchant for posting up too. This kid is gonna be NASTY during the years to come. And you know what the craziest part of it all is? I'm still taking Mitchell over him . Young talent absolutely ****ing stacked at guard. I thought the mid 2010s was the Golden Age of PGs, but that s*** might look like a Bronze Age compared to the 2020s lol

[Doctor MJ]

If MPJ pans out I'm taking Denver as the dynasty of the 2000s barring KP learning how to kill switches in the post and basically becoming a scoring focused version of Jokic to pair with Luka.

I don't trust MPJ. He feels like a guy who might be best suited to being the star of his team and leading them to the treadmill.

[yoyoboy]

Pretty sure the actual numbers on the LeBron-Davis PnR this season aren’t good. Probably because teams mostly just switch it and neither creates that much of a mismatch opportunity or they go under the screen and concede LeBron taking the pull up three which he hesitates on.

[Heej]

If MPJ pans out I'm taking Denver as the dynasty of the 2000s barring KP learning how to kill switches in the post and basically becoming a scoring focused version of Jokic to pair with Luka.

I don't trust MPJ. He feels like a guy who might be best suited to being the star of his team and leading them to the treadmill.

Ahaha I can't blame you for that take Doc. Part of me wonders if he's the guy you dangle as the ultimate trade piece for the perfect 3&D wing or like Jrue Holliday lol, but I do have to give him the benefit of the doubt after watching the way he came at LeBron's neck tonight.

There's times when Murray gets LeBron switched onto him and he just seems rushed by LeBron's mere aura. But MPJ wasn't afraid at all, he was out there to depose the King. And ya know what, just on a primal level I respect that cuz that's some alpha dog s*** right there.

[yoyoboy]

Also can you imagine the sports media struggling to construct their usual weak narratives if Denver advances past both the Clippers and the Lakers?

They so badly wanted to crown one of LeBron or Kawhi and make lazy generalizations about the other only based on whoever’s team beat the other (per usual) but if both their teams go down to a Murray-Jokic led team, it’s hard to see them anointing Joker the best in the league.

[HeartBreakKid]

Denver should trade MPJ next season for a pretty penny. Maybe get a two way player.

[NinjaSheppard]

Denver needs to get Torrey Craig and MPJ to perform a Dragon Ball Z fusion dance to get over the hump.

[MyUniBroDavis]

If MPJ pans out I'm taking Denver as the dynasty of the 2000s barring KP learning how to kill switches in the post and basically becoming a scoring focused version of Jokic to pair with Luka.

I don't trust MPJ. He feels like a guy who might be best suited to being the star of his team and leading them to the treadmill.

Ahaha I can't blame you for that take Doc. Part of me wonders if he's the guy you dangle as the ultimate trade piece for the perfect 3&D wing or like Jrue Holliday lol, but I do have to give him the benefit of the doubt after watching the way he came at LeBron's neck tonight.

There's times when Murray gets LeBron switched onto him and he just seems rushed by LeBron's mere aura. But MPJ wasn't afraid at all, he was out there to depose the King. And ya know what, just on a primal level I respect that cuz that's some alpha dog s*** right there.

Lowkey why dont they put bron on murray, it might tire him out but bron on jokic on a switch late shotclock isnt nearly as bad as caruso or rondo on jokic

[limbo]

If MPJ pans out I'm taking Denver as the dynasty of the 2000s barring KP learning how to kill switches in the post and basically becoming a scoring focused version of Jokic to pair with Luka.

I don't trust MPJ. He feels like a guy who might be best suited to being the star of his team and leading them to the treadmill.

He's a low risk/high reward player right now with his contract, so it's not like the Nuggets are losing much by pushing him up front.

I would give him at least a full year of consistent playing time under his belt to see if he can develop into a more cohesive member of the team, and maybe pick up some tricks from Jokic/Murray along the way, because right now, he's mainly a pull up jump shooter.

But yeah, if he doesn't show enough promise as a 3rd wheel type player on a team with championship aspirations, then i would be looking to explore some trading options for him if i was Denver.

As long as he stays healthy, i think Denver can get a nice return for him.

[E-Balla]

Also can you imagine the sports media struggling to construct their usual weak narratives if Denver advances past both the Clippers and the Lakers?

They so badly wanted to crown one of LeBron or Kawhi and make lazy generalizations about the other only based on whoever’s team beat the other (per usual) but if both their teams go down to a Murray-Jokic led team, it’s hard to see them anointing Joker the best in the league.

Murray will be the most hyped G since Kobe in 2000 if they win.

[Doctor MJ]

So, I noted that both Jokic & Murray are scoring >25 PPG and >.60 TS% in the playoffs. Did a search on guys with 15 or more playoff games:

https://stathead.com/tiny/2BDJF

Only two guys doing that in these playoffs.

Only other duo in history to do was Steph & KD.

I just think it's really clear that if these two guys both keep playing like this, you're talking about a 2 A-list superstar team that shouldn't be considered an underdog going forward.

I say this while still thinking "Can they actually keep playing like this?", as I most definitely didn't call this, but this definitely isn't a case of some mysterious cause of upsets. Jokic & Murray have both been really, really good.

EDIT: Okay that's a bit silly. LeBron & AD didn't get on my search because they've played short series so far.

[Heej]

I don't trust MPJ. He feels like a guy who might be best suited to being the star of his team and leading them to the treadmill.

Ahaha I can't blame you for that take Doc. Part of me wonders if he's the guy you dangle as the ultimate trade piece for the perfect 3&D wing or like Jrue Holliday lol, but I do have to give him the benefit of the doubt after watching the way he came at LeBron's neck tonight.

There's times when Murray gets LeBron switched onto him and he just seems rushed by LeBron's mere aura. But MPJ wasn't afraid at all, he was out there to depose the King. And ya know what, just on a primal level I respect that cuz that's some alpha dog s*** right there.

Lowkey why dont they put bron on murray, it might tire him out but bron on jokic on a switch late shotclock isnt nearly as bad as caruso or rondo on jokic

I'd rather the Lakers just consistently scram switch but I think that's asking too much of Vogel. I don't think AD has the IQ to make that decision in real time the way Bron does. Watch how it unfolds, a lot of the time those guards are stuck on Jokic it's when AD is near them and doesn't call for the switch. Bron is complicit of being lazy on scram switching too tho, I've gotten plenty frustrated at him for that this series; but AD NEVER reads it in time or just plain chooses not to.

How much of it do you guys think it's an effort thing vs a schematic thing. Cuz if more energy isn't enough of an answer for this Nuggets squad then I'm kinda worried about the Lakers chances.

[mikejames23]

Woot for the bounce back win. Now to see if Denver can make this 2-2.