Game 44: Denver Nuggets (26-17) @ Toronto Raptors (17-26) - 7:30PM

ducler · Post #1 » by **ducler** » Wed Mar 24, 2021 8:58 pm

Post #2 » by **NuggetsWY** » Wed Mar 24, 2021 10:50 pm

Jokic shouldn't be bothered too much by any Raptor big. Their only legit center is Baynes and he plays less than half of each game. Siakam will play quite a bit of center too.

Millsap will end up playing against both Siakam and Boucher. Both are probably more athletic than Millsap can keep up with - especially Boucher. He's quite likely going to start the game matched up against Anunoby - definitely not a good thing for the Nuggets IMO.

Worse for us is that Porter will have to try to cover one of their top guards: Powell or VanVleet. Let's hope Malone doesn't give Millsap very many minutes.

With that in mind; Malone should love that Toronto plays a lot of three guard lineups. So if he will pull Millsap out of the lineup for most of the game; he can play Murray & Barton & Campazzo & Dozier. He might even be able to play Howard or Hampton (but it seems unlikely that he would).

psimanic1 · Post #3 » by **psimanic1** » Wed Mar 24, 2021 11:31 pm

I would say, if we see RJ or Bol in this game, its their last as Nuggets... Not saying wont be last if they dont play, but I guess Malone could give them some thank you minutes if they are traded

Post #4 » by **THE J0KER** » Wed Mar 24, 2021 11:43 pm

Probably career last game for the Raptors from Lowry and Powell, maybe even for Siakam too., so hard to predict will Toronto (Tampa) will overperforming or underperforming today. But in any case, we need this win more than they. Jokic should make difference on the C spot.

psimanic1 · Post #5 » by **psimanic1** » Wed Mar 24, 2021 11:45 pm

I really hope we trade Barton... I think he already took more shots than Jokic and Murray combined...

skywalker33 · Post #6 » by **skywalker33** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 12:01 am

Feels like Barton has heard his name being bantered about in trade talks, pressure gets to that guy for sure.

psimanic1 · Post #7 » by **psimanic1** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 12:09 am

RJ also looked concerned when talking with Barton beforw game, could be both of them are done

GeorgeSears · Post #8 » by **GeorgeSears** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 12:26 am

This bench unit has been unreliable all year. 1-10 from 3 and they were ALL wide open looks.

Post #9 » by **THE J0KER** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 12:52 am

40 pts in 1st quarter and 72 pts in 1st half is way too much, and combined with a very bad offense gives us the worst -18 halftime score this season. This game is still not over, but things not looking so promising at all. 5-21 vs 13-22 in threes is a key 1st half stats-line (apart of Big3 Nuggets shooting 3pt 1-14).

psimanic1 · Post #10 » by **psimanic1** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 1:11 am

Nuggets Big3 playing ok, Malone Big3 holding us out of this game... I really hope we trade atleast one of Malone Big3

Post #11 » by **THE J0KER** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 1:54 am

This is an awesome blowout loss for the Nuggets vs lottery team just in time when we need it the most, right before the trade deadline! What we need is 4th impactful player, forward or guard. Last season it was Jeramy Grant and we reached WCF. We have enough assets to get TOP100 player (aka notable starter), no excuse if our FO falls once again during the trade deadline when we are "winning now" team by any means.

GeorgeSears · Post #12 » by **GeorgeSears** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 1:59 am

This was one of those games where the Raps were way more desperate and hit all of their 3s. Setting a Franchise record.

The way this team is constructed is very worrying. Millsap and Barton in the starting lineup just isn't working.

psimanic1 · Post #13 » by **psimanic1** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 2:01 am

If we dont make any trade to improve, and dont trade Barton, Im quiting until POs, I just cant watch him taking the air out of the ball for so long... I could probably find atleast 5 plays where he didnt even take a look at open guys, but either drove and missed, losed the ball, or gave it to Jokic with few seconda left.. I just cant stand it anymore tbh

GeorgeSears · Post #14 » by **GeorgeSears** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 2:13 am

psimanic1 wrote:If we dont make any trade to improve, and dont trade Barton, Im quiting until POs, I just cant watch him taking the air out of the ball for so long... I could probably find atleast 5 plays where he didnt even take a look at open guys, but either drove and missed, losed the ball, or gave it to Jokic with few seconda left.. I just cant stand it anymore tbh

Nothing I hate watching more than the Nuggets getting a rebounding, passing to Barton and seeing him jack up a 3 with 18 seconds on the shot clock. I don't mind if Malone gives him the freedom to do what he wants off the bench, similar to Lou Williams on the Clippers. However, when he's on the starting lineup, he fails to embrace the system. It's not just the inconsistent shooting( He's 6/35 from 3 in the last 5 games) he fails to make the right passes and fails to notice when players are wide open. Defensively, he can't really give you much either. He's purely built as a scorer off the bench.

Millsap is just old. He'll make a couple defensive plays here and there but he can't produce offensively.

Post #15 » by **The Rebel** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 2:41 am

Read on Twitter

I love that Jokic is finally calling it like he sees it.

Manolito · Post #16 » by **Manolito** » Thu Mar 25, 2021 10:42 am

I am surprised you are surprised with Barton´s yesterday game. He has been that kind of player consistently, he is 31 already, not gonna be a useful role player. Obviously not going to shoot 0/8 everyday, but why expecting from him anything we all know he is not (efficient 3D)