Game 48: Denver Nuggets (29-18) @ Los Angeles Clippers (32-17) - 10:00PM

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[TunaFish]

With Paul George out (as well as others) this seems like a game Denver should win. Gordon's arrival enhances that possibility.

[THE J0KER]

Clippers are one of the few teams which still can beat the Nuggets even when we playing our good game but without P.George Denver is the clear favorite. Jokic at C and Murray at PG should make the difference, but most interesting to me matchup is Kawhi-Gordon. Gordon proved he can very effectively deal with near all-star forwards like Collins or T.Harris, but what about true TOP10 player Leonard?

Another player to watch is Porter jr. He was in a mini-slump in February recovering from Malone's mobing, shooting just 23% (11-48) for 3pt%, but since that MPJ 3p% rise to awesome 52% (55-105) including sensational 70% in past 4 games (17-24!).

[skywalker33]

Clippers are one of the few teams which still can beat the Nuggets even when we playing our good game but without P.George Denver is the clear favorite. Jokic at C and Murray at PG should make the difference, but most interesting to me matchup is Kawhi-Gordon. Gordon proved he can very effectively deal with near all-star forwards like Collins or T.Harris, but what about true TOP10 player Leonard?

Another player to watch is Porter jr. He was in a mini-slump in February recovering from Malone's mobing, shooting just 23% (11-48) for 3pt%, but since that MPJ 3p% rise to awesome 52% (55-105) including sensational 70% in past 4 games (17-24!).

Is everything negative that happens to this team Malone's doing ??

We win this, we move up to tie the Lakers for 4th place, move within 1 game of 3rd place Clippers and continue upwards for the playoffs. 20-something games left.

[NuggetsWY]

Big test for our forwards: Porter & Gordon --vs-- Morris & Leonard. That's what I'll be watching, especially on our defensive end.

Don't ask me who I expect to win; I've believed for a couple of years that the Nuggets could beat any team, if they were allowed to run an offense centered around Jokic & movement (more so than their current). With Porter's development this year, with Murray's bubble experience, and now adding Gordon - I don't think even Malone can't prevent them from winning.

[skywalker33]

Some nice defense going on against the 2nd best offensive team in the league, a 13pt lead at halftime. And here comes the 3rd qtr

[GeorgeSears]

Again, Campazzo should not be playing 20 minutes in a game. Let Dozier play point with Murray resting.

[mirmil]

What in the hell is Malone doing to protect our rim from their rebounds? Why do you have McGee if not for that?

[Mickey8]

Since the trade Jokic playing is an average, tonight's bad , but team is playing good.

[Timmyyy]

Again, Campazzo should not be playing 20 minutes in a game. Let Dozier play point with Murray resting.

Yeah, because Dozier is so good at handling the ball and running the offense.

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[GeorgeSears]

This was an encouraging win for the Nuggets. Jokic had probably his worst game of the season and the Nuggets managed to win against a great team.

These types of wins would've been inconceivable earlier in the season but it looks like they've got a good unit put together.

[skywalker33]

Power Win tonight ! Going into LAC and taking it to them on their own court sends a clear message..."We're a FORCE to be reckoned with !"

[DaFan334]

Jokic seems to be falling into that non-aggressive, let my teammates make plays a little bit more than we need, but the balance on the starting lineup is just so good that it works. He also didn't go to the free throw line once all game, which was kind of ridiculous.

Beyond, that and an awful performance from the bench, huge win and wow do we look scary! Still need to figure some things out, but great progress.

As for that bench, we really need Monte back and I still think Barton may need to move to the bench for more offense.

[THE J0KER]

Great win considering George played. Nuggets are probably the best team in the league this season in 1st quarters, and this time double-digit lead after 1st was key against such a strong opponent. Gordon's great defensive impact was even more obvious with playing almost 40 minutes and when the opponent has star-forward. But the whole team played tonight great defense, not only Gordon, so only three Clippers players scored over 8 points (all Nuggets starters 14+).

Talking about Jokic, I hope this is just a bad game, not a wrong mindset when he is too happy how the rest of the team playing so he playing just enough to win. Even very elite players have maybe once in a lifetime such an opportunity to grab the MVP award as ultimate #1 contender just about 20 games before the end of the season, so please, use that opportunity, and put there some extra efforts.

3&D Barton is useful Barton, he should play like that every game. 3pts together with good defense are the key tonight, 13-25 Nuggets vs 10-34 Clippers, otherwise the key would be Clippers better rebounding (our best rebounders Jokic and Porter only 11 rebs together!?).

[NuggetsWY]

The refs let them play this game and other than rebounding, Denver pretty much controlled the game. It was a very nice and satisfying win. We didn't win either quarter in the 2nd half - but that's been a problem with this team. They seem to take it easy once they get much of a lead. But they have demonstrated that they can dominate late-in-the-game situations when needed.

Can't complain too much about the rotation, but I'll make a couple of observations.
1. Lots of minutes for our starters, that may be fine and I don't actually object. After all, conditioning them to play long minutes is good for playoff time. Let's hope there are no nagging injuries that could be resolved with a game or two off. We'll probably never know since the CIA Nuggets don't like to share information.
2. I'd love to see more Dozier minutes, just to see if he can learn how to fit in with our starters, at least part-time. To me that means focusing on defense: he's got the length and agility to become a very good defender, able to cover at least three positions well.
3. I'll add a third thought: I'd love to see Nnaji get some playing time. I'm not sure Malone will trust him come playoff time - so this one is probably less important (unless Porter or Gordon take a serious injury).

[skywalker33]

Again, Campazzo should not be playing 20 minutes in a game. Let Dozier play point with Murray resting.

Yeah, because Dozier is so good at handling the ball and running the offense.

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Well, at least he can score some buckets (when he isn't in a shooting slump ). Strange enough, Dozier came into the league as a PG, aren't those what PG's primary duties are ??

[skywalker33]

Talking about Jokic, I hope this is just a bad game, not a wrong mindset when he is too happy how the rest of the team playing so he playing just enough to win. Even very elite players have maybe once in a lifetime such an opportunity to grab the MVP award as ultimate #1 contender just about 20 games before the end of the season, so please, use that opportunity, and put there some extra efforts.

Gotta agree here, Jokic seems to want to become the maestro of this team since Gordon has arrived. While I admire the thought of adjusting to encompass a new teammate, I'd much rather see Jokic be "The Man" the whole game rather than just come alive in the 2nd half when we need a bailout, especially (can't believe I'm saying this) when he's in the midst of an MVP-voting season

[Mickey8]

Its not just MVP race, he will never gain more respect from the bias refs, if he's going to be passive on the offensive end of the floor, he can score 20 plus points in his sleep yet he's submissive to freaking Barton.

[skywalker33]

Its not just MVP race, he will never gain more respect from the bias refs, if he's going to be passive on the offensive end of the floor, he can score 20 plus points in his sleep yet he's submissive to freaking Barton.

Mickey, I get the disgruntlement in your posts but Jokic is really setting the tone for this team to play together AS A TEAM. Hard to disagree because you never know how Murray will play throughout the game, does he just start the game slow or does he complete bail on the game. In that instance, Jokic should be looking for go for 30-35ppg. Those instances are why he needs to stay aggressive throughout the game, not just try to orchestrate it.

[Mickey8]

I like how the team is playing now, they look legit in the last three games but superstars have to play on the superstar level all the time , Denver can be even deadlier if Jokic is aggressive and its a shame if he continues with the modest performances rest of the regular season, because he has a great opportunity to win MVP award and make the history for Denver Nuggets .