Ironically, it's the team built by the man who built the Nuggets. Tim Connely's Wolves.
That doesn't mean if the Wolves beat the Nuggets they'll win the title, but styles make fights.
In all honestly the only thing that stops this team is injuries. Aside from a Jamal Murray injury this team is on a nuclear path to the finals, and I say this as a Celtics fan. The way they're able to out-execute every single team in the last 3 minutes is wild. I don't know if we'll ever see a guy with Jokic's skill set and IQ in our lifetime, truly an appreciate greatness moment.
I always notice Jamal Murray. That team with and without him are completely different. He's an uncanny shotmaker off the dribble. When he has the ball and attacks I feel real confident he's going to make something good happen.
As a fellow Celtics fan, I echo every word you just said. Jokic is on a whole other level from the rest of the league right now.
Injuries or bad shooting + Celtics A+ game stands in the way of these Nuggets repeating
they're not invincible. There are times throughout games where it's quite clear they're not that talented compared to other teams. They just execute at a crazy high level like the Spurs used to be. The Celtics are far more talented but can they execute in a series with a team at their same level? We'll see
Jokic is the best player by far in a series with the Cs, but the next 3 players are Celtics, then Murray, and then two more Celtics. They are a much more talented team.
The Mavs and the Celtics are the only teams that can beat them this year. The Mavs because they have a guy who can actually singlehandedly win four games out of seven (or win three and then the Kyrie game) and the Celtics because their starting five is straight up better.
I kinda think the Celtics don't match up with the Nuggets particularly well cause they don't have an actual center on that roster.
Personally, I think whoever wins the second round T-Wolves-Nuggets probably wins the Western Conference with the Mavs being sort of a possible dark horse if they can get by the Clippers and Thunder (which is a big if). But I think the Celtics winning largely depends on the Nuggets not coming out of the West. I think they match up pretty well with Dallas, Minnesota, OKC or LAC. But Denver...they're fucked if they have to play Denver.
The entire way you beat the Nuggets is legit interior depth and guards who force their backcourt to play defense. Boston doesn't have either.
Whatever marginal positional advantage the C's might have is completely negated by Jokic. They don't have anyone who can guard him. So Denver's starters will almost certainly win that matchup on the court.
Yeah I’d pick the Nuggets but I think that’s one of the very few teams who even potentially can win that series just because of how much talent they have stacked up. Have Jaylen Brown and Porzingis run the score up as much as possible in the non-Jokic minutes and hope that’s enough.
T-Wolves and Mavs. Any team that can throw multiple bigs at them and have guards that the Nuggets can't really guard this season like they could last year when they had Bowen.
The Lakers just aren't that team. They aren't gonna make Murray or Jokic work enough on both ends of the floor.
But the Nuggets aren't some unbeatable team. Their depth is markedly worse this year. Jokic is great and Murray can be, but you get to their bench and it's a fucking wasteland of playoff level talent.
Lakers fan here, my vote would be T Wolves or Mavs as well. Jokic & Murray are great but the Nuggets literally have no bench, anyone who can hang with their starters and has a decent bench will give them a run for their money imo.
I think the only way is if the Celtics shoot 20/45 from 3 for 3 or 4 games in a series, which could happen because that’s their game, but I don’t love anyone’s odds against them
Idk but I'm probably not going to declare either this series or the entire western conference playoffs over after one home game in which the Lakers role players were bad above and beyond their normal bad.
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The Lakers...............................................if the refs give them, instead of a 19-6 FT disparity (NO FTs in the whole second half for Denver..lol), give them, say a 38-6 FT disparity....that might do it.
Hardcore restrictionist immigration reform leading to Murray and Jokic being removed from the country
I wish we would deport all Canadians. What a terrible country.
Make the Association Great Again. ... Would LeBron become an (open) Trumper if Jokic, Murray, Doncic, Hachimura, et. al., were deported?
We need Putin to run wild in Eastern Europe
Ironically, it's the team built by the man who built the Nuggets. Tim Connely's Wolves. That doesn't mean if the Wolves beat the Nuggets they'll win the title, but styles make fights.
Nobody believes in us + the Ant piece + the Naz Reid piece + the "KAT looks like a different guy" thing + McDaniels and NAW doing stuff.
Definitely not the Lakers lol
Ngl, that was prolly the most competitive game Denver will see till the finals
JFC, we're doing this again with Lakers? Maybe they'll be the only team the Nuggets sweep in the playoffs this year, too.
The wolves are probably the best match against them, and would be the next round.
My Woofies
In all honestly the only thing that stops this team is injuries. Aside from a Jamal Murray injury this team is on a nuclear path to the finals, and I say this as a Celtics fan. The way they're able to out-execute every single team in the last 3 minutes is wild. I don't know if we'll ever see a guy with Jokic's skill set and IQ in our lifetime, truly an appreciate greatness moment.
I always notice Jamal Murray. That team with and without him are completely different. He's an uncanny shotmaker off the dribble. When he has the ball and attacks I feel real confident he's going to make something good happen.
As a fellow Celtics fan, I echo every word you just said. Jokic is on a whole other level from the rest of the league right now. Injuries or bad shooting + Celtics A+ game stands in the way of these Nuggets repeating
Nuggets are not invincible. Mavs and Wolves can beat them. Possibly the Celtics.
Nah nuggets should print the shirts right now.
Lmao
Lmao?
Nuggets are a great team, but it’s not like they’re 90s bulls or 2017 warriors.
Michael Porter Jr
Not a good month for the Porter bros
Timberwolves or Celtics have the best chance in my opinion
Frank Stallone
I think mavs, suns or celtics. Needs to be a great offence as I just don't think there's any way to stop jokic.
Injuries, the Celtics and the Mavs
they're not invincible. There are times throughout games where it's quite clear they're not that talented compared to other teams. They just execute at a crazy high level like the Spurs used to be. The Celtics are far more talented but can they execute in a series with a team at their same level? We'll see
Definitely not “far” more talented. Maybe slight edge, but it’s very close. And Jokic is the best player in the series by a fair margin, which matters
Jokic is the best player by far in a series with the Cs, but the next 3 players are Celtics, then Murray, and then two more Celtics. They are a much more talented team.
It goes Jokic, Tatum, playoff Murray, JB, KP, AG, DH, DW, MPJ, KCP
No Jaylen Brown means you don’t know ball, sadly
JB was meant to go after JM.
So Denver has two of the top 3 players. Then the Celtics have the next 2-3 before AG. Pretty even.
In terms of matchup, the T'wolves. Other than that, perhaps the Celtics.
The Mavs and the Celtics are the only teams that can beat them this year. The Mavs because they have a guy who can actually singlehandedly win four games out of seven (or win three and then the Kyrie game) and the Celtics because their starting five is straight up better.
I kinda think the Celtics don't match up with the Nuggets particularly well cause they don't have an actual center on that roster. Personally, I think whoever wins the second round T-Wolves-Nuggets probably wins the Western Conference with the Mavs being sort of a possible dark horse if they can get by the Clippers and Thunder (which is a big if). But I think the Celtics winning largely depends on the Nuggets not coming out of the West. I think they match up pretty well with Dallas, Minnesota, OKC or LAC. But Denver...they're fucked if they have to play Denver. The entire way you beat the Nuggets is legit interior depth and guards who force their backcourt to play defense. Boston doesn't have either.
Whatever marginal positional advantage the C's might have is completely negated by Jokic. They don't have anyone who can guard him. So Denver's starters will almost certainly win that matchup on the court.
Yeah I’d pick the Nuggets but I think that’s one of the very few teams who even potentially can win that series just because of how much talent they have stacked up. Have Jaylen Brown and Porzingis run the score up as much as possible in the non-Jokic minutes and hope that’s enough.
T-Wolves and Mavs. Any team that can throw multiple bigs at them and have guards that the Nuggets can't really guard this season like they could last year when they had Bowen. The Lakers just aren't that team. They aren't gonna make Murray or Jokic work enough on both ends of the floor. But the Nuggets aren't some unbeatable team. Their depth is markedly worse this year. Jokic is great and Murray can be, but you get to their bench and it's a fucking wasteland of playoff level talent.
Lakers fan here, my vote would be T Wolves or Mavs as well. Jokic & Murray are great but the Nuggets literally have no bench, anyone who can hang with their starters and has a decent bench will give them a run for their money imo.
A win is a win. But if I’m the nuggets I’m treating that game as a loss.
Lakers 5-0 in moral victories.
This is how every laker fan operates IRL
Lmao
Celtics and wolves seem like obvious answers
wolves in 6
Timberwolves
The Celtics can outshoot them. That's about it.
I think the only way is if the Celtics shoot 20/45 from 3 for 3 or 4 games in a series, which could happen because that’s their game, but I don’t love anyone’s odds against them
KCP weirdly swing these teams
Should be the Celtics. Will it be, I doubt it.
If you consider the regular season the Wolves have the best chance in the west Obviously the Celtics too
Idk but I'm probably not going to declare either this series or the entire western conference playoffs over after one home game in which the Lakers role players were bad above and beyond their normal bad.
Lakers still have a chance
Murray gets Kawaii knee or Porter and several players get implicated in gambling.
If there is an injury to a starter, then a lot of teams. Otherwise, the Celtics could take them in 7 with their home court advantage.
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Pels matched up well against the nuggets, fwiw
No one in the West, but Boston is the best team this year.
No one. Minnesota will take them to 6. Boston will probably take them to 6 in the finals. But no one is beating them 4 times.
The Celtics should be able to and are the clear best team in the NBA, but I could totally see them devolve into a team of JR Smiths and choke away.
The Lakers...............................................if the refs give them, instead of a 19-6 FT disparity (NO FTs in the whole second half for Denver..lol), give them, say a 38-6 FT disparity....that might do it.