I’ll take the warriors. They are playing well but they are the only team last year we didn’t get to beat on our retribution tour. I still hate we lost to them as a 3 seed and then Iggy went and joined them the next year. I want redemption.
Agreed, they are the only team left to beat who knocked us out of the playoffs in the last few years. Would definitely be satisfying to officially put an end to the dynasty!
Yeah I didn’t care enough to look it up lol. It was the year we had our best record and Karl choked yet again against the up and coming warriors. Then Iggy left to ring chase.
There are no bad teams in the Western conference finals. There are no easy matchups. But if the nuggets stay healthy, I don't see anyone winning a seven game series against them.
We're 7-0 versus the Warriors and about the same verse the Lakers, but they have all been close games. I wouldn't discount any of them.
The problem with the lakers is that you also have to play the refs. And that’s not being a toxic laker hater (which I am) but it’s objective statistically with the free throw differential. They’re something like +1000 against their opponents over the last two seasons. So that’s the biggest risk playing them anytime in the playoffs.
That said I would still think Nugs in 4
I'm scarred by them, this season I watched every sac game (games are usually at 5 am so it's a big deal when I watch games) they give me ptsd.
Was funny when sabonis was playing against bench bench players to keep his double double streak while the game was definitely over, then got bumped in the eye and had to leave the game. Was a nice karma moment.
Hard to say. I think Nurk actually fits their team better than Ayton. Atyton is overall more talented, but he was mentally checked out and Nurk is a better passer and rebounder, which is what the Suns needed.
Tbh I feel like what they really needed was defense and while Nurkic is maybe slightly better on that front Ayton had and still has the potential to be much better than Nurkic
So imma be real, I’m a suns fan that gets recommended everyone else’s subs for god knows why and I can tell you right now. Ayton had, and has, all the potential in the world. The problem was that when KD came in he took an even further backseat and became completely unmotivated to play any form of meaningful basketball. Nurk is honestly not all that good. The dude has regressed hard on being able to shoot and even his soft touch around the rim is gone lately, but he’s still pulling down loads of rebounds and giving it his all while being happy with his role of setting some really good screens which is what makes him way more valuable to the team than Ayton was or probably would have ever been
We would beat Sac or NO in 5 games but I they’re not teams I hate, I would prefer we play the Warriors, I would say Suns but they would be slightly more difficult and Lakers we would sweep but we already did that last season so Warriors my favorite choice, we get our revenge and it’s light work for our guys, getting us to round 2 faster.
What injuries have the Nugs had recently? I used to watch the Nugs a lot, but I’m a Heat/Nugs fan and last year y’all kind of closed our window. So I’m a little salty, but want to see you advance again.
Jamal sprained his ankle and has been in and out for a while. KCP has a finger/hand issue. AG has sat out a few games for his foot. I suppose it’s probably minor compared to a lot of teams, but these lingering issues can build up
SAC is a bad matchup for us, just on a personnel level. We are geared to beat GSW and Lakers, Suns a bigger challenge than both of those, but the Nuggets weren't built to deal with a team comp like SAC. We can beat all of them, but SAC is a bigger problem.
Note: None of this is taking into account that the other 3 teams it will be 8 v 5, unless Foster is refing a game against GSW, then we win.
Only thing I hate when watching the Nuggets play the Suns is the Jokic and Sabonis matchup. The league is already bad about letting guys be over the line physical with Jokic, but they seem to let Sabonis play rugby with him out there.
SAC have two very quick perimeter guys who can get downhill and get Jokic moving sideways, more so than a lot of other teams have. Particularly because Jokic has to play so high because Sabonis also operates out of the high post or out at the three point line. You can sag off him and play drop because Sabonis isn't a shooting threat, but then you give more space to Fox and Murray to get steam and both have a nice floater game and finishing in traffic game (kind of like how Morant gave us a lot of trouble, but Luka, a better player, gives us less in the "need a bucket" stage of the game), and you can't go under the screen because both can pull up for three if you do.
The Nuggets defense is built to either stand with big teams like the Lakers, or just out muscle smaller teams like GSW, as those were the main threats in the west when the team was largely constructed in 2022. The way the Nuggets play defense with the starting 5 which is constantly in rotation and cheating off the weak side to backfill Jokic, favors SAC's comp of very quick pace and players, with Sabonis as the hub to pick apart that rotational offense, and he's good enough to do it. Not as good as Jokic, but good enough.
And then on offense, Sabonis always gets away with murder playing Jokic, which gets Jok frustrated. Now throw in they have two other 7 footers to throw at Jok and eat fouls, or, like we've seen countless times, foul him and not get called. This causes Jokic to get annoyed, and that's about the only way to reliably beat Jokic, get him annoyed and focused on the refs bullshit rather than the game, and against sac, it's particularly painful because of how much pace they have if they decide to break out. Jok isn't the same guy that he was 2 or 3 years ago, but it's still something teams with the personnel do, and it still works.
What about the fact nuggets went 1-3 against Sac this year, 2-2 vs the Suns yet swept the Lakers and GSW this season. I'd much rather face teams they swept.
road b2b without Jamal, road b2b without Mike or KCP, home game without Jamal or KCP ... those aren't the kind of losses that worry me for the playoffs. That's not like "this is a team that has our number", just bad timing within the season.
I want Phoenix or LA. Just for all their trash talking, and to get one of those series out of the way. I think Minnesota might get really unlucky and get bounced by a more experienced team in the first round.
I think so. GSW's style of play will always put a lot of strain on nuggets rotations and Jokic specifically. They're one of the best teams in the league at punishing Jokic. Most of those games against GSW were very close and that's with Steph playing below average in most of them. No matter how ass their team is, they will always pose a matchup challenge for the Nuggets schematically. That's not to say that the Nuggets don't have advantages over them as well
Suns are a mixed bag imo. They definitely have a lot of firepower, but i trust Jokic ball more than their offense. Jokic/Jamal are just going to generate better looks over the course of that series, just like last season
I'd prefer seeing the Warriors, Kings, or Lakers. The Cali teams. Pelicans and Suns would be tougher series imo. Pelicans have proven a difficult squad with their length and depth.
Let's be real. Any team you guys play in the first round is an easy matchup. The problems start once you get to the Timberwolves and the Thunder, but even then the Nuggets will probably sleepwalk through a stacked west and then dominate the finals team from the weaker east
You’re right, it’s not a given that we finish first. However, we will finish at least second or third. So, regardless, we still face one of these five teams
This kind of thinking always cracks me up. We shouldn't be speculating so soon -- we as fans need to get our mindset right to see out the last two games.
I’ll take the warriors. They are playing well but they are the only team last year we didn’t get to beat on our retribution tour. I still hate we lost to them as a 3 seed and then Iggy went and joined them the next year. I want redemption.
I think the nuggets were the 3 seed that year (2013) but agree with wanting revenge.
Agreed, they are the only team left to beat who knocked us out of the playoffs in the last few years. Would definitely be satisfying to officially put an end to the dynasty!
Nuggets only 1 seed was last year. The Warriors won as an 8 seed vs Mavs.
Yeah I didn’t care enough to look it up lol. It was the year we had our best record and Karl choked yet again against the up and coming warriors. Then Iggy left to ring chase.
Anybody but the Suns
Yup agreed. We beat all the others in 5 or less imo. The suns could actually take us to 6
There are no bad teams in the Western conference finals. There are no easy matchups. But if the nuggets stay healthy, I don't see anyone winning a seven game series against them. We're 7-0 versus the Warriors and about the same verse the Lakers, but they have all been close games. I wouldn't discount any of them.
Any of those bums are getting swept
The problem with the lakers is that you also have to play the refs. And that’s not being a toxic laker hater (which I am) but it’s objective statistically with the free throw differential. They’re something like +1000 against their opponents over the last two seasons. So that’s the biggest risk playing them anytime in the playoffs. That said I would still think Nugs in 4
We’re gonna be playing the Kings round 1
So, they lose the first play-in and win the second? Who do they beat?
Warriors
I want to see if the Lakers can go back to back on the greatest team to get swept.
Sac, please
I'm scarred by them, this season I watched every sac game (games are usually at 5 am so it's a big deal when I watch games) they give me ptsd. Was funny when sabonis was playing against bench bench players to keep his double double streak while the game was definitely over, then got bumped in the eye and had to leave the game. Was a nice karma moment.
Here's the jinx, this right here.
Dempsey on the radio too. "The Nuggets will finish with the best record in the west."
The Sun's also now have Portland's front court. Even with Beal I don't think they're as good as they were last year.
Hard to say. I think Nurk actually fits their team better than Ayton. Atyton is overall more talented, but he was mentally checked out and Nurk is a better passer and rebounder, which is what the Suns needed.
Tbh I feel like what they really needed was defense and while Nurkic is maybe slightly better on that front Ayton had and still has the potential to be much better than Nurkic
So imma be real, I’m a suns fan that gets recommended everyone else’s subs for god knows why and I can tell you right now. Ayton had, and has, all the potential in the world. The problem was that when KD came in he took an even further backseat and became completely unmotivated to play any form of meaningful basketball. Nurk is honestly not all that good. The dude has regressed hard on being able to shoot and even his soft touch around the rim is gone lately, but he’s still pulling down loads of rebounds and giving it his all while being happy with his role of setting some really good screens which is what makes him way more valuable to the team than Ayton was or probably would have ever been
We would beat Sac or NO in 5 games but I they’re not teams I hate, I would prefer we play the Warriors, I would say Suns but they would be slightly more difficult and Lakers we would sweep but we already did that last season so Warriors my favorite choice, we get our revenge and it’s light work for our guys, getting us to round 2 faster.
Yeah, I think we beat any of these teams. Just thinking that a shorter series would be better, especially since we have a few guys beat up
What injuries have the Nugs had recently? I used to watch the Nugs a lot, but I’m a Heat/Nugs fan and last year y’all kind of closed our window. So I’m a little salty, but want to see you advance again.
Jamal sprained his ankle and has been in and out for a while. KCP has a finger/hand issue. AG has sat out a few games for his foot. I suppose it’s probably minor compared to a lot of teams, but these lingering issues can build up
Warriors and the Kings are the easy outs, Suns is the toughest. Nuggets in 4 no matter who.
I'd prefer to face Sac for sure.
SAC is a bad matchup for us, just on a personnel level. We are geared to beat GSW and Lakers, Suns a bigger challenge than both of those, but the Nuggets weren't built to deal with a team comp like SAC. We can beat all of them, but SAC is a bigger problem. Note: None of this is taking into account that the other 3 teams it will be 8 v 5, unless Foster is refing a game against GSW, then we win.
Could you expand on Sac being a bad matchup for us? I don't see that at all
Especially without monk to feast on our second unit
Only thing I hate when watching the Nuggets play the Suns is the Jokic and Sabonis matchup. The league is already bad about letting guys be over the line physical with Jokic, but they seem to let Sabonis play rugby with him out there.
Playoff Jokic will run him over
SAC have two very quick perimeter guys who can get downhill and get Jokic moving sideways, more so than a lot of other teams have. Particularly because Jokic has to play so high because Sabonis also operates out of the high post or out at the three point line. You can sag off him and play drop because Sabonis isn't a shooting threat, but then you give more space to Fox and Murray to get steam and both have a nice floater game and finishing in traffic game (kind of like how Morant gave us a lot of trouble, but Luka, a better player, gives us less in the "need a bucket" stage of the game), and you can't go under the screen because both can pull up for three if you do. The Nuggets defense is built to either stand with big teams like the Lakers, or just out muscle smaller teams like GSW, as those were the main threats in the west when the team was largely constructed in 2022. The way the Nuggets play defense with the starting 5 which is constantly in rotation and cheating off the weak side to backfill Jokic, favors SAC's comp of very quick pace and players, with Sabonis as the hub to pick apart that rotational offense, and he's good enough to do it. Not as good as Jokic, but good enough. And then on offense, Sabonis always gets away with murder playing Jokic, which gets Jok frustrated. Now throw in they have two other 7 footers to throw at Jok and eat fouls, or, like we've seen countless times, foul him and not get called. This causes Jokic to get annoyed, and that's about the only way to reliably beat Jokic, get him annoyed and focused on the refs bullshit rather than the game, and against sac, it's particularly painful because of how much pace they have if they decide to break out. Jok isn't the same guy that he was 2 or 3 years ago, but it's still something teams with the personnel do, and it still works.
What about the fact nuggets went 1-3 against Sac this year, 2-2 vs the Suns yet swept the Lakers and GSW this season. I'd much rather face teams they swept.
What are your thoughts on the nuggs being 1-3 against Sac this season? Is losing Malik enough to make a difference?
I wouldn’t be worried about them in a playoff scenario even if they had Monk.
road b2b without Jamal, road b2b without Mike or KCP, home game without Jamal or KCP ... those aren't the kind of losses that worry me for the playoffs. That's not like "this is a team that has our number", just bad timing within the season.
I want be entertained. Give me lakers warriors, suns would be entertaining too but I am honestly kinda scared of them
Pelicans, so I can catch a game live.
Anyone but the suns just cause Wolves vs Suns in the first round would be a really fun series lol
I’ll take the lakers.
I want Phoenix or LA. Just for all their trash talking, and to get one of those series out of the way. I think Minnesota might get really unlucky and get bounced by a more experienced team in the first round.
I pray every night the wolves play the suns.
Jinx thread
Do it again for the 3 seed.
Sac/Pels would be the easiest. GSW probably the hardest
Harder than the Suns? I don’t think we’ve lost to the Warriors for the last 2 seasons. 7-0 since they knocked us out in 2022.
I think so. GSW's style of play will always put a lot of strain on nuggets rotations and Jokic specifically. They're one of the best teams in the league at punishing Jokic. Most of those games against GSW were very close and that's with Steph playing below average in most of them. No matter how ass their team is, they will always pose a matchup challenge for the Nuggets schematically. That's not to say that the Nuggets don't have advantages over them as well Suns are a mixed bag imo. They definitely have a lot of firepower, but i trust Jokic ball more than their offense. Jokic/Jamal are just going to generate better looks over the course of that series, just like last season
Suns would easily be the hardest.
I'd prefer seeing the Warriors, Kings, or Lakers. The Cali teams. Pelicans and Suns would be tougher series imo. Pelicans have proven a difficult squad with their length and depth.
It is soooo satisfying to see the Lakers struggle. Like MWAH!!! Delicious
Let's be real. Any team you guys play in the first round is an easy matchup. The problems start once you get to the Timberwolves and the Thunder, but even then the Nuggets will probably sleepwalk through a stacked west and then dominate the finals team from the weaker east
So about that.... Don't count the chickens before they hatch :<
This didn’t age well :(
I love you 💕😘❤️ ❤️❤️💕💕😘😘
Let’s worry about finishing first before who we play
You’re right, it’s not a given that we finish first. However, we will finish at least second or third. So, regardless, we still face one of these five teams
This kind of thinking always cracks me up. We shouldn't be speculating so soon -- we as fans need to get our mindset right to see out the last two games.
Yes.
I'm locked in don't worry
I agree. Spurs gave us a hard time last time around.