FIRST TAKE | “Nikola Jokic is DESTROYING the West” – Stephen A. reacts Nuggets beat T-Wolves 115-112

FIRST TAKE | “Nikola Jokic is DESTROYING the West” – Stephen A. reacts Nuggets beat T-Wolves 115-112

Three point shot hit off the rim As Time expired allowing the Nuggets to escape Minnesota with a 115 112 win Tuesday Denver moves a game ahead of the t-wolves in the west the two teams will meet twice more that’s on March 29th and April 10th the Nuggets now move in

Second place in the west just percentage points behind the Thunder but our ESPN analytics give Oklahoma City a 41% chance to be the one seed and it has Denver with the hardest remaining schedule in the league interesting is last night more about Denver or Minnesota Stephen I think it was more

About Minnesota simply because without Carl Anthony towns playing the second game of a backtack they came out on that floor and they fought against the reigning defending NBA champions led by the best player in basketball in Ni yic that’s the way I look at it it’s just

That simple to me and so you come into a game we started off the show yesterday we were talking about Anthony Edwards and what he was going to what what he’s capable of delivering we were all singing his Praises or what have you he shows up on the court last night how

Does he start the game off playing Center you know for the jump ball or stuff like that you just see a guy as JJ pointed out accurately yesterday that just gets it it’s not just about his youth um it’s not just about his ability as a play it’s that youthful enthusiasm

That comes along with it him wanting to be out on the court him wanting to perform him sensing the fact that he’s the Marquee and oh I’m going to answer the call and then going out there and going at the Denver Nuggets the way that

He did the Kev nuggets is just an elite team they’re champions for a reason yic is just something special to behold his backto back threes obviously you just look at just throw up your hands like this guy is Sensational he really really is but Anthony Edwards finishing with 38

And8 I didn’t like the way Minnesota was jacking up threes in the fourth quarter JJ too many threes weren’t really trying to get to the basket wasn’t making them because they just seemed flat at that particular moment in time but I can’t say enough about Anthony Edwards from a personality standpoint his willingness

To embrace the challenge the moment the hype and hoopla that comes along with it that’s what I walked away thinking about and remember they play each other again I think two more times March 29th April 10 exactly so they play each other two more times they already one-on-one on with

The season and come playoff time Carl Anthony towns will be back and for based on what we saw last night if they were to meet it seems like it would be a highly competitive series which is all you can ask for yeah for for me this was

More about the nuggets and I’ll say this as a player for 15 years and as now a fan who watches basketball every night I how many times have we seen a fully loaded team a very good team go against an underman team and that underman team outperforms expectations like this is an

Opportunity for each guy Luke Garza getting big minutes right this is an opportunity Nel Alexander Walker having getting to play a bigger role the the Denver Nuggets right now to me are in Championship form I agree coach Michael bone talked about this text message that Nico yic sent over

Them along with Boston have looked like the class of the NBA since the All-Star break Michael Porter Jr the way he’s played the way he closed last night that’s what it’s about to me absolutely having that guy that you can rely on he is averaging over 20 a games since the

All-Star break shooting over 40% from three and the interesting thing about last night 63% of clutch time this year there you go the interesting thing about last night to me was this notion that uh we can beat the Nuggets if we make joic a score he two assists last night only

Time he’s had that few of an assists was back in November against the Houston Rockets he feels the game he reads the game they start the game last night with Kyle Anderson on him what does he do plays aggressive he’s got Luke Gars on him what does he do he plays aggressive

He feels the game and he reads the game to Perfection almost every time I love him he’s a great and I tell you I do understand your point about Denver I think that team is going to win a championship again and this is an interesting little rivalry because

Minnesota played Denver very well last year they were down three go they won the fourth game and they lost the game five in overtime did you do that game in overtime in Denver that was a great game they almost won they almost lost the game six in that series I did game three

Of did but I know you did a game but Minnesota’s played Denver pretty well I got to give Minnesota a little break they have the teams out so I’m not going to make too big a deal about that but I’m generally with you Denver continues

To beat the Celtics twice they won in La when Kareem when uh Lebron had the 40,000 Point earlier in the year on a Saturday night lot of hoopla they beat the Warriors behind in Golden state that team is a tough team and I think they’re

Going to win the whole I want to say this I’m still not sold I’m not I’m not giving up on Boston I still think Boston I I think Boston and Denver appear to be on a collision course and I think that Boston that’s the finals we should have

Had last year Boston against Denver I thought it would have been a better matchup um in the NBA Finals I think definitely it would be an ideal matchup right then because second in terms of offensive efficiency Denver’s second only to to Boston right now at this particular moment in time last night

Porter joic 22 points in the fourth quarter seven for seven shooting didn’t miss a shot Porter if he’s playing that way that’s the only time I look at Denver and I say no one has a chance I’ve been thinking Boston Boston Boston but if Porter plays that way and he’s

More assertive more aggressive because you see him at times in the past correct me if I’m wrong being a bit more deferential to obviously yic and Jamal Murray if this dude is aggressive and efficient like we’ve seen him I don’t think anybody could beat him I just don’t see that happening he’s figured

Out his role yeah and he’s embraced his role and so he has now he’s now comfortable with where his shots are going to be and when his shots are coming and I think that’s that’s a big thing especially for a younger guy who at one point was averaging over 20

Points a game before he got hurt he has now just completely embraced this role of being the third but I think we could say that I think that’s what makes Denver so great and you got to give Coach Malone so much credit cuz I think all stars all of them accept their role

They they play their position you know you don’t see anybody clamoring to step on toes and to be more than what they’re supposed to be it’s like everybody has clearly defined roles they fully accept it and there’s no problem no drama whatsoever I Denver deserves a lot of

Credit for that and 26 points for him on the road you know that third score you like to see how he does on the road there you go he’s played well I don’t know how he’s done all year in a row but that’s a big performance last night if

They met in the finals how do you think that serious excuse me in the playoffs how do you think that series would talk about Minnesota Denver okay how do I think it would play out yeah well some of it would depend on how those teams are playing two or three months from now

Right it’s a it’s a different thing and obviously Denver is two and0 this year against the Celtics both those games have been top top notot As Good As It Gets in the regular season and and both those teams to me approach those games like they were statement playoff games I

Will say this when I think about Minnesota and against Denver what we saw last night is a sign of things to come close but no cigar you can’t shoot 34% from three-point range if you’re the Minnesota timberwol was jacking up as many threes as you jacked up particularly in the fourth quarter and

You’re not making them you got to be able to make them I’m looking at Denver last night 52% from shooting from three-point range they’re going to make shots we know they’re going to make shots because of yish because of Murray because of Porter and obviously let’s not leave out the guys like kentavius

Carwell Pope and other guys like you can’t leave them out they know how to make shots if you’re Minnesota you do find yourself at times looking at them and saying damn I’m celebrating Anthony Edwards it’s something special to behold but in the same breath guys are you

Going to make shots when it counts where’s Denver’s Advantage besides that guy right over there number 15 where where’s their advantage their advantage is positional size okay that’s their advantage right they want to score the basketball on the paint they’re not a high volume three-point shooting team

You ask any of their guys last year what was the toughest series they had almost all of them said Minnesota to to Mad Dog’s point you think about that series no Nas Reed no Jaden McDaniels who’s their best Wing Defender right I I wouldn’t go as far this is a you know a

Preview of things to come because I do think if these teams met particularly as they’re seated right now in the second round if everybody’s healthy if cat’s back healthy in a rhythm right this could be a tough series but I get what you’re saying you’re talking about how

Problematic they’re going to be because of their size and their defense and obviously Denver doesn’t have to face that against most teams in the NBA I get that part what I’m countering is that Denver is gifted and skilled enough to put you in a position where you’re going

To need to make shots when it counts that’s my question mark about Minnesota I think Denver will be in the Conference Final in the second round here’s the thing about Minnesota Jay Stevie yeah they’re not going to be the one seed let’s say Oklahoma City and the

Nuggets out playing and they don’t get the one seat because of injuries everything else about Denver or Minnesota Minnesota got it well Minnesota in a first round playoff series beat Phoenix as an example is they’re going to have a tough first round will Phoenix Minnesota T wolves

Home you know Denver will get Advance will Phoenix get out of a first round because those bottom teams are tough It’s a legitimate question it’s a legit question I also think that’s a nice preview of some things to come on the show oh okay very good okay look For fore fore Foree For ah For fore Fore fore Spee Foree spe Fore [Applause] about foree

FIRST TAKE | “Nikola Jokic is DESTROYING the West” – Stephen A. on Nuggets beat Timberwolves 115-112