Notebook notes from game one between the Denver Nuggets and Minnesota Timberwolves
The Nuggets face their first must-win game in the past two seasons as they face the Wolves down 0-1 in Denver on Monday night. Can the Nuggets do anything to slow down Anthony Edwards? What’s the best plan of attack? How can the Nuggets create more offensive advantages? What are the keys to getting Jamal Murray to be effective with where he’s at physically with his calf strain? Plus, thoughts on Jokic’s offensive game and 3-point attempts, the importance of momentum, and a lot more as we preview Game 2 of Wolves-Nuggets.
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49 Comments
I think we got out coached unless we really lack the means to counter what Minnesota does. They stay home on jokic when he is rolling, putting Gobert as the help defender under the rim. I think the pick n pop could be a solution, but Id feel a lot better if jokic was making it at a higher clip. They basically take away Denver’s favorite action. On the other side they get what they want. That’s basically Denver’s biggest weaknesses. Everyone knows what they like to do and the wolves can exploit that.
Now does Malone have anything else or do we just hope that Jamal and Jokic figure it out and play better.
Very similar series to Lakers. Denver has best player and perhaps 4/5 players and the Wolves have clearly 2/3 best players. All comes down to how Murray and MPJ go. Joker can't do it alone.
If the Nuggets lock in like Mares did for this episode we'll never lose a game again! Great analysis as always fellas!
You guys are awesome. Thank you 💯
Jamal is garbage. He did score those two game winers, but he still has not a single good game in these playofs. Menadgment is wasting Jokics best years on Murray. Alsonthey didnt replace Bruce and Jeff so the Nugs have no bench. Lip gloss PWat, and CB are terrible. If Murray shows up, and Joker plays more agressive we can win.
Ant will get his points. Can't let Naz go off, and Murray has to score more that 17 Pts and AG need more than 9 Pts.
The Wolves had better quality shots than the Nuggets. Denver's D just wasn't as good. Just think what the deficit would have been if Minnesota's non-Ant players were hitting that 1st half. I really think Minnesota's defense is just that good with the 3 seven footers they can roll out there against Joker. Not to mention Minnesota's help defense and switch awareness. I still think it's just one game, but I think the confidence and bravado shown by many of my Denver friends is misplaced.
Your getting swept too!! lol
what ya'll gonna do….when wolves win game 2 too!?…
I think holiday can defend antman.. i saw went he drive and holiday on the defence, he stop and pass on the outside. And on the jump shot he missed
I wish Mike Malone read this comment but I know there's a pathway to beat Minnesota and it all comes down to the lineup.
1. Murray has to play maximum 28 minutes and ideally lead the second unit on the bench. He will have an easier time scoring against Minnesota's bench.Due to his injury he is a defensive liability that can be targeted by every player in Minnesota.
PG Kcp
SG Christian Braun
SF Porter Jr
PF Gordon
c Jokic
Kcp should guard Conley
Braun on Ant
Porter jr on McDaniels
Gordon on Kat
Jokic on Rudy
The bench should be
PG Murray
SG Watson
SF Braun
PF Gordon
C Jordan
The bench should not get destroyed on rebounds by Naz Reid. Putting Gordon and Jordan together will mitigate Minnesota's bench.
KAT is by far the best Jokic defender on the team. Jokic was like 3/12 on him when he was the primary defender so no, he didnt abuse KAT at all
Gobert was iso'd on MPJ twice and locked him up both times 😂
First must win game because it's their first 50 win team they have faced. Their luck finally has run out.
⏳
Hold this L denver
nuggets locked on losing so jokic can go ride some mules
is this a comedy channel?
Put gobert in foul trouble. Let Kat shoot3. Double team ant.that's the key.
Denver in 5
Let's be honest, Denver played 6 or 5 1/2 bad games. If we don't turn on 180 we lose 4 1 it's simple like that sorry but we are pathetic this playoffs 💯🤦
When you were talking about ant, it reminded me of the t wolves doing the same thing to joker, let him get his but don’t double and get others involved. It’s going to be a great battle going forward
Wolves 112-104
How many Minnesota fans in comments 😂😂😂. Wolves in the open range but i hope that nuggets have some amo to chase them away 😊.
PS If nuggets deserve to be dethroned than it is ok for me to have wolves as new kings of the NBA
McDaniels is really bad from 3. You can easily live with his 3 pt shots
If you think MPJ goin iso against Wolves defense is the answer…😂
Boy these wolves fans getting really cocky. For a team that’s only won 3 playoff series in their history.
I didn’t know you won the series after one game.
I believe it takes 4.
Be careful wolves fans.
Wolves in foe😂
Jamal Murray and the Nuggets got away with taunting while Edwards and Twolves got called for taunting.. Stop paying the refs Jamal Murray!!! The NBA issued an apology today cuz everyone called them out. Even playing against the refs, Twolves still win. Edwards shined while Jamal Murray got shut out in 1st half and got away with a major taunting technical foul. I guess an average point guard can't play against superior DEFENSE. Yes, stop making excuses about his calf. He looks normal, but can't match-up against Twolves and their young studs. Murray's age is on display. Shame on you Murray and Nuggets!!! If Twolves win game 2, Nuggets will be swept 4-0 and Murray should retire!!!
Murray sucks in game one
This is what the fan base gets from the Nuggets front office deciding to stand pat. They chose to ignore that Murray is chronically injured for 1/3 of the regular season. Throw in his inconsistency and Jackson as the 2 point guard, then inaction seems arrogant and very short sighted. No genuine back up big guys is another sign of the Nuggets misunderstanding of themselves. Great roll out from the allstar break, only to devolve into what we watched at the end of the season, which has carried into the playoffs. Lack of bench talent is a GM problem. Having the NBA’s “best starting 5” enter the playoffs like frightened puppies is a coaching problem. The Nuggets cracks have been laid open for all to see, and those all leave the Nuggets in real trouble. 🙃
Wovles in 4
Data: last 6 games (not including last night game one) KAT has PLAYED against Jokic (When JOKIC is guarded by KAT) Jokic has averaged only 37% with only 5 shooting fouls, the lowest in the league during that period, being Alperen Sengun the far behind second place with Jokic averaging 49 FG% on him.
Jokic went 3-12 against KAT on game one.
Note: KAT did very good game 1 Also, much better than Gobert.
I think the number of interviews player give is more taxing then playing. If politicians were interviewed as much we would have world peace and clean rivers and lakes.
DeAndre Jordan is going to have spell Joker and Murray is going to have to score consistently for Denver to have a chance.
People are overestimating Ant. He had below 15 points in two games against the Suns. Suns defence is terrible.
I think we will get an all-time Joker game tonight
Justin holiday and Reggie Jackson combination was pretty solid imo I feel like they stopped ant
The guys don’t seem too confident in their assessment of this game tonight. If they don’t win this one it is over, I am starting to believe in the “Ant-Man!”
Wolves fan in here to say we are rooting for you guys if you make it through us.
One weird thing for us is knowing KAT is so much better than Gobert against Jokic. This is the only time we will ever say put KAT on somebody over Rudy. lol
Gordon taking and making threes? 3 for 6? We are home. Let em fly! Crazy, huh?
Ant will probably be around 17-23 points tonight. Imo it wouldn’t be crazy if the wolves had their worst offensive night of their post season.
If we won 1st half by 4 without Murray points there is something to learn from that, i don't know what but something
A lot of talk and ideas, not sure any of it will help. Timberwolves are just a better team, especially when healthy.
Lakers fan here and I think Wolves in 6
The data shows Jokic does not abuse KAT at all. Jokic since start of last year including Playoffs shoots like 37% on 48 possessions vs Joker (next lowest FG% allowed Vs Joker last 2yrs was like 48%). Maybe that’s not sustainable, but that’s what has happened.
Nuggets must get off to faster starts period! They’ve been down 12-22 points in 6/6 playoff games! They were fortunate it didn’t cost them losing or going 7 vs Lakers (who shot horrifically on open and wide open 3s where had it been league average to hot they win series or at worst 7 games).
Even Game 1 Vs Wolves, Minn missed many wide open 3s too in first half. Can’t count on Nuggets getting that good of a whistle Game 2 either (was 19-7 through first 43 mins).
I say all this who has hundreds on nuggets to win it all, but I’m also objective. If they don’t play better then their first 6 playoff games with much > starts they’re gonna lose this series.
WOLVES IN 6!!!
Matt havin a hard time holding back his joy over the Nuggets gettin beat! He’s talkin so fast I almost can’t keep up…
Love how the confidence of nuggets fans broke from this first loss. They know they’re in big trouble but don’t want to admit it. MN defense is just too good across the board for a 7 game series. Only way Denver wins this series is if they force MN into foul trouble early.