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Wolfgang630 wrote:Looks like Denver is the underdogs according to this place.

40 votes in and votes are split evenly

I got Minny in 6 here. Jokic is clearly the best player in the league, but if any team is equipped to handle him it's Minny. Will be interesting to watch.

Ugh missed this i thought no one made it yet. Will delete my post.

Regular Season Series (2-2)

Nov 2 -Nuggets 89, Timberwolves 110
Mar 20 -Nuggets 115, Timberwolves 112
Mar 30 - Timberwolves 111, Nuggets 98
Apr 11 -Timberwolves 107, Nuggets 116

BOTH teams coming off impressive, dominating first round wins:

Minnesota Timberwolves (3) defeat the Phoenix Suns (6), 4-0
Game 1: Timberwolves 120, Suns 95
Game 2: Timberwolves 105, Suns 93
Game 3: Timberwolves 126, Suns 109
Game 4: Timberwolves 122, Suns 116

Denver Nuggets (2) defeat the Los Angeles Lakers (7), 4-1
Game 1: Nuggets 114, Lakers 103
Game 2: Nuggets 101, Lakers 99
Game 3: Nuggets 112, Lakers 105
Game 4: Lakers 119, Nuggets 108
Game 5: Nuggets 108, Lakers 106

Series Odds:
Nuggets (-220) vs Wolves (+200)

Series Handicap (Games)
Nuggets -1.5 vs Wolves

Series begins play May 4, 2024 (Saturday) so good 4 day rest for both teams-- better for Nuggets which has seen injuries to their key players recently (KCP and Murray, who may not be injured too and just pretending after dropping those bomb vs LA)

May 4 - G1 Timberwolves vs Nuggets
May 6 - G2 Timberwolves vs Nuggets
May 10 - G3 Nuggets vs Timberwolves
May 12 - G4 Nuggets vs Timberwolves
May 14 - G5 Timberwolves vs Nuggets
May 16 - G6 Nuggets vs Timberwolves
May 19 - G7 Timberwolves vs Nuggets

Minnesota against the suns had offensive rebounds on 40% of their misses lol. Will be very different against the nuggets.

MoreyWins wrote:

Wolfgang630 wrote:Looks like Denver is the underdogs according to this place.

40 votes in and votes are split evenly

That’s the problem. Denver continues to get disrespected even though they’re the champions. They should be the clear favorite. I hope Mike Malone pushes the narrative again that they’re being disrespected.

For me this entirely about Murray’s health (period).

Anything less than 90+% of his usual Playoff self & Ant will smell blood and that boi has some legit MJ killer genes in his dna to put them away with Gobert making Jok work harder and Jaden locking Porter, Towns just has to use his size to try & keep Gordon away from the rim and this will be an incredibly difficult series. This ain’t ol man Bron fighting Father Time trying to squeeze the last drop out of his body…Ant is a NBA Youngboy bursting at seams with energy.

The Nuggets MUST have Jamal somewhere near his best or that repeat will be hanging on for dear life. Until I see what Murray looks like when that series gets going, I can’t make my call…

Wolfgang630 wrote:

MoreyWins wrote:

Wolfgang630 wrote:Looks like Denver is the underdogs according to this place.

40 votes in and votes are split evenly

That’s the problem. Denver continues to get disrespected even though they’re the champions. They should be the clear favorite. I hope Mike Malone pushes the narrative again that they’re being disrespected.

They are the clear big favorites per Vegas odds, i think the Wolves are being disrespected.

I think Denver blows out minny in game 1. Big difference in their competition in the first round and minny will have to adjust. I got Denver in 6.

Huge Jokic and Nuggets fan, but I think they are in trouble. I don't even think they have to double Jokic on the perimeter and pre-rotate, because unlike the Lakers, they have the individual defenders to not have to throw super creative defensive looks out there. If the Nuggets doesn't shoot well from three, they are done in 6, if they shoot well in at least 5 games, it could go to 7. But I am leaning towards the Wolves in 6, especially with Murray and KCP being hobbled.

Gun to my head I'd pick the Nuggets, but I have much closer then I did 2 weeks ago.

CodeBreaker wrote:MJ taking down Detroit Pistons -> Ant dethroning the Nuggets

I'm fine with it... But Ant has to go home at least 3 times like MJ

Lakers just gave the Nuggets real injuries after that heavyweight battle!

Timberwolves win in 6 games

With the way the Nuggets are playing right now and Murray/KCP/Jackson all hobbled...I got Minnesota in 6.

Manimal wrote:With the way the Nuggets are playing right now and Murray/KCP/Jackson all hobbled...I got Minnesota in 6.

Murray isn't hobbled. He might have had some pain but he didn't have any injury that was causing him to move badly.
KCP might be hobbled.

I got nuggets in 6

I was actually surprised that Lakers were in pretty much every game of that series because I didn't feel like the Lakers were defending very well.
The only game it made sense was Game 2 when Russell was going crazy from 3.

I would pick Minnesota to win if they had a little more experience. I haven't seen a team with their best player having such little playoff experience doing what they need to do to beat Denver. Minnesota have the talent to win this series but it is very hard for me to pick them.

C3H6N6O6 wrote:

Manimal wrote:With the way the Nuggets are playing right now and Murray/KCP/Jackson all hobbled...I got Minnesota in 6.

Murray isn't hobbled. He might have had some pain but he didn't have any injury that was causing him to move badly.
KCP might be hobbled.

Murray isn't hobbled? Did you even watch the series?

MPJ is going to be huge this series. He will shoot over ANT.

PhilBlackson wrote:For me this entirely about Murray’s health (period).

Anything less than 90+% of his usual Playoff self & Ant will smell blood and that boi has some legit MJ killer genes in his dna to put them away with Gobert making Jok work harder and Jaden locking Porter, Towns just has to use his size to try & keep Gordon away from the rim and this will be an incredibly difficult series. This ain’t ol man Bron fighting Father Time trying to squeeze the last drop out of his body…Ant is a NBA Youngboy bursting at seams with energy.

The Nuggets MUST have Jamal somewhere near his best or that repeat will be hanging on for dear life. Until I see what Murray looks like when that series gets going, I can’t make my call…

They will put Jaden on Murray