2024 NBA Playoffs: West Semifinals: #2 Denver Nuggets vs #3 Minnesota Timberwolves (Series tied 3-3)

[Mk0]

Wolves doing to Jamal Murray in the 2024 Playoffs what Heat did to Trae Young in the 2022 Playoffs.

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All we are missing is "What Is Love?" playing in the background

[Calinks]

Something that no one is really talking about here. If Denver winds up losing this series, it looks like one of their biggest failings was letting GM Tim Conelley leave. I know they couldn't do much to stop his incredible offer but damn, that may have come back to really ruin them here. He went to a division rival and might have put together the team that stops them from winning another title.

[Shaka_Zulu]

That should be an ejection and arguably a suspension

https://basketball.realgm.com/wiretap/275622/Marc-Davis-Jamal-Murray-Should-Have-Received-Tech-Not-Ejection-For-Throwing-Heat-Pad-Onto-Floor

Stupid, dangerous, easily avoidable. What a bum.

Don't suspend him. Making him play game 3 against this Wolves defense might be the worst punishment.

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IT is so great to see being a Bulls fan and I saw damn near every game from 88-2000 (yeah I watched nearly every game from the bad years lol... and I started watching in 84 because my sister made me...Anyway, this is so much like the doberman defense of the championship Bulls. It is such a throw back. The younger and near prime legs giving Denver fits they didn't have with LA.

Yep, very old school type defense. Many former players or old sport journalists in podcasts made the same comparison you just did. Suffocating Bulls 90s or Knicks 90s type D.


I wanna see more of it, looking forward to it, and the Target Center home fans will energise them even more to hound their asses even more.


I envision Jamal Murray asking league office for a suspension. And Joe Dumars personally calls him up to say Samuel L Jackson style:


"WE NOT BAILING YOU OUT, YOU GONNA SIT THERE AND TAKE THIS ASS WHOOPING"

[TheGeneral99]

Something that no one is really talking about here. If Denver winds up losing this series, it looks like one of their biggest failings was letting GM Tim Conelley leave. I know they couldn't do much to stop his incredible offer but damn, that may have come back to really ruin them here. He went to a division rival and might have put together the team that stops them from winning another title.

Did not know this storyline, thanks for sharing.

[ChipotleWest]

Something that no one is really talking about here. If Denver winds up losing this series, it looks like one of their biggest failings was letting GM Tim Conelley leave. I know they couldn't do much to stop his incredible offer but damn, that may have come back to really ruin them here. He went to a division rival and might have put together the team that stops them from winning another title.

I would give Connelly some of the credit for the current Wolves, but Kat, Ant, Reid, McDaniels were already there. Maybe you could argue that Gobert and Conley put them over the top.

[Chuck Everett]

Something that no one is really talking about here. If Denver winds up losing this series, it looks like one of their biggest failings was letting GM Tim Conelley leave. I know they couldn't do much to stop his incredible offer but damn, that may have come back to really ruin them here. He went to a division rival and might have put together the team that stops them from winning another title.

Winning one title is enough to make it not that big of a deal. I mean Denver also lost Masai who won a title in Toronto. That franchise actually seems to be pretty decent at finding quality executives. Also, this group isn't done yet. They have at least another 3 years. Doesn't mean they will win again, but they will still be contenders.

[jscott]

Something that no one is really talking about here. If Denver winds up losing this series, it looks like one of their biggest failings was letting GM Tim Conelley leave. I know they couldn't do much to stop his incredible offer but damn, that may have come back to really ruin them here. He went to a division rival and might have put together the team that stops them from winning another title.

I would give Connelly some of the credit for the current Wolves, but Kat, Ant, Reid, McDaniels were already there. Maybe you could argue that Gobert and Conley put them over the top.

And NAW, Anderson, Morris, etc.

[MrGoat]

Something that no one is really talking about here. If Denver winds up losing this series, it looks like one of their biggest failings was letting GM Tim Conelley leave. I know they couldn't do much to stop his incredible offer but damn, that may have come back to really ruin them here. He went to a division rival and might have put together the team that stops them from winning another title.

It's hard to get the same level of motivation after winning a title. You're seeing Jokic in several ads now and he pretty much partied the whole summer. I remember after 2011 the Mavs were talking about how the Lamar Odom signing was going to help them because he knew what it took to repeat (we all know how that went). Dirk showed up out of shape for the first time in his career after the title (that was also a lockout season). Murray not being 100% certainly isn't helping but Jokic isn't above blame here. The good news for them is they have until Friday to regroup, but they've still screwed the pooch so much they now need to win 2 games in Minnesota, game 3 will determine if this is even a series at all

[Anticon]

Something that no one is really talking about here. If Denver winds up losing this series, it looks like one of their biggest failings was letting GM Tim Conelley leave. I know they couldn't do much to stop his incredible offer but damn, that may have come back to really ruin them here. He went to a division rival and might have put together the team that stops them from winning another title.

I think if they're struggling this badly, a championship wasn't in the cards this year. Very few teams can repeat.

But longer term I do wonder whether they have a strong enough front office to keep this teams window open.

[Michael Jackson]

Something that no one is really talking about here. If Denver winds up losing this series, it looks like one of their biggest failings was letting GM Tim Conelley leave. I know they couldn't do much to stop his incredible offer but damn, that may have come back to really ruin them here. He went to a division rival and might have put together the team that stops them from winning another title.

They can have Arturus back.

[Cubbies2120]

Something that no one is really talking about here. If Denver winds up losing this series, it looks like one of their biggest failings was letting GM Tim Conelley leave. I know they couldn't do much to stop his incredible offer but damn, that may have come back to really ruin them here. He went to a division rival and might have put together the team that stops them from winning another title.

It's hard to get the same level of motivation after winning a title. You're seeing Jokic in several ads now and he pretty much partied the whole summer. I remember after 2011 the Mavs were talking about how the Lamar Odom signing was going to help them because he knew what it took to repeat (we all know how that went). Dirk showed up out of shape for the first time in his career after the title (that was also a lockout season). Murray not being 100% certainly isn't helping but Jokic isn't above blame here. The good news for them is they have until Friday to regroup, but they've still screwed the pooch so much they now need to win 2 games in Minnesota, game 3 will determine if this is even a series at all

In the playoffs:
Jokic last years - 30/13.5/9.5 on 20.7 shots (54.8% from the field)
Jokic this year - 27/15/9.5 on 18.7 shots (54.2% from the field)

Murray last year: 27/6/7 on 47% from the field
Murray this year: 20/5/6 on 37% from the field

I can assure you we can blame the Nuggets 2-15 however you want, but my heart breaks for Jokic because he's trying to carry a 12-win team (without him) through a perilous journey featuring 2-3 all-stars in every playoff round.

[Dan33185]

Something that no one is really talking about here. If Denver winds up losing this series, it looks like one of their biggest failings was letting GM Tim Conelley leave. I know they couldn't do much to stop his incredible offer but damn, that may have come back to really ruin them here. He went to a division rival and might have put together the team that stops them from winning another title.

I would give Connelly some of the credit for the current Wolves, but Kat, Ant, Reid, McDaniels were already there. Maybe you could argue that Gobert and Conley put them over the top.

[bb22]

Something that no one is really talking about here. If Denver winds up losing this series, it looks like one of their biggest failings was letting GM Tim Conelley leave. I know they couldn't do much to stop his incredible offer but damn, that may have come back to really ruin them here. He went to a division rival and might have put together the team that stops them from winning another title.

It's hard to get the same level of motivation after winning a title. You're seeing Jokic in several ads now and he pretty much partied the whole summer. I remember after 2011 the Mavs were talking about how the Lamar Odom signing was going to help them because he knew what it took to repeat (we all know how that went). Dirk showed up out of shape for the first time in his career after the title (that was also a lockout season). Murray not being 100% certainly isn't helping but Jokic isn't above blame here. The good news for them is they have until Friday to regroup, but they've still screwed the pooch so much they now need to win 2 games in Minnesota, game 3 will determine if this is even a series at all

In the playoffs:
Jokic last years - 30/13.5/9.5 on 20.7 shots (54.8% from the field)
Jokic this year - 27/15/9.5 on 18.7 shots (54.2% from the field)

Murray last year: 27/6/7 on 47% from the field
Murray this year: 20/5/6 on 37% from the field

I can assure you we can blame the Nuggets 2-15 however you want, but my heart breaks for Jokic because he's trying to carry a 12-win team (without him) through a perilous journey featuring 2-3 all-stars in every playoff round.

Lots of superstars have had to do this. They know how to shoulder the load. But I don’t feel bad for Jokic. His defense has always been a hole and he never got better at it. He could invest heavily in his strength, conditioning and diet in order to get more mobile on D. But he’s a dude that knows there’s more to life than basketball. That’s why he will never be in the GOAT debate.

[bisme37]

The postgame interviews from the Nuggets were almost as sad as their performance on the court last night. From Malone to Jokic and down the line they all seemed depressed and lacking confidence or any sense of how to turn things around. Crazy to see from a defending champion. They have a few days off to find their spirit but it didn't look good at all.

[spanishninja]

The postgame interviews from the Nuggets were almost as sad as their performance on the court last night. From Malone to Jokic and down the line they all seemed depressed and lacking confidence or any sense of how to turn things around. Crazy to see from a defending champion. They have a few days off to find their spirit but it didn't look good at all.

it's the exact reaction from the Suns after g2 of the first round, if that indicates what will happen to the Nuggets soon.

[JM00n69]

Mike Malone needs to start showing some coaching adjustments.. He is out there getting exposed

Nuggets GM won't stand for much of this.

Malone might get fired this offseason with all the other great coaching candidates out there

Charles Lee
Darvin Ham
Mike Budenholzer

Had this issue last year. When PHX won 2 at home and made it 2-2 it was time to change the bench rotation. He made no changes to minutes and we lucked out and won the series. Malone seems very stubborn to make any changes and will just ride it out. I mean he doesn't have many options at all but just try ffs and take the chance. Defense is where the problem is and it's been a big one this POs.

Change the minutes and throw in Nnaji or DJ for a minute instead of AG at the 5 when Jokic is out. Not coming bk from this now anyway with Murray and Reggie banged up. No way.

And he wont get fired. Been there with Jok and Murray since they came into the league. Got a good staff and won it all last year. They won't trade Murray either.

They need to add a playmaker off the bench who can score and a big who can play 4 and 5, shoot, rebound and defend at average levels for 15-20mins.

[pilkoids]

Has Minnesota discovered a high altitude antidote

[lambchop]

The postgame interviews from the Nuggets were almost as sad as their performance on the court last night. From Malone to Jokic and down the line they all seemed depressed and lacking confidence or any sense of how to turn things around. Crazy to see from a defending champion. They have a few days off to find their spirit but it didn't look good at all.

it's the exact reaction from the Suns after g2 of the first round, if that indicates what will happen to the Nuggets soon.

I think it's the realization that winning the series means going up against that defense at least 6 more times.

[JM00n69]

The postgame interviews from the Nuggets were almost as sad as their performance on the court last night. From Malone to Jokic and down the line they all seemed depressed and lacking confidence or any sense of how to turn things around. Crazy to see from a defending champion. They have a few days off to find their spirit but it didn't look good at all.

it's the exact reaction from the Suns after g2 of the first round, if that indicates what will happen to the Nuggets soon.

I think it's the realization that winning the series means going up against that defense at least 6 more times.

It was also after one of the worst beatdowns I've ever seen in 25years of watching NBA. And it happened in the playoffs AT HOME after dropping G1 and having a really poor performance in R1 games against LA.

Start to finish they looked like a GLeague team. Credit to Wolves as that was amazing defense but no PO team should fold like that. Embarrassing!

[Sealab2024]

Has Minnesota discovered a high altitude antidote

Having a bench is a nice solution. They also flew out Thursday morning so by Saturday night they're adjusting and by last night you're fine. Much more of a problem when you're going from Phoenix to Denver on a back to back and you go from plains to desert to mountain air in 48 hours.