Western Conference Finals

[Kernewek]

Playing at high Altitude should be good advantage for Denver and deeper they go, the more tired the opponents could be in Denver. I live in Colorado and would love chance to see a finals game but only if we get there.

You and Clay should go see a game together haha

I got tickets for game 5! (Low key a tiny bit worried about a sweep)

Rooting for a gentleman's sweep, that should be a great game.


Good to see Denver is doing exactly what they should be.

[cman88]

Denver doing with a 7th seed playing above their talent level what the celtics should be doing with an 8th seed playing above their talent level..

still expecting this to be a series however....Lakers have been good at home and we all know the whistle they are going to get in LA from the NBA.

Silver knows a nuggets-Heat finals would probably have the worst ratings ever...

[Who]

Hachimura is now averaging 12ppg in 22mpg in 14 playoff games for LAL while shooting 60.7% FG% and 54.5% from 3PT%. A 72.1% TS%.

Hachimura is on a ridiculous hot streak right now. He has never been anything other than a mediocre outside shooter [edit: one good half season 44% from 3PT, career 34.6%, 31.5% career not including one good half season]. He has always struggled to get to the FT line despite his size and athleticism (under 25% FT to FG ratio). This has led him to be average to below average in scoring efficiency. Add in his complete non-passing (dude is a black hole) and he has been a below average offensive player throughout his career.

Yet, here is in the playoffs playing out of this world for LAL. A breakout campaign? Or a ridiculous hot shooting streak? Can he keep this up? Or wil he cool off?

[Phantom255x]

Denver has been up 2-0 in a series 6 times lifetime. They held on in all of them. I think it’s very hard for LA to win 4 of the next 5 against them, especially with a 38 year old LBJ + inconsistent AD. I’d be surprised if they came back

But also, this nuggets team is legit. They aren’t “paper tigers” like previous years, and I love seeing Jokic, Murray, Malone, etc playing/coaching with chips on their shoulders and acting with an edge. Love to see it, and they look locked in. Make no mistake, refs tried to give LA Game 2 and Denver kept it close and won it late. Not many teams can do that

[cman88]

Denver has been up 2-0 in a series 6 times lifetime. They held on in all of them. I think it’s very hard for LA to win 4 of the next 5 against them, especially with a 38 year old LBJ + inconsistent AD. I’d be surprised if they came back

But also, this nuggets team is legit. They aren’t “paper tigers” like previous years, and I love seeing Jokic, Murray, Malone, etc playing/coaching with chips on their shoulders and acting with an edge. Love to see it, and they look locked in. Make no mistake, refs tried to give LA Game 2 and Denver kept it close and won it late. Not many teams can do that

Don't be surprised if the refs are even more blatant the next two games. Wouldn't be surprised if its 2-2 after all is said and done.

[RMO]

Denver has been up 2-0 in a series 6 times lifetime. They held on in all of them. I think it’s very hard for LA to win 4 of the next 5 against them, especially with a 38 year old LBJ + inconsistent AD. I’d be surprised if they came back

But also, this nuggets team is legit. They aren’t “paper tigers” like previous years, and I love seeing Jokic, Murray, Malone, etc playing/coaching with chips on their shoulders and acting with an edge. Love to see it, and they look locked in. Make no mistake, refs tried to give LA Game 2 and Denver kept it close and won it late. Not many teams can do that

They really are.  If, IF the Celtics get to the finals, I think Denver would be the tougher opponent.  That being said, I'm still rooting for them over the lakers just because I couldn't handle losing to the lakers.

[Neurotic Guy]

Denver has been up 2-0 in a series 6 times lifetime. They held on in all of them. I think it’s very hard for LA to win 4 of the next 5 against them, especially with a 38 year old LBJ + inconsistent AD. I’d be surprised if they came back

But also, this nuggets team is legit. They aren’t “paper tigers” like previous years, and I love seeing Jokic, Murray, Malone, etc playing/coaching with chips on their shoulders and acting with an edge. Love to see it, and they look locked in. Make no mistake, refs tried to give LA Game 2 and Denver kept it close and won it late. Not many teams can do that

They really are.  If, IF the Celtics get to the finals, I think Denver would be the tougher opponent.  That being said, I'm still rooting for them over the lakers just because I couldn't handle losing to the lakers.

I am so anti-LAL that I can't watch the games as I'd be unable to sleep if LA wins.   What a great wake up this morning at 6 to click NBA.com and see Denver up 2-0.   I've seen a bit of each game early on and Denver looks very tough. But to risk losing to LA in the Finals or have LA face Miami in the Finals... no thanks.  Want to remain borderline sane, not over the edge -- go Nuggets. 

[celticsclay]

Murray was awesome in the 4th.  I didn't think he had it in him.

Interesting fact in the last 25 years there are 22 players that have scored 20+ in a 4th quarter of a playoff game once. Allen iverson had two. Murray has 4! If there is anyone that his it in them right now it is murray.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CsaQNy5Nx3S/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

[Who]

Murray was awesome in the 4th.  I didn't think he had it in him.

Interesting fact in the last 25 years there are 22 players that have scored 20+ in a 4th quarter of a playoff game once. Allen iverson had two. Murray has 4! If there is anyone that his it in them right now it is murray.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CsaQNy5Nx3S/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

And J Murray has been injured for their last 2 playoff runs.

This is only his 3rd trip to the playoffs and he was still pretty weak / inefficient in his 1st trip. Only really his 2nd playoff trip since he broke out as a legit star player. And he has 4 such games already. Very impressive.

[SparzWizard]

Denver has been up 2-0 in a series 6 times lifetime. They held on in all of them. I think it’s very hard for LA to win 4 of the next 5 against them, especially with a 38 year old LBJ + inconsistent AD. I’d be surprised if they came back

But also, this nuggets team is legit. They aren’t “paper tigers” like previous years, and I love seeing Jokic, Murray, Malone, etc playing/coaching with chips on their shoulders and acting with an edge. Love to see it, and they look locked in. Make no mistake, refs tried to give LA Game 2 and Denver kept it close and won it late. Not many teams can do that

They really are.  If, IF the Celtics get to the finals, I think Denver would be the tougher opponent.  That being said, I'm still rooting for them over the lakers just because I couldn't handle losing to the lakers.

If C's were to lose the Finals, I'd rather they lose to the Nuggets than to LAL lol. Then again, best outcome is to win obviously.

Unfortunately, can't say too much about Celtics Finals until this team can clean up what's currently in their way- Miami.

[Phantom255x]

Scott Foster tonight.

So it'll be 2-1

Hope we get Foster Game 4 lol

[SHAQATTACK]

Scott Foster tonight.

So it'll be 2-1

Hope we get Foster Game 4 lol

Yeah your right , you ve been watching basketball too long LOL ….you know what is forthcoming.  Lebron will get all the calls "……he is generating huge TV ratings …..so a long series is good for the NBA
Since it’s looking like Denver vs Miami final

[Phantom255x]

Good start from the Nuggets on the road

[Phantom255x]

Jokic hasn't scored yet and Denver is up 13 lol

[Who]

LAL in trouble with Vanderbilt being such a non-factor. They only really have two forwards with size other than Vanderbilt in LeBron & Hachimura. They cannot play 48 minutes apiece.

So if they go smaller with more LeBron at PF alongside 3 guards, they would have to play A Reaves at SF against M Porter Jr. MPJ has a big height advantage but he likes to be an outside shooter and probably won't punish the size mismatch much. That could work. Give more playing time to Schroder, D Russell, Lonnie Walker. Of course that creates even more opportunities for Denver to force mismatches where one of those guards ends up on Jokic and leaves their defense scrambling to double Jokic allowing Jokic to pick them apart with his passing.

Going bigger does not look a good option either. Mo Bamba or Gabriel would be the big man with AD sliding down to PF. AD would be great as a free safety PF helping off of A Gordon. Neither Bamba or Gabriel is likely to be able to keep up with Jokic though. And their offense will take a big hit. AD has not been making any jump-shots outside of the paint this playoffs. He has been an interior scorer only. So you are going with two interior only players & LeBron who wants to drive. Do your guards give you enough scoring and shooting to make that work? Probably not. MPJ could easily defend Bamba or Gabriel so A Gordon can continue on LeBron in that scenario. While Denver exploits the talent mismatch at center.

Not good. Not good at all for LAL. They are in trouble.