Nuggets (28-14) at Celtics (32-9) Game #42 1/19/24

[Who]

Murray being RED hot tonight hurt as well.  No one did well trying to deal with the big body Joker screens and Murray knows how to come off that screen, he is better at it than anyone on the C's.

we also put Al on an island against Joker too much, but what can you do?  if you double joker he is going to find the open man for a wide open shot.

Joe stayed with Al wayyyyy too long when he wasn't really making a difference defensively, let alone offensively. We were killing with KP early in the game, as he was taking advantage of Jokic off the PnR. But then we just started going double big with Al to cover Jokic, and that took taht advantage away.

Frustrating lack of adjustment.

Joker seems to be able body up Al and kind of abuse him a bit.  So I agree, next time not so much Al on Jokic.  I think we need to toss in some fast doubles at Jokic, but don't do it every time.  Somehow you need to get Jokic off of his rhythm, which is really hard to do because you can't make him play fast, he just doesn't do it.

Reminds me of Horford against Dwight Howard earlier in their careers during those Magic vs Hawks playoff series and regular season games. Horford looks a similar size to Dwight. Both 6-9. Dwight 6-9 and change. Both strong but Dwight stronger. Both quick. You would think Horford should matchup fairly well physically with Dwight but he was dead in the water.

They had to bring out Zaza Pachulia or Jason Collins to defend Dwight with Horford sliding back down to PF. Josh Smith to SF.

[SparzWizard]

And what's up with our $300M guy putting up another stinker?

Ship him out for some pieces who can complement this team.

[blink]

Murray being RED hot tonight hurt as well.  No one did well trying to deal with the big body Joker screens and Murray knows how to come off that screen, he is better at it than anyone on the C's.

we also put Al on an island against Joker too much, but what can you do?  if you double joker he is going to find the open man for a wide open shot.

Joe stayed with Al wayyyyy too long when he wasn't really making a difference defensively, let alone offensively. We were killing with KP early in the game, as he was taking advantage of Jokic off the PnR. But then we just started going double big with Al to cover Jokic, and that took taht advantage away.

Frustrating lack of adjustment.

Joker seems to be able body up Al and kind of abuse him a bit.  So I agree, next time not so much Al on Jokic.  I think we need to toss in some fast doubles at Jokic, but don't do it every time.  Somehow you need to get Jokic off of his rhythm, which is really hard to do because you can't make him play fast, he just doesn't do it.

Reminds me of Horford against Dwight Howard earlier in their careers during those Magic vs Hawks playoff series and regular season games. Horford looks a similar size to Dwight. Both 6-9. Dwight 6-9 and change. Both strong but Dwight stronger. Both quick. You would think Horford should matchup fairly well physically with Dwight but he was dead in the water.

They had to bring out Zaza Pachulia or Jason Collins to defend Dwight with Horford sliding back down to PF. Josh Smith to SF.

well Jokic is a passing yoda, so it makes it way harder to deal with.   I think that is really what the C's were trying to do, don't double Jokic and hope we can contain the other guys.  That didn't work out because Murray was red hot.   

[Indocelts]

Remember the 84(?) Finals when Bird passed up the last second shot for DJ who swished the mid range jumper, in LA. For the win.

I envision that Tatum will one day perform that heroic act rather than taking it himself, as usual.

[JSD]

Even at 40 years old, a Celtics loss always ruins my night.

That was a tough one

[hpantazo]

We lost the game in the 3rd quarter and early 4th when we let down on defense and shot too many threes on offense.

[ozgod]

And what's up with our $300M guy putting up another stinker?

Ship him out for some pieces who can complement this team.

Ship out Tatum too, he's a choker who can't make a game winning shot to save his life. Same with Jrue, overpriced and -12 for the game. Rebuild around KP and White

[liam]

Hauser and Pritchard shot 2 threes combined.

[ozgod]

Hauser and Pritchard shot 2 threes combined.

Meanwhile Jay and Jay shot 2-17. They could build a new Prudential Center with those bricks 

[blink]

Hauser and Pritchard shot 2 threes combined.

Joe def pulled back on Sam and PP's minutes a bit tonight.
Feels like he doesn't trust them.  But you gotta play them NOW to trust them in the playoffs.

[Who]

Jrue had only 7pts and 3ast tonight.

After back to back games of 22pts.

[Who]

Wow, BOS had only 2 turnovers tonight. No wonder they were able to get away with their bad shooting and keep the game close. DEN only had 9 turnovers themselves. So that is 7 extra possessions for BOS. We were +8 in FGA.

DEN only shot 25.8% from three as well on 31 attempts. Helped keep the game close despite the Jays bad shooting night.

[ozgod]

Jrue had only 7pts and 3ast tonight.

After back to back games of 22pts.

And he was a -12 in a 2 point game. For $37m a year?

[scaryjerry]

Choke job. Team can’t get out of its own way in games that actually mean anything.
Big game against the defending champs and a legit contender and your “stars” lay an absolute egg in a winnable game

[liam]

Hauser and Pritchard shot 2 threes combined.

Joe def pulled back on Sam and PP's minutes a bit tonight.
Feels like he doesn't trust them.  But you gotta play them NOW to trust them in the playoffs.

Agreed!