First Playoff Game

[Coolbreeze44]

Yes we haven't kept up, but I still think the series is going 7 games.

[Phenom]

Wolves in 6

[FNG]

Finch said Ant was full go today.

I am really looking forward to playoff basketball again. I also love that nobody is giving the Wolves much love in this matchup.

For one, the Wolves love the underdog status.

I also want to see the Wolves spoil everyone's hopes of getting Jokic/Wemby and Nuggets/Thunder.

That's really good news about Ant. I've ripped him a lot this season, but playoff Ant is a joy to watch.

I appreciate the optimism, Phenom, and I'm also looking forward to this series. And while I'm not feeling great about our chances, I think I am more optimistic than I was a year ago going into the Lakers series. You're right that we're not getting much love, which is kind of weird since almost everyone is calling this the best first round matchup. I saw a survey of 12 experts where they all picked the Nuggets...however, 10 of the 12 are picking them in 6 or 7 games, and nobody is predicting a sweep. I think the experts were much more positive about the Lakers last season than they are about the Nuggets, and my sources tell me we beat the Lakers last season. Anything can happen...

[FNG]

Finch said Ant was full go today.

I am really looking forward to playoff basketball again. I also love that nobody is giving the Wolves much love in this matchup.

For one, the Wolves love the underdog status.

I also want to see the Wolves spoil everyone's hopes of getting Jokic/Wemby and Nuggets/Thunder.

I'm on the FNG side of the equation when it comes to this series....not confident at all. Denver is a better team than they were two years ago and we haven't kept up.

While I don't think the Ant era will end after we're likely ousted by Denver, it could be the end of a lot of other tenures. Connelly, Finch, Randle, Naz, Rudy, DDV, Conley....more than half of those names may be gone between now and next October.

Yeah, I think Denver is much better than they were two years ago, with a big caveat...if they are healthy. So many leg injuries this season for them, and we might see one or two Nugget players clutching at their hamstring. Not praying for it, just saying they're a little fragile.

I'm also going to argue that the Wolves are better than they were last year...again, if healthy. Losing NAW and much of Conley hurts us, but I think those losses are less than the gains we get from adding Ayo, SloMo and Bones. Further, I would argue that Ant, Jaden and Donte are all better than they were a year ago. One might argue that Naz's regression is a negative, but I think he mostly returned to form in his final five games.

And yes, I am trying to get more optimistic about this series!

[Q-is-here]

Finch said Ant was full go today.

I am really looking forward to playoff basketball again. I also love that nobody is giving the Wolves much love in this matchup.

For one, the Wolves love the underdog status.

I also want to see the Wolves spoil everyone's hopes of getting Jokic/Wemby and Nuggets/Thunder.

I'm on the FNG side of the equation when it comes to this series....not confident at all. Denver is a better team than they were two years ago and we haven't kept up.

While I don't think the Ant era will end after we're likely ousted by Denver, it could be the end of a lot of other tenures. Connelly, Finch, Randle, Naz, Rudy, DDV, Conley....more than half of those names may be gone between now and next October.

Yeah, I think Denver is much better than they were two years ago, with a big caveat...if they are healthy. So many leg injuries this season for them, and we might see one or two Nugget players clutching at their hamstring. Not praying for it, just saying they're a little fragile.

I'm also going to argue that the Wolves are better than they were last year...again, if healthy. Losing NAW and much of Conley hurts us, but I think those losses are less than the gains we get from adding Ayo, SloMo and Bones. Further, I would argue that Ant, Jaden and Donte are all better than they were a year ago. One might argue that Naz's regression is a negative, but I think he mostly returned to form in his final five games.

And yes, I am trying to get more optimistic about this series!

The thing we had two years ago that we don't today is the NBA's #1 defense. It obviously stopped working against Dallas, but until then it was a clear identity that we could lean into. And we were built perfectly to give Denver problems, especially since Aaron Gordon couldn't shoot 3's back then.

I do think offensively we have more advantages than we did two seasons ago, but Denver has the greatest offensive player in a generation in Jokic and they have a bunch of guys that can shoot now.

Yeah, might want to hope for the hamstring gods to tip the scales for us!

[Phenom]

I'm on the FNG side of the equation when it comes to this series....not confident at all. Denver is a better team than they were two years ago and we haven't kept up.

While I don't think the Ant era will end after we're likely ousted by Denver, it could be the end of a lot of other tenures. Connelly, Finch, Randle, Naz, Rudy, DDV, Conley....more than half of those names may be gone between now and next October.

Yeah, I think Denver is much better than they were two years ago, with a big caveat...if they are healthy. So many leg injuries this season for them, and we might see one or two Nugget players clutching at their hamstring. Not praying for it, just saying they're a little fragile.

I'm also going to argue that the Wolves are better than they were last year...again, if healthy. Losing NAW and much of Conley hurts us, but I think those losses are less than the gains we get from adding Ayo, SloMo and Bones. Further, I would argue that Ant, Jaden and Donte are all better than they were a year ago. One might argue that Naz's regression is a negative, but I think he mostly returned to form in his final five games.

And yes, I am trying to get more optimistic about this series!

The thing we had two years ago that we don't today is the NBA's #1 defense. It obviously stopped working against Dallas, but until then it was a clear identity that we could lean into. And we were built perfectly to give Denver problems, especially since Aaron Gordon couldn't shoot 3's back then.

I do think offensively we have more advantages than we did two seasons ago, but Denver has the greatest offensive player in a generation in Jokic and they have a bunch of guys that can shoot now.

Yeah, might want to hope for the hamstring gods to tip the scales for us!

THEORY: This team also knew what it was capable of to be the best defense that year and has settled to not put in that type of effort for whole seasons anymore. Its too difficult. They believe they can tighten the screws when it is required and make deep playoff runs.

COUNTERPOINT: Last year was a mirage against an overrated LA and Curryless Warriors. The defense melted down against OKC because they were unable or not sharp enough because they could not actually flip the switch.

Rebuttal: This team needed one playoff defeat to overcome Jokic and one playoff defeat to overcome Luka. Now after one defeat against Shai, they know how to defeat him.

Which viewpoint is correct? TBD.

[Mnwild1128]

Pretty sure we are 1st on D, since adding SloMo.

[Coolbreeze44]

Yeah, I think Denver is much better than they were two years ago, with a big caveat...if they are healthy. So many leg injuries this season for them, and we might see one or two Nugget players clutching at their hamstring. Not praying for it, just saying they're a little fragile.

I'm also going to argue that the Wolves are better than they were last year...again, if healthy. Losing NAW and much of Conley hurts us, but I think those losses are less than the gains we get from adding Ayo, SloMo and Bones. Further, I would argue that Ant, Jaden and Donte are all better than they were a year ago. One might argue that Naz's regression is a negative, but I think he mostly returned to form in his final five games.

And yes, I am trying to get more optimistic about this series!

The thing we had two years ago that we don't today is the NBA's #1 defense. It obviously stopped working against Dallas, but until then it was a clear identity that we could lean into. And we were built perfectly to give Denver problems, especially since Aaron Gordon couldn't shoot 3's back then.

I do think offensively we have more advantages than we did two seasons ago, but Denver has the greatest offensive player in a generation in Jokic and they have a bunch of guys that can shoot now.

Yeah, might want to hope for the hamstring gods to tip the scales for us!

THEORY: This team also knew what it was capable of to be the best defense that year and has settled to not put in that type of effort for whole seasons anymore. Its too difficult. They believe they can tighten the screws when it is required and make deep playoff runs.

COUNTERPOINT: Last year was a mirage against an overrated LA and Curryless Warriors. The defense melted down against OKC because they were unable or not sharp enough because they could not actually flip the switch.

Rebuttal: This team needed one playoff defeat to overcome Jokic and one playoff defeat to overcome Luka. Now after one defeat against Shai, they know how to defeat him.

Which viewpoint is correct? TBD.

Not having Nickeil limits us somewhat defensively. We might not be able to get to that ceiling we had 2 years ago, but we still have very capable players on defense. And one thing about Shai, I don't think he's going to get the same whistle as he did last year, and I attribute that to Finchy for taking a stand earlier this season.

[Mnwild1128]

Naw absolutely worse down guards cause he went 100% on defense every game. Loved watching Murray struggle like crazy.

[FNG]

Being in the West really sucks...some very crappy game times for the Nuggets series now, especially for those of us who like our beauty sleep. 9:30 start Monday (call in sick Tuesday, EDT guys), 8:30 Thursday (on prime again ), and 7:30 Saturday.