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Re: Wolves vs Nuggets
Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2026 3:10 pm
by FNG
AbeVigodaLive wrote: ↑Fri Apr 17, 2026 10:55 am
Crazysauce wrote: ↑Fri Apr 17, 2026 12:00 am
Wolves in 7. Wanted to say 6 but we like making things interesting. Ant brings his defense and we look like a different team. Praying we don't get jobbed by the refs and Finch makes proper decisions.
Abe's soapbox (again):
I think it's less about getting jobbed by the refs... and just not being as good/willing at jobbing the refs as other prominent teams. Every player knows how games will be called. Jokic will DEFINITELY trick them into some foul calls. 2 points per game. Maybe 4 points. That's obviously a huge difference.
Ethical basketball is an easier, better thing to watch... but ultimately, it's not winning basketball in 2026. Adapt or lose.
I agree of course with this 100%. I think a majority of passionate NBA fans think the refs are against their team, but it just doesn't make sense to me. There may be some referees that have history with a certain player that might impact a call (Scott Foster and Rudy Gobert come to mind...by the way, Foster is in Phoenix tonight, so we probably won't be saddled with him tomorrow), but I think even that is rare. I think I heard that Julius led the league in "and one's" this season, and you don't get there if the refs are prejudiced against your team. We need to be physical with Jokic because refs always allow more contact in the playoffs, but Joker is still going to get to the line because he is savvy.
Re: Wolves vs Nuggets
Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2026 3:30 pm
by FNG
Coolbreeze44 wrote: ↑Fri Apr 17, 2026 3:07 pm
I did not know Watson was out for the series, that's noteworthy.
It really is, Cool...he was the guy I was most concerned about guarding Ant, and he made over 41% of his threes this season. It's a significant loss for them.
Re: Wolves vs Nuggets
Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2026 3:50 pm
by FNG
This won't be the most original thought here, but I think Ant is the key to us winning this series. And that thought was reinforced today after I listened to Chris Hine's preview. He said one of the reasons we have been successful in beating the Nuggets in the past is that Ant has taken his matchup against Murray very personally. He sees him as a competitor for top 10 status (Jamal had a better VORP and ws/48 than Ant this season) and, before this season, entered each game against Denver saying "nobody is going to say Jamal is better than me after this game". But Hine said that competitive fire hasn't been as visible this season. I'd like Ant to ask Finchy if he can spend some time guarding Jamal...that would keep him really focused I think.
Re: Wolves vs Nuggets
Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2026 3:50 pm
by Q-is-here
FNG wrote: ↑Fri Apr 17, 2026 2:54 pm
DNatagal wrote: ↑Fri Apr 17, 2026 12:25 pm
I went Denver in 6. Hated to vote that way and I hope i am wrong.
What do you know, DN? Tell us one prediction you've ever made corre...um, never mind.
I really wanted some homer optimism to kick in as the week went on, but I'm just not feeling it. Denver/Minnesota is a great rivalry, but it seems like they are two teams going in opposite directions...Denver has won 12 in a row while the Wolves were limping to the finish line. I actually think the Wolves (if healthy) are slightly better than the team that beat Denver two years ago. But I think the Nuggets are much better. Jokic, Murray and Gordon had an offensive rating of 135 this season...135! And they play together a lot. So sorry guys, I'm picking the Nuggets in 5. We win game 3 when Jokic goes at half speed, and Denver wins the other 4.
There are some reasons I may be wrong though, and I hope I am.
Watson is definitely out for the series, and Spencer Jones may miss some time also...and those are the PFs backing up Gordon. Further, I remember feeling some similar pessimism in round one of each of the two prior years, and we won both easily.
FNG, Watson's status for the series has not been officially reported or confirmed by Denver. I'm not saying that he's definitely playing, but we can't be certain he's out for the series until we see the official injury report or someone from the Nuggets organization gives an update publicly.
And you're right, his injury and potentially being out for the series is a pretty big deal in our favor. We HAVE to look to push the pace, even on Denver made buckets. It's not in our DNA like it was with Indiana last season, but I'm hoping with this week of preparation, the addition of Ayo, and the recent resurgence of TJ that we make a concerted effort to run every chance we get. It's our only hope IMO, as the Jokic-Murray-Gordon trio is just too good for us in a half court series.
Re: Wolves vs Nuggets
Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2026 3:57 pm
by Q-is-here
FNG wrote: ↑Fri Apr 17, 2026 3:50 pm
This won't be the most original thought here, but I think Ant is the key to us winning this series. And that thought was reinforced today after I listened to Chris Hine's preview. He said one of the reasons we have been successful in beating the Nuggets in the past is that Ant has taken his matchup against Murray very personally. He sees him as a competitor for top 10 status (Jamal had a better VORP and ws/48 than Ant this season) and, before this season, entered each game against Denver saying "nobody is going to say Jamal is better than me after this game". But Hine said that competitive fire hasn't been as visible this season. I'd like Ant to ask Finchy if he can spend some time guarding Jamal...that would keep him really focused I think.
Ant is key of course and he should definitely spend time on Murray, but they are going to screen him to death and regardless of effort level, he just isn't that good navigating screens. Jaden has the length to trail and contest, so I suspect Jaden will start on Murray with Ant and Ayo also spending time on him.
Regardless, I think the #1 priority for the Wolves defense will be slowing down, frustrating, and getting physical with Murray. Let Jokic score 40 or 50, as no one can stop him one on one and you can only double him when the shot clock is running down and he doesn't have time to make a pass. Murray can be worn down though. It'll be tough - he's in top form.
Re: Wolves vs Nuggets
Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2026 5:12 pm
by FNG
Q-is-here wrote: ↑Fri Apr 17, 2026 3:50 pm
FNG wrote: ↑Fri Apr 17, 2026 2:54 pm
DNatagal wrote: ↑Fri Apr 17, 2026 12:25 pm
I went Denver in 6. Hated to vote that way and I hope i am wrong.
What do you know, DN? Tell us one prediction you've ever made corre...um, never mind.
I really wanted some homer optimism to kick in as the week went on, but I'm just not feeling it. Denver/Minnesota is a great rivalry, but it seems like they are two teams going in opposite directions...Denver has won 12 in a row while the Wolves were limping to the finish line. I actually think the Wolves (if healthy) are slightly better than the team that beat Denver two years ago. But I think the Nuggets are much better. Jokic, Murray and Gordon had an offensive rating of 135 this season...135! And they play together a lot. So sorry guys, I'm picking the Nuggets in 5. We win game 3 when Jokic goes at half speed, and Denver wins the other 4.
There are some reasons I may be wrong though, and I hope I am.
Watson is definitely out for the series, and Spencer Jones may miss some time also...and those are the PFs backing up Gordon. Further, I remember feeling some similar pessimism in round one of each of the two prior years, and we won both easily.
FNG, Watson's status for the series has not been officially reported or confirmed by Denver. I'm not saying that he's definitely playing, but we can't be certain he's out for the series until we see the official injury report or someone from the Nuggets organization gives an update publicly.
And you're right, his injury and potentially being out for the series is a pretty big deal in our favor. We HAVE to look to push the pace, even on Denver made buckets. It's not in our DNA like it was with Indiana last season, but I'm hoping with this week of preparation, the addition of Ayo, and the recent resurgence of TJ that we make a concerted effort to run every chance we get. It's our only hope IMO, as the Jokic-Murray-Gordon trio is just too good for us in a half court series.
Yeah, the Nuggets haven't ruled him out. But Adam Mares said on Dane's podcast yesterday that he didn't expect him back for the entire series. Who knows though...