This series is a mystery to me. I can see a gentleman's sweep, as well as a 4-1 Nuggets or a 7 games series. I wouldn't mind option #1
not panicking yet, but they need to steal the next game in denver. they'll be in a huge hole if they don't with how unstoppable jokic is
Yes, hard to predict the outcome of this series. We go down 0-2 then hold serve on our home floor to even it up, anything goes. I'd think we're tougher than Phoenix to just fold.
Waste of 3 days rest. We could overcome some lethargic energy early on but we can't overcome that dumb small line up. Everyone and their moms knew we would have to go with size this series. Even though Denver played really well, we were able to make a comeback late that fizzled along with Lebron's bad 3 attempt. At least we have an idea of what works and what doesn't for next game. Conventional wisdom would say to start Rui instead of Schroder but I'd think about starting Vando for DAR. DAR isn't cutting it offensively and can use Vando's and Schroder's energy/defense early. Starting Rui I'd be afraid of him getting into foul trouble when we don't have multiple big men options.
Going into this series, my prediction was Lakers in 6. After Game 1, my predication remains. Lakers in 6.
yeah, that's why i said i only panic if denver gets to 3 before we get to 2. we're pretty evenly matched, so dropping both on the road and winning both at home wouldn't be all that shocking.
After some thought this morning, I think we just need to get back to what works. Put Vando back in the opening lineup and have him play D on Murray. Jokic is going to get something, well probably most everything. But we can't afford to let Murray also get 30! Make someone else beat you. Going small to start was a terrible mistake and had us on our heels from the opening tip. Give Dlo another chance, but if he isn't working then sub in Schroder. But I think we need to use Vando and put him on Murray for 25 minutes a game. He did a good job on Curry and he did a good job Ja as well. Continue with what has proven to work.
i looked back at the two games we won against denver, and we started brown/bev/walker in the first and bev/schroder/walker in the second. maybe that's why ham did this?
There was two key things I saw from this game. Having someone else on Jokic allowed AD to come into the game a lot better defensively. But most optimistically, they couldn’t stop Lebron attacking the basket. If that’s the case, that’s huge. Like we can win the series on that fact alone huge.
I really hate being the anti-Vando guy here and in the Transactions thread because I really like Vando but starting him is a bad idea in this series. He guarded Curry and Ja well at the beginning of those series, but both the Warriors and Grizzlies adjusted and used his lack of offense to stifle the starting unit offense. Look at the shot frequency at the rim numbers with Vando starting and Vando not starting, the looks LeBron and AD get at the rim rise astronomically when it’s not Vando playing next to them. Our biggest advantage this series is in the paint, there’s no resistance from the Nuggets. Starting Vando just gives the Nuggets the opportunity to park another body in the paint. It has to be Rui starting and I’d consider making Austin the primary defender on Murray. Schroder has been great at getting into the space of Curry and Morant, but Murray might be a little too big for him. I liked what I saw yesterday when Vando was the sub in for LeBron and AD, so it was Vando/Rui/AD or Vando/Rui/LeBron. That’s the proper role for him in this series IMO.
They were conceding those Murray switches pretty easily, I’d expect them to come back with some wrinkle like hard hedges by Murray so Gordon can recover. Even so, the fact is they don’t have a JJJ or a Draymond to contest us at the rim. We should be able to keep getting to the rim regardless of their coverage and that portends we’ll for us.
Anyone else realise in many games we end up taking less shots than the other team. Yesterday Denver took 7 more shots than us
feel like that's been season-long. often it's an effort/focus issue (TOs, opponent offensive boards). but i feel like 7 isn't that big of a difference. i'd have to consult the stats.
In the first and second rounds I noticed the same thing mostly in the close games. Our TOs were actually better in the first game, it's the offensive rebounds that were terrible in the first half
Yea, or just tell Vando to pass up that wide open 3 in the corner and work at getting the ball to AD or Lebron in the paint. It's basically what Draymond does...usually.
Go Miami,Go Kevin Love,Go Butler !!! They are up by 11 after 3 quarters and outscored C Bags by 20 in third quarter. Mazula looks worse than Doc Rivers
