The Nuggets are eager to get back to action after a long layoff, writes Parker Gabriel of The Denver Post. Denver’s sweep of the Lakers wrapped up on May 22, so by the time Game 1 of the Finals tips off Thursday night, the team will have gone 10 days without playing. The break provided some welcome rest for the players, but it might have lasted too long.
“I told my wife when Boston won Game 6, it almost felt like – we’d been sitting so long, it almost felt like we weren’t in the playoffs anymore because the only thing we were doing was watching them,” Jeff Green said. “But I watched two good teams battle and when they won, it was like, ‘Now it’s time to refocus.’ The time off, I think it helped in many ways. It allowed us to regroup, touch up on some things, better ourselves. I enjoyed that series. They showed me some things on both ends. I’m looking forward to this matchup.”
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope said the Nuggets were focusing their preparation on Miami after the Heat took a 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals. More Celtics work was mixed in as Boston rallied to tie the series.
“We’ve been sitting for a long time, we’re going to be a little jittery and anxious to play,” Caldwell-Pope said. “Just try to keep them calm. The first couple possessions are going to be a lot, even for myself. I’ll be feeling anxious, even right now.”
There’s more from Denver:
- Coach Michael Malone says Nikola Jokic has many of the “selfless superstar” qualities that Tim Duncan exhibited with the Spurs (video link). Even though Jokic has become one of the league’s best players, Malone said he’s never lost focus on helping his teammates and doing whatever is necessary to win.
- Michael Porter Jr. overcame three back surgeries to reach the NBA Finals, notes Mirin Fader of The Ringer. With his athleticism reduced by the repeated injuries, Porter focused on adding things to his game and has become an improved rebounder, defender and three-point shooter. “There was a lot of sad feelings and there was a lot of really, honestly, depression and anxiety, not knowing if you’re able to fulfill what you thought for your life,” Porter said about last year’s recovery process.
- Jake Fischer of Yahoo Sports takes a look at how the Nuggets’ roster was built, including the 2021 Aaron Gordon trade that meant saying goodbye to Gary Harris, a long-time cornerstone of the franchise.
Imagine how unstoppable Nuggets would’ve been if they didn’t trade D.Mitchell for Trey Lyles!
Their starting lineup could’ve been:
Jamal
Mitchell
Porter JR
Gordon
Jokic
That’s a dynasty right there!
Nuggets didn’t trade Mitchell for lyles. The nuggets traded a pick for Lyles, Utah then used the pick to select Mitchell
Wow forgot all about this trade …..
Crazy huh . Heat can’t handle Jokic. Time to make the big man. The Big Man in the game again.
Typically winning creates copycats, but I think Jokic is such a rare talent, it would be really difficult to copy the Nuggets mold for success…
Yes, there are some 5s that can pass, shoot, rebound, defend the paint, and make plays for others, but typically theure alot stronger in two of those areas and pretty weak in the rest. Jokic’s skills are at or very near the top of the league in all of those areas.
Not to mention, he’s also incredibly efficient. I’m not really sure I’ve seen a star like Joker that’s so efficient with his game, maybe since The Big Fundamental.
Of course, there was Shaq and Dwight Howard in his prime, but they were both playing a completely different game and not nearly as well-rounded as Jokic.
The sad part is I was seeing Zion being a similarly efficient type of well-rounded star, but if he cannot stay healthy or get whatever it is that’s keeping him out fixed, he will just fade away as another college superstar that was supposed to be the next big thing like Greg Oden…
Shaq and Dwight lol.
What’s so funny?? Are you going to deny, that when both were at the top of their games they weren’t dominant forces in the NBA??
If so, either you’re roughly 12-14 years old, and weren’t equipped to fully understand how good they both were, or you clearly need a basketball lesson on dominant big men throughout the NBAs history.
Now, obviously, Shaq was better at helping his team win and a dominant force for a longer period of time, but he also had alot of help with some excellent guard play as well.
Wheb considering his all-around game, Joker is easily the more well-rounded and more skilled big, but as far as their impact on the game though, you had to adjust your gameplan around each of them, similarly to Joker; otherwise, they’d put up 20 and 20 on you, and set up open shots for others around the perimeter..
Sabonis, Bam (last season when they ram offense thru him at elbows), Zion, Siakim and even Sengun. Of course none are Joker level but it’s already a thing if you have a really good passing big. The hard thing is having a passing big that can also shoot off the dribble or out of a triple threat.
Yes, playing through your 5 has been a thing for a little while now, if you have one that has good vision and is a skilled passer.
I’m just saying it would be really difficult to “copy” the Nuggets style of play, because The Joker is an extremely skilled and efficient player. I think there are definitely bits and pieces that others will try to take from the Nuggets, but it is extremely difficult to find a Center and a Guard with the chemistry that Jokic and Murray have together, much less their combined skill levels.
On a side note, soeaking of playing your game through a big, it will be EXTREMELY interesting to see how Pop decides to play Wemby once he gets his feet wet in the NBA. Maybe taking the Giannis approach that his understudy Coach Bud took wouldn’t be a bad place to start.
I just wish the Spurs had a little more talent around them so they’d really be able to help his game develop. Right now, it’ll be Wemby surrounded by Keldon Johnson, Vassell, and Tre Jones, possibly with some help from Sochan, D.Graham, and Zach Collins…
Obviously, they’ll still have the off-season to help compliment their roster, and one of their other guys could always take a step forward, but I guess that’s a decent 6-7 man group moving forward to add-on to. I, personally, cannot wait to see how Pop utilizes him, and watch his game grow just as a pure basketball fan.
I still miss Gary Harris. Hope the nugs bring him back and win a championship with Garris!
Harris certainly had his moments in Denver, but he was needed to facilitate an upgrade at their four spot DESPERATELY!!
Gordon has used his extremely athletic talents to help mold his game to being exactly what the Nuggets need. Rarely does a trade ever work out so exceedingly well for a franchise like the Aaron Gordon/Gary Harris trade did for Denver…
I couldn’t believe how long it took for them to try to use guys like Harros and Beasley in trades. There were a couple of times k thought those guys would get moved, and they had some draft assets then as well. Was surprising to be able to still turn Harris into Gordon at that time, but Orlando was desperate for shooting at the guard/3 spot
4 guys I’m worried about as a Heat fan in this series are Aaron gordon, Porter jr, Jeff Green, and KCP. I could see any or all of those guys being big x-factors in the matchup. KCP was huge for the Lakers when the heat lost half their team in the 2020 finals, and both Aaron Gordon and Jeff Green have historically been a problem for the Heat. Heat also never win in Denver, like ever. Of they can manage one of these first 2, it would be pretty impressive to me
Still can’t believe theh were able to get Aaron Gordon so easily, after letting a couple of assets lose value the previous couple of years. He was the literal perfect fit, and we’ve been seeing that
Jeff Green may be the most under appreciated player in the last decade. I’ve said since Boston days he is the best Lebron defender of all time. He will have an affect on Jimmy. I’m rooting for both teams. They are both great. I’m leaning more to seeing Jimmy get a ring but the nuggets have been the best team all playoffs. Jokic is no joke. He’s a combination of Bird father Sabonis and Lebron. Just really fun to watch his skill set.