When you look at how Denver’s players disappeared, or did virtually nothing, including 3 starters, you really appreciate how good the Warriors were when they had guys like AI and Livingston and others coming off the bench.
Back in 2014-2015 the Warriors had a 25 year old Justin Holiday as their 12th man. This season the Nuggets had a 35 year old Justin Holiday as their 7th man, by design.
Calvin Booth literally said that investing in the future at the expense of this season was "worth the investment" for the Nuggets. They are going to need to win multiple championships in the coming seasons to justify throwing away this season for development imo.
Well, the Denver coach forgot about the warriors dynasty in his press conference. He sure sounded like a sore loser in his post game presser. Could not take the heat.
he was very rude to a reporter on the question of the 20-pt collape - he ended that answer by saying "thats a dumb ass question.." besides some bleeped out words
Surprised to see both Minnie and Indy advance. Indy wins the health lottery in the broken down East. Minnie exposed Denver’s lack of depth past Jokic. Good stuff, NBA drama!
From here I’m rooting for Indy & MInn. Indy’s game is like the Dubs on steroids, with crazy passing and great shooting. I’d be more confident if they could play defense.
I root for the TWolves by default. Yes Edwards is fun, but I can never cheer for a Kyrie team.
Sorry but "on steroids" is definitely the wrong phrase given that they're nothing defensively compared to the Dubs, and while they shot a record percentage in game 7 it still doesn't compare to the historic shot making of Steph and Klay
They both get blinded by emotional biases. Barkley occasionally gets it right, and Draymond probably cognitively knows who's playing better, but would never pick a Gobert team or go against a LeBron team.
And as salary shenanigans get into Denver's way in coming seasons, health gets into the way with increased mileage, other younger teams get more experience and it is no longer Shangri-La when comes to inter personal skills, it is going to become increasingly difficult for Denver win another one.
It is hard to repeat. People give the team a lot of crap, but it's not easy. For just one example, Bucks have been damn near catastrophic compared to the Dubs. Not even to mention teams like the 76ers who are giving it their all and falling colossally short.
The only teams with ''mercenary'' stars that won multiple and successive 'Ships in the 21st century either had LBJ or STEPH on them. DUBS teams with KD on them qualify as ''mercenary'' after our 2 first finals team was broken up to get him. It takes a great team-first MVP to make it work; that is how special LBJ AND STEPH'S SKILL SETS ARE.
I imagine it goes like: counting: 1...2...3...4... Vs 1...
I can't decide who I want to win WCF. Wolves seem more deserving, but Drays hate of Gobert has rubbed off on me, and there's always the COVID coughing incident to add fuel to the fire. Luka I like half the time, the other half he goes full whine mode. In the end I'll probably want the Celtics to win, but that seems an unpopular opinion.
Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid outscored the entire Denver team outside of Joker and Murray 34 to 21. They also played great defense.
Not one person on this forum would have said Minnesota was winning this game if Edward’s goes 6-24.
Games always come down to guys making shots or missing shots. If McDaniels disappears like Porter and the rest, they lose. If Joker is 3 for 7 instead of 0 for 7 on his first 7 3’s it is a different game.
Yea Minnesota played good D but Denver missed a lot of very makeable shots while blowing that 58-38 lead.
I'll go with that, as it would mean yet another ring for Steph, Klay, and Dray, and I would love it. But the unexpected ring in 2022, with Curry crying on the floor after carrying the team and shutting up the critics is always going to be up there for me. That one and the 2015 championship. The 2017 championship team was just dominant; the only question was /how/ they would win. And the 2018 champs overcame a lot of obstacles, though they played with their food too much for my taste, like they were bored.
Okay, I'm just going to admit that I'm partial to them all. 😂
> Michael Malone: “This is just a momentarily delay. Failure is not fatal… better team won. Not taking anything from Minnesota. We played until June last year. We had to play main guys through Game 82 to secure (a high) seed. I think emotionally and physically, guys are gassed”
What I root for when the Warriors are done is beautiful basketball. That's why I liked Denver -- when Jokic and Murray are doing their thing it can look so effortless and great passing and shooting and so on. Minnesota is impressive on D but not fun to watch -- except Ant. Rest of the playoffs, in terms of overall graceful stuff? Much as I have a lot of feelings about Luka and Kyrie, that's beautiful basketball. I would love Indiana but Halliburton's shot is too weird. But you know what I mean? That highlight you rewatch because you just love basketball? Who gives us that now? Don't tell me Jayson Tatum. Lot of really good players on the Celtics but no art.
I feel bad for Denver, though I did want wolves to win. They play fun basketball but so think wolves do too - outside of Hobert on the offensive end - which is tough to watch.
I also am not a big fan of Halliburton - his shot is just not fun to watch.
I fear western conference teams are going to burn themselves with another long WCF while Boston cruises through. Boston also extremely boring team to watch - as you say - “ no art”
If "screw Boston" was a poll option on any article, I'd wager it'd win no matter what the other options are!
But funnily enough, I think Boston's defense is the prettiest basketball left in these playoffs. I'm still hoping someone knocks them off, but Derrick White & Jrue Holiday are fun to watch.
So much for the Denver "dynasty". What should be the minimum number of championships before a team can be talked about in such terms? I'd say 3 championships at least.
When you look at how Denver’s players disappeared, or did virtually nothing, including 3 starters, you really appreciate how good the Warriors were when they had guys like AI and Livingston and others coming off the bench.
Wolves beat two teams who had a depleted to non existent bench. Dallas is going to be much harder to beat as they have a really good bench.
Back in 2014-2015 the Warriors had a 25 year old Justin Holiday as their 12th man. This season the Nuggets had a 35 year old Justin Holiday as their 7th man, by design.
Calvin Booth literally said that investing in the future at the expense of this season was "worth the investment" for the Nuggets. They are going to need to win multiple championships in the coming seasons to justify throwing away this season for development imo.
Two timelines strategy strikes again.
Give or withhold credit where you want, but that Minnesota defense is incredible.
That said, this Denver thing illustrates why history is going to be very kind to the Warriors dynasty, and to Steph Curry.
Well, the Denver coach forgot about the warriors dynasty in his press conference. He sure sounded like a sore loser in his post game presser. Could not take the heat.
Well, Malone is actually part of the warriors dynasty so..
He's been a big sore winner in the past but no one has cared because his target has been the Lakers who everyone hates.
What did he say?
he was very rude to a reporter on the question of the 20-pt collape - he ended that answer by saying "thats a dumb ass question.." besides some bleeped out words
I meant what did he say that indicated he forgot about the Warriors dynasty
Surprised to see both Minnie and Indy advance. Indy wins the health lottery in the broken down East. Minnie exposed Denver’s lack of depth past Jokic. Good stuff, NBA drama!
From here I’m rooting for Indy & MInn. Indy’s game is like the Dubs on steroids, with crazy passing and great shooting. I’d be more confident if they could play defense.
I root for the TWolves by default. Yes Edwards is fun, but I can never cheer for a Kyrie team.
Sorry but "on steroids" is definitely the wrong phrase given that they're nothing defensively compared to the Dubs, and while they shot a record percentage in game 7 it still doesn't compare to the historic shot making of Steph and Klay
Also this season's Eastern Conference is the most pathetic conference I think I've ever seen
Wow. Just finished up the replay
Naz Reid - my goodness - he owned the 4th while Jamal and MPJ disappeared.
Draymonds takes in these playoffs have been ice cold especially when he was so empathic about them
Well Chuck is his mentor.
They both get blinded by emotional biases. Barkley occasionally gets it right, and Draymond probably cognitively knows who's playing better, but would never pick a Gobert team or go against a LeBron team.
Indeed, one could make some good money betting the opposite of whatever Draymond projected.
Repeating is hard.
And as salary shenanigans get into Denver's way in coming seasons, health gets into the way with increased mileage, other younger teams get more experience and it is no longer Shangri-La when comes to inter personal skills, it is going to become increasingly difficult for Denver win another one.
MPJ only exists to kill the Lakers and I love him for it
Last 10 defending champs, playoff series won:
‘24 Nuggets 1
‘23 Warriors 1
‘22 Bucks 1
‘21 Lakers 0
‘20 Raptors 1
‘19 Warriors 3
‘18 Warriors 4
‘17 Cavaliers 3
‘16 Warriors 3
‘15 Spurs 0
It’s tough.
Constantly playing into June puts a strain on the body.
It is hard to repeat. People give the team a lot of crap, but it's not easy. For just one example, Bucks have been damn near catastrophic compared to the Dubs. Not even to mention teams like the 76ers who are giving it their all and falling colossally short.
Exactly. That's what I feel when people dump on OGs.
The only teams with ''mercenary'' stars that won multiple and successive 'Ships in the 21st century either had LBJ or STEPH on them. DUBS teams with KD on them qualify as ''mercenary'' after our 2 first finals team was broken up to get him. It takes a great team-first MVP to make it work; that is how special LBJ AND STEPH'S SKILL SETS ARE.
I wonder What happens to Dray if Gobert gets a ring?
I imagine it goes like: counting: 1...2...3...4... Vs 1...
I can't decide who I want to win WCF. Wolves seem more deserving, but Drays hate of Gobert has rubbed off on me, and there's always the COVID coughing incident to add fuel to the fire. Luka I like half the time, the other half he goes full whine mode. In the end I'll probably want the Celtics to win, but that seems an unpopular opinion.
lol go with the wolves...
I really hope not
Jaden McDaniels and Naz Reid outscored the entire Denver team outside of Joker and Murray 34 to 21. They also played great defense.
Not one person on this forum would have said Minnesota was winning this game if Edward’s goes 6-24.
Games always come down to guys making shots or missing shots. If McDaniels disappears like Porter and the rest, they lose. If Joker is 3 for 7 instead of 0 for 7 on his first 7 3’s it is a different game.
Yea Minnesota played good D but Denver missed a lot of very makeable shots while blowing that 58-38 lead.
Porter, Gordon and KCP totally disappeared.
It is a make or miss league-MJAX
Nuggets were terrible all series besides Joker if we’re being honest. A few spurts of good play from Gordon/Murray here and there.
Last four defending champs to make the Conference Finals:
‘19 Warriors
‘18 Warriors
‘17 Cavs
‘16 Warriors
Warriors and Cavs won all of those Conference Finals, too.
If we manage to win one more championship with our trio, it may be my favorite one
I'll go with that, as it would mean yet another ring for Steph, Klay, and Dray, and I would love it. But the unexpected ring in 2022, with Curry crying on the floor after carrying the team and shutting up the critics is always going to be up there for me. That one and the 2015 championship. The 2017 championship team was just dominant; the only question was /how/ they would win. And the 2018 champs overcame a lot of obstacles, though they played with their food too much for my taste, like they were bored.
Okay, I'm just going to admit that I'm partial to them all. 😂
Yeah, but you're right about all that
Doesn’t get any better than clinching a chip in Boston though
Same. Beating Cleveland again and again got weirdly boring
> Michael Malone: “This is just a momentarily delay. Failure is not fatal… better team won. Not taking anything from Minnesota. We played until June last year. We had to play main guys through Game 82 to secure (a high) seed. I think emotionally and physically, guys are gassed”
https://x.com/NotoriousOHM/status/1792387195472339079
They ain't making it back to the finals. This was their shot at a "clutch city" type run
Now do that for 5-6 years straight Michael
What I root for when the Warriors are done is beautiful basketball. That's why I liked Denver -- when Jokic and Murray are doing their thing it can look so effortless and great passing and shooting and so on. Minnesota is impressive on D but not fun to watch -- except Ant. Rest of the playoffs, in terms of overall graceful stuff? Much as I have a lot of feelings about Luka and Kyrie, that's beautiful basketball. I would love Indiana but Halliburton's shot is too weird. But you know what I mean? That highlight you rewatch because you just love basketball? Who gives us that now? Don't tell me Jayson Tatum. Lot of really good players on the Celtics but no art.
I feel bad for Denver, though I did want wolves to win. They play fun basketball but so think wolves do too - outside of Hobert on the offensive end - which is tough to watch.
I also am not a big fan of Halliburton - his shot is just not fun to watch.
I fear western conference teams are going to burn themselves with another long WCF while Boston cruises through. Boston also extremely boring team to watch - as you say - “ no art”
Indy because screw Boston + Hali is awesome
Screw Boston is a big winner on this site, I would venture to say
If "screw Boston" was a poll option on any article, I'd wager it'd win no matter what the other options are!
But funnily enough, I think Boston's defense is the prettiest basketball left in these playoffs. I'm still hoping someone knocks them off, but Derrick White & Jrue Holiday are fun to watch.
WOW....enjoyed this one....GO T-WOLVES....
So much for the Denver "dynasty". What should be the minimum number of championships before a team can be talked about in such terms? I'd say 3 championships at least.
6 finals appearances and 4 Ships....lol
Touch red, Sab Shaw. We made the same comment at same time...