murksiderock
Superstar
Not to lose this Rd1 series to LA...
But to successfully defend their title. Three reasons:
•in this Rd1 series, thru 4 games, Denver has held the lead for only 21% of game action. Yet they have a 3-1 series lead, because the opponent somehow has a weaker bench than they do; weaker supporting stars than they do; and the opponent doesn't know how to close...
The imminent Rd2 series will be vs a Wolves team that has showcased none of those weaknesses and is younger. If they somehow get by the Wolves they have OKC or Dallas waiting on the other side and Dallas in particular isn't a favorable matchup. Brings me to point two;
•the '23 Nuggets were more reliable off the bench than this '24 version, Bruce Brown's departure is significantly missed and will only be more glaring the later they advance...
Also, a team that closes better isn't gonna be down 1-3 if they lead for 80% of game action. Glass half full, Nuggets are using this series as a tune up, but this being down double digits every game shyt catches up to you in the end, we all have seen it happen throughout league history;
•Murray is playing thru injury. Which, alot of guys are, but this in part explains why he's been so off this series...
What this also means though, a better opponent will attack him relentlessly to render him even more ineffective, and a better opponent isn't losing to Denver with this version of Murray...
The Lakers aren't the team that can beat Denver. They are operating from a coaching and execution deficiency...
But with all this said, all is not lost for Denver. They could easily tighten up the loose ends, Murray could benefit from a few rest days between series and come back to his normal level of play next series. And even with these struggles, I don't believe any opponent to be clearly better than Denver. If a team is gonna beat the Nuggets, it's gonna take 6 or 7 games. They aren't going out quietly...
But, they are in trouble, there are alarming signs for them thru 4 games of this title defense...
But to successfully defend their title. Three reasons:
•in this Rd1 series, thru 4 games, Denver has held the lead for only 21% of game action. Yet they have a 3-1 series lead, because the opponent somehow has a weaker bench than they do; weaker supporting stars than they do; and the opponent doesn't know how to close...
The imminent Rd2 series will be vs a Wolves team that has showcased none of those weaknesses and is younger. If they somehow get by the Wolves they have OKC or Dallas waiting on the other side and Dallas in particular isn't a favorable matchup. Brings me to point two;
•the '23 Nuggets were more reliable off the bench than this '24 version, Bruce Brown's departure is significantly missed and will only be more glaring the later they advance...
Also, a team that closes better isn't gonna be down 1-3 if they lead for 80% of game action. Glass half full, Nuggets are using this series as a tune up, but this being down double digits every game shyt catches up to you in the end, we all have seen it happen throughout league history;
•Murray is playing thru injury. Which, alot of guys are, but this in part explains why he's been so off this series...
What this also means though, a better opponent will attack him relentlessly to render him even more ineffective, and a better opponent isn't losing to Denver with this version of Murray...
The Lakers aren't the team that can beat Denver. They are operating from a coaching and execution deficiency...
But with all this said, all is not lost for Denver. They could easily tighten up the loose ends, Murray could benefit from a few rest days between series and come back to his normal level of play next series. And even with these struggles, I don't believe any opponent to be clearly better than Denver. If a team is gonna beat the Nuggets, it's gonna take 6 or 7 games. They aren't going out quietly...
But, they are in trouble, there are alarming signs for them thru 4 games of this title defense...
