I appreciate the take regarding playing younger players during the season/developing a bench in time for the playoffs/etc. but I'm not sure that take applied so neatly to the Nuggets this season.
While Nembhard, Sheppard and Lively might be considered examples of players in their 2nd year or younger in successful situations most other contributors apart from the stars had at least 3 years experience under their belt. The Thunder were one of the younger rosters in the postseason and while they captured the 1 seed their lack of experience was evident in ultimately falling to the Mavericks.
Besides MPJ being exposed for being too one-dimensional the Nuggets opted to replace Bruce Brown w/ Peyton Watson and Christian Braun, two 2nd year players. How much of that decision was a calculated gamble, how much of that was striking out in the FA market? If Denver gets similar performances next season from Jokic/Murray/KCP/Gordon + something close to normal from MPJ with potential year 2-->year 3 leaps for Braun/Watson why couldn't the team get back to the Finals? How would we evaluate a one year "drop-off" then?
and i disagree about Luka. Yes he is a lecturer....great comp. But if healthy Luka is more able to take over games than anyone in the league. And he will. He is a freak. And he defies hoop logic. IMHO.
OH i said, I said PJ would be a difference maker. I said it. I said it for years. I knew him at kentucky. He hated being at charlotte. This is now what he always wanted. He was the leader of that kentucky team. He was a leader. All i can say is i saw this coming.
Boy, I have said this for years. Play more guys. But I think this is not on Jokic....he did score 34 pts and had 19 boards. I should be so gassed. He had very little help and my takeaway from this series is that MPjr and Murray were a bit exposed. I supposed porter has improved on defense but he still sucks. And denver could have used bruce brown. But my god there are guys around the nuggets could have signed. And as pointed out, 'played them'. Its more true for Thibs. Watson is good, and will get better. Braun for sure has upside. But they need more. Im not sure watson and braun are the answer even developed fully. Malone was also outcoached. And im going to dispute that KAT is a good defender -- Finch has found a way to hide his deficiencies. --- But naz reid is the sort of 'find' that denver needed to discover. And finally, yes dallas can beat the wolves. In fact i feel pretty sure they will.
I appreciate the take regarding playing younger players during the season/developing a bench in time for the playoffs/etc. but I'm not sure that take applied so neatly to the Nuggets this season.
While Nembhard, Sheppard and Lively might be considered examples of players in their 2nd year or younger in successful situations most other contributors apart from the stars had at least 3 years experience under their belt. The Thunder were one of the younger rosters in the postseason and while they captured the 1 seed their lack of experience was evident in ultimately falling to the Mavericks.
Besides MPJ being exposed for being too one-dimensional the Nuggets opted to replace Bruce Brown w/ Peyton Watson and Christian Braun, two 2nd year players. How much of that decision was a calculated gamble, how much of that was striking out in the FA market? If Denver gets similar performances next season from Jokic/Murray/KCP/Gordon + something close to normal from MPJ with potential year 2-->year 3 leaps for Braun/Watson why couldn't the team get back to the Finals? How would we evaluate a one year "drop-off" then?
and i disagree about Luka. Yes he is a lecturer....great comp. But if healthy Luka is more able to take over games than anyone in the league. And he will. He is a freak. And he defies hoop logic. IMHO.
OH i said, I said PJ would be a difference maker. I said it. I said it for years. I knew him at kentucky. He hated being at charlotte. This is now what he always wanted. He was the leader of that kentucky team. He was a leader. All i can say is i saw this coming.
Boy, I have said this for years. Play more guys. But I think this is not on Jokic....he did score 34 pts and had 19 boards. I should be so gassed. He had very little help and my takeaway from this series is that MPjr and Murray were a bit exposed. I supposed porter has improved on defense but he still sucks. And denver could have used bruce brown. But my god there are guys around the nuggets could have signed. And as pointed out, 'played them'. Its more true for Thibs. Watson is good, and will get better. Braun for sure has upside. But they need more. Im not sure watson and braun are the answer even developed fully. Malone was also outcoached. And im going to dispute that KAT is a good defender -- Finch has found a way to hide his deficiencies. --- But naz reid is the sort of 'find' that denver needed to discover. And finally, yes dallas can beat the wolves. In fact i feel pretty sure they will.