2023 NBA Playoffs Thread

Duncan did all he could. There’s just not too many guys he can keep up with defensively.

Miami looks tired, but that’s not to take anything away from Denver. Denver proving itself on both ends. incredible as a group guarding the 3 line down the stretch.

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Every Heat fan I’ve seen is clamoring for Duncan to start over Strus. The offense generates much better looks when he’s on.

He’s shooting 54% from the field and 44% from three while Strus has gone 5/31 on mostly open shots.

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Denver is very composed for a team that’s here for the first time. Usually a team has a playoff heartbreak that prepares them for a deep run. But from what I can remember, Denver has been beaten soundly in the past whenever they got eliminated.

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Lotta folks were saying last round Jimmy’s head games and showmanship just wouldn’t register w Jokic and Denver. Seems on point.

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Jimmy hasn’t tried any head games or showmanship in this series.

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The worst part about rooting for underdogs is taking a loss 90% of the time. I’m about to take another L right now.

The Nuggets have never even been to a final! That should have been enough to quell your underdog fantasies while also not having to root for the Heat

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While I’m really not into Herro for his salary the Heat are DYING for a guy to create a shot

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Well, Inter have won 3 CL titles and Man City have never won, and yet I’m still rooting for Inter as the underdog.

When you’re bankrolled by a countries oil sales you don’t get to be an underdog anymore (sorry Dylan)

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The problem with the CL is that nearly every contender is some sort of sportswashing project. Inter is owned by a Chinese investment group.

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Can’t think of many sports teams more different than the Denver nuggets and Man City :joy:

Yeah, first finals ever, small market…but Heat are an 8 seed on arguably the most improbable run in league history. They are the underdogs. Nuggets are the dominant team, the 1 seed, with the best player in the world, they can’t have it both ways and also be called the underdogs.

this is semantics but I think it’s more “they have so many reasons they should not be in position to be a one-seed” so they’re structurally an underdog :person_shrugging:

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You’re just rooting for the literal Vegas underdog then. Miami has won 3 titles in the last 17 years and made the finals 3 additional times (4 if you count this year). Denver is by far the more “lovable puppy underdog” than Miami

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The Heat have really won me over. It’s the Juwan connection but also I just love how they steal those wins.

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This year hasn’t been the strongest for the NBA. The defending champs had a fracture in training camp and there weren’t any dominant teams.

Phoenix was thought to be a contender when they added KD, but they didn’t have Chris Paul for most of their series with Denver. Plus, they had more depth prior to the trade.

Milwaukee finally got Middleton back but collapsed as they have in many postseasons.

Philly is a mentally weak team.

Denver has the best combination of talent, depth, and coaching. They are going to win it this year, and may be rising towards dominant-status. With Jokic (28), Gordon (27), Murray (26), MPJr. (24), Brown (26), and Braun (22), you’ve got guys either in their prime or about to enter their prime. KCP is 30, so he should maintain his solid role-player level of performance for another few years.
Brown is the only potential free-agent this summer. If he opts in (I’d guess he doesn’t), they’re a clear favorite to repeat. Even without him, I’d guess they’d be the pick. Braun seems poised for a bigger role. I could see him starting and KCP going to lead the bench unit.

I’m not sure who in the West steps up to challenge them. Maybe Sacramento? OKC? Their issue would be that they don’t have a talented big to show down Jokic. At least I can’t think of one. Chet reportedly has added some muscle but that still puts him at about 215 pounds.

Even if Wemby turns out to match the hype, the Spurs are a couple of years away.

It looks like a good time to be a Nuggets fan.

Steal is a great way to put it

Grift is the best way

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No. I do not.