Nikola Jokic feasts

The Nuggets were probably happy when they saw the Lakers emerge victorious from play in against the Timberwolves. What they were saving: a 7-game duel against LeBron James and company after a regular season finale that has been very positive for the Angelenos and not so much for those from Colorado. AND, watching the victory against the Grizzlies in the first round, this thought is enhanced. The Lakers are probably the most dangerous team of all those who have played that kind of preview that the NBA invented in the bubble and that is here to stay. And that, that nobody reads what is not written, does not necessarily mean that they have to go especially far in the playoffs or that they will overcome the confrontation against the Grizzlies. But it is clear that it is a much more uncomfortable rival than the one in front of them: some Timberwolves that arrive more tired after playing twice in the play in (they lost to the Lakers and beat the Thunder). And that they are, in essence, worse than the Lakers. It is what it is.

The victory was the most comfortable we have seen in the short time we have been in the playoffs. Rotunda (109-80), palliative symptoms, doubts about who is better or moments The ones you can think of that the Wolves have options in the series. They will improve for sure (they cannot go worse) and they will give war, especially in Minnesota; but they won’t get out of there. The project ceiling is low and the changes they made have not allowed them to emerge in a Western Conference where nobody has been brilliant, but the Wolves have remained below average. Gone is the exciting series that they gave us last year against the Grizzlies (4-2 for their rivals). It seems that this basketball course is in its final stretch. As much as his participation in the playoffs is, and this is still curious, the third since 2004, the only year in which they surpassed any round in their history (they reached the Conference finals) with Kevin Garnett as messiah and the Target Center turned into a hive. Yes it has rained.

The match was placid for the Nuggets, who gradually increased their lead to 55-44 at halftime. and they left their rivals in a sad 14 points in the third quarter that allowed them to have a maximum advantage of 32 that in the end were 29. There was hardly any opposition in some Wolves that had 18 points from Anthony Edwards, a poor double-double from Karl-Anthony Towns (11+10), 8+13 from Rudy Gobert, 11 from Kyle Anderson or 12 from Jaylen Nowell. Not much for a team that shot with a dismal 37% in field goals, 30% in triples and also missing 7 of the 16 free throws they attempted. They were overwhelmed on the rebound (65 to 48), received 16 goals in transition (they only scored 3) and did not show any type of attitude on the track, always behind on the scoreboard and without seeming to care. Not even Mike Conley, in his eternal wisdom and hardened in a thousand battles, could get positive things: 8 + 4 + 3 in less than 25 minutes, very dull and dull. Just like the rest.

In the Nuggets, who distributed 24 assists as a team, there was a great collective exercise: Nikola Jokic played less than 29 minutes and was eliminated due to fouls; but, given the circumstances, it was something very positive to keep him physically in the playoffs, and it was enough for him to go to 13 points, 14 rebounds and 6 assists. Up to 6 local players surpassed ten points, with a special mention for the 24, with 8 rebounds and 8 assists, from a Jamal Murray who generates better sensations every time. The less usual were able to play at the end, Mike Malone was satisfied with the work of his team and allowed himself a very unusual night of mental rest in this part of the NBA season. The Nuggets, let’s remember, They have qualified first in the Western Conference for the first time in their history.. And they want to go round. The good thing for them is that they haven’t met the Lakers in the first round, of course. Why deny it? it is so.