NBA Playoffs: Denver Nuggets Possess Upset Potential, but It’s a Slim Shot

Written By T.J. McBride on 04/15/2024
Nuggets-Warriors playoff preview 041522

Finally, the moment has arrived.

After an 82-game season, the Denver Nuggets have made it to the finals.

Their first-round series against the Golden State Warriors will commence at Chase Center in San Francisco on Saturday at 6:30 p.m. (MT). The game will be televised live on ABC (KMGH – 7 in Denver).

The remaining episodes of the series will be scheduled as follows, with the possibility of adjustments if necessary.

    Game 2: Monday at Golden State at 8 p.m.( TNT )

  • The third game will take place in Denver on Thursday at 8 p.m., and will be broadcasted on TNT.
  • The fourth game is scheduled for April 24 on ABC at 1:30 p.m. in Denver.
  • The fifth game of the series will take place on April 27 at Golden State, with the time to be announced.
  • The sixth game is scheduled for April 29 in Denver, with the time to be announced.
  • The seventh game will take place on May 1 at Golden State, time to be announced.

The Nuggets might be trying to quickly grab the advantage of playing on their home court.

Colorado&;s online sportsbooksare prepared.

The state’s NBA playoffs bettors are also feeling the same way.

Let’s dive right on.

This season’s past matches don’t really matter.

The Nuggets emerged victorious in three out of four games against the Warriors this season.

Identifying significant investments in regular-season games can present a difficulty.

In the first game, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and the Warriors were present, along with the Nuggets, Monte Morris, and Aaron Gordon.

Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., along with Denver and That & , were absent for almost the entire winter and did not participate in any of the four games against Golden State.

The next game was lacking only the presence of Green in motion.

Nevertheless, apart from the absence of Nuggets’ players such as Will Barton, Thompson, Green, and Stephen Curry were also not present in the third meeting.

In the end, both Green and Barton failed to participate in the third contest.

Due to the absence of key players from both teams, Game 1 of the playoffs series will be played with limited knowledge of each team’s performance this year.

This inevitably leads to a considerable amount of conflict.

Just make sure to monitor injury reports closely as they will have a significant impact on prop bets for all teams.

Who will be able to participate in Game 1 and who won’t?

What is the most important question preceding Saturday’s opener?

Which of Murray, Porter, and Curry may participate in Game 1 once more?

As long as the Nuggets are involved, Curry might be playing.

The previous league MVP has been working out with the Warriors. On Thursday, he elevated his performance by participating in an entire game, stepping up his points.

“We’ll assess Steph’s progress and see how things unfold,” said Golden State head coach Steve Kerr in a recent interview with SI.com. “There’s a possibility that he might be ready for Game 1, but there’s also a chance that he might not be. It’s a day-to-day situation that we’ll be monitoring closely throughout the week.”

In the coming days, as he intensifies his work, we will gain a significant amount of knowledge.

Murray and Curry find themselves in a similar situation, albeit with one notable difference. While Murray practiced with the Nuggets on Wednesday, preparing himself for potential gains.

Head coach Michael Malone declared his comeback for the initial round of the game on Wednesday, expressing some uncertainty regarding the participation of Murray. Nonetheless, Murray is on the verge of resuming gameplay.

Porter tells a unique story.

He hasn’t accelerated as rapidly and is even more behind Murray.

MPJ’s return this postseason appears highly unlikely, despite the fact that he has not been eliminated thus far.

Can Denver & Rsquo’s defense take the lead?

If the Nuggets fail to contain the Warriors’ backcourt, it is highly probable that the Warriors will swiftly secure victory in this series.

Regardless of whether Curry is playing or not, that is irrelevant.

Thompson, Jordan Poole, and Andrew Wiggins have the potential to bring Denver down from the periphery.

Throughout the year, Morris and Barton engaged in fierce competition, while the Nuggets’ perimeter defense soon became a cause for concern.

The issues persist even after the terrace.

Neither Bryn Forbes, who is widely known for his poor keeping skills, nor rookie Bones Hyland, who clearly lacks defensive abilities, contribute significantly to perimeter containment.

Denver will place a strong reliance on Gordon when playing against one of the Warriors’ perimeter players, most likely Thompson or Wiggins. Additionally, Austin Rivers can also be counted on to contribute from the bench.

However, individuals in Denver must act.

The presence of bigs at the same level as the screen is necessary. It is important for individuals to be connected, as troops will engage in battles over screens. Additionally, off-ball support may be required to ensure smooth and unhurried movement.

The design of Denver did not take into account the Warriors’ perimeter-heavy offense and attack.

If executed well, countering a dominant offensive requires intense focus and a high level of execution.

Will Jokic get sufficient assistance?

Containing Nikola Jokic will be the focus of Golden State’s defensive game plan.

Regardless of the circumstances, the Warriors will only tolerate defeat if it comes from someone other than Jokic.

The exceptional consecutive league MVP will face relentless defenders swarming towards them.

There is no doubt that Golden State employed a range of unpredictable double-teams and switches to disrupt the timing of the ball’s passes and paths.

There is no doubt that Jokic will find a way to index.

Nevertheless, should his teammates fail to advance and give the big man additional focus, the Nuggets will be compelled to depart hastily.

Morris should approach his range jumper with assertiveness by taking open catch-and-shoot three-pointers.

Gordon needs to resolve any post-match conflicts and speed up the pace of the transition.

Meanwhile, Barton needs to act swiftly and descend rapidly, whether or not he has a screen, in order to disrupt the Warriors’ defense while spreading the court.

Hyland must stay composed as he enters the playoffs. In his initial playoff performance, he successfully made 3-point shots and minimized his mistakes.

Most importantly, the Nuggets had to find a solution to avoid complete collapse whenever Jokic decided to take a nap on the bench.

It will not be easy, won’t it.

Furthermore, making necessary modifications may be imperative when it comes to assembling a team of players to safeguard the Nuggets in the water.

However, it will be essential for their success.

Warriors win in six games, according to a set forecast.

The Nuggets undeniably possess the most outstanding individual in the entire league.

If Curry lives up to expectations, the Nuggets will have an extremely tough time trying to defend against this talented Warriors team.

Even if they successfully limit Golden State’s three-point onslaught, their only counter-punch will be Jokic & , whose post-ups are only worth two points.

The Nuggets are on the incorrect side of the mathematical equation That & .

As of Thursday, the odds for betting on the Golden State Warriors to win in precisely six games at BetMGM Colorado Sportsbook were set at +400.

If Denver fails to consistently outplay Golden State and cannot generate their own three-pointers, this series may be decided in just four or five games.

Nevertheless, the presence of Jokic, who is arguably the most exceptional player globally, grants Denver some flexibility.

Even without a strong lineup, Jokic can singlehandedly secure a victory or two.