Tag Archives: Nikola Jokic

DENVER NUGGETS: 2023 NBA CHAMPS

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The Miami Heat entered Monday night’s Game 5 of the NBA Finals trailing 3-1 in the best-of-seven series against the Denver Nuggets. Their backs were against the wall. It didn’t help matters that they were on the road. Like they often do, the Heat put up a fight, Jimmy Butler came on strong late but it wasn’t enough. Denver held on and beat the Heat 94-89.

Nikola Jokic scored 28 points (12-16 FG), grabbed 16 rebounds and dished out 4 assists; after the game he was named MVP Finals MVP. In the 5 games Jokic had incredible numbers; 30.2 PPG, 14 RPG, and 7.2 APG.

“The job is done, we can go home now,” Jokic said.

Jokic became the only player in NBA history to lead the post-season in points, rebounds and assists. The guy is amazing. They try to compare him to players of the past but I’m sorry, there’s never been anyone like him.

Michael Porter scored 16 points and pulled down 13 rebounds for Denver.

After joining the NBA in 1977, Nuggets fans have waited 47 years for a championship. Nuggets head coach Michael Malone has done a tremendous job. The front office has put together a team that is interesting to watch and who play the right way. If you’re a young basketball player, Denver is a great team to watch. They play hard. Share the ball and defend.

After finishing Miami off 4-1 in the Finals, Denver’s record was 16-4 overall in the playoffs including 10-1 at home. The Nuggets won 10 out of their last 11 games.

My biggest concern is that this Nuggets team stays together. I understand the NBA is a business and players have to look out for their families and future but it would be great to watch these guys together the next few years.

Congratulations to the entire Denver Nuggets organization.

Always play the right way…

SteveFinamore@yahoo.com

HIT THE OPEN MAN

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Nikola Jokic: “It’s not just Jamal or Mike or me or whatever. It’s collectively, we need to find the open man. I think the open man wins the game. We need to be better as a unit.”

The late Red Holzman is smiling in basketball heaven…

Always play the right way…

SteveFinamore@yahoo.com

NUGGETS-LAKERS: GAME 4

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SWEEP! SWEEP! SWEEP!

The Nuggets, led by Nikola Jokic took care of business Monday night and finished off LeBron James and the Lakers in LA, 113-111.

Denver had been 0-7 in the playoffs against the Lakers.

Put that in your pipe and smoke it…

The Nuggets will have off until June 1st where they will meet the winner of the Heat-Celtics series. Miami is up 3-0 in their best of seven; they try to sweep Boston tonight in South Beach.

Johnny Point Spread had Denver last night +3.5 – he’s perfect in the Conference finals.

Jokic finished with a triple-double; 30-14-13. Denver has played 15 games this post-season, he has 8 triple-doubles.

LeBron finished with 40 points, 10 rebounds and 9 assists. This guy is incredible. LBJ dropped 31 of his 40 in the first half. But the problem for LA was him not making an impact in the beginning of the 3rd quarter. That’s when Denver made their comeback. The Lakers led at the half 73-58. James took his first shot at the 5:27 mark of the third, by that time the damage had been done. Denver was down 3.

Aaron Gordon was excellent for the Nuggets: 22 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. 3-5 from distance.

A guy told me this morning, “told ya Denver would win, LA had no one to guard Jamal Murray.” I said “What? They had no one to cover Jokic.”

Murray was outstanding in the series. He comes up with big shots at crucial times.

Tristan Thompson played 9 minutes for LA, scoring 4 points.

How about LeBron in the building getting up shots 5 hours before the game? It paid off. He played all 12 minutes of the first quarter and scored 21 points on 7-9 shooting. He was 4-5 from 3. James played all 48 minutes.

Anthony Davis was a -6 last night. In the previous 3 games in the series he was -8, -10 and -12. Compare that to Jokic: +6, +15, +7 and +11. The Joker had 3 triple-doubles in the series and was named Conference Finals M.V.P.

“He’s showing other people nationally that he’s real,” Michael Malone said. “Like what he’s doing is real. The M.V.P.’s are real. The triple-doubles are real.”

Austin Reaves finished up the playoffs making 28 straight free-throws. Reaves, who scored 20 or more seven times in the playoffs reminds me of Henry Steele. In the first three games against Denver he was 13-23 from distance. Last night he managed just 2 attempts, making 1.

On making in-game adjustments; “play harder, play smarter,” said Jeff Van Gundy.

How bad are these State Farm commercials?

Always play the right way…

SteveFinamore@yahoo.com

NUGGETS-LAKERS: GAME 3

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Oh boy, the Los Angeles Lakers are in trouble.

The Denver Nuggets went into LA last night and beat the Lakers 119-108.

“This group is capable of doing great things, and they believe,” Michael Malone said. “Belief is a very powerful thing.”

Sorry coach but the narrative will be about LA being down 0-3.

While watching the game last night with me, “10 outta 10” called LA’s home court, “The Forum.” LOL

The Nuggets are the tougher team right now. They are more aggressive and play with more energy and effort.

How about Jeff Van Gundy and Mark Jackson on the call for ESPN. JVG is the best in the business.

He had a great quote from Bill Donovan: “You don’t get to decide what wins. You’re only decision is will you do what it takes to win.”

Other analysts don’t bring nuggets like that to the broadcast. Seaking of the Nuggets, how about Jamal Murray? This cat is unreal. Has Lisa Salters ever seen him play? Murray dropped 30 points last night in the first half.

“It’s not about one guy,” Murray said following the game. He finished with 37 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists.

Jack Nicholson was courtside. Jack needs a shape-up. His hair was wild.

How about Red Pants Man, he was sitting next to Jack. I first saw this guy in Denver. No, 10 outta 10 did not call Denver’s home court McNichols Arena.

Adele and Rich Paul were enjoying the game courtside.

Carl from Brooklyn asked me last night in a text, “Is Tristan Thompson so bad that he doesn’t deserve any time?” Thompson is with the Lakers. I was waiting for the same question about DeAndre Jordan of the Nuggets.

Nuggets were getting 5.5 – No word from Johnny Point Spread. I’m beginning to worry about him. Second straight game he didn’t have action on the game.

JVG on sprinting the floor opposed to jogging: “Horses trot, winners sprint.” The great Secretariat would disagree.

Nuggets had just 1 turnover in the first half. They finished with 30 assists and 6 turnovers. When they dish out 32 or more assists in a game this year they are 24-2.

Nikola Jokic in the three games has 34 assists and 12 turnovers. He picked up his 4th foul in the 3rd quarter and rode the pine for a while.

Bruce Brown has been great off the bench for Denver. He’s averaging 14.3 points per game in the series.

Nuggets starters made 15 3’s. Lakers starters made 7. In the series Denver has made 46, Lakers 29.

LeBron finally made a 3. He’s now 3-19 in the 3 games.

I wish Bret Bearup were still alive to see Denver having much success.

Austin Reaves at Oklahoma his senior year made 32 3’s in 25 games. Against the Nuggets inthe first 3 games he’s made 13. Series before against Golden State he made 14. So in 9 games, if my Math is correct, that’s 27 3’s made. I texted a friend last night with those numbers and he said, “He couldn’t shoot in college but he had swag.”

Another Big 12 guy, Christian Braun looks lost out there. Last night he allowed Reaves free for a wide open 3. Reaves knocked it down, Braun was taken out of the game. How does Braun allow that to happen. In the series Braun is shooting 0-3 from the field.

D’Angelo Russell is 2-14 from 3 in the series. 8-27 from the field overall.

Are people that are into basketball still referred to as “basketball junkies?” Yesterday I asked about “gym rats.” I got both these descriptions from Thomas Beller’s wonderful book about basketball, “Lost in the Game.” If you dig basketball, highly recommend you get the book.

Michael Porter Jr. has a little Allan Houston in his game.

Rui Hachimura is playing well for LA. He’s averaging 17 points per game in the series.

The Lakers over the years are 7-0 in the playoffs against Denver. That’s about to change. And, teams that are down 0-3 have never come back. They are 0-149. Soon to be 0-150.

Game 4 is Monday night.

“I can’t speak for the guys right now because I don’t know what’s going through all their minds, but I still believe,” said LeBron James, who had 23 points, 12 assists and seven rebounds. “So it’s time to go right back home and start to refuel and start the treatment process and recovery process and get ready for Monday. My mindset is always locked in.”

Tonight’s game between the Celtics and Heat, Game 3, Miami leads 2-0 is scheduled for 8:30. I wish the game was on in the afternoon.

Happy birthday Foots Walker and Jammin’ James Bailey.

Always play the right way…

SteveFinamore@yahoo.com