Huffing and puffing

[QUOTE=elementally morale;14874073]I just deleted those 2 really bad shooting nights on high volume and those 4 games with the insane amount of threes. If those didn't exist, he would be at 61% shooting for the season and 40% on three pointers. Of course those games did exist, so it is just mental gymnastics but it clearly shows how much those few games count in terms of overall percentages and what you expect on a regular night. (10 made baskets on 60% FG, 10 rebounds and 10 assists, basically.)[/QUOTE]

It’s funny that we care but Joker doesn’t seem to care one bit. If you simply eliminated the two BS ejections from his games played, it would boost his averages considerably. It’s also worth noting that yesterday he was forced to sit for six minutes because the little ref had it in for both him and Jordan. At least 2 of Joker’s first three fouls were horrible calls, and it was worse with Jordan.

Anyway, Joker had a few games where he seemed determined to hoist threes until he made one. He’s not doing that now. He seems back to taking whatever the game gives him. There have been a few times when it seems like he’s forcing the passing when he has open looks, but I much prefer that to forcing the shot that’s not really there.

[QUOTE=Duffy Pratt;14874389]Anyway, Joker had a few games where he seemed determined to hoist threes until he made one. He’s not doing that now. He seems back to taking whatever the game gives him. There have been a few times when it seems like he’s forcing the passing when he has open looks, but I much prefer that to forcing the shot that’s not really there.[/QUOTE]

When he took lots of threes most of the time he was wide open. Just missed. I think he got angry with himself and wanted to make the next one.. and the next... and missed everything. As for him forcing the passing: I don't mind when the team is up big. When he should shoot more is nobody is hitting and they are down. He can score at a higher efficiency than anyone else so he should take more shots. He makes 10 a game but that could easily be 13 if he took 5 more shots. Plus 2-3 more FTs on average. That is an added 8 points to the team total and off of those 'he passed instead' plays thy don't get more than 3 points on average. I think Denver would've 3-4 more wins (and 3-4 less losses, obv.) if Jokic had been more aggressive with his shots. This effect we see every playoffs when he starts doing more. As long as they do not have HCA in the reg. season I think he should be playing some playoff basketball here and there.

Not enough huffpuffing tonight. 25 points and 19 boards. Looks nice, wasn't that nice. 11 boards look nice on paper but in reality it felt more like 5-6 offensive boards. Collecting your own miss 2-3 times on several occasions is still only 2 points. 11/20 from the field was 11/18 until the last two minutes when the two deseperation three point attempts were made. One of the two could've gone in. Wouldn't have changed the result.

The Nuggets have to work on their offensive planning because if Jokic is stopped as a playmaker (as he was tonight) the don't have much left. In the 1st half they were hitting everything but as they cooled off they had no backup plan.

Jokic is rarely outplayed on the court: tonight he was. I hope he can return the favor 10 days from now when they face the 76ers again, that time in Denver.

It was a nice game but a game the team needs to learn from.

Better luck this time. Another Sombor double. 34/12/9. At one point he was 14/18 from the field but had to put up impossible shots late in the shotclock that missed. Still a respectable 64% from the field and 50% from 3 without a missed FT.

The game was close. The Nuggets were a two man team today. Murray and Jokic were great the others didn't really show up. Boston is very tough to beat. Neither Brown nor Tatum played really well and the team still almost won the game.

[QUOTE=elementally morale;14875935]Better luck this time. Another Sombor double. 34/12/9. At one point he was 14/18 from the field but had to put up impossible shots late in the shotclock that missed. Still a respectable 64% from the field and 50% from 3 without a missed FT.

The game was close. The Nuggets were a two man team today. Murray and Jokic were great the others didn't really show up. Boston is very tough to beat. Neither Brown nor Tatum played really well and the team still almost won the game.[/QUOTE]

They should be even better. When it came to the end, they didn’t have an offensive set they could rely on, so it was just Tatum in iso. That’s ok for the regular season ordinarily, but it will have problems in the playoffs. I don’t see why they could not be running a more sophisticated offense, but they seem content to stand around and hoist threes. On D, Horford and Porzingas can’t handle Joker. Horford was great against Embiid last year in playoffs. But I think Embiid may have improved his game enough to cause them real problems in a series. Will be interesting to see. Bam is also a problem for them.

NJ Huffinpuff had a workmanlike 42, 12 and 8 on 15 of 20 from the field. Just another day at the office. The Wizards are very dreadful.

[QUOTE=Duffy Pratt;14876398]NJ Huffinpuff had a workmanlike 42, 12 and 8 on 15 of 20 from the field. Just another day at the office. The Wizards are very dreadful.[/QUOTE]

And he isn't playing for stats. What if he did? For a stretch of 15 games just for fun? We will never know.

[QUOTE=elementally morale;14876407]And he isn't playing for stats. What if he did? For a stretch of 15 games just for fun? We will never know.[/QUOTE]

glad he isn't playing for stats. That's the beauty of what he does. Other can have their triple doubles and empty stats and he'll continue to make winning plays

[QUOTE=Xiao Yao You;14876428]glad he isn't playing for stats. That's the beauty of what he does. Other can have their triple doubles and empty stats and he'll continue to make winning plays[/QUOTE]

I'm glad he isn't playing for stats but I'd like to see what happened if he did. No, what I've just said doesn't make any sense. A part of me wants him to show the 'rest of the world' that he could do this and that if he wanted. Yes, it'd ake him a worse player so I'd be happy with a stretch of games. Like when Bird decided to play a game when he took all te shots left handed. Why? He just wanted to show he could. When MJ shot a FT with his eyes closed. Something like that. Some 40/20 games, I don't know. Something just for showing off. And the other side of me wants none of that childish stuff.

[QUOTE=elementally morale;14876451]I'm glad he isn't playing for stats but I'd like to see what happened if he did. No, what I've just said doesn't make any sense. A part of me wants him to show the 'rest of the world' that he could do this and that if he wanted. Yes, it'd ake him a worse player so I'd be happy with a stretch of games. Like when Bird decided to play a game when he took all te shots left handed. Why? He just wanted to show he could. When MJ shot a FT with his eyes closed. Something like that. Some 40/20 games, I don't know. Something just for showing off. And the other side of me wants none of that childish stuff.[/QUOTE]

and MJ played pg and put up triple doubles nightly. I'm pretty convinced Jokic can do pretty much whatever he likes at the offensive end. No need to prove anything to me. What he does is more impressive than what the iso/triple double seekers do to me

End of the 3rd quarter against Portland in Denver. Triple double already but a huge one: 21 points 20 rebounds 10 assists. He should have like 15 assists again, the team is missing easy shots. Jokic is a +20 in the game on 8 of 11 shooting, 4/4 from the FT line and made a three pointer and has 2 blocks. It is a relatively close game so there is more to come.

Ayton played 20 minutes and has one (1) rebound. I'm not sure why Ayton is still in the league.

Finished with 27/22/12
Getting into shape. Slowly but surely.

[QUOTE=elementally morale;14881008]Finished with 27/22/12
Getting into shape. Slowly but surely.[/QUOTE]

Could easily have been 20 assists. With 2 blocks and a steal (though I thought he had more steals - seems like it’s tough to get credit for those). Also, the second quarter showed clearly just how much his presence helps to clog up the lane and deters drives. He is now very underrated as a defender.

And he picked up another huge scratch on his back. Does anyone else have these besides him and Curry?

Subpar game tonight with 29 8 and 7 and 2 steals. Nuggets seem to think that they can coast for the first three quarters, and then turn it on in the fourth to secure a win. And mostly that’s worked for them, but it can be frustrating to watch.

At least Peyton Watson showed that he was in shape tonight. Amazing game for him, and he seems to be improving every game. Also nice to see Braun play well.

[QUOTE=Duffy Pratt;14881577]Subpar game tonight with 29 8 and 7 and 2 steals. Nuggets seem to think that they can coast for the first three quarters, and then turn it on in the fourth to secure a win. And mostly that’s worked for them, but it can be frustrating to watch.

At least Peyton Watson showed that he was in shape tonight. Amazing game for him, and he seems to be improving every game. Also nice to see Braun play well.[/QUOTE]

The Nuggets looked like a team that was resting and on vacation in the first 3 quarters. Jokic played okay but didn't seem motivated. I guess it's a win.

A very tough 3 game road trip is next. The Lakers fight for the playoffs, the Kings are a good team in general and Sabonis is not an easy matchup. And then on the way to play the Bucks again who most definitely want to prove something in the rematch. If the Nuggets want home-court this road trip is the key along with winning at least two times against the Wolves and beating the Clippers early April. And they still have to hope OKC is losing a few easy games. Dropping all 3 games against the Thunder was a blunder that may cost them dearly in the playoffs.