[HobbyOGParticipant]

They play tomorrow night in Minny, winner goes to th playoffs. So who you got and why??

 

 

 

  

[220Participant]

I kind of feel like Denver will be the one to win. If that happens I hope it forces Thibs to make some changes regarding overplaying players. I’d hate to see ghe Wolves all fall apart due to Thibs like the Bulls did.

[kobyzParticipant]

most exciting regular season game ever!!! i don’t know who i prefer in the playoff, sota more talanted while denver in better form right now…

[SubZeroParticipant]

Just a few days ago the Wolves barely lost to Denver at Denver, without Jimmy, and while getting screwed by the refs in the last several minutes of the game. This game’s at home and they have Jimmy back (Gary Harris is back too but Jimmy means way more to Minnesota). I’m expecting KAT to have a big game, he wants the playoffs bad

[cavairo7Participant]

 I know for a fact the following players will show up ready to play tomorrow:

Minnesota:

• Jimmy Butler
• Karl Anthony-Towns

Denver:

• Nikola Jokic
• Paul Millsap
• Will Barton

I would have included Taj Gibson if he wasn’t considered a game time decision (but if he plays, he’ll leave it all out there) and Gary Harris if he was healthy.  Overall, I like Denver’s chances because they don’t seem to be phased by the moment.  

If I’m a Twolves fan, I’m nervous.  Can I really depend on Andrew Wiggins to show up?  Is Thibs really going to give Derrick Rose 15+ mins of action in a game that matters this much?   I think the Nuggets come in and pull the upset. 

 

 

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Dont sleep on Murray hes been a clutchnplayer his whole life. 

[dmo21Participant]

I don’t have a favorite between the two, but what I want is a tough matchup for Houston. Part of me wants to see Houston try to run and gun in the mile high city but part of me wants to see them try to grind it out against a Thibs team. In the end, I think Minnesota would be a better matchup as you’ll have Teague and Butler guarding Paul and Harden, which will make things difficult for them. And Houston will have trouble in their super small ball lineups if Minny sticks with KAT when they do that. 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 This could be the Full Jokic Game.

[XYRYXParticipant]

absolutely insane grand finale for the last playoff spot. Honestly it would be kind of a desaster if the T-Wolves don’t make it after the roster they finally have with Butler onboard but to be honest I would really like to see what the Nuggets can do against the Rockets. If I‘m not mistaken the Nuggets have the most potent offense since the All Star break and it should be really fun to see them going for 120+ ppg against the Rockets in a run and gun series. Jokic has been extremely effective as of lately, stuffing the stat sheet like few others can and should be in the conversation with Boogie as the best center in the league. Even Marc Gasol is a worse passer than Jokic and his high arcing perimeter shots remind me of nobody else then Dirk. Barton, Murray, and Millsap along with Harris are a formidable mix of vets and youngsters and I really hope they make it over the T-Wolves. 

I have to say on paper I thought the T-Wolves would have a better season in the beginning of the year and all in all with only 2 more wins in the ultra competitive west nobody would even argue about if they underperformed or not this year but this team is still lacking an identity. Let’s be honest if Wiggins doesn’t bulk up any time soon he could end up being a better Corey Brewer and as promising KAT is, at some point he needs to grow a pair of balls and has to play a mans game. He is as clumsy as you can be in a body like that. In german we have a saying that someone is ‚walking/moving like the stork through the salad‘ meaning that it kind of looks uncoordinated and/or awkward. I mean I like what the Wolves have on paper but they have need to grow internally and also coaching wise.  

I hope the Nuggets make it. They are playing great as of lately and should give the Rockets an equally good offensive fit.

[XYRYXParticipant]

just realized that if the Nuggets beat the T-Wolves, the loser of the Spurs vs Pelicans match will be the 8th seed so no matchup between the Rockets and the Nuggets. 

[whiteflashParticipant]

 If Minnesota wins, I got them giving the Rockets problems in the 1st round. 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Im banking on the T-Wolves. Denver has been terrible on the road the Wolves will be playing for thier 30th win tommorow night at home. Although it is just 1 game and anything can happen. 

Just a side not how salty would T-Wolves fans be if they miss another postseason. How many years in a row now? I hope they make it just for thier true fans, they deserve it. Kaaahhhhhnnn!

 

[JDB12Participant]

 As a Wolves fan, I know the Nuggets are winning. The Wolves are just too soft and rarely show up in big-time moments. Still very upset with the Butler trade… I know if he would have been healthy the last month we would probably have already clinched a spot but still, the trade was not worth giving up so much potential to maybe make the playoffs every year and get beat first round every year… I love Butler as a player, but we gave up way too much young talent for him.

[thedeathtouchParticipant]

 congrats you jinxed yourself

[BeastMode716Participant]

 I think Thibbs gave up Way too early on Kris Dunn – he’s a Big athletic, great defensive point guard – Very unselfish, excellent Leader & Dunn is like 23 so he’s Not a kid who needed Years to develop – I thought Dunn was a Great fit the Minny core 

along w/ Dunn – Zach Lavine, Laurri Markkanen – these are Really strong young talent. 

The collective bargaining agreement gives a team that Drafts well SO much of an advantage b/c you have control over your drafted players for years & years & years and if your team Drafts well & the team has control of these young talented players & the ability to Develop Not only that talent but a Real Culture based on Loyalty & whatever else the team wants to focus on

In addition that team that Builds the roster thru the Draft now has a Salary Cap space to sign a Max Free Agent & the Young Talent & good Culture to Lure that big time Talent – It’s a Positive Feedback wheel or loop where each good decision makes the Next good decision More likely & I do Not get why the T-Wolves just GAVE that away for Short Term gains 

 

 

 

[kobyzParticipant]

 Would Wiggins alone been enough for Chicago to agree for a Butler trade at that time? Imagine sota still with Butler but with Laurri next to kat stretching him the floor letting him live inside and kill people instead of the too much outside use of him right now…

[nitestalParticipant]

 If Jimmy Butler is playing, I pick Minnesota. I just don’t see them, when fully healthy, squandering this game at home.

[SmooveKRYPTParticipant]

I’m going Denver. They have been bad on the road, but they’re streaking right now and they play for one another. I can see more than a couple of Minnesota’s guys (Butler, KAT, Crawford, Rose, Wiggins) resorting to hero ball if there’s some adversity as I still don’t think these guys fully trust each other yet. Having Gary back is big for Denver. Now either he or Barton get to feast on 2nd units. They have strong, heady leadership on both units who have played in some of the biggest games (D. Harris, Milsap) and can keep a young inexperienced group level headed.

The two matchups that will be key are:

1) Murray/Teague at PG. Both have been playing well over the last 2 weeks and putting up very similar numbers. I expect both to continue their solid play, but if one of the two has a big game it could be the deciding factor.

2) Chandler/Wiggins aka the wildcards. Both have huge nights and regular disappearing acts. Which guy shows up for each side will be telling.

Either way I’m excited for last day drama and hopefully we get a great game. It’s a shame this isn’t being nationally televised!

[The Scare Crow RisesParticipant]

History is on the side of Denver, they’ve made the playoffs in the last decade and Sota is still looking for their 1st appearance in more than a decade

[IndianaBasketballParticipant]

I’m going with Denver. 

[mamadouParticipant]

 It was a nice push for the nuggs, but too little too late.

They lost too many games against crap teams, as usual they benefited from their special home court advantage, but they should have stolen more away games before the last one.

Wolves are solid at home, they will have the best record in their division, they’ll match the 2nd best conference record, only to finish 8th and play the rockets in the 1st round.

Mike Malone ain’t a lucky guy, he won’t play the warriors in the 1st round.

 

 

 

[mamadouParticipant]

fooking DP

 

 

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Towns is on a dunkfest right now. Still looks wierd seeing all these 7-footers doing one handed dunks.

[thedeathtouchParticipant]

Let me start off by saying this is one of the best NBA games I have ever watched. Absolutely crazy.

But I feel the Nuggets wouldn’t have been in this situation if it weren’t for Paul Millsap’s wrist injury, and you could say the same for the Wolves with Jimmy Butler’s meniscus injury. The home court advantage definitely helped with the Wolves dub, but it still would have been a very close game nonetheless. Denver still played their hearts out and you have to respect that. Although there was some questionable officiating against both teams here and there, I think this was a pretty fair game.

Nikola Jokic was the reason this game was so close. Without him, I could have seen the Nuggets losing by 10 or more. He is a one of a kind player with a talent no other center has.

As a Nuggets fan, I would like to congratulate the Timberwolves on a hard-fought win. Mad respect to all those involved. 

 

 

 

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