This is a series that we would like to avoid less than a month from the Playoffs, especially when we are considered one of the favorites of a conference. However, the Nuggets have just chained a fourth straight loss in Canada, once morest the serious Raptors without being extremely flamboyant. Hello Denver, we have a problem.
It almost seems like a long time ago when the Nuggets were literally rolling over all competition in the NBA in January. After losing three in a row, including two at home, Mike Malone’s men began a six-game road streak tonight in the eastern United States. The first step ? A detour to Canada, to play the Raptors. A badly ranked team, takeable on paper, because in fact, everyone is takeable on paper when we are called Denver in 2023. And yet…
It is in a way that might not be more disgusting than the visitors will start the game tonight. And for good reason: a defense on the street, an attack in really very – too – quiet mode. At the end of the first quarter, Toronto leads by 19 points, while having passed 49 pawns to the West leader in just twelve minutes. The gap will be “only” sixteen units at the break, but the problem is posed: Denver is struggling, too much for a team of this stature.
Excellent start to the game for the Raptors which takes advantage of the Nuggets’ breakout mode. When Denver decides they don’t give a fuck, they don’t pretend.
Aggression in the racket by Toronto, this is where it is played to punish Denver.
— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) March 14, 2023
Of course, we pass one for the Dinos, who – without being fantastic – have done their job seriously. Fred VanVleet ends the game with 36 points, very solid. Collectively, Nick Nurse’s clique didn’t make a blunder… even if at the start of the fourth quarter, we had hopes that pride would swell the Nuggets’ chests. Three points then separate the two formations following a renewed seriousness of the bosses of the Wild Wild Westbefore Denver flouts his basketball once more and takes a new draft, which this time will be fatal.
SPLASHHHHH ???? @FredVanVleet pic.twitter.com/z01TOyJmCh
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) March 15, 2023
Point stat ‘with the Nuggets? Come on. Nikola Jokic sends 28 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists, Michael Porter Jr slams him 23 points. The Joker has done his usual work, but the concern lies much more on the other side of the field. A defense far too feverish especially at the start of the match, on the balls in the paint, and a gap already far too handicapping following twelve minutes to hope to do something serious followingwards.
The signal continues to be particularly worrying, even if the next game once morest the Pistons should be a formality. Nevertheless, following that, it is the two teams of the Big Apple – Knicks then Nets – who await the Nuggets. Two pieces that play basketball well and are also in good shape right now. Obligatory reaction, on the one hand because the Kings and the Grizzlies remain on the lookout, and on the other hand because the future competitors in the Playoffs will greedily revel in a team which is not on its 31 basketball level. Mike Malone knows he has to shake up his team, but now it’s all regarding doing it fast. Very quickly.
LET’S GO ???? pic.twitter.com/YgfjhR6ZXu
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) March 15, 2023
Source : ESPN