2023-04-29 10:32:03
The conference semifinals start tonight in the West with a magnificent Nuggets – Suns at the Ball Arena at 2:30. We particularly expect the Nuggets on this meeting and generally on this series to pass a milestone in their collective adventure. The Suns, for their part, will clearly have to raise their voices compared to their first round. We take stock before the fireworks tonight, it’s the preview of this Game 1!
Start on the right foot and gain confidence in a series that should last: here are the main watchwords on the side of the Nuggets. Solid in the first round once morest Wolves (4-1), Nikola Jokic and his band are attacking one of the biggest pieces in the West: the Suns. And with no disrespect to Minnesota, it will REALLY be another story. Obviously difficult to identify a favorite, but on this first game at home, the Nuggets will necessarily have an advantage but also a big shoulder pressure so as not to lose the home advantage.
One of the main issues will be in the painting. We have seen that the Suns, and in particular Deandre Ayton, had been put in (great) difficulty in the series once morest the Clippers. A boon for Jokic and Mike Malone who will surely have identified the weakness of the Suns, if there is one. The contribution of Aaron Gordon, who put his nose to the window on the series once morest Wolves, might also accentuate this differential inside.
#Nuggets finally starting to get better rhythm and ball movement here as Aaron Gordon gets the dunk off some nice 2-man action from Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, and Joker with a great little touch pass pic.twitter.com/VDcsh2i7mb
— Joel Rush (@JoelRushNBA) April 26, 2023
Phoenix has some pretty exceptional firepower. Is it really necessary to present it? Yes of course ! Let’s start with Kevin Durant, in total control of his game, the good KD delivered a series once morest the Clippers in his image: clinical. 28.4 points on average and an ease that never ceases to amaze us. By his side, Devin Booker is on total fire with more than 35 units in the first 5 games once morest the Clippers, all led by a Chris Paul in metronome. Hard hard for Denver when you know the coldness of KD when it matters most.
BUT, because there is a but, despite this magnificent picture depicted a little higher, we didn’t really feel the archi-dominant Suns. Far from it, we almost thought that Booker’s performances once morest the Clippers were a bit like the tree that hid the forest. Inconstant collectively, the suns will have to raise the cursor especially defensively so as not to sink in the face of the collective power and the moving game of the Nuggets. Monty Williams knows it: once morest Denver, it will be necessary to close ranks, and this from tonight.
Opposite, the Joker is particularly expected. The Serb who put out two capital performances to finish the job once morest Wolves is one crossroads of his basketball adventure in Denver. It will be (among other things) him and his performance that will decide the future of the Nuggets. Are they cut out to go for a conference final with the possibility of a title or will they remain once once more at the dock?
Start of response tonight at 2:30 am in Colorado. Prepare your best setup, to follow this unmissable clash in the West!
Source : ESPN
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#Suns #preview #Game #Denver #show #muscles
