The Denver Nuggets are reeling in their first two games of the Western Conference Semi-Finals. Down 2-0 to the Minnesota Timberwolves, they look outmatched and outgunned in every conceivable way. According to ESPN's Brian Windhorst, that is by design.
"I think Chris Finch has been plotting this Nuggets game plan for maybe a year. He had this tucked away in the file and this game plan where they were gonna press full-court. Plus they saw Jamal Murray's calf was a little bit sore and they're like, 'We're gonna put it to them.' And they're like, 'Why should Jokic get to dribble the ball up to half-court? He's not doing that anymore, we got three centers and we're gonna press him.' And the Nuggets acted like they've never seen that before."
The Nuggets came into this post-season as the overwhelming favorites to win it all. With 3x MVP Nikola Jokic leading the way, they were able to secure a top-three seed in the West and re-establish themselves as the team to beat for the second straight season.
In the first round, the Nuggets looked borderline invincible against LeBron James and company, and even though they weren't playing at their best, it was enough to easily dispatch an older, weaker, and thinner Lakers squad. But since starting the second round, the Nuggets' situation has completely flipped and it's getting ugly to watch on the court.
After a close Game 1 that went down to the wire, the Nuggets were getting desperate to win Game 2 at home. But with the size, strength, and versatility of the Timberwolves' defense, the Nuggets have been completely shut down and it led to them losing all composure on the court.
While the series is not yet over for the Nuggets, they haven't been challenged like this since before their title run and it remains to be seen if they can get through this victorious.
The Timberwolves Are The New Title Favorites
With two rounds still left to play, the NBA playoffs are far from concluded, and any one of the remaining teams has a chance to win it all. In the West, the Timberwolves have been the biggest story of the post-season and they are on a historic pace as the NBA's best defensive team by a mile.
Even without Rudy Gobert in Game 2, the Wolves held their competition to just 80 points through four quarters, including limiting the 3x MVP Nikola Jokic to just 16 points on 38.5% shooting. Jamal Murray went 3-18 in 35 minutes, finishing with just 8 points total.
Besides a brilliant effort on defense, the Timberwolves have also been the NBA's best offense in these playoffs, thanks to Anthony Edwards, who is averaging 32.3 points through six playoff games this year. The Timberwolves have gone 6-0 in that span, including a 4-0 sweep against Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns.
In short, the Timberwolves have been ready for this moment, and they aren't about to waste the opportunity now that it's finally arrived. With a must-win scenario for the Nuggets on Friday, Edwards and the crew will have a chance to send them to the brink of elimination with a Wolves victory in Game 3.
Of course, even if they do advance in this series, the job would only be half over for the Timberwolves, who have aspirations of winning the championship for the first time in franchise history.
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