Oklahoma City Thunder vs. Denver Nuggets: Playoff Semifinals Preview
This series will likely determine who will represent the Western Conference in the NBA Finals. The title-favorite Oklahoma City Thunder will square off against the dangerous Denver Nuggets in the semifinals in the most intriguing playoff matchup in recent memory.
The Thunder come into the series following a dominant first-round sweep of the Memphis Grizzlies. The Nuggets come in fresh off a 7 game brawl against a tough Los Angeles Clippers squad. Let’s look at what each team brings to the table and who holds the edge in this clash of the titans.
The Battle Of the MVPs
Even Hollywood couldn’t craft a script as award-winning as this matchup between the two MVP front-runners Nikola Jokic and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Both players have established themselves as the two best players in the NBA this past season. Whoever out-duels the other will be the determining factor in which team advances.
The reigning MVP in Jokic enters the series fresh off of averaging a triple-double against the Clippers in the first round, the fourth time he has accomplished this incredible feat. Meanwhile, SGA comes into the series still looking to find his rhythm in the postseason. The likely MVP averaged over 28 points per game against the Grizzlies on only 40% shooting from the field. This clash of the MVPs is sure to provide plenty of fireworks and excitement for basketball fans to enjoy.
The X-Factors
While Jokic and SGA will garner the most headlines in this series, both players will also need the assistance of their teammates to give their team the boost they need to advance. For the Nuggets, the much-improved play of both Russell Westbrook and Christian Braun were the biggest factors in the Nuggets edging out the Clippers in the opening round.
The shooting and defense of Braun, mixed with Westbrook’s energy and relentless spirit, will give the Thunder problems. On the other side, the Thunder have a cavalcade of players that can go off at any time thanks to their insane depth at every position. However, the Thunder will need their second-best player Chet Holmgren to continue his stellar play at both ends of the floor if they want to cancel out the impact of the Nuggets supporting cast.
The Coaching Match-up
Despite Nuggets Interim Head Coach David Adelman doing a fantastic job to right the ship after the firing of Mike Malone, he may have met his match in Thunder Head Coach Mark Daigneault. The reigning NBA Coach of the Year has not only led the Thunder to their best record in franchise history during the regular season with 68 wins, but that mark also placed the Thunder fifth all-time in wins for a season.
Coach Daigneault has done a masterful job at incorporating a defensive scheme that has unlocked players like Jalen Williams, while also devising a rotation that allows the Thunder to be versatile defensively no matter the lineup on the floor. From a roster perspective both the Nuggets and Thunder are evenly matched, but this is the one area that the Thunder hold a clear advantage.
Final Thoughts and Prediction
This series will ultimately be decided by which supporting cast shows up on a nightly basis. The Nuggets possess both the pedigree and experience of champion. Those two factors give them a fighting chance at upsetting a young Thunder team. However, for my prediction I think the Thunder will be able to overcome that experience gap and put away the Nuggets in six games. Defense has always determined who will win the title, and the number one ranked defense the Thunder possess will clamp down at the most crucial moments.
