Game Thread GAME# 80: NUGGETS @ BLAZERS - APRIL 7, 2019 - SUNDAY, 6:00 PM , NBCSNW

Everything's coming up Milhouse!

 

Jokic, Millsap and Murray being rested against the Blazers on Sunday. This should help us make a run at the #3 seed!

 

Denver probably wants us to be the 3 seed instead of Houston. Probably why they're resting guys tomorrow night.

 

DW Stotts will figure out someway to fuck it up.

 

What, you mean like starting CJ in his first game back?! That would be a totally Stotts thing to do.

 

Why shouldn't he...?

 

Looks like the game just got easier!

 

Personally, I would ease CJ back into the rotation for a few reasons: (1) His conditioning probably isn’t great as he hasn’t played in more than two weeks - he definitely won’t be in game shape; (2) I would try to limit his minutes to no more than 15-20. To limit the impact to the starting rotation it may be prudent to play him against the Nuggets second unit; and, (3) The starters have pretty good chemistry right now, and we don’t know how much CJ will be able to contribute so why mess with what’s working?

But that’s just me. What do you think Bones?

 

I dont mind that plan but, whether he starts or not what matters to me is to get him some run in and hopefully only need him for 20ish minutes.

 

Agree 100%. Hopefully we don’t have to run our starters into the ground to get the W . Even without Jokic, Millsap and Murray, the Nuggets will be tough because they’re so deep, especially at the guard and wing positions.

 

Who cares who starts.
Fans put far too much into who starts and who doesn't.
A Stotts thing to do is put Evan Turner, Meyers Leonard, and Kanter on Sap and hope one of them slows him down 1 on 1.
While leaving Zach Collins to defend the prolific scorer in Mason Plumlee.

If CJ is healthy and medically cleared to play.
AKA not on a medical minute restriction.
Let him go his usual minutes.

 

So dont play him as much. Dont mess with his mindset but not easing him back into his normal role though.

 

Given that the Nuggets’ dream matchup in the second round would be the Blazers, I don’t expect them to put a lot of effort into trying to win tonight’s game. They would still need to win one of their final two games to sew up the second seed, and for the Rockets to lose to the Thunder and the Blazers to win out, but they may as well give it a shot. Come on, Nuggets, you scratch our backs and we’ll scratch yours.

 

I see your point but I don't see Stotts doing that.

 

1.) Play him for 6 minutes to start then. The best way to get reconditioned is to be thrown back into the fire.
2.) The trainers and coaches have a better idea as to how much he should play, and theyll play him accordingly.
3.) Theyve shown great chemistry against terrible teams. CJ isnt going to be brought off the bench in the post-season so why delay the inevitable? Why mess with his reacclimation by giving him different roles?

 

NEW GUY QUESTION FOR DARKWEBS:
How do you know ahead of time what unis they're wearing?
I'll take the answer off the air.
Thanks.

 

I sneak into the locker rooms and send him pictures!

 

Nuggets want us to get the 3rd seed so just in case we both advance, we will meet them in the 2nd round and they can easily beat us.

 

LOL - every game with them has gone down to the wire. If we'd had the shooting of CJ and Curry, we'd have beaten them Friday. Denver is no sure bet to survive the first round - no playoff experience whatsoever outside of Milsap.