Nuggets-Thunder: 5 snack bars when Oklahoma City Denver closes in game 7

Oklahoma City – The basketball training of the Oklahoma City Thunder, a team that enforces an airy regular season, took a steep change on Sunday: Could this young team carry out the ultimate playoff test?

Fact, fact, Yes. And so strict. Game 7 of her semi-final of the Western Conference with the Denver Nuggets was secured with a win of 125-85 and earned the thunder before the final of the Western Conference.

As with anything, the context is important: the nuggets were gassed here at the end of their season, devoured by injuries – Aaron Gordon played on one leg – and saddled with exhausted depth.

Nevertheless, the reasons for winning games are irrelevant here in the playoffs. It is about victory, especially when the series extends seven games. Especially with a conference base on the barrel, with OKC four victories away from a trip to the NBA final.

The result of game 7 was never undoubtedly when the thunder broke the tension in a second quarter of 39 points. But before the ball opened, both teams were caught dealing with the stranger.

“There are not many games in which you wake up in the morning and know that you will remember the rest of your life,” said Okc coach Mark Daigneult.

Here are five snack stalls from the winner's shipment who brought OKC into the West Finale:

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1. OKC cannot consider anything to be taken for granted

If you win 68 times in the regular season, a success rate that is not regular at all, then a feeling of superiority can penetrate the way of thinking. OKC could hardly be held responsible if it actually happened.

In any case, the thunder know that there is a difference between the seasons; This is more challenging, more demanding and definitely more dangerous.

You learned that in this series. The regular season means nothing, because if this were the case, the nuggets would have been swept aside much more easily.

Starting with the Timberwolves, the thunder does not have to be perfect, but maybe better than they showed against Denver.

“I was nervous,” said Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, about his mood before the tip of the 7th game 7.

OKC had a lot more to lose. But a closely contested game became a blowout and all the facts and imperfections that made it possible for the series to last suddenly disappeared.

“Seven games are long and you won't play an optimal basketball throughout the series,” said Daigneult.

Sure enough, OKC was not a 68-win team against the nuggets. But they have mainly proven themselves for themselves that every basketball can be overcome.

When it was most important, Okc was the same in which they arrived – with Shai tall and efficient (35 points in 36 minutes) and his friends provided all the necessary help.

“We are now better than at the beginning of this series and it is up to them,” said Daigneult, who recognized that the series “tested our determination”.

He added: “We will need this determination in the future.”

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2. Aaron Gordon, player

His desire fit his heart. The problem was that it couldn't match the throbbing tendon in his left leg. Shempes through a tense armpit, gordone stuck out by simply fitting.

“I knew the risks, but I wanted to be out there for my team,” he said.

He fought for rebounds in the traffic-somehow managed to achieve 11, his third highest game in the playoffs. He scored eight points and did half of his shots. He not only played for 24 minutes, he survived, he also survived.

He called it “old man basketball” and quoted how he rarely left his feet.

Nuggets coach David Adelman called it something else: “One of the most incredible things I've ever seen.”

After all, he and everyone knew how it would end. Gordon visibly dragged his left leg, especially after the first quarter. And the thunder started to use it, as the nuggets knew that they would do it. They began to press him when he dealt with the ball; Gordon was pulled off twice and was helpless in the open ground against this defense.

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3. J-Dub it turns to Okcs.

This was a reputation saving and seasonal savings efforts by the one player in this series that was due: Jalen Williams was missed for three games to announce his recurrence with a bullhorn.

The second quarter was the moment of truth for OKC. The thunder was attacked by the Nuggets after the opening tip when Denver assumed a quick 11-point lead and sent a low sum by the Paycom Center. The crowd wondered: Was that really down?

Well, if you mean Williams to save, then yes, absolutely. He took off Jokić. He drove inwards to another dark, then a 3 pointer. He scored 17 out of OKCs 29 points in the quarter, a dominant representation, the way a title contender has to see from a second option.

In this quarter he shot 8: 11. That meant more field goals than in each of the games 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6.

“He came with great strength,” said Gilgeous-Alexander. “Used his speed and strength. We gave ourselves momentum. He would not have played the way he played today last year.”

Williams said he was not worried about the previous games and did not feel burdened. If at all, “I was excited to play excitedly.”

He added: “You don't know how many games 7 you will get.”

If the thunder gets another, you now have the blueprint.

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4. The defense pays off at Joker

Give Oklahoma City Coach Mark Daignult his fault that he has developed another way to get Jokić upset for every shot: he added Alex Caruso as the first line of defense.

Yes, this is 6-foot 5 Alex Caruso.

Caruso is lively, a solid and clever defender whose task it was to challenge every Jokić -Dribble. And was needed as help, she came from Chet Holmgren or Isaiah Hartenstein, who would cheat her husband and apply the double.

This is the same strategy that OKC used in a win of the 2 game 2. Therefore, doubled the same result meant.

Daignault said that the trick was “a priority” and owed the Platooning players to be relentless and coordinated.

Also welcome General Manager Sam Presti. He added Caruso and Hartenstein last summer for such reasons, on the chance that OKC would have to go through on the way to the NBA final Jokić.

The additions made sense last July and paid off on Sunday.

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5. Nuggets need work

This series increased the obvious over the nuggets and revealed a team that was only removed from a championship for three years: the depth finally became a fatal problem.

Whenever Jokić and Jamal Murray needed help, they only received them occasionally and not at all in the decisive game 7. Gordon can be excused by this conversation. The nuggets would not have gone so far without the player who saved three games with big buckets.

But Michael Porter Jr.? He was not playable. He suffered difficulty from a lack of confidence in his shot, and his frequent flours killed more than a few chances, which caused Murray and in particular Jokić additional stress.

This is used to Porter, inconsistent this season after a bad playoff performance against the wolves last year. This time Porter had an apology; A problematic left shoulder “influenced so many things”.

He added: “At the end of the day I didn't play well … it was mentally difficult for me.”

And this team gave Christian Braun in the playoffs for more than 35 minutes. This is because Russell Westbrook in sales and missed shots, a shell of the MVP, which he was once. The deeper the nuggets looked over the bank for relief, the thinner the options; Julian Strawther and Peyton Watson (combined 4-16 FGS) frightened the light of game 7.

The nuggets will probably remove Adelman's interim day, which has earned another look. Then you have to find a general manager who can navigate through the financial handcuffs of this team and save the remaining Prime from Jokić. Bring Porter onto the market? Bring back to Russ? No simple answers.

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Shaun Powell has covered the NBA for more than 25 years. You can send him an email Herefind His archive here And Follow him on X.

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