NBA playoffs: Nikola Jokić is not the renewal of the MVP debate in front of the Nugget series against Thunder, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

Denver – Congratulations, Denver Nuggets.

They just beat the Los Angeles Clipper in the most punished series of the first round of the playoffs behind a team effort that saved a season that appeared in the dumps not too long ago.

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Your reward? A date with the 68-win finalist from Oklahoma City Thunder and MVP, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Do the 72-win-Oklahoma City Thunder.

“It feels good, but I also know that we will fly after OKC tomorrow,” said Nuggets coach David Adelman after the victory on Saturday in Denver's Ball Arena. “This was not the championship.

“I am sure it somehow felt for the fans on both sides because the series was so crazy and the ups and downs were so crazy. It is one of these series that they are not forgotten.”

So much to enjoy the victory.

The price for winning the next series will be a trip to the Western Conference Finale. The semi -final series is also connected to one of the juicy lines of action in the second round of the playoffs: Joker vs. SGA.

MVP debate renewed for Nuggets-Thunder

Gilgeous-Alexander will of course not be the only MVP finalist at the Court of Justice. Nikola Jokić has three MVPs, should have won a fourth and deals with Gilgeous-Alexander to win another. What does Jokić think of the upcoming collision from MVP candidates?

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“I think this is the last of our two heads,” said Jokić on Saturday evening.

Fair enough. What do you think about your co-headliner in the OKC series?

“Very different players,” said Jokić about Gilgeous-Alexander. “He plays on so many levels, speed and so many levels, goal scorer. And everything looks so easy for him.

“Even if you like, oh, that's a good defense, it is so easy for him. He is amazing with the change in the speed, change of rhythm, the ball handling. He can publish boys. He can go through boys. The ball shoots, medium-sized is perfectly unknown.” A very special player. “

The cases for Jokić, SGA

It is high praise for the Thunder All-Pro who won the MVP trophy most. Gilgeous-Aalexander led the league in the rating, is a high-ranking defender and only anchored Jokić for the league leadership in Sieg shares per 48 minutes, a statistics that is often an MVP predictor.

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He played for a Thunder team in first place, which ended 16 games in front of the second-placed Rockets in the west. He is the best player in the best team in basketball.

But many will tell them that Jokić should win MVP, even if they believe that Gilgeous-Alexander becomes.

It can be argued that Jokić has just produced the best statistical season in NBA history. After most measures, it is the best season of his career, which has already produced three MVP trophies. On average, he achieved a career high of 29.6 points per game, which was only the third player in NBA history, a triple double too average. He did this as a center.

It also increases well in advanced statistics. Jokić's efficiency assessment of 32.04 is the fourth highest in NBA history and conveniently in front of Gilgeous-Alexander 30.66, which is the 25th best in the history of the league. Jokić's Sieg shares Pro 48 (.307) are just a stain behind (.309) Gilgeous-Alexander and well before third place Jarrett Allen (.243).

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Jokić's team -mate Christian Braun made himself for Jokić after the victory on Saturday.

“Obviously I get down, I think Nikola might have had the biggest season ever,” said Braun. “I don't know if you ever see how a player does what he has ever done in a unique regular season.

“They were both great. I think, of course, the thunder is an amazing team. Shais is a great player. So I don't think there is a wrong choice. To see what Nikola evening in and night, I don't know that they will ever see it again.”

But Jokić's Nuggets ended 18 games behind the thunder in the regular season. And it is fair to project some tiredness of the voters in this year's MVP-Bally that betting experts have integrated into Gilgeous-Alexander's favor.

However, the next series will not be about the MVP, as the debate will be part of the action. The MVP race was decided that the votes are available. But what has not been decided is who stays alive in the race for the NBA championship. And that will be the focus for everyone on the square.