Why The #1 Seed Was Slept On

The Denver Nuggets did not get much attention prior to the start of the playoffs despite being the 1st seed in the conference. Why were they underrated to begin with? Let's talk about that. Enjoy!
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Stats and box-scores from Basketball-Reference.com, NBA.com, Statmuse.com, PBPstats.com
#nba #nbaplayoffs #nbafinals

[@dominykasrimsa7703]

When people say "Jokic failed the eye-test" what they really mean is "I've never watched Jokic and Nuggets play"

[@panner11]

This is true. One of things about Jokic is, I'm never wondering if he'll have a good game next game or not. If there's something to play for, he is guaranteed to have a good game and perform. This is because he doesn't rely on any one aspect of his game. If his shooting is cold, he's one of the best and smartest passers and will always find the right man. If his teammates are also cold, he can bullyball his way to the rim. If his shooting is hot, no team dares to double him, he's too good at finding holes in the defense. There really is no way to stop this guy and the least likely to fail the eye test. Meanwhile, using the eye test on Embiid. He is dominant and very skilled in the post. But goddamn, he relies so much on drawing fouls and falls down on every play. It's hard to watch, and with harder whistles in the playoffs doesn't work as well. He's gotten better at passing out of the double, but the passing is still more preventing TOs than dismantling the defense. It's easier to target the parts of his game and he relies on.

[@RandalfElVikingo]

Imagine saying you are a basketball fan and not even watched at least one Jokić game. He is a maestro.

[@beng4647]

Na...that means he is white

[@MrJoltzGaming]

" the eye test" basically he aint black

[@NezreNR]

iam from greece and started watching NBA for giannis and the bucks and stayed for jokic.Jokic is on an other level with his performances and record breaking games.Humble, hardworking, high iq and revolutionized the center postion as a point center.Ive never had so much fun watching basketball since iverson or carmelo.

[@danielvasquez3758]

They had been the most consistent, the most balanced, and the best coached team throughout the year!!! Come on guys, they should’ve been given their respect!!

[@lvl5charmander]

they have, they just have a small market.

[@SavageShane32]

@@lvl5charmander if you think Denver is a “small market” I want what your smoking Respectfully 😂😂 just because espn had the suns and lakers over them because of favoritism doesn’t make them a small market or under dog but Fr calling denver a small market is laughable 😂😂

[@philliplamb-jh7bf]

Ive been giving it to them, people looked at me like I was crazy 🤷

[@chugcanthoop]

@@SavageShane32 I think he meant small market in the sense that mainstream media doesn’t cover them much, like when the 1st seed is posted about and talked about maybe once a week by espn that means small market, also small market referring to free agent destination, free agents don’t go to Denver either so you’re just kinda wrong dawg

[@chugcanthoop]

@@SavageShane32 respectfully

[@danielvasquez3758]

Do people not realize Jokic carried a team without their second best player to the second and first rounds for a couple of years?? Like that team was playoff bound already, and when fully healthy, they’re even more dangerous!!

[@lvl5charmander]

we do, i just care about my team

[@123shotas]

​@@lvl5charmander🤡

[@Ssjgeek]

Second and third I think mpj was out 2

[@ye.ha.8378]

I mean there whole team is different only gorden vs jokic from the whole team played lest year

[@ranchosdelnorte]

When Warriors and Lakers had key injuries they couldn't even make the playoffs

[@pedroaugustocosta2533]

In 2021, everyone was talking about how Curry should be the MVP because he was carrying a bunch of bad players to any real success, and in 2022, Jokic carried: a worse team, on better numbers to a better playoff spot and somehow Jokic wasn't viewed as MVP, even Perkins said that, he campaign for Curry in 21 and not to Jokic in 22. Glad to see Jokic proving(again) he is the best player on the planet

[@R7Sports]

Perkins is the dumbest and most clueless guy there is, his opinion should never be taken seriously by anyone

[@Spawnamvs]

I wouldnt say worse team but thats only my opinion and its not really based on numbers

[@austina.3677]

He was the MVP though?

[@pedroaugustocosta2533]

​@@austina.3677 yeah he was, I explained it wrong,thanks for correcting me

[@markocurcic6314]

The difference is Jokic took his team to the playoffs, Curry didn't.

[@JahNuhThunDeeTheOneAndOnly]

One thing that is clearly noticeable about this Nuggets team is the unbelievable spacing they have-almost EVERYONE on the entire roster is capable of shooting 3s, which holds every perimeter defense accountable, and it makes the team passing along with pick and rolls that much deadlier.

[@Lil7672]

lol might be the only team Ben Simmons can play on then lmao

[@JahNuhThunDeeTheOneAndOnly]

@@Lil7672 nah he’ll find a way to ruin it even on the bench

[@leonlorenzo7757]

This is why I feel this heat matchup will be epic. No team holds their players accountable on defense like the heat, this should be an entertaining matchup.

[@tj5180]

​@@Lil7672 definitely not lol

[@biu182]

Jokic is just unstoppable at the moment. Combine with Jamal, MPJ healthy, and other pieces like Gordon and KCP are doing what they're expected to do The Nuggets are just too good.

[@Teddy-se8qb]

yeah but hes white and the media is racist.

[@fr.Angel21]

I like how KCP completely smashed the basket with his impressive 3s against the team that hated him. The Lakers deserve all the despair, and the Bronsphere is fading. And Denver is putting the last nail to coffin. It's over.

[@gregoryaxel9168]

Remember Jokic dragged bunch of Walmart employees without Jamal Murray to the playoff last year and lost to the perennial champions team just like everyone else. People need to stop disrespecting Jokic and the Nugget team, hell even coach Malone made a great leap in terms of coaching especially this year.

[@032HULK]

Reminder: Will Barton (can’t get minutes for the Wizards) led Denver in minutes and took the 2nd most shots in the playoffs last season Monte Morris averaged 31.2 playoff minutes Rivers: 21.6 Jeff Green: 22.6 Boogie/JaMychal Green: 25.2 Jokic 10x more serious team this year

[@MAFion]

If it's Denver vs Miami in the finals, the two best players were draft pick numbers 30 and 41.

[@Rogue_Centurion]

One of which was interrupted by a Taco Bell commercial

[@jasondyrkacz8270]

I wouldn't be mad at Jokic or Butler winning a ring.

[@chromatch704]

Fuck Celtics might win. But there’s still hope for heat!

[@bigman52100]

I'll never forget how they put this man's name in the dirt during the mvp race. Glad everyone is finally starting to see his worth 🤞

[@sinisasisarica2812]

remember when the Timberwolves fans were shouting 'We want Denver'? LMAO

[@kaiskajani5305]

Because the nba doesn’t care about small markets even if they’re really good and that’s on the nba who needs to do a way better job of giving those teams media exposure and coverage

[@austinburns9480]

It’s a crime he didn’t get his third mvp, but finals mvp would be sweeter

[@johnvanhlesing4827]

its a crime he got it last season -_-

[@Rogue_Centurion]

@@johnvanhlesing4827no it’s not

[@johnvanhlesing4827]

@@Rogue_Centurion Embid should have got it last year and Giannis this year if he wouldn't get his ass kicked by jimmy although he was injured

[@Rogue_Centurion]

@@johnvanhlesing4827 no. Embiid and Giannis are both amazing players in their own right, but neither of them are as impactful to their teams as Jokić is to the Nuggets. Last year, Jokić dragged a squad of Walmart employees to the sixth seed in the playoffs. Embiid and Giannis were both supported by very good teammates that stepped it up and did fine when they were out. That’s the other thing. They both missed more games than Jokić. The last thing was that phenomenal Jokić outburst to end the season. He played out of his mind in the closing games and that’s what won him the MVP. It was fair, it wasn’t stolen. This year, Embiid won MVP. Good for him, he had a crazy season. But it’s just the fact that Jokić took a bunch of garbage workers to the playoffs was more impressive in the voters’ minds

[@DanielS-gv5nj]

This nuggets with their quick ball movement, willing passing, selfless characters and ruthless efficiency is the closest we got to the 13/14 Spurs. If people don't watch that because the teams best player doesn't have an Instagram account, they deserve to miss out on the most entertaining basketball we've seen in recent years.

[@yourbarber6732]

As a life long spurs fan who watched the entire spurs season in 2014…… this team is more reminiscent of 2011 Mavs to me. Good comparison still though

[@jasonmoukala8909]

Don’t the heat emulate spurs better than nuggets

[@jasonmoukala8909]

@@yourbarber6732 tbh I thought heat reminded me of 2014 spurs

[@wigertoods1305]

Curry without Klay and Dray - no playoffs, Lebron without AD - no playoffs, Jokic without MPJ and Murray - YES playoffs. Interestingly, GSW without Curry played solid, Sixers without Embiid 16-5, Lakers without Lebron almost got to No.5 seed. Nuggets without Jokic 3-11.

[@7Bobby7]

No context at all even then, those rosters were trash and those dudes still carried

[@hungerxhunger2548]

​@7Bobby7 No they did not make playoffs LOL

[@7Bobby7]

@@hungerxhunger2548 did I say they did? Also hi nice to meet you

[@hungerxhunger2548]

@@7Bobby7 Sounds like it since you said their rosters are trash. When they can't make the playoffs without another good to great player.

[@7Bobby7]

@@hungerxhunger2548 it doesn't sound like it, it sounds like I said he was being misleading. You're also being disingenuous, look at mj records without scottie...

[@kennethward4985]

Jokic is a genius, Embiid, well his 3rd grade reading level is well known.

[@younggod3906]

Thank you Denver for saving the NBA 👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿👏🏿

[@Francis_0120]

Look, it wasn't just Jokic or Murray. Give credit to the coach Mike Malone. He never gave up on the Nuggets despite losing playoffs in back-to-back years.

[@theconnaisseur]

I picked Denver to win the west bc they never lose at home, and they’d have HomeCourt for the entire conference

[@davejhunter8689]

They remind me of some of the old San Antonio teams. Team basketball, no nonsense blunt coach, unselfish unassuming big man from overseas, and unsexy play style. NBA wants to market storylines. Nuggets just want to win and play ball. While the way the play is more exciting than Spurs. Cause Popovich played inside game. Had Duncan so that makes sense. But today's league is 3s. Their star is one of my favorite type of players. And their team reflects that . Plus he's got talent around him

[@rnuke_rocket]

I hope Jokic leads this Denver squad to the promise land and finally wins the chip for the franchise. This particular squad is kinda similar to the 2011 Mavs in the sense that both teams are/were led by unathletic European big men who won the MVP without an all-star teammate and being overlooked by the media despite being at the top of their conference.

[@NdrsOrs]

Similar but younger. Mavs were old and that's why they couldn't do the same next year.

[@Stars2p]

Jokic is athletic. He outran Anthony Davis a lot of times after a defensive rebound and like the video said, he ran more than most of the players in the PO. The only "tall" player than ran more than him is KD, and there's a huge weight difference between the two of them. The only thing is : yes, he doesn't jump very high.

[@johnvanhlesing4827]

@@Stars2p lol AD should stay in hospital not play basketball better compare him to THE ACTUAL best player in the world who is GIANNIS

[@Stars2p]

@@johnvanhlesing4827 Why would i compare him to a player that doesn't play the same position and didn't face him recently ? All the NBA fans just saw him outrun an athletic very good defensive player. If that doesn't stop people from saying that he is slow and fat, nothing will.

[@johnvanhlesing4827]

@@Stars2p well because you all are Considering him the best player in the nba but he doesnt have anything that makes him the best thats my point

[@danielvasquez3758]

I had them going to the finals before the playoffs began!!! How could you guys not see they were one of the top 2/3 teams in the league this year???

[@gost3480]

Did you watch the video? -- He answered your question.

[@nurcirino]

Stfu Vasquez, "you guys" doesn't cut it. A lot of folks here will say the most ridiculous shit to support their team. Ask Lakers and Suns fans

[@gar1256]

Dude same. Barring any injury the nuggets roster is just better than any team in the playoffs for both conferences.

[@randygraham926]

Only way to beat Denver is to attack Jokic -- not due to his bad defense because as Andy Hoops shows, his defense is fine. It's in the hope you get him in foul trouble with some bad calls -- and get him off the floor. Lakers almost pulled that off with more than a couple bad calls against Jokic. But even the refs couldn't save the Lakers in the end.

[@Djinn667]

It's crazy how most players consider Jokic as one of the best players in the NBA but the fans and the media do not.

[@easylife6348]

Even KD said Jokic is the best player in the world. If he says that then he is the best in the world. #1 defense lakers couldn’t hold jokic at all throughout the whole series.

[@Rogue_Centurion]

Real fans who’ve watched the Nuggets before know as well. The rest are mostly casuals

[@Djinn667]

@@easylife6348 PG13 called Jokic one of the hardest players to guard in the NBA on JJ’s podcast

[@romulus_]

because he's humble and keeps his head down and gets the job done. people love drama.

[@udishomer5852]

In the reddit NBA forum its pretty much a consensus that either Jokic or Giannis are the best players in the NBA. Embiid has been removed from contention due to his playoffs choking.

[@downsouth00]

It drives me nuts when people say the nuggets underperformed the last couple of playoffs. They were a bad team with one great player and no one expected them to play well. They didn’t get knocked off by a lesser team. They lost to much better teams.

[@Djinn667]

They lost to two teams that made the finals those years. And Jokic had G Leaguers as his supporting cast.

[@Rogue_Centurion]

Yeah the last three years the Nuggets lost to teams who went to the Finals, two of which won the Finals. They had nothing to be ashamed of

[@downsouth00]

@@Djinn667 exactly

[@alvin081988]

That trade for KCP amd bArton was a good thing bec they added a championship caliber player to help Jokic

[@supermario_49]

We’ve seen Number 1 seeds flop in the past like the Jazz and Raptors. Glad to see the Nuggets are legit. Sweeping a LeBron James team is a major accomplishment. So happy for Jokic for making the NBA Finals!

[@BlackNWhiteEagle]

I think an interesting topic for a future video would be the future of the nuggets. I don‘t see them out of the championship picture the next 5 years if they can stay healthy. They might be the next dynasty and this is their first season of domination

[@jakebuchsbaum3348]

I don’t think they’ll be a dynasty but they can be a team that takes over the western conference from the warriors. It’ll be like a handing of the baton from Steph to Jokic

[@ShatterTheSkiesAbove]

Yeah Denver won’t be a dynasty because we don’t have market appeal. It took us AGES to finally have a team this loaded with talent. Modern Dynasties are usually created through drafts and while most of our better players are still in their mid 20s, I don’t see anyone on our bench lining up to be the next face of the franchise. I do like me some Christian Braun though and potentially PJ Watson but aside from that we’ll only go as long as our current squad can stay in Denver and play at this level. The plus side though is that with Jokić being on the team he will likely be appealing for names to wanna come to Denver and watch their numbers go up playing with one of the least selfish elite players right now 😈

[@Dr.Van.Nostrand]

Denver dynasty has a nice sound to it.

[@757bigj]

They were slept on because people were unfamiliar with them because they get no coverage. The NBA doesn't promote it's talent. Great video

[@AirRusher1992]

As an avid Lakers fan here, I gotta admit the Nuggets play their best basketball in the right time. I wish they can pull this off win the chip against whoever comes out of the East either Boston or Miami.

[@mariomm9080]

no one thought that Lakers have a chance, but i predicted Suns over Nuggets

[@AirRusher1992]

@@mariomm9080 Welcome to the club. I did picked the Lakers. Man we could've kept Dwight so that he can defend Jokic just like in 2020.

[@twistedtide]

@@AirRusher1992 Dwights nearly 40, dude ain't guarding Jokic like he did in the bubble anymore.

[@johngittings281]

@@twistedtide exactly. There’s a reason he’s playing in China now lol

[@CrazyxEnigma]

I believe they will. Heat are good and are very tough with a great coach but the Nuggets aren't going to shrink and play inconsistently like the Celtics. The talent disparity will be too much for the Heat to overcome in a seven game series.

[@gts1929]

Man, if only the Kings gave Boogie some help and kept Mike Malone instead of firing him. Made no sense, but I do love Jokic too

[@mattiusbattol]

I have not watched basketball for a long time and am just getting back into it but Jokic man. The dude makes me excited to watch this game again. Him and Kevin Durant are insanely talented

[@markmansfieldsbwc4674]

You should come back! Denver plays a pretty type of game! They are unselfish and classy!

[@Rogue_Centurion]

Nothing better to watch right now than Denver Nuggets basketball

[@BooBooDaFoo330]

Heat and Nuggets benefit from great coaching which is another plus.

[@cameronpowe7257]

Kevin Durant overrated

[@BooBooDaFoo330]

@@cameronpowe7257 LMAOOOOO the best scorer since Jordan is overrated?

[@Notimportant959]

This "small "market" team is kickin everyones ass😂

[@DominicJGomez]

The nuggets were playoff bound without 2 starters! And nobody expected them to be good when healthy?

[@MadSnake123]

I just love hiw everyone got excuses for the Nuggets. At first they were like ... Oh the first seed? Well they didn't shake their roster like the rest but just wait intil the playoffs. Oh well, its expected for a firs seed to beat an 8 seed pretty easy, but the Suns are next they will be their downfall. Oh, is CP3 got injured... Again, Durant and Booker didn't had enough time to build chemistry. Oh the Lakers almost steal one game in Denver, it should be Lebron's seties to lose now. Oh no team has ever come back from a 3-0, but Lebron will be the first one to do it ... So yeah, si much disrespect for this great team.

[@slackerofhell]

Not gonna lie, I thought AG was a bad pickup but I'm glad I was wrong. Dude is having his best years on this Nuggets team.

[@Dele0z]

As a Lakers fan I was keeping up with the Nuggets throughout the playoff and loved their Depth. When the Lakers met them @ the WCF y’know I had to side w LA but I knew they didn’t stand a chance against the Nuggets due to them being the more complete team (inside/outside scoring and defense) and how inconsistent AD and the role players were throughout the playoffs. Nevertheless, I hope the Nuggets bring it all the way.

[@BooBooDaFoo330]

The coaching for LA was horrendous too…especially when it came to getting AD easy looks…had this dude posting up high when he excels close to the rim with lobs, putbacks, and low post ups. They should’ve also ran pick and rolls with Reeves and AD or Bron and AD…just terrible coaching…don’t even get me started on defense.

[@Maddogg500]

only reason yall were even in teh playoffs is freethrows and the nba not gonna let anyone win a chip off that just look at harden your team ruined the playoffs this year

[@leeswift7883]

Knew Nuggets would get to WCF bc Suns had no one that could guard Jokic and Murray has a playoff heat check history. I get how people thought Lakers might win - LeBron and AD won a title together and the team was performing well. Nuggets are just a more proficient and complete team and should win against the East

[@lakerfan2874]

Nikola Jokic, drafted in 2014 in the second round after Denver drafted Jusuf Nurkic, comes to the league one year later, and in 2 years' time, Denver trades Nurkic for a backup Center at the time, Mason Plumlee in the 2016-2017 season giving Jokic the starting role and full reign as their star Center. For some time, because I'm a Lakers fan, I was watching the Nuggets (metaphorically as I don't truly watch the games, but more on a following thing) and always said that they will be in the playoffs sooner than later. That finally happened in the 2018-2019 season after drafting MPJ and signing Paul Millsap in the 2017 offseason. They've been championship favorites to me ever since then. Sure, they've never won, but it doesn't mean they can't do it later.

[@meroniyassu2621]

I said before the playoffs started the the nuggets of healthy they’ll make the finals and my prediction was correct. Ever since there bubble run in 2020 I saw there potential. No one thought they would beat the clippers in the 2nd round that year but they did it. Now I believe they’ll win it all this year

[@Olinad209]

They're like the most silent student in the class but the smartest

[@17thN.O]

Now that the Nuggets are healthy they are playing the best ball in the league. Led by Jokic.

[@guillermor9207]

When you look at the resumes of the players on this team, it’s insane how perfectly balanced and well fitted they are. Aaron Gordon, Jamal Murray and MPJ could EASILY be the best player on an average team, but they put their ego aside to be complimentary pieces to one of the best offensive teams in NBA history and I really hope it pays off with a 2023 championship. Throw in well-known and very reliable roll players like KCP, Chris Braun, and Bruce Brown JR, and you have a nightmare of an matchup for any opponents. We’re talking about a team that can pass, space the floor, dunk at ease, run the break, pick and roll, catch and shoot, and most importantly, at least 70% of the team is an above average defender. I’m a Lakers fan, but watching the way they swept us, it was like poetry in motion of how smooth and seamlessly they did it

[@JSauer21]

The only valid answer is they didn't know if Murray and MPJ would be 100%. They were the most dominant in the NBA post AG trade and were poised to make a massive run in 2021 fresh off a conference finals appearance without him in 2020. That would have been their first chip imo. This year's team is even better than that one with KCP and Bruce Brown idk why anyone would think they wouldn't at least have a chance if Murray and MPJ were healthy, especially with Jokic playing at an all-time great level in those years without them

[@kayceeyou]

Hopefully they don't ever get sucked into signing someone like Kyrie, Westbrook, Simmons, Harden etc.

[@aznpikachu215]

Wonder if this shows that to go deep, you need a balance of team depth, and not relying on a 3-star studded players.

[@ja4309]

If everyone was trying to copy championship superteams of the past, do know they were also balanced teams

[@aznpikachu215]

@@ja4309 Well, maybe I should say 3 star players + + vet min guys.

[@ja4309]

@@aznpikachu215 Now that's a real warning right there

[@kevinc8955]

Same reason Spurs were slept on for a decade and a half. Foreign fundamentally sound big who TikTok casuals consider boring.

[@awesomeninja234]

In the future, if jokic plays against lebron, durant, and steph in any future postseasons, I will always pick jokic's nuggets to win the series.

[@kristianpomida8259]

This is my kind of player. a combination of humbleness and dominance. If i wasnt such a die hard spurs fan since 04 i would have been a die hard fan of this team. I have rooted for this team since the bubble and since the spurs have been bad because of jokic

[@awesomeninja234]

Need to show more nuggets games on national television during next year's regular season than the lakers

[@americangiant1003]

Tejas the Nuggets will get more games on so called “National TV” in America ie ABC/ESPN and TNT. Same thing happened in past decade or so when the Mavericks with Dirk and The Raptors with Khawi got a slight bump in TV coverage. However until they retire LBJ, Steph and even Durant will also get top priority on Prime Time games.

[@jameswinslow8540]

joker and murray are the new shaq and kobe

[@alvinpamplona6019]

The Nuggets and the Kings was both doubted. I think Kings can make it too specially when they can push into game 7 against the depending champs Warriors.

[@GaudyGabriev]

They've been slept on forever cause Jokic isn't flashy. That's about it, which says a lot about the quality of analysis in general.

[@goku..7]

I here to say that your video about you comparing a trash fake mvp player to Hakeem is the worst video🤣😂🤣😂 JOKIC IS THE MVP

[@ja4309]

Don't exactly know how many people really care about this but the last time the entire Nuggets was healthy prior to this playoffs, they also made it to the Western Conference Finals (just the 2nd playoffs in the Jokic-Murray era) The difference between that team and this year's team though? The present day Nuggets have a more defensive team while still being deadly in offense as usual. The defense itself isn't elite by any means (it's just average), but it is enough for the Nuggets to outscore their opponents

[@jaguareagle7026]

The way Lebron is still crying about it and try to throw dirt over Nuggets’ success just tells the story. I am so happy for Jokic and Murray tehy are so good together

[@thegoatslayer3477]

Huh?

[@HoopEnthusiasts]

Man the heat are just embarrassing too tier teams like nothing 😂

[@nataliapaembonan785]

Boston still has chance to made greatest comeback

[@yodatscrazy981]

​@@nataliapaembonan785 Yall can barely win 1 home game yall making no comeback

[@RandomRay1]

​@Jonatan Barrang you think it's possible the will win 4 in a row after seeing how they've been the whole series

[@nataliapaembonan785]

@@RandomRay1 it slim, but if Miami Heat got cookie..chance are 40%. And game 5 in Boston. So it is likely be 3-2. It's depend on how Heat cope with the pressure in game 6.

[@RandomRay1]

@Jonatan Barrang and who says they can't win game 5? Look at how Boston has played at home, look how bam played and Jimmy didn't have the best of games that were used to seeing so he's gonna try to be even better. As long as the role players play they have been playing this whole series and bam and Jimmy are playing like they have been playing so far, they should be good

[@ppjohnson159]

I predicted bucks and denver in the finals with denver winning it all, but heat and denver would also be nice. Also this vid makes me think of a post that said the nuggets were underdogs and people were in the comments saying that's dumb they are the first seed, well how many of those people picked the nuggets to win it all before the playoffs started? How many analysts picked the nuggets to win it before the playoffs? and what were the vegas odds for denver before the post season? I mean, it's dumb to sit there and say they aren't the underdogs, because not many people thought they would be where they are today

[@jacktheteo]

you know he is the best player if you played fantasy

[@DimiREAL]

Why The #1 Seed Was Slept On - you didn't watch them play regularly, that's really the short answer.

[@itssnow115]

Not sure if it’s because I’m a nuggets fan but I just felt we were the best team all year and no one could beat us. Friends called me crazy when I predicted a sweep on the lakers but it happened. Honestly feel just not enough media coverage and the MVP debate overshadowed the collective efforts the nuggets. Now there’s no way to ignore it on the nuggets stage.

[@r9dog949]

Finals: Underrated 8th seed vs Underrated 1st seed

[@aldouscoroza]

Denver Honestly was so Underrated this season when it came to Domination and Winning

[@rome8180]

This video did an awesome job debunking all the lazy talking points against Jokic.

[@lolno6975]

I literally said this when the playoffs started, "who is stopping Jokic?" This man averaging the most efficient triple double ever (i think) and you think the big part is Jokics defense? And adding on that, Jokic gets his teammates involved. That gets them hot, means they play better, better offense and defense. You will not find that with Giannis and ESPECIALLY that bum Embiid

[@panner11]

Not just most efficient triple double ever. Most efficient season ever period by a player. He's the only player ever to average more than 70% true shooting on more than 20 ppg (and he averaged 24.5 ppg).

[@ye.ha.8378]

The nuggets vs heat both didn't try in the regular season as hard

[@kwykwyk8447]

Don't mean to nitpick, but jokic has way more name recognition than Booker

[@davidwilliams316]

Idk why people are so surprised the lakers got beat by the 1 seed with the best player in the world.

[@alter6243]

I remember Reggie Jackson lighting it up in the playoffs not very long ago. This Denver team is so stacked that he doesn’t even get minutes. I’ve got Denver over the Heat in 6.

[@Spifys]

I watched jokic full spirit a few times vs the lakers the man is in great shape

[@jayward8237]

I’m a Boston fan and have massive respect for Denver. They are incredible & so well coached. Jokic is the man!

[@Garf_malarf]

Deep down inside, I was kind of hoping that Carmelo would get signed by Denver this year, it would’ve been really cool to see him in the finals.

[@bartgacrama6362]

Carmelo doesn't fit in the Nuggets' dynamic. The guy is a ball hogger.

[@bmsuperstar1]

Jokić is a good defender, same as/if not better than Embiid. THAT'S BLASPHEMY! Ok, let's look at stats. ANGRY BLASPHEMIC NOISES.

[@etagege3191]

And now I'm seeing narratives that Jokic can only win with a stack team, wtf is wrong with people they really hate Jokic smh

[@jimdino77]

They were slept on cause casuals run the media and most fans are casuals who don’t watch the games

[@randykubick]

Only one stat matters - points. The team that scores the most wins. Jokic, Caldwell-Pope, Gordon, Porter Jr. - all Nuggs starters all in top 10 plus/minus stat. Jokic had league high plus/minus. AD great shot blocker but has negative plus/minus. Impossible to win games if your players give up more points than they produce. In other words, one big powerful 10th row blocked shot does not mean your are a good defensive player.

[@TheRealTurkFebruary]

Why? Racism and xenophobia. Also, a lot of us still exist in 1975 when markets mattered. To act like you can’t pay attention to a place like Denver in this day and age is wild.

[@messageinathrottle4046]

The real reason is Nuggets games don’t get televised. Their team owner also owns his own sports channel, not included with basic cable packages, which has exclusive regular season coverage of the team. Even local fans struggle to follow the team. I put money down on the Nuggets to come out of the West on January 22. Easy money.

[@Lil7672]

Lol the sad thing is the media will still discredit him even if he wins the chip, they'll say look how deep his team is, they'll say MPJ, Murray and Gordon are all borderline all-stars, while in reality they all get to eat cuz of Jokic

[@adamproductions4529]

Embiid isn’t even in the same conversation as Jokiic

[@billyhoyle92]

All of that is correct and i liked the video, but I am pretty sure that the most important factor is, that he is a white european , a foreigner...

[@zodoofenshmirtz9789]

Denver right know is build like the 2011 Mavs, it is built with role players around 1 superstar with one goal and thats to win. Thats why from the start of the season i was really into the nuggets despite being a Mavs fan.

[@marioaustin9312]

This one video covered the nuggets postgame more than espn has

[@davidtran2026]

Playoff Jamal vs Playoff Jimmy. That is going to be fun to watch.

[@vortexluigirosalina5557]

The Denver Nuggets are gonna win it this year!

[@vercettii]

My team finally getting respect

[@MikeTheNBAGuy]

Been saying they would make the finals since the end of last season, nobody should be surprised by this and it's frustrating that so many are

[@walkervo]

Media, that’s the answer

[@daquanbumbry8519]

In my opinion, via Nets fan, Ive always respected Denver coming out of the west , I knew they were the 1st seed for a reason. Shoutout to Nikola Jokic making things happen for the franchise.

[@darlenep1616]

KCP is a perfect fit for this team. His energy is great

[@cjswhitebo1882]

I remember murray was worried about being traded when he was hurt. Malone had his back and jokic doesnt want to leave the nuggets. This team is going to be top contenders for a long while. Even with the bench being skilled as well. Christian braun is going to a huge threat in a few years. Kids fast for his size and he's already a monster on defense

[@godramen7104]

I appreciate this video for given credit to my home team. Thanks!

[@jko9911]

Jokic underrated defense reminds me of Dirk. Only because they are no top Tier Shot blocker or Pick and roll defender at the threepoint line, everybody makes them way more worse, than they actually are. Both are very good Team defender, can guard the Post and have Teammates that can help them. I love both..❤

[@RuinNationGaming]

cause joker is white why they were slept on there I said it

[@bubblebass2166]

Stop mentioning Embiid as an elite defender. He is not like that. It's Davis and Giannis. Jokic and Embiid are on the same level defensively.

[@leovingmartinez]

Excelente análisis, amigo. Saludos desde República Dominicana. Me suscribo.

[@AirRusher1992]

Came back here after Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets won the 2023 NBA champiopnship. Anyone else present here? As an avid Lakers fan here, I'm so happy for the Joker to finally be called an NBA champion.

[@trigun442]

It'll be a statement for Jokic career if he wins the championship and finals MVP. Many basketball heads and TRUE fans of the sport will heavily scrutinize Embiid for winning the regular season MVP over Jokic and it'll tarnish his legacy heavily because of his negative antics like crying for the award and throwing off his teammates after that game 7 interview and also trying to quote a champion in Giannis, something Embiid lacks. I feel embarrassed for the guy honestly. Had dummy yo yo Perkins had not played the race card, Jokic would have had his 3rd straight MVP.

[@oliverdelica2289]

Personally in my opinion, I thought the Lakers were the underdog because the Nuggets were consistently good.

[@andrewlpickfordiii9986]

The fact is that they have been a huge disappointment for the last3-4 years! It was cause they were young and growing! Now, they matured and its now their time! I, knew the time will/would come for them to be real contenders! The nation has created a " Un-important " narrative about this team! That is what they do! Stop, trying to make a issue! When they win! That is the only I care about! Fuck the... Illusion of... "Respect" .All that matters is to...WIN!!!

[@hishamshokry6390]

Hi Andy, nice video as usual, glad you made it. these Nuggets are fantastic, they are the real deal. hope they get the ring. They deserve all respect and admiration. thanks and take care.