Another Nikola Jokic Masterpiece | The Bill Simmons Podcast

[@darnellkirkland784]

Shaq poked the bear. Joker responded like a champion

[@TommyDavidVerbal]

That's a whole fact

[@David-iv6je]

That flies in the face of everything Jokic has shown us. There's probably an 80% chance Jokic doesn't even know what Shaq thinks and a 100% chance he doesn't care. It's part of what makes Jokic great.

[@je5406]

​@@David-iv6jeShaq tolk Jokic to his face that he didnt deserve the MVP.

[@David-iv6je]

@@je5406We're talking about the "there's a parade?" guy. Jokic is emotionally centered and Shaq is a fat old guy who took Ozempic.

[@LiLxWEiRD0x]

@@David-iv6je hm i don’t think you actually watch a whole denver game then cause you would’ve known after winning mvp what shaq said to jokic straight to to his face

[@mosquitojoyride]

Jokic backs AD down. Who isnt he backing down? Jokic has elite strength how are people not seeing this?!

[@Boomhauer2237]

Because he’s literally shaq with a jump shot and great touch. He might be the strongest player in the nba when he actually tries to

[@DavidLee-cw6ci]

He's just a heavy dude, he ain't strong like Steven Adams. But weight moves weight and he isn't afraid to throw it around. With the threeification if the NBA bigs are generally getting skinnier and more mobile, but that doesn't help when you have a dude that wants to bang.

[@mosquitojoyride]

@@Boomhauer2237 Exactly. I see it, you see it, but talking heads constantly miss it or discredit it by blaming the defender for their "weakness" instead. In fact I was completely won over by Jokic in 2020 playoffs against Lakers when he backed AD down from 3 point to basket.

[@Boomhauer2237]

@@mosquitojoyride exactly it’s always throwing hate on the defenders when there actually good but jokic is just that unstoppable. You can’t double him anywhere because he’s to tall and can throw the ball over any defenders. I personally think him gaining all that weight was better for him then being skinny because you can’t move him from his spot

[@schm2818]

I was wondering this too, is there anyone in the NBA who's even consistent enough to make him look human?

[@Coloradocrumble]

Jokic overcame adversity during the bubble, back to back 3-1 comebacks against the Jazz and the Clippers. This isn’t his first rodeo.

[@anycoveryoulike7510]

Right!! Nobody ever talks about this in the media

[@zhenchen7769]

I agree mostly, but back then the combacks was icing on the cake, no one would've held it against Jokic for losing those, whereas losing to the wolves now would be on him, which is a huge increase in pressure. Jokic himself said this was the most important game of his career so I think he kinda thinks the same way

[@reclusedoggo3513]

​@@zhenchen7769 but they did, nuggets have played well throughout jokic plus murray era

[@milan032]

Also against the Clipers...they were "done" in that one...3:1 down and 20 down in game 5😂

[@InsaneTrickShots]

It’s crazy to me people thinking it’s their first bit of adversity. These guys have gone through pain together, they are a true team.

[@DavidLee-cw6ci]

Playoff media coverage is always the same, lose one game and overreact like it's the end of the world.

[@sammyttheg412]

The home team losing 2 to start is pretty significant

[@brianogggg]

and if you win one game, and you are american and black. you are the best in the world..the next jordan.

[@MaxJulien2701]

@@sammyttheg412exactly. people acting like winning 3 straight games after dropping the first 2 at home is normal lol

[@danielfoster59]

Me 😅? I z m z b z​@@MaxJulien2701

[@farhanhafiz1924]

​@@sammyttheg412 normally sth like this ends up as a 3-1 series or sth. This is jus jokic becoming Thanos

[@xAmirKDx]

People went from hating the Gobert trade to loving the trade back to hating the trade in a span of a week.

[@Chalk89]

I hate it, man. It's like those who rag on dudes who get dunked on. Playing defense should never be mocked and needs to stop being mocked or else 82 games will be the NBA All Star game on repeat. Rudy Gobert busted his ass trying to stop Nikola Jokic, didn't get lazy nor quit. That should be appreciated.

[@davidburros8619]

Lol sooo true

[@gators9570]

I hated it the whole time. And I still think he’s deserving of 1 DPOY max. That trade only pays off if the wolves win a chip. Until they do it sucks. You’ve got an actual burgeoning superstar and now you’re locked up paying $90m+ to 2 centers who both have playoff flaws. Oh and your vet PG is a free agent. They made building around Ant messy as hell going forward

[@69gvfb]

Bill "I knew this would happen even though I said Denver would be swept" Simmons

[@nugglife3035]

Right? This show should be called "all cap, no facts." 😂

[@notoriousLSGshow]

He clearly stated he was surprised den came back after 1st 2 games - typical internet random casuals just making up sht bcuz they don't like a sports pundit , but yet they watch all his content

[@nugglife3035]

@@notoriousLSGshow after game 2 he was one of the morons talking about a sweep. That's the only reason I even know about this podcast. Bills stupid face was in the montage of morons calling for a sweep, so for the last 3 games I've been paying visits to all these chumps just to watch them squirm. Anyone who thought Minnesota had a chance should be laughed at for eternity.

[@69gvfb]

@@notoriousLSGshow you must be new here. Sit this one out, Champ.

[@missinglinq]

Bill Simmons is the captain of prisoner of the moment.

[@WeezyD313]

Wanted to Crown Ant Edwards and make him Kobe/MJ so bad y’all disrespected the obvious best player on the planet

[@sirkevstah289]

Yeah it's funny how fast the narrative switches. 2-0, MJ's son, Joker doesn't deserve the MVP. Now, it's Rudy Gobert is a basketball terrorist, Minny still doesn't have a good enough roster and Joker's a god.

[@JonathanHersch]

If you listen to the players and not the talking heads, everyone acknowledges Jokic is the best in the world right now, and ANT really is the next up-and-coming great one. Both can be true.

[@sardonicus76]

If Jokic has an “off night” in the next game (25pts, 12reb, 8ast) and the Nuggets lose, the narrative will quickly switch back to: “Jokic is trash/overrated/fat. The Nuggets can’t beat teams with a winning record, etc…” When Minnesota won those first two games on the road, lots of people jumped at the opportunity to bury Jokic and anoint Anthony Edwards as the next generational superstar. The selective amnesia is unreal.

[@sammyttheg412]

Kobe so overated

[@tiguhhhh5415]

@@JonathanHerschhahahahahah Mj’s son People are so fucking dumb

[@kingston4313]

I wish people who said it would be swept would eat jokic’s shoes live on tv

[@thyhopz]

"I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant and fill him with a terrible resolve" - Isoroku Yamamoto

[@petermullen3102]

phenomenal quote. However the credit really belongs to a script writer for "Tora Tora Tora!" The general never said that... but he shoulda.

[@Android-om6sr]

Rudy didn’t even play bad defense on Jokic all game yesterday. Jokic just hits crazy contested shit and has eyes all over his body. How are you supposed to guard this man honestly when he’s hitting CONTESTED rainbow floaters and rainbow jumpshots as a 7 footer? Just truly unstoppable, and I wish Rudy didn’t get as much flack because Jokic does this to everyone (AD, Bam, Wemby, Embiid, etc.)

[@gators9570]

He gets flack because he’s a 4 DPOY over those guys when a bunch of them have shown they’re stronger isolation defenders

[@Android-om6sr]

@@gators9570 agree. But Jokic also cooked those guys too. The fact of the matter is that Jokic just has the tools to deal with any defender, even the best ones in the league. We should focus on giving him more praise rather than degrading his competition because (especially in the case of last game) he just is too good, no matter how you play him.

[@shorewall]

@@gators9570 Isolation defense is overrated, especially for Big Men. Good defense is to keep Giannis, AD, Gobert, off of the post threat, allowing them to come over and contest without fouling. Defending as part of a team is what's important, since the offense is constant movement, passing, and screening. There is no other big man who is as deadly in the Post as Jokic. Not Embiid, not anyone. So when AD is cooked by Jokic, and then Gobert is cooked by Jokic, who do you think would defend or stop Jokic? Who is a good defender then?

[@slavajuri]

You just don't stop the greats 1 on 1. If you do, they're not one of the greats yet.

[@OCPARKWAY]

Jokic is a machine at this point but it's also the scheme that's in place to take advantage of Gobert and the Wolves Defense as well.. Mike Malone made Aaron Gordon either be the screener or the ball handler and that forces Gobert to have no choice but to be involved early in the action and away from his comfort zone as a roamer.. It looks over Thursday for the Wolves but will see..

[@knowsmebyname]

When Magic Johnson developed his outside shot he became unstoppable. Thats who Jokic reminds me of.

[@lance1097]

Magic and Kareem. Combined

[@teddylovesit]

unstoppable? JOrdan beat him in the finals. That's the definition of stopping someone.

[@SDesWriter]

@@elizabethchase6528 there’s a great story on a video from Porter Jr’s podcast where the owner is talking about trying to decide if they were going to stay with Jokic or the other good Center they had at the time and the analytics team brought a breakdown of Jokic and one other player by every statistical category to help him decide. He figured out that player A was joker because he had better statistics so he asked who was player B and they told him it was Larry Bird.

[@knowsmebyname]

@@teddylovesit well Jordan was the best imo. Jordan would beat The Joker too.

[@lance1097]

Jordan was the darling of the nba. He played with different rules than everybody else. I bet you think he deserved 6 titles. 😅. ​@@knowsmebyname

[@nethbt]

Shaq seething in embarrassment, all ng with Charles....😂😂😂

[@yvito125]

Jokic threw a fade away jump shot pass, bro… What the heck can Gobert do with that? 😂😂😂

[@alexandrebittencourttande3264]

Minnesota couldn't keep up with the same defensive intensity cause Denver took away the ball from Jokic's and Murray's hands early in the possession and gave it to Gordon, so that Murray would not have the burden to bring it up the court. That shifted the pressure away from the Denver's 2 man game and made it easier for them to operate from there. It helped a lot that Gordon was so up to the task and had a wondeful game 3.

[@michaelahurt]

Also because that intensity level was unsustainable. They are still picking up full court but the bigger difference is 1) in the rotations and 2) that Rudy can't move like KAT, Naz and Anderson. In game 2 every player was giving 2, 3, 4, 5 efforts on every play and they were moving as one. Now they look like a normal defense again. The emotional energy boost they got from Rudy being out is something you can't fake or replicate and they have only been able to get to that level in spurts since.

[@MrQuestiel]

yea mostly this. You can bully Murray if you pick him full court with a big. You aren’t bully Aaron Gordon. He bullies you.

[@jacobellis9419]

I took a 2 week vacation to Australia where I was too busy to consume sports content and boy did I miss Bill, Ryen, and the Ringer. Best in the business. Appreciate you all.

[@raven4475]

.... They have KZbin in Australia. Just saying

[@nkrumansantos1794]

Meanwhile... Shaq is somewhere crying while hugging his pillow after tonight ...

[@AferditaNumani]

Bill acting like he wasnt part of the media shitting on Denver

[@ams7722]

Never underestimate the etc etc

[@grahamjl766]

And never underestimate the refs going from '90s era whistle swallowing to calling every tic tac incident.

[@shorewall]

@@grahamjl766 It's the chicken and the egg. Did the Wolves win so big because of a change in officiating, and now the officiating is back to normal, or was it vice versa? I think Game 2 was unusual officiating, and it might have been the case in the Suns series as well. Maybe this Wolves postseason run has been fraudulent all along.

[@jeffmcdonald75]

I’m a Mavs fan. I hope we win the OKC series. But it won’t matter. Denver and Jokic are too good.

[@MisticStyles]

Because it's all about hot takes for views. The media and fans are so obsessed with "the next Jordan" narrative. If they could stop that and these insanely idiodic/played out Lebron vs MJ debates, basketball would be better for it.

[@soysaucehairdye7869]

I'm loving watching the Twolves transforming into the San Jose Sharks of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs. This is why you never write off a team that has won a championship in the past three years no matter how dire it seems for them... Since Bill Simmons has been playing a lot of tennis recently, I would like to say this is the equivalent of the mens French Open Finals of 2004. The Twolves are Guillermo Coria and the fans in Minnesota started doing the wave around the arena in Game 3 which was the catalyst to the ultimate choke job.

[@OCPARKWAY]

Wow the 2014 Sharks and the 2004 French Open Finals mentioned in the same paragraph..Interesting

[@soysaucehairdye7869]

@@OCPARKWAY Coria is my second favorite tennis player of all-time. I feel so bad for him in that final lol.

[@raven4475]

The level of smugness despite the Game 6 result.... Geeeeee whiz. How can it be the ultimate choke job when the series goes to Seven Games! What a doorknob of knowledge you turned out to be 👍👍👍

[@soysaucehairdye7869]

@@raven4475 Did the Twolves win the series? I merely stated that they were transforming into the 2014 San Jose Sharks and them losing this series will be the ultimate choke job. They will lose Game 7 to the Nuggets. My advice to you is to look in the mirror and see the smugness that emanates from you. Good day sir, good day!

[@raven4475]

@@soysaucehairdye7869 You wanna label a team choked when a series goes to Seven Games??? Are you stupid? Tell me this .... What's your label for the Lakers, 76ers, Suns, Cavs, Magic. I'm super curious "dickhead"

[@patricija4179]

Never saw the right dude on screen. I thought he was 20 years older by his voice.

[@elmehdinafia1237]

What's the name of his show?

[@tarikshenzhen7463]

There's a reason he's not shown on screens

[@DillzRipz]

Joker has been ABSOLUTELY locked the hell in

[@imranak]

The 4 day layoff between games 2 and 3 allowing Denver to mentally regroup and simultaneously killing the T-wolves momentum was a huge factor if not the #1 factor.

[@Browns12Fan43]

A 24second violation is a team turnover, not a player turnover. It doesn't matter who's holding the ball when the shot clock expires.

[@Zeshan-u9t]

This is the second time I've heard this,I love this random fact for some reason.

[@bikibaws]

MyPlayer used to give you a TO for that. quickly pass it to your SF and watch him mope.

[@enoFTTV]

Incredibly surprised Bill of all people doesn't know that.

[@paulj.5542]

Correct. Thank you for posting that.

[@phillipschuman4307]

Didn't know that. It makes sense, because the last guy holding it as the time expires is usually a victim of some other player's poor decision.

[@MaxJulien2701]

Wonder how goofy Shaq feels. Talked shit to the MVP, and Jokic jud laughed it off and pulled his team out of a 0-2 hole lol

[@20dieux]

9:34 regarding the fullcourt pressure, Denver made Gordon bring up the ball, that was one of the big adjustement they made, since it's usually Gobert guarding Gordon they had difficulties to adjust to that because Gobert and KAT are too slow to keep up with Gordon on the full court, Edwards is too small so they'll had to switch once Gordon passes mid court, they would want Jaden or NAW on Gordon ideally but they want to keep them on Murray and MPJ, so basically they don't pressure Gordon most of the time and Gordon did a good job playing point guard, moreover it lets Murray more fresh.

[@SDesWriter]

Dallas did something similar. Because of Luka’s injury, it’s much easier to trap in or just harassing going up the floor so they have Kyrie or one of the small forwards bring the ball up that immediately pass it to Luca when they get across halfcourt. A small but necessary adjustment with the added bonus that you don’t put extra physical pressure on the valley who’s already playing on one leg.

[@lylewalker5681]

Absolutely crazy how we went from Edwards being on the verge of being the next Jordan and Kobe and the Timberwolves very possibly becoming an unbeatable dynasty…to…this in less than a week. Lmao.

[@Joeshiesty286]

Bill forgot to mention the 2011 Mavs. Got beat bad by the Heatles in game 1 but end up winning in 6.

[@thedeadzone9666]

Jokic's comp is Tim Duncan

[@chaunt100]

AND HAKEEM OLAJUWON

[@vinnyvega]

Justin Termine could do an awesome impression of The Critical Drinker...

[@quiggs111]

favorite player to watch since bird.

[@dukelukas5965]

Justin has been talking with that "Sports" voice for so long that it has literally changed the shape of his face (kind of like Mad Dog)

[@Miloxiaocelao]

LBJ was a “generational” player when he was still in high school. Jokic is still being debated whether he is actually that good, 3 MVPs and a Championship later. Jokes on the media and the league.

[@bigtopsteve]

Everybody but you Bill, classic

[@t.4493]

Its been a geeat series. I dont think its necessary to bash either team. They are both great! LETS GO NUGETTS!!!!

[@darrellbarnes2096]

Shaq disrespected the Joker in his face on TNT, saying that SGA deserved it more😊

[@JV-lr6sg]

Reggie Jackson explained what happened. It was mainly the Nuggets playing flat, unmotivated, basketball the whole first round and start of the second until they got embarrassed in game 2. They the same in the first series for the most part, its just that they couldn't get away with it with Minnesota. Nothing away from Minnesota, they're a good team, hell of a defence, but only team that can stop the Nuggets the last couple seasons is the Nuggets. They can figure out any defence and team they want to if motivated.

[@60zeller]

Jokic did turn it up a notch after. The interview on TNT after Shaq said he did not vote for him for MVP

[@David-iv6je]

Ant is still a stud. All great players put up stinkers. I think officials will allow the next game to be physical. This benefits the Wolves and is also a big gut check. If the Nugs overcome that it is another demonstration of how they are champs.

[@jofieji5312]

It won’t affect the nuggets as much. They will just play physical back. The reason it threw them off in 1st half of game 2 was that it was so blatant and it took them to long to start playing physical back. They couldn’t believe the refs were actually allowing that bullcrap.

[@David-iv6je]

@@jofieji5312 Agree. It wasn't biased bullcrap, it was just not calling physical play. I've seen it in every playoffs for 40 years and it always hurts the more finessed team. I do imagine the Nugs know it might happen and will game plan for it. But even a few points swing as they adapt could allow the Wolves to steal one.

[@misinfluence]

You can’t judge the amount of help a player has by purely accolades

[@michaelahurt]

So Jamal Murray is better than Kobe and we should just ignore the MVP, scoring titles, 15 All-NBA's, 12 times All-Defense, 18 all star games and 4 all star MVP's? Those accolades don't measure how good Kobe was? No one is saying Murray sucks but no one really thinks that without Jokic he's better than Jalen Brunson or Ja Morant either Aaron Gordon is awesome, but he's not James Worthy or Kevin McHale or Draymond Green or Dennis Rodman KCP isn't Klay Thompson or Dennis Johnson or Michael Cooper or Joe Dumars Yes, Murray is better than his accolades in the same way Manu was but the guys who have 4, 8, 12 All-NBA nods *are* better than him.

[@spokenwar914]

I love to hear what sportscasters say about Nikola Jokic. About his motivations… about him wanting to prove something to his detractors… prove something to the league, the players, the coaches. Hell, prove something to Shaq. This guy plays basketball, but basketball doesn’t play him. And, certainly social media has no effect on Jokic. “It is a waste of time,” he said. The man is inwardly motivated. And one other thing (while I’m at it), I don’t believe basketball is what defines him. And THAT is why he is great. Inwardly motivated. His wife and child, his teammates, his horses. Serbia. Don’t think for one minute that Nikola Jokic cares what you think. He has a standard that is far more demanding than what other people think.

[@newagelive3542]

This is a great comment!! .. I’m always looking at Jokic like I wonder what he’s thinking. The only thing I can see jokic paying attention to narratives is when Malone uses it for the team .. and even then I would wonder what is this guy thinking

[@JokersWildOne]

The thing Bill didn’t see was that AG started bringing up the ball. KAT/Naz tried to pressure him, and he burned them multiple times going to the rim. Tried others on him, and it scrambled their assignments on the back end. No adjustment for this so far…

[@gregorcollins]

You are so right, the reactionary media was a HUGE motivator to the Nuggets coming back, how much they were writing them off.

[@travisstaggs5136]

This is what happens when you rely on Gobert and Kat in the playoffs!

[@cugelchannel4733]

Jokic is a top 10 player all time! People still can't deal with it. Who has won multiple MVPs and championships? Kareem 6, MJ, Bill Russell 5, Wilt & Lebron 4, Magic, Bird and Jokic 3, Moses Malone 3. Jokic is up there with all the NBA greats.

[@PhilDavisplus]

In the universe, this is what happens. One reaction causes another equal or greater reaction. Stock markets have big moves, which causes the next bull or bear market. It is the same with sports when dealing with higher-level teams.

[@Killdozer667]

First game was hard fought. Second was a disaster and collapse. Third one - got their stuff together and back to business again. Since game 3 everything happens more or less like it was supposed to happen.

[@jofieji5312]

Game 2 wasn’t a collapse. It was an insane amount of fouling allowed against the nuggets. They were getting fouled every play.

[@peacefulwarrior9518]

I feel like nobody knows the rules. 24 second violations are a team turnover not individual.

[@scandelez]

THANK YOU. JFC THIS IS ELEMENTARY LEVEL STUFF

[@TravelsTTG]

You did say 💯 sweep.

[@matthewmcgahey3852]

Since the end of this game I’ve seen so many respected ‘analysts’ talk about KCP taking the turnover from jokic but none of you know that it’s a team turnover and doesn’t get credited to an individual player.

[@chrisconnor8086]

Looks like KCP didnt know either

[@michaelahurt]

It's not about that. It's about the secret.

[@shorewall]

@@michaelahurt Damn straight. I think Bill's book is the magnum opus on winning basketball. He doesn't act like that anymore, focusing more on gambling than anything else. But the Secret is one of the best things anyone has talked about, and it cannot be measured.

[@michaelahurt]

@@shorewall I know there's times now I listen to Bill and I have to remind myself he's the same person who wrote that book. Lol

[@whiteundershirts]

A shot clock violation isn't charged against individual players, it's registered as a team turnover so Jokic was never at risk of picking one up and KCP didn't pick one up there either. Not a criticism since maybe KCP didn't know it either but it comes up regularly enough that I don't know how people who watch as much basketball as Simmons and Reggie don't already know that.

[@joefried6604]

Harold Lederman passed 2019 Bill RIP Harold from my same Hometown

[@maddog1805]

Why everyone look that incident with J.M. from the wrong angle. If he get suspended and Minnesota win, that would be robbery of Denver. They should play with all top players to prove who’s better. Simply Minnesota isn’t robbed, everyone plays with their best players.

[@marlonious7650]

As a bball purist, Jokic is the real deal. Once he arrived in the league I could tell he was a problem.

[@ExplodingPoteto]

The thing is media and you guys didnt wait to see what would the nuggets do in game 3 and instead most people went on the nuggets are gonna get sweep. When they are just down 0-2. They lost game one but it was a close game. They lost game 2 and that was brutal. If they lost 2 in a row like game 2 it wont be a surprise if you guys came to the conclusion of a series sweep. But they didnt.

[@siniister710]

Jamal couldn’t walk and they just got smoked at home to go down 0-2. It’s pretty standard to think any team would lose in that situation tho. I know joker get a ton of hate from clowns like shaq and shit but it’s made yall sensitive. Not to mention whining about bill who is one of the most pro joker media members is also weird.

[@ExplodingPoteto]

@@siniister710 sensitive?🤣🤣 lol i aint bias to any team. I just say its stupid to think they would get swept like that. Even if they lost 2 in home, they are the champ theres no way they will let it close out as sweep. You seen the game 4 against phx despite the loss booker and durant went mad in that game. Denver would do the same and probably snatch a game even the series close in 5 games.

[@semigeniusreally8988]

Watching Jokic in Game 5 one could believe that he could have scored 80 if they needed him to. Total dominance against a defensive world class team in the playoffs, no less. The guy is actually lazy in the sense that he only does what he has to do to win, never seeming to break a sweat. No argument about MVP anymore this year. Case closed.

[@ivanirizarry9421]

Just here to check if you still have the Wolves as an all time defensive team

[@daveonezero6258]

If you thought the Nuggets were playing decent in the first round and those first two games you weren’t paying attention. The nuggets didn’t play anywhere near their potential. These last 3 games are how the Nuggets really look and play.

[@omgbygollywow]

It's all Shaq's fault. When Shaq dissed Joker in the MVP award presentation, he woke the sleeping giant, poked the bear, grabbed the tiger by the tail, played with fire, opened Pandora's box, shot himself in the foot, let the dogs out, put a hit on Vito Corleone, lit the fuse, drank the kool-aid, unleashed the kraken, wrote a check he couldn't cover, leaped before looking, painted himself into a corner, stole John Wick's car and killed his dog, put his foot in his mouth, brought a knife to a gunfight, boarded the USS Titanic, tugged on Superman's cape, spit into the wind, pulled the mask off the old Lone Ranger and messed around with Jim.

[@markbantz9699]

Best defense ever! Who is that gut!!

[@pjmartin3666]

Come on!!! To argue he isn’t playing with any talent is ludicrous! Murray and Gordon are damn good. Porter’s pretty good too. Everyone sacrifices on that team and that’s why don’t have more individual accolades

[@ericpeters0n]

"Don't know why MIN isn't playing defense like they were in G1+2..." lol Big TV, eh? C'mon... Refs calling quick fouls to kill the jailball defensive approach, Nugs having Gordon bring the ball up to relieve pressure on Murray...

[@travisnoffsinger4507]

Yeah i actually felt bad for Rudy as well. What do all these people think he can do?? Jokic is doing this to Wemby and the rest of the league as well. 😮

[@shorewall]

He just did it to AD in the last round, and the Nuggets weren't even trying then. A lot of people hate Rudy for no reason. That goes into this. It isn't about what's happening, it's about their hate boner for Gobert. Same as the haters who came out of the Woodwork for Joker when they were down 0-2.

[@silkee1922]

Y'all forgot about the Bubble Nuggets. It's y'all.😂

[@GoRavens520]

Gobert did his best on defense and did his thing on offense. You just expect a little more from the DPOY and considering how much they gave up for him.

[@michaelrhudak]

Jokic is the best player in the world and my favorite to watch, but man...I don't know if there's a player right now other than Lebron with so many vocal, obnoxious online fans.

[@michaelmiller6064]

Early game they picked them up full court and Murray really struggled against Edwards D, but yeah I felt like Towns and Reid were better matchups against Jokic

[@ME-jq3hm]

Jokic isn't JUST destroying DPOY but also 6th man!! Timberwolves got TWO trophies and Joker is KILLING them both! Also Denver held Ant to 18 pts. He's not MJ yet mfers!!

[@michaelahurt]

To be fair Ant's lack of scoring was more about how he's used and how the game is played today. You literally couldn't guard MJ the way Denver guarded Ant because it is technically a zone and zone defenses were illegal MJ's entire career. And MJ played way more off ball so teams couldn't load up on him like this. But as Ant said -- he'll never be MJ. But he is (probably) the closest physically in terms of size, strength, quickness, leaping, body control and touch around the basket. It's him, Ja or Wade. And Ja is smaller and a negative on defense so really it's Ant or Wade.

[@Hmongbookie]

They don’t give you a turnover for that

[@nugglife3035]

Shut up Bill... You definitely called a sweep for Minnesota. What's the matter? Not big sports guys? 😂😂😂

[@skillz0122]

Bill Simmons don't overreact with you Pantheon list. After the 2021 playoffs you called Kevin Durant a top 10 alltime player, he dominated in the playoffs that year but won no significant awards. He got swept the next year and you ended up walking it back.

[@nicksimpson9601]

Bill I dunno if you read this, and Wolves fans need it too. But Jamal getting suspended for that heat pack throw would be kindling for a forever argument to the Wolves winning the chip if they had put the Nuggets away as they should. Similar to the narrative since Denvers first chip last year (no real opponents). You're a narrative driver, so imagine the Wolves are up 2-0, but Murray was out for that third game for that heat pack nonsense. Then it goes 3-0, Nuggets get one, maybe two. Wolves come out on top. Maybe they beat the Celtics / Knicks for the chip. BUT the same slander against Jokic over the past years goes up against Ant and KAT. "Wolves had an easy run, Suns a mess,; Nuggets without Murray and discombobulated; OKC too young / Mavs with an injured Doncic. AND THEN Celtics (as its lookin) without KP. But the Wolves are the one. Is that earned? Is that the best?

[@shorewall]

For real, it would take away from the Playoffs. Bill brings up the Suns/Spurs series, saying that he wished that those players weren't suspended, but now he wants Murray to be suspended? Embiid wrenched Robinson's leg, who was just coming off of an injury, and now is out for the playoffs while his team tries to advance. Can you imagine if it were reversed? If Robinson tried to injure Embiid like that, they may have executed him. But for Embiid, not only was he not suspended, but it was memory holed so much that people aren't even bringing it up in this Murray example. If the Wolves can't beat the Nuggets with Murray, then why should they win at all? Injuries are a part of the game, but suspensions are a choice. No one was hit, no one was hurt, and this is the first time Murray has done anything like this. The Ref even said if he saw it, he would have just given Murray a tech. Media and fans talking about it like they are the refs.

[@keithkellogg5325]

And I’m sick of Green opening his mouth when Josic killed him like he would kill Shaq also he’s that good

[@jofieji5312]

All the goofballs that wouldn’t admit how awful the reffing was in game two and just said it was an “all time great defensive performance from the wolves” look dumb. Game 2 wolves were allowed to play football. Since then with normal refereeing everything looks different.

[@ericwillis3015]

You dont shoot in that situation because you dont need to get injured or have funny bounce that give the other team momentum

[@fonzeee3516]

Idk why anyone doubted the nuggets. Champions are build different.

[@racimegacar]

Embiid didn't suspended when he made dirty move, Ant didn't suspended when he throw a chear last yr....

[@WesMantooth11]

SHOT CLOCK VIOLATION DOES NOT COUNT AS AN INDIVIDUAL TURNOVER IT'S ASSESSED TO THE TEAM ONLY

[@Crystar500]

Justin Termine looks like a bootleg Bob Odenkirk

[@guitarwithpete]

yes joker is great but malone is making moves and adjustments and doesn't need to while finch is not making any adjustments and Really needs to. this series is as much about getting out coached as it is about getting out played. astonishing that finch has not changed up the defense on joker. i would seriously play all 3 bigs at the same time (for the wolves) and play a 2-3 zone. why not? at this point there's nothing to lose.

[@Silverfox1982]

But…but…i thought Lebron made every teammate better? One of the biggest media lies in sports history. Really a pathetic narrative to try to boost Lebron. Jokic actually does make teammates better.

[@phillipschuman4307]

That's what Larry Bird said, as a GM. He was offered a trade involving several of Bron's teammates on the Cavs. He turned it down, saying Bron made them look a lot better than they were. Bird was a good judge of talent.

[@joeshmoe8134]

I'm convinced Bill has a huge wager on Timberwolves beating Denver which is why he's so salty about Jamal not getting suspended. He's so basic.

[@shorewall]

100%. Sometimes Bill just lingers on things too long, and you think, hmmm, must have some money on that. Gambling is gonna ruin all Pro Sports.

[@Honestly__now]

Mr efficient…. GOAT… it’s the best peak ever… how long it lasts who knows

[@billyconn3]

1. Joker 2. Jamal 3. A Gordon

[@Mac2Mon]

For going down 0-2 to come back & win we’re not going to mention 2021 Bucks in the finals?!? 👍 Bill Simmons

[@GiantsHunt]

Joel Embiid is the James Harden of big men

[@michaelahurt]

James Harden is the Joel Embiid of guards honestly. Maybe this year moved him up a little but Embiid was actually worse by the numbers compared to Harden vs regular season this past summer

[@andreaswiedemann3163]

has the hypetrain left minnesota station?

[@markbantz9699]

Guy didn’t mentioned MJ! Wtf.

[@anycoveryoulike7510]

"Passing is pretty infectious on this team.. outside of Michael Porter Jr" LMAO

[@shanajennings9273]

Oh come on.....he had one assist last night. 😂

[@TommyDavidVerbal]

That ain't his job

[@solidsnake7167]

@@TommyDavidVerbal Take a joke chief, Michael Porter is a big boy itll be ok

[@daltonfarris]

MPJ is passing more than Murray these days, that joke is so old it still thinks MPJ is farm equipment.

[@robertriteman3227]

MPj deserves a lot of respect given the stress he must carry knowing his brothers are idiots who ruined their lives - he has a been a real pro.

[@MisterBadass]

Jokic just eventually figures things out which is why Denver should be the favorite over any team. He's insanely efficient and consistent. Jokic almost shot 70% from the floor against the DPOY while dropping 40 points and his next level passing allows his teammates have such an easier job. What an absolute offensive juggernaut.

[@Honestly__now]

He shot 79%

[@David-iv6je]

Let's give some credit to Coach Malone as well. This is a great TEAM. Edit: I loved Simmon's observation that KCP took the ball so Jokic didn't get a turnover. AG has gone to Serbia in the Summer. TEAM.

[@ryleyleseberg7422]

@@Honestly__now 88% when Gobert was primary defender.

[@mj23goat3]

13 dimes with zero turnovers. That some prime Stockton levels of efficiency right there.

[@David-iv6je]

@@mj23goat3 Right? He's so boring about doing it we can lose track of how remarkable it is.

[@stevealves3059]

I think they forgot the nuggets in the bubble, who came back from consecutive 1-3 series, but eventually fell to the Lakers. Those, series were the first flashes, for me, of Jokic's greatness.

[@ruthvik78]

and jamals insanely great and tough shot making skill by running around the whole floor and fading multiple directions that shit was so cold!

[@VincenzoBarbato]

they only fell to the lakers thanks to a last second AD super lucky shot that if he tried 10 more times he'd never make again

[@misinfluence]

@@VincenzoBarbatoWait that shot decided the series? That’s amazing I didn’t know that. It was game 7? Oh wait no it wasn’t. It’s ok to admit the lakers were better in 2020 lmao weirdo

[@BoxOffice22]

@@misinfluence they were better but Jokic was the second best player on the floor. Only AD was better to me.

[@misinfluence]

@@BoxOffice22Jokic was not even close to better than Lebron that series. Lebron was putting up 27 10 and 9 playing great perimeter defense please stop these weird narratives. Jokic is great right now yes but trying to rewrite past series is ridiculous he wasn’t the player he is now in 2020

[@manz7860]

Can't wait to see the Twolves crush the Celtics.

[@terry7907]

Can’t wait to see Simmons react to Denver crushing Boston.

[@JamZulueta]

Can't wait to see Simmons reacting to how he's reacted

[@OCPARKWAY]

It's going to be fun to watch...Nuggets in 6 over Boston is my pick..

[@nathanharrison2839]

What are the Celtics doing that makes you think they will get “crushed “?

[@nathanharrison2839]

I think that will be a pretty fun match up. Can I promise the Celtics will beat the Nuggets? Of course not but it is funny to me that Celtics are hitting every mark of a ascending champion. They are first in every metric you can use. Tatum has won more playoff games and scored more playoff points than anyone since he got in the league and if they win this year he will get one faster than Lebron/Curry/Shaq/Jordan. They’re the only team that wins consistently and the narrative is “yeah but I don’t like how they won. 😂😂😂

[@Von199X]

And he doesn't get injured like Giannis and Embiid does

[@Krazyabe]

Feel bad for Rudy this morning. 7-7 18 pts 12 reb 4stks. And all anyone's talking about is how bad he got torched 🤣

[@eugeniovaldez7205]

You have not seen the game it seems! Rudy was atrocious, bad, really really bad! No passion, no effort no motivation no motor! The worst Timberwolf

[@michaelahurt]

Going 7/7 oversells how effective he was on offense though. His inability to make plays in the short roll or punish smaller defenders on post ups really hurts Minnesota. Rudy wasn't even bad on defense, Jokic is just that good.

[@matthewgabbard6415]

@@eugeniovaldez7205Bomani Jones calls him and Townes 14 feet of disappointment haha

[@matthewbecker964]

The surprising thing is that your surprised. How did you forget how excellent a team the nuggets are? Jokic is so good it's nuts, and it"s nuts you didn't know how good he was, plus Shaq pissed him off. People in denver know what a competitor Joker is and that he can have a bad temper when pushed.

[@siniister710]

I mean Jamal couldn’t move after game 2. I don’t think bill forgot Jokic was good, he’s been a leading bandwagon member of is for a while.

[@20dieux]

It is still very hard for a team to go back-to-back on a championship, it is also rare for a team to win after being 0-2 at home(although it isn't done yet) and it is also rare to turn the situation 180° like that so I can understand the prediction done (outside of they're getting swept, that was too much). Because they were really getting crushed in those 2 games so it seemed unprobable that Nuggets would go 3-0 from there, but they did, that really shows their mental strength and good coaching too.

[@marcr196]

It wasn't Jokic, its that Jamal Murray looked bad.

[@abefrohammer3105]

Without suspending Embid, they couldnt suspend Murray.

[@ItcamefromtheVorrh]

Denvers run last year was dominant, period. Including beating this same Wolves team in 5 games

[@benbengalykaba2957]

Gobert did his job 18pts 7/7 12 reb 2blks and 2 stls. But Jokic is unstopable, the man can dominate anyone with his skills, strengh and Game IQ.

[@slavajuri]

Everyone knows offensive superstars are never truly stopped by one person. Most of the time the only one who can them is themselves. Absolutely bizarre Gobert is held to that standard.

[@Dopeboynumba1]

Gobert numbers misleading. Nuggs were consistently leaving gobert open in the pick and roll and he could not make the necessary passes and we all know he can't create for himself. Goberts lack of post game and offensive skill is sad

[@rollingwins]

Jokic dominated last night