The Defending Champs Reign Supreme: Nuggets Outlast Celtics in Potential Finals Preview
The Defending Champs Reign Supreme: Nuggets Outlast Celtics in Potential Finals Preview
As the season goes on, the significance of regular-season games becomes smaller and smaller for a team like the Boston Celtics. The Eastern Conference is all but wrapped up, but Thursday night was the rare occasion when a regular-season game felt important.
A late-night thriller in Colorado against the Denver Nuggets, who bested them by one point earlier in the season. A potential Finals preview with the reigning champs and the team with the best record in the league.
From the tip, it was clear both teams wanted this game. But one team executed better, and they were led by a monster Serbian who dropped a 30-point triple-double.
The Man of the Hour: Nikola Jokic
Barring an unforeseen citizenship change, that man was none other than Nikola Jokic. The reigning MVP tormented the Celtics team that let the rope slip through their fingers in a few key areas throughout the night.
"This was a big game. We wanted to win this one," said Kristaps Porzingis. "It stings. It stings real bad. But I like that there's a big margin that we can improve [upon] from this game."
Where the Celtics Faltered
Following an ugly loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night, the Celtics got outplayed. Plain and simple. But as Porzingis noted, their gaffes came in improvable areas.
1. Jayson Tatum's Suboptimal Performance
Tatum's five turnovers, lack of initial aggressiveness, and missed three-pointer late in the game outline a rough outing for the Celtics star. The Nuggets pressured him almost any time he got the ball, making it difficult for him to make the reads he's usually comfortable finding.
2. Lack of Communication on Defense
From the very first play of the game, the Celtics were thrown off by the Nuggets' off-ball movement. Communication problems were highlighted by quick cuts by Denver's role players, as Boston failed to keep up with their rapid offense. Aaron Gordon thrived in this environment, crashing the glass and throwing down ferocious dunks.
3. Missed Free Throws
Jaylen Brown was absolutely stellar against Denver, scoring 41 points. But shooting 7-of-14 from the line is a tough pill to swallow. The curse trickled over to the rest of the team, too, as Tatum and Porzingis both missed free throws. Boston shot a dismal 16-of-25 from the charity stripe in a game they lost by six points.
The Defending Champs Reign Supreme
Combined with a myriad of other minute hitches, the Celtics simply made too many errors. Despite the loss, they remain a formidable force in the East. But this game was a reminder that the defending champion Denver Nuggets, led by the unstoppable Nikola Jokic, are still at the top of the NBA mountain.
As the playoffs approach, the Nuggets look poised to defend their throne, while the Celtics have some areas to tighten up if they hope to dethrone the reigning kings of the NBA.
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Thanks-Jason