Nuggets reveal key to confidence ahead of Game 7

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 30: Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets is greeted by teammate on the bench after the Nuggets win against the Utah Jazz in Game Six of the Western Conference First Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 30, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - AUGUST 30: Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets is greeted by teammate on the bench after the Nuggets win against the Utah Jazz in Game Six of the Western Conference First Round during the 2020 NBA Playoffs at AdventHealth Arena at ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex on August 30, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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After two impressive wins, the Denver Nuggets are relaxed entering Game 7 against the Utah Jazz.

The Denver Nuggets find themselves preparing to play their third Game 7 in just two postseason’s time, as they face off against an impressive Utah Jazz team on Sunday. Due to their familiarity with the feeling of being in a ‘win or go home’ matchup, the Nuggets have discovered that they’re quite comfortable heading into Tuesday’s game.

Speaking to reporters, both Nuggets center Nikola Jokic and head coach Michael Malone discussed Denver’s mindset ahead of Game 7 (h/t ESPN’s Ohm Youngmisuk).

According to Joker, “… it has been Game 7 the last two games for us … Maybe that is why we are playing so relaxed … The energy is still win or go home so we just need to give the effort. We don’t give up on the plays, rebound and just help each other. That is why we are playing really good right now.”

Malone’s statement mirrors his star big man’s, as he says that “…this will be our third Game 7 already … It is something where we have been here before. Our guys understand that every possession matters and I think we will have a comfort level because of the fact that we have been here before last season and in Game 5 and Game 6.”

After the Nuggets didn’t qualify for the playoffs in the 2016-17 or 2017-18 season, coming in at 9th place in the West in both seasons (with a 40-42 and 46-36 record in those seasons, respectively), a few players that make up Denver’s core rotation got their first taste of the postseason in 2018-19.

Finishing last season with a 54-28 record, notching the West’s second seed, the Nuggets played Gregg Popovich’s San Antonio Spurs in the first round. The series went to seven games with Denver and San Antonio traded punches; the Nuggets stringing together back-to-back wins in Game 4 and Game 5 ultimately proved to be the difference-maker for Denver.

Facing Damian Lillard’s Portland Trail Blazers in the semifinal round, the Nuggets won Game 1 (which they were unable to do against the Spurs) and strung together back-to-back wins in Game 4 and Game 5 again. Yet, while they were able to get Lillard to shoot an uncharacteristically inefficient 40.7% from the field and 28.8% from 3 in Game 7, they allowed his backcourt running-mate to go off. Averaging 26.4 points per game on 45.5% shooting from the field and 37.5% from 3-point range.

In fact, while they held Lillard to 13 points on 3-17 shooting in Game 7, they allowed McCollum to score 37 points on 17-29 shooting from the field. It was a four-point loss for the Nuggets but one in which they allowed the Trail Blazers to win because they missed 11 free-throws and went 2-19 from deep.

However, this particular playoff series has been different for Denver for a multitude of reasons.

On the negative side, they’ve played without two staples of their rotation (Gary Harris and Will Barton) for the vast majority of the first round. In addition, porous defense and lethargic play in general allowed Utah to amass a 3-1 lead thanks to two blowout losses in Game 2 and Game 3.

As a result, the Nuggets’ back has been against the wall for the last two games and in their series’ against both Portland and San Antonio, they weren’t in a do-or-die game until the very end. Still, this has brought out the best of Denver and thanks to superb performances from Jamal Murray and improvements to their defense, the Nuggets have been able to battle back.

Which brings me to the positives of the series, and the reason Denver should be confident heading into Game 7.

First off, Murray has ascended onto a plane that you can simply call ‘the zone’ but it’s a superstar level that’s seen him become far more of a factor this postseason than he was last year. The Nuggets also seems to have made the defensive adjustments — and brought the energy — that have been necessary to slow down Utah’s offense.

Part of it is due to what Jokic told reporters, the team is covering for each other. They’re swarming to the ball and when one of them makes a mistake they move on to the next possession.

Denver’s experience in ‘winner takes all’ games doesn’t give them an advantage, as the Jazz have plenty of rotation players who are familiar with the feeling. However, so long as the Nuggets are confident, have momentum, have each other’s backs and they’re in a rhythm, they should have a great chance to become the 12th team to battle back from a 3-1 series deficit.

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Time will tell how Denver fares in Game 7 but they have every reason to be relaxed heading into it.