This Is The Time…

So, I had it on my list to blog this week, but no drop-mic idea occurred to me. Then, I thought about it when I was cleaning our AirBnb tonight, and, oddly, the idea came at the same exact time as me humming the classic tune by Billy Joel (without Spotify being on). Weird.

Anyway, I have no bullet points. I have no plan. But, I definitely need to get my failed bracket off the main page as most recent post. THAT is for sure. You BLEW it, Houston, and a big future bet payoff for me. Dammit. Anyway. So, here we go. You have me for 30 minutes tops, as the Nuggets game is about to tip…

The NBA Playoffs have started. I live in Denver. Hmmmm. What should I talk about? Oh yeah. The obvious thing…

When a star player hits his prime, you have to take advantage of it. You have to get players on the team that will maximize that prime, especially when that star player really loves his family, his home country, and horses slightly more than the beauty of Denver and a chase for another ring.

Let’s take a step back though, and look at the lyrics from that song I was humming by Mr. Joel.

This is the time to remember
‘Cause it will not last forever
These are the days to hold on to
‘Cause we won’t, although we’ll want to

This is the time
But time is gonna change
You’ve given me the best of you
And now I need the rest of you

Now, let’s make some minor sports modifications…

This is the time to remember
‘Cause Jokic’s prime will not last forever
These are the days to hold on to
‘Cause we won’t, although we’ll want to

This is the time
But his age is gonna change
He’s given us the best of him
And now we need the rest of them

Nikola Jokic is one of a kind. Seriously. He arguably is the most skilled big man to ever touch a basketball. And, he has that one title. The time is now for another magical run, and I personally think they can do it (even if I don’t, let’s pretend for a second).

What are the problems?

1. Change of coach three games before the playoffs.
2. No trades before the trade deadline, and losses by key contributors over the last two years at defensive positions.
3. So, if #2 is correct, if someone gets in foul trouble, we are toast.
4. No bench production really to speak of. No monumental growth from a player or two during the regular season to give fans hope.
5. Jamal Murray A) only plays during the playoffs with effort, B) might have lingering injury problems, and C) seems to have a stoner personality through it all. Not really telling us he isn’t passionate, but not really providing obvious proof that he is.
6. The Nuggets aren’t ever really interested in getting a first quarter lead.
7. They might get injected with energy with a new coach, but not sure that solves all of the defensive deficiencies. Those deficiencies would be another three bullet points, so let’s move on.
8. Russell Westbrook either wins them games or loses them games. One way or the other, he is an exciting sub. But, he DOES provide effort that inspires other players, love him or hate him. I go back and forth.
9. We didn’t leapfrog the Rockets or Lakers, so we are stuck with the Thunder juggernaut in the second round.
10. The list goes on. As I said, I prepared no bullet points for this presentation.

But, I am writing this as an optimist. What are the good things?

1. We have the best player in the league.
2. Our starting five is arguably the best in the league.
3. We have home court advantage in Round 1.
4. We play at a Mile High in altitude.
5. Some of the players were on the winning title team.
6. We have the best player in the league.
7. I think that is it for now.

The glass is half full. So, how are we beating the other teams in the West?

1. Thunder: Remember that although talented, they are VERY young still. Maybe still a year away, and SGA vs. Jokic will be personal, given the MVP votes that no doubt will lean SGA even during the best stats of Jokic yet.
2. Rockets: WAY too young, and no go-to clutch time scorers. Just a bunch of young, athletic hoopsters who were a really good regular season team.
3. Lakers: No inside game nor depth, redundant ball handlers with Luka and LeBron they are still figuring out a plan for.
4. Us
5. Clippers: They are one of the hottest teams, but they still have James Harden, and he is an unproven true winner. Plus, Kawhi is just weird.
6. Timberwolves: They traded away Towns, and are not the same team. Randle and Company are a shadow of the previous machine they were. Ant Man is better, but he can’t do it alone.
7. Warriors: They are aging, and don’t have Klay anymore. We would have home court, and Draymond admits to not being able to guard Jokic.
8. Grizzlies: Ja is a head case, they are too young, and they might be smoked by the Thunder before you even read this.

So, how are we going to do this? I will tell you.

1. Jokic will simply be Jokic, and not get into foul trouble in any game. If he does, DeAndre Jordan will find past youth in that game.
2. Jamal Murray will give us enough glimpses of his playoff self to help Jokic occasionally.
3. Adelman will trust playing Jordan and Strawther a little more, and PLAY them for rest sake for the stars.
4. Aaron Gordon will be Orlando Magic All-Star Aaron Gordon in a couple of games. His shooting is the key. He is teasing us with three-point efficiency, and our five is unguardable if he is on offensively.
5. Porter will gain his magical three-point touch in a couple of needed games. Maybe even hit the floor for loose balls and grab some tough rebounds. OK. You are right. Just hit the three’s Michael.
6. Russell Westbrook will limit turnovers somehow for the entire playoff run. Maverick told Rooster “Don’t think. Just do.” Well, in Russell’s case, and glad he is not flying an F-18 or F-14, but he should THINK every once in a while.
7. Christian Braun had a playoff awakening last year and won us a game or two. SOMEONE among Strawther, Pickett, or Watson will have that same step forward in this playoff run. Not all of them are needed. Just one of them. We will get in a situation where we need them badly, and one of them will deliver randomly. Then, coach will give that person more minutes for the remainder of the title run.

Here is the silver lining folks. The NBA doesn’t reseed, so we are stuck with the Thunder in the second round. IF we can beat the Clippers and somehow get past the Thunder, we get a more “lax” series. Why? Because I truly believe the rest of the teams are beatable. Really! See above! So, we have a tougher than we wanted first round series, and then a near impossible series in Round 2. Then, we will beat the hell out of someone in the Conference Finals and be able to rest our players before the real problem…the Celtics. If we make it that far, I will post another one on how we will accomplish THAT. Here is the other thing. If we make an improbable run, we will get any free agent we want in the offseason. Because if Jokic can win it all with no bench and with only an occasional effort from Jamal, there is truly no ceiling to his potential.

Wait. I just looked back on what I crazily wrote in like 18 minutes. I had no bullet points for this one, and yet like half my blog points are in list form. Sort of ironic…

Life feels longer, and days are better when you are an optimist like me. The sun is always shining, the glass is always half full, and the Nuggets will make a run and win another title in 2025. You should join me in my eternal happiness, as stress is much less daily. And, remember, this is the time…

And, most importantly, remember the last lyrics I showed you. “And now we need the rest of them…” SOMEONE please grow up or find your past magic very quickly…