The Nuggets started with a 9-0 run against last season’s eliminator, the Spurs, which gave them some relief.
In the playoffs, player injuries severely damaged the team’s strength, resulting in a series loss, which was frustrating.
Every basket in that 9-0 run was spectacular.
However, Nuggets fans weren’t satisfied, wanting nothing less than to shut up that old dog Popovich.
On the court, Jokic, Butler, and Zeng Xingyang felt quite at ease, sharing the organizational duties without fighting for ball control.
Sitting on the sidelines, Connelly wore a relieved smile, as many fans wanted him, the general manager, fired over the summer.
Now that the game play was evident, it proved his maneuvers were worthwhile.
After the timeout, the Nuggets continued to suppress the Spurs.
The Nuggets’ defense was extremely strong, frequently stalling the Spurs’ passing and forcing them into isolation plays.
After some time, Aldridge and Leonard barely adapted to the entirely new Nuggets’ confrontation and rhythm, picking up scattered points for the Spurs.
But their offensive success rate wasn’t high, and whenever they made a mistake or gave up long rebounds, the Nuggets quickly launched a counterattack.
Jokic, Zeng Xingyang, and Butler are strong in counter-attack isolation and in passing, and with Pope and Gordon finishing the fast breaks efficiently, it made it hard for the Spurs to defend these breaks.
The Nuggets’ showtime kept increasing, and the cheers in the Pepsi Center in Denver came wave after wave.
At the end of the first quarter, the score was 46-24, with the Nuggets leading by 22 points at home.
Many watching the game through various media outlets were surprised.
The Spurs had only lost Duncan to retirement; why were they being crushed by the Nuggets?
The Nuggets weren’t leading just because the starters were strong, but also because the substitutes were quite formidable.
No one expected Brogdon, substituting for Zeng Xingyang, to come up and immediately hit two three-pointers, extending the lead, followed by Siakam’s series of low-post mid-range plays....
Many Nuggets players were indeed inexperienced, while the Spurs seemed just to be handing them their experience.
Zeng Xingyang had 8 points, 8 assists, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals in the first quarter; Jokic had 9 points and 6 rebounds, Butler had 7 points and 3 boards, Gordon had 6 points...
The Nuggets’ scoring was well-balanced, and the Spurs’ defense, initially directed at Zeng Xingyang and Jokic, was torn apart by such team-wide firing.
In last season’s playoffs, defending the Nuggets’ offense was relatively simple for the Spurs; as long as they locked down Zeng Xingyang and Jokic, the Nuggets’ offense seemed incapable of defeating them.
But now, the Nuggets have many scoring threats, and it seemed the Spurs’ defense simply couldn’t handle it.
From the first quarter’s perspective, such a team seemingly only has minor problems, because their on-court basketball IQ dictates they won’t act recklessly.
They deal with the ball in the most appropriate ways while on court.
This ball-handling talent shows up in the details, like how rookies who may not respect Butler off the court still opt to give him the ball to handle the play.
Because Butler doesn’t ignore passing to someone just because he dislikes them.
That’s just messing around; getting serious is a whole different story.
With the Nuggets leading so much after the first quarter, people thought Zeng Xingyang and Jokic would rest for a long spell, giving the Spurs an opportunity to catch up.
The bench lineup for the Nuggets was Brogdon, Harris, Butler, Siakam, and Grant.
Popovich almost burst into laughter, for the Spurs had Aldridge on the court. As long as Aldridge caught the ball inside, he could crush such a small lineup.
Aldridge didn’t consider the Nuggets’ second lineup a threat; he had faced Grant last season, and in a one-on-one situation, he could dominate inside!
As for that rookie, Siakam?
Aldridge wasn’t concerned about him, just a rookie.
Aldridge believed this second lineup was the Spurs’ chance to catch up.
Meanwhile, Siakam was already warming up and ready, looking at Aldridge.
Siakam came on in the second quarter’s closing moments, feeling in great shape, and wasn’t afraid of Aldridge.
Aldridge got the ball inside, pinned Grant behind him, ready for an isolation play.
But the Nuggets’ defense gave Aldridge no chance, with Siakam and Butler coming to trap and swipe the ball away.
Aldridge hurriedly passed it out to Mills on the perimeter.
Mills faced Harris’ pressure on the perimeter, adjusted his dribbling, then drove inside.
Mills didn’t find a scoring chance and tried to pass it back to Aldridge.
But the inside was congested with waving arms, and several people were there; Aldridge couldn’t secure a good catch and fell to the ground.
Even then, Butler and Siakam didn’t give up, pouncing to continue the scramble, and Grant joined in, reaching all over.
Amid the chaos, Aldridge wanted to call a timeout but couldn’t, as Siakam stole the ball.
Siakam quickly passed to the frontcourt to Brogdon.
This was a fast-break opportunity; a confident Brogdon opted for a transition three-pointer.
Fortunately, Siakam followed up and grabbed the rebounding ball, then leaped beneath the basket to score with a layup.
The Nuggets’ score was double that of the Spurs.
This possession told the outside world that thinking the Spurs could use the second lineup to catch up was clearly over-optimistic.
Though it was a small lineup, once the ball got to Aldridge, there’d be a crowd coming to trap and swipe the ball.
The Spurs’ attack came again.
Once again, they got it to Aldridge.
Aldridge missed a turnaround fallaway under double-team pressure; Grant secured the rebound. Googlᴇ search NovelHub(.)net
Grant passed the ball to Butler.
Butler was the ball-handling and organizing core of the second lineup.
Butler dribbled to the frontcourt, went directly to a high post, backed into Danny Green beside him, and continued to knock him.
As Butler slammed into Danny Green in motion, he drew the Spurs’ inside attention, allowing Brogdon to slip under the basket quickly.
Butler decisively jumped and passed to Brogdon beneath the basket, and by the time Aldridge returned, it was too late. Brogdon easily scored.
In half-court set plays under Butler’s organization, the Nuggets had excellent rhythm, and Brogdon’s off-ball play fit very well into the Nuggets’ system.