Nuggets beat T-Wolves, Jokic dominates & Brunson leads Knicks past Pacers | NBA | FIRST THINGS FIRST
Summary
TLDRThe transcript discusses a dynamic NBA game featuring Joker, who delivered an impressive performance with 40 points, 13 rebounds, and zero turnovers. The conversation praises Joker's skill, particularly under pressure, and debates the concept of 'gentlemanliness' in competitive sports. It also touches on the importance of coaching, as exemplified by Michael Malone's strategic technical foul. The speakers analyze various players' contributions and the potential impact of injuries on performance. They further delve into the psychological aspects of the game, such as body language and the perception of weakness or resilience. The summary also highlights the significance of turnovers in the game and the critical role they play in team dynamics. The discussion is rich with insights into player performance, team strategies, and the intense, high-stakes atmosphere of the NBA playoffs.
Takeaways
- 🏀 Joker (Nikola Jokic) had an outstanding game with 40 points, 13 rebounds, and zero turnovers, showcasing his dominance especially in high-pressure situations.
- 📈 The Denver Nuggets' defense was praised for doubling Anthony Edwards and protecting the rim effectively, which was a significant adjustment from their previous game.
- 🎯 Michael Malone, the Nuggets' coach, was highlighted for his effective technical adjustments during the game, which influenced the momentum.
- 🚫 The importance of limiting turnovers was emphasized, as Joker's zero turnovers game was a notable achievement compared to the rest of the NBA.
- 🌟 Anthony Edwards was acknowledged for his potential, but there was a suggestion that he needed to be more aggressive, especially when facing double teams.
- 🏆 Discussion about the historical context of young players leading their teams to the NBA finals, with a comparison to Magic Johnson and LeBron James.
- 🤔 Concerns were raised about Denver's tendency to relax during games, which could be a potential weakness in a closely contested series.
- 👀 There was a debate about the criteria for being considered a 'superstar' in the NBA, with Jaylen Brunson's recent performances being a point of contention.
- 📊 Stats were mentioned to support arguments, such as Joker's 32 points, 16 rebounds, and 16 assists in a game, a feat only accomplished by a few players in NBA history.
- 🎶 A humorous tone was maintained throughout the discussion, with references to 'gentlemanliness' and the idea of 'club admissions' for NBA players.
- 📺 The conversation concluded with a reminder for viewers to subscribe for more content, indicating the show's engagement with its audience.
Q & A
Who had a standout performance with 40 points, 13 rebounds, and zero turnovers in the game discussed?
-Jokic had an exceptional game with 40 points, 13 rebounds, and zero turnovers, showcasing his ability to play well under pressure.
What was the criticism towards the Timberwolves' performance in the game?
-The criticism was that Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. didn't make their mark on the game, and Anthony Edwards was expected to be more aggressive, especially when facing a double team.
What was the significance of Jokic's zero turnovers in the game?
-Jokic's zero turnovers were significant as it demonstrated his ability to maintain possession and avoid giving the opposition free points, which is crucial in a closely contested playoff game.
What was the Nuggets' strategy adjustment that was praised in the game?
-The Nuggets' strategy of doubling Anthony Edwards and protecting the rim more effectively in game four was praised as a nice adjustment from coach Michael Malone.
Why was there a discussion about the term 'gentleman' in the context of the game?
-The term 'gentleman' was discussed in the context of sportsmanship and the level of competition. It was used to describe the idea of giving an opponent a fair chance or not, with different opinions on what constitutes a 'true gentleman' in a competitive scenario.
What was the historical achievement mentioned for Jokic after his performance?
-Jokic's performance led to a discussion about his place among the greatest players in NBA history, with the speaker moving him ahead of Moses Malone in their personal ranking.
What was the criticism towards Draymond Green's commentary on Rudy Gobert's performance?
-The criticism was that Draymond Green, despite being a body language expert, might not provide an unbiased view on Rudy Gobert's performance, potentially influencing public perception unfairly.
Why was there a debate about Jaylen Brunson's inclusion in the 'Club Superstar'?
-The debate was due to Brunson's exceptional performance in the playoffs, leading to discussions about whether he should be considered a superstar and included in the 'Club Superstar', a hypothetical group of elite players.
What was the significance of the technical foul committed by coach Michael Malone?
-Coach Michael Malone's technical foul was significant as it led to three consecutive charges for the Nuggets, which may have shifted the momentum of the game in their favor.
What was the prediction made about the outcome of the series between the Nuggets and the Timberwolves?
-The prediction was that the series would go to seven games, with the possibility of the Timberwolves winning, despite the Nuggets being the more confident and experienced team.
What was the final pick made for the next game in the series?
-The final pick was that Denver would win the series in seven games, acknowledging that anything could happen in a seventh game scenario.
Outlines
🏀 NBA Player Performance and Strategy Analysis
The first paragraph discusses a basketball game where a player, referred to as 'Joker', had an outstanding performance with 40 points, 13 rebounds, and zero turnovers. The discussion also touches on the importance of celebrating achievements carefully and the varying levels of 'gentlemanliness' in the game. The speakers analyze team dynamics, the impact of coaching, and the role of turnovers in games. They praise Anthony Edwards and discuss the defensive strategies against him. The paragraph concludes with a focus on the impressive stats of Joker, highlighting his zero turnovers and comparing them to the rest of the NBA.
📊 Statistical Breakdown and Player Comparison
The second paragraph delves into the statistics of the game, emphasizing the perfect offensive play and the high-quality defense showcased. It discusses the performance of various players, including Rudy, Michael Malone, and Draymond. The speakers debate the impact of coaching decisions and the potential bias in critiques from certain players. They also discuss the value of defensive players and how great offense can overshadow even the best defense. The paragraph ends with a critique of Anthony Edwards' performance and the pressure on young players to lead their teams to the finals.
🤔 Speculation on Future Games and Team Morale
The third paragraph focuses on speculation about future games in the series, discussing the potential for a team to quit or show weakness. It talks about the resilience of certain players and the importance of not displaying vulnerability to opponents. The discussion moves on to the chances of a team coming back from a deficit, the historical precedent for such comebacks, and the importance of experience in critical games. The speakers express differing opinions on the likelihood of the series going to a seventh game and the potential outcomes.
🏆 Debate Over Superstar Status and Playoff Performance
The fourth paragraph is centered around the debate over who qualifies as a superstar in the NBA. It highlights Jaylen Brunson's performance and his admission into an exclusive 'Club Superstar'. The discussion includes the comparison of Brunson's impact with that of Donovan Mitchell and the historical context of the New York Knicks' performance. The speakers argue about the criteria for being considered a superstar and the need for consistent performance over time. The paragraph concludes with a reminder of the importance of subscribing for more content.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Nikola Jokic
💡Turnovers
💡Anthony Edwards
💡Technical Foul
💡Double Team
💡Playoffs
💡Club Superstar
💡Conference Finals
💡Defensive Player of the Year
💡All-NBA Teams
💡Game Seven
Highlights
The show celebrates its first things first event in style.
A player had an impressive performance with 40 points, 13 rebounds, and zero turnovers, shooting 68%.
The importance of playing well under the spotlight is discussed.
A debate on the concept of 'gentlemanliness' in sports and its varying levels.
The strategy of giving an opponent one or two games in a series is considered.
A player's performance leads to a discussion about their ranking among the greatest players.
Denver's defensive strategy against Anthony Edwards is praised as a great adjustment.
The impact of a coach's technical on the game is highlighted.
A player's value is discussed in the context of their defensive prowess versus offensive challenges.
The pressure on a young player to lead their team to the finals is examined.
The potential for a game seven to have unpredictable outcomes is noted.
Jaylen Brunson's performance is scrutinized in relation to the Club Superstar status.
The historical significance of playoff performances and their impact on a player's legacy is discussed.
The importance of consistency in performance to be considered a superstar is emphasized.
A comparison is made between two players' impact on their team's success.
The Club Superstar criteria and its implications for player inclusion are debated.
A player's playoff performance is analyzed in terms of their scoring consistency.
Transcripts
live from New York it's the show that's
celebrating in style it's first things
first even makes sense well it does
makes all the sense be careful W be
careful about what I celebrate it early
and you see what
happened be careful that's all I'm
saying today joker last night 40 points
s rebounds 13 assists zero turnovers
shot 68% bro uh the he was playing his
best when the lights were the brightest
that's not true for
everybody sometimes people like to dim
lights this doesn't make narrative sense
he little music this is a gentleman bit
and that's why that club was out you
know that's apple
juice well gentleman doesn't drink
during the
day BR this doesn't make sense wow six
games is a dog fight yeah you're you a
gentleman in a dog fight this is if they
win in six or seven it's a dog fight
you're acting like it's a gent it just
doesn't make sense I'm just acting I'm
just acting like a gentleman I think
there's different levels of
gentlemanliness uh-huh certainly one
level gentleman sweep give him one game
yeah are you a true
gentleman give him
two
okay all right go ahead bro well look I
I I picked them to win last night I
picked uh Denver to win last night so
I'm not surprised care I
apprciate I do want to say something
though is it is it really uh I don't
know Liv I'm not sure what it is go
ahead strong Ms uh you got to get props
to jic Anthony Edwards is exactly right
I mean my goodness look first Aaron
Gordon played I thought great y uh kcp
hit some big shots I thought he hit
twice he hit shots when it felt like
could min to get back in it and he hit
that shot you're like in fact from each
Corner exactly two Corner threes yep
Christian Brown there's been talk about
the bench Reggie Jackson played pretty
well in the first half Christian Brown
came up with some big plays but Jamal
Murray and Michael Porter Jr weren't
really you know Jamal was okay but they
didn't put their imprint on the game and
joic I mean he did it all he he played
with muscle he played with finesse his
footwork was tremendous he hit hook
shots he obviously has a few dun which
is unusual for him he hit some big
threes he
destroyed the def the four time
defensive player of the year he just
annihilated and goar had actually
guarded him fairly well in the first few
games of the series so yic look and Nick
I'mma say this I am already doing it now
you know last year after joic won his
first championship I had I said he's the
seventh greatest sinner ever yep I am
moving him ahead wow
of Moses Malone just on last night well
I mean an accumulation it was already
close I'm moving him ahead of mes I just
think he's better I mean he does
everything uh and and he's chasing
elijan obviously to get in the top five
but he was tremendous Denver also great
defense they doubled Anthony Edwards
that was a nice adjustment from uh
Michael Malone and uh also they
protected the rim well in game four I
was like man a can get to the rim and
there's nobody there to even disuade him
at the rim and last night they protected
the rim really well too so just
allaround great performance by the
Nuggets go ahead WS uh I was going to
talk about the turnovers sure we talked
about everything else zero turnovers 30
points 10 assists zero turnover games
this season including the playoffs Joker
has four the rest of the NBA has four
total and specifically I wanted to shout
this out because the turnover were
driving me baddy last game against the
Lakers even though they won he had seven
turnovers first game against the Wolves
which they obviously lost he had seven
next game he had four last night he had
zero so just hold on to the ball take
care of it no free points I feel like
the Wolves thrive on turn almost like an
NFL team they thrive on turnovers get a
little more energy get a little more
think we can to them uh but it didn't
happen and it was just a delight well
the well so there's I think that you
guys almost understated how brilliant
Joker was so I'll get into that but
first I do want to give Wilds props Brew
he's 43% of the way to being right so
he's almost halfway to being right that
no one's beating Denver in seven game
series they have seven of the 16 games
they have to win for you to be correct
but you are back from the brink and you
to your credit put yourself out there
yesterday guaranteeing a Denver win I
thought that was foolish and the reason
it felt guaranteed in the second half
was because of NCA joic and so that
third quarter by joic was and we can
show you the numbers and the numbers are
great but they're not historic like
we've seen quarters like this if you
watched it it was perfect offensive
basketball it was absolutely Apex
perfect offensive basketball against
Rudy who was not playing poorly I'm he
and so to me there are almost four main
characters from this game joic is
obviously one of them and it is backto
back A+ games in the biggest spots
imaginable and that by the way is how
you become legendary you mentioned dream
there they it you there was a bit of
dream seeing the Admiral get the MVP and
then hanging the 4116 43 and two on him
in yic yesterday dropping 40 his first
ever 40o playoff win typically when he's
scored like that it's because they're
under or they it's been a strategy so he
was brilliant I also I can't I think
coaching matters a lot good or bad and I
think Michael Malone that was one of the
most effective technicals ever committed
by a coach it then led to three
consecutive charges which all were maybe
good calls 5050 calls but he got them
all and then you pointed out Wilds in
the third quarter I think it second yeah
start of the Third they went from down
six Minnesota did to up one timeout 112
run Boom for so they get credit like
coaching get in back playoff series for
good or for bad and then on the other
side of it quickly so I thought Draymond
listen getting getting Draymond to
critique Rudy goar is a little unfair in
my opinion I don't know that he is going
to be an unbiased Observer on it and he
set the narrative that goar has to be
better for the record Draymond only got
to play Rudy once this year because he
was suspended or missed the other games
Rudy had 32 I'm sorry not Draymond only
got to play joic once this year pardon
me and joic had 32 16 and 16 which has
only been done by two other guys in the
history of the league so even great
players have trouble with Nika yic what
I do think is fair is this this is why
some of us have stated that goar's value
can be overstated because you can be the
four-time defensive player of the year
the best defender in the league and
utterly helpless it is why when people
say it's 50% offense 50% defense that
might be true for teams but for
assessing individual players it is not
true because the great offensive players
will crush you and that is what we saw
last night and and then the last person
is this it's Anthony Edwards who this is
kind of why unless your name m is Magic
Johnson or Lebron James at this age you
don't lead a team to the finals because
you're not GNA you're going to have
you're not obviously
had leading the right but mag was 100%
so Anthony Edwards he there has to be a
little bit of criticism in that this was
a real after a great game four that they
lost
a game where it was in the balance and
if he would have had one of those
flurries in the second half they could
have taken the lead in that third
quarter he probably needed I think he
needed to be a little more aggressive
against the double now again they
defended him really well the yeah he was
he was making the right plays and his
teammates couldn't hit shot early on
Nicole or n Alexander Walker who played
well and did Monty Morris in place of
Mike Conley but I didn't think Alexander
Walker was going to be able to keep
hitting those threes in the first half
he was three for three in the first half
and that was keeping them in the game
one for five in the second half and it
fell apart all right meanwhile bruise
wolves Draymond is a body language
expert remember with Jaylen Brown in the
series against the Celtics didn't he
pull at his shorts or Draymond pulled at
his shorts he didn't respond also
remember in the national championship
game from his couch assessed that a guy
quit and that's why they lost then we
realized that guy wasn't even in the
game at time that he was talking about
so I he could be H with body Lang but
here so I disagree that they've quit but
you guys know I agree with why you
limping cat you played 38 minutes and
played like you said pretty well and now
you're gonna live he could have said it
about Luca he could have said it about
embiid he could have said it about
Anthony Davis too all right and there's
just some guys that are going to do that
but when you do that and you're either
you know you're drawing simp y from the
onlookers like man you know look at how
you know he's he Brave through it he's a
tough guy he played through it but your
opponents are looking at it in a lot of
cases as weakness cuz we just saw you
play 35 to 40 minutes and you weren't
limping and now you limp off all right
so I just think that some of these guys
not just cat they need to recognize that
now I don't think they're done I don't
think they've quit I think Anthony
Edwards will bounce back every time he's
had a subpar game Nick and he's playoffs
he is bounced back game two against
Phoenix he goes three for 12 15 points
comes back with 36 the next game game
three against uh Denver 19 points 4 was
shot okay but then dropped 44 on them so
I think Anthony Edwards is going to
bounce back the key cat I don't know if
a 23 is enough they may need him because
they probably going to double Anthony
Edwards again and show make the
timberwol show what adjustments they
made
and C may need to go somewhere between
28 and 30 they also could use Conley if
he can come back and I don't well if he
can come back and again I think the
other guys play well but
he's he directs traffic and all that
stuff so but look I I I think they
absolutely are still in this thing and
uh this is yeah base levels at an
all-time low there I no no I firmly
believe for I firmly believe
um can I if you're a student of NBA
history Brew which I know you are is it
82% took a 3-2 lead after dropping the
first two at home that's different how
did it play out you showed me this the
other day you put this in my face the
other day something simple you think
they're going to be the first team to
draw to lose a series well let me let me
say this before you go Nick and that
obviously that's doesn't look well but
there's more than that you somewhat
alluded to it last comment with Anthony
Edwards the history says that you just
don't do you don't if you're the te-
Wolves you don't win this series and go
all the way to the finals all right
Isaiah Thomas Michael Jordan uh Lebron
James even joic it's taken a while like
if if Minnesota wins this series and
goes all the way to the championship I
mean that will be largely unprecedented
not just and I'm not even saying cuz an
Edwards is 22 cuz I do think he has good
players around better than LeBron and
and Jordan and those guys had at a young
age but still they history would say
they lose a heartbreaking series and
then next year maybe get over the hump
and then the following year get over the
hump if they're ever going to so
history's with the uh so as you guys
know I'm yet to make a pick in this
series yes oddly but I yet I don't
think I am willing to now through five
games now that F this is a weird one
where the series actually didn't start
until the home team won a game which was
last night
so it does feel like Denver's in control
but as confident and sure as you
are I have a question for you as sincere
question yeah just cuz I'm wearing a bow
TI I mean do you think one of Denver's
weaknesses this postseason maybe their
only weakness has been they haven't
taken every game totally seriously yeah
yes even at the the uh waning parts of
last night's game time to relax guys and
so do you think it's on the board that
they let their foot off the gas for game
six for game so you think you so as
confident as you are of the Nuggets
winning the series you're not totally
confident that it's not going seven no
sometimes their confidence can yes and
so I think that Anthony Edward's going
to come out with a Vengeance in game six
and I think Denver can get a little
careless and so the point I am trying to
make is this if it goes seven it is
ludicrous to act like only one team can
win the series it is act like as Brew is
picking the Timberwolves he is not
saying like he going into a game seven
he would not be like this thing is a
lock and I don't think I I there is no
scenario the the last time I felt like a
game seven was a lock was when Paul
George's Pacers were playing the peak
Miami Heat remember that series that
went back and forth back and forth and I
think the heat end up winning that by 30
points it felt like it was a mismatch
that Miami just kept letting them in so
I think this is going to go seven Denver
has the best player in the series they
are the most confident they have the
most experience but weird things can
happen in a seventh game and so that's
all that's why I feel like your
celebration is a touch premature not
just for the championship but for this
series in so you have made a pick
right now I for the next game well no
listen my pick right now is Denver and
seven but I the fact that it's going
seven means Anything Could Happen could
see you know what as a gentleman you
know what I'm going gentle I me agreeing
with you you're going to allow that cuz
you're a gentleman well sure we're five
games we're five games in and he's
making a pick and you're what happened
you guys talked so much I didn't have
time since in the history of that this
show has that ever happened I you know
what there's a first time for everything
we just invented as this week too go
ahead finally to the Garden Jaylen
Brunson did Brunson validate his Club
admit it BR Club Superstars never missed
we're 36 for 36 on
admits I hold on before you show the
club America show the club to America so
we can they can be reminded on who's in
can you imagine how mortifying it would
be for our matri e if in jayen brunson's
seat was Donovan Mitchell who's not even
playing or tyri hton might as well not
be playing Kyrie wouldn't have look good
either or Kyrie after two out of last
three games has nine points they Club
Superstar with the eye of an oracle
knows who to let in and who to let out
admit it bro no no what do you mean this
is why Nick is so happy why because you
probably had this done a week two weeks
who knows how long before we unleashed
it
no you had to get that you don't just
draw that up a few hours before the show
all right and you yourself after
brunson's last two games before this one
we're like oh my gosh I put Jaylen
Brunson I'll give you this like DiCaprio
the other guys in the club now they
aren't looking at him like what's what's
old boy doing here right what's old boy
doing it here maybe one day he'll
actually show the line he is deser is a
star player who we a superstar
historical series but one series one
postseason does not a superstar just
want so you just want there to be here's
the thing I think you want there to be a
vacancy in the club cuz there's no on
the Donovan I think Donovan Donovan it's