Heading into Sunday, the Denver Nuggets are facing a win-or-go-home situation. David Adelman’s team will face the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 of the Western Conference semifinals. So far, the series has been evenly split, with each team winning three games apiece.
While Adelman is inexperienced in high-leverage postseason basketball, he can draw on Denver’s championship experience to help navigate what will be a tough battle between two elite teams.
Here are three keys to the Nuggets booking their spot in the Western Conference Finals.
No. 1: Get Russell Westbrook going early
He might not be an MVP-caliber player anymore, but Russell Westbrook can still swing the tide of a game. Denver should find ways to get the coast-to-coast star going early and often, allowing him to dictate the tempo of the game and create out of his drives to the rim. Westbrook isn’t going to carry an offense at this point in his career, but he can certainly dictate the terms of engagement.
No. 2: Shut down the rest
There’s no point trying to shut down or contain Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He’s too good. The better option is to limit his outlets. If you can shut down the supporting cast, SGA will be forced to shoulder the weight of expectations. This Thunder team, while impressive, is still proving itself in do-or-die situations. The Nuggets should bait SGA into playing hero ball, knowing that he can’t win the game on his own.
No. 3: Feed Nikola Jokic at every turn
It doesn’t matter if it’s in the post, on the perimeter or around the dunker spot, Nikola Jokic can make something happen. He’s an elite playmaker and scorer. There shouldn’t be a single possession (while he’s on the floor) where the ball doesn’t touch his hands. If Jokic is allowed to quarterback the offense from different sets and actions, he will unlock the rest of his teammates. Jokic is still the best player in the world. Leaning on him in a high-intensity game should be a no-brainer.
