Id still pick Portland if both teams were healthy. Jokic is great but I just dont believe a point center will win playoff basketball at a consistent enough level.
Lol what a biased, wild take. Last I checked, we've gotten father in the playoffs than your team. Never close to healthy in the playoffs and in the far superior conference.
And Jokic has been unstoppable in basically all those series. Something like 25/12/9 on elite effeciency. Pick and popped Gobert to death, dismantled the Clippers in the post and was the best player in that series. Jokic also has the most game winners in the NBA over the past 3 years. He and Murray are both near the top of the league in clutch FG% in that span-- right alongside Dame because they two man game in lethal.
As to Murray-- he spent all offseason rehabbing his hammy, came into camp out of shape and the played through shoulder and elbow injuries all January. Of note, his FT % (usally among the league's best) was at 75% at the beginning of Feb.
After Feb 1st? He put up 23/5/5 on 50/44/90-- a two+ month sample. So same splits as "bubble" Murray but on lower usage because MPJ was becoming a legit star too.
Like it's wild how consistently people disrespect the talent of Jokic / Murray / MPJ. Rember that whole convo last fall when I got mad push back in regards to Porter's ceiling?
Dude still has a LONG way to go with his handle but just had the highest EFG% of ANY player to average 19+ PPG since Wilt fucking Chamberlin. Shot 62/47 from the field over his final 38 games (once moved to PF basically).
It's almost as if ESPN's asisnine coverage of small markets has a ripple effect. Especially on East Coast fans that rarely watch the Nuggets play.
And as mentioned- both Barton AND our best perimeter defender in PJ Dozier are also hurt. So it's not just Jamal we are missing.