A lot of credit should go to Jaden McDaniels and Rudy Gobert. Jokic/Murray has been automatic for years for a reason and they just did not stop working.

My guess is the idea with Gobert on the court, save the TO, go with Murray/Jokic P&R and play out of the coverage. Difference? Gobert *outright* switches, McDaniels sticks to Jokic. My guess is Murray wanted to go quick to save time, didn't make it, AG's reaction tells a story

what

Denver again looks to go Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic two man game. Look at the effort from Jaden McDaniels. Slides under and then fights over the screen so Gobert can stay back. Denver tries to flow into Murray screening for Jokic who rejects but no bucket.

Denver goes with Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic two man game. Pass and cut, McDaniels slides under. Triggers a rescreen, Gobert turns his drop into a switch. McDaniels almost has to go to an animation to take the contact, slide and show his hands vs. Jokic.

Denver playing through Jamal Murray in the non Jokic minutes. Helps when Bruce Brown makes big shots

-Post up, defense helps, split for Brown
-P&R, backs down, defense helps, kick to Brown
-Looks like Brown/Gordon double P&R but JM turns corner on 1st screen and finishes

The start of the 4th quarter is Denver going with Aaron Gordon at the 5 with Jamal Murray on the court and Minnesota bringing Rudy Gobert back with Naz Reid.

It has turned into Bruce Brown vs. Naz Reid don't ask.

The problem is you have to deal with the moments where Nikola Jokic says "yes I am going to score". Middle of the floor and look at the patience and the footwork. He's a bucket getter.

Denver going to action with Aaron Gordon, Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic

-Elbow catch for Jokic, Gordon flares for Murray. Fake P&R and Jokic drives.
-Same action but hit Murray, Gordon screens for him, Jokic drives
-Pistol action, Reid in a drop, pick and pop 3 for Jokic

Well that's one way to start the second have Jaden McDaniels, sheesh.

At the half:

Minnesota has 22 made field goals, 19 assists
Denver has 22 made field goals, 18 assists

Denver shot 12 of 18 in the 1st, 6 of 9 from 3
Minnesota shot 14 of 20 in the 2nd, 6 of 9 from 3

The Reid/Randle combo helped Minnesota come back. Can't forget the type of shots Denver can generate against them. Jokic/Murray P&R gets a drop, Reid rotates to Jokic rolling, easy skip to Braun for a look from 3.

As locked in as Denver was on defense in Game 1 and the first quarter, they are handing over breakdowns. It's just a pass and cut between Conley and Randle. THJ thinking under, Gordon thinking switch, Randle thinking drive.

Handoff to Julius Randle gets him matched up against Brown. Johnson sees this and Reid cutting and decides to hold. Little thing would have been communicating Jokic to take that spot. Instead both are in the paint. Skip and extra and no one to rotate.

Minnesota continues to mix in having Anthony Edwards go with pass and chase instead of purely off the dribble pick and roll. Jokic drops back from the level, Edwards turns the corner and finishes.

I know we live in the "most teams aren't that good" discussion but I would say these playoffs should be a reminder. It's hard for teams to sustain that high level of play and the minute they don't the other team is able to pounce because they can do similar things.

Minnesota has DDV screen for Anthony Edwards into getting a pitch from Julius Randle. That takes Braun out of the action as THJ switched. Jokic at the level and slides but commits. Randle open on the pop, Braun tries to stunt and protect the corner pass but open 3.

Oh so this is going to be one of those Denver/Minnesota games.

Jamal Murray and Jaden McDaniels going back and forth is one of my favorite playoff mini battles.

Tim Hardaway Jr is here to make winning plays.

Denver poking at Minnesota's defense. Braun hits Jokic and cuts off. Gobert goes drop to late switch. Puts Edwards on Jokic. Murray cuts to the right wing to be one pass away. As soon as Dosunmu helps, Jokic gets it right to Murray for 3.

Jokic doing the "actually I don't need to shoot" bit in Game 2 is something.

Game 2, keeping an eye on what schemes Denver wants to use vs. Anthony Edwards and when

-High P&R, Jokic near level ready to drop back. Re-screen gets two on the ball and Randle hits
-Jokic in a drop, weakside in, kick to Randle
-Randle screens, Gordon switches

Credit to the Hawks for cycling through pick and roll coverages late vs. Brunson

-Coverage bust, Okongwu thinking it will be kept on one side, Brunson turns the corner and finishes
-Hart screens, OO jumps out and then recovers to Hart
-Hat screens, OO traps to get ball out

SO REMEMBER WHAT I SAID ABOUT THAT NOD FROM CJ MCCOLLUM

Hawks went to double P&R with Daniels and Kuminga screening for CJ to get Brunson and KAT in action. KAT's drop turns into a late switch, the kick happens and now it's just chaos. Ball movement vs. rotations.

Knicks have OG on Okongwu and Robinson on Kuminga. Hawks flip that to use Kuminga as a screener for Vincent with NAW by himself on the weakside. Robinson in a drop, Kuminga gets the pocket pass and finishes.

Another sequence from Karl-Anthony Towns. Pick and roll with Alvarado, CJ goes all the way under. Triggers the re-screen but notice KAT pushing Bradley down to make sure he's in a spot to force an over. Rolls and finishes. Then hits a three in transition.

I am fascinated by the Jose Alvarado/CJ McCollum mini battle right now. Alvarado (and Shamet lowkey) bringing the energy in the Garden. I've seen that nod from CJ before.

Knicks go back to using Josh Hart and KAT as screens for Jalen Brunson. This time Brunson advances it to KAT and cuts off, no switch on the first screen. Forces an over from NAW, Okongwu ends up going with a late switch, Brunson draws a foul.