CONSOLATION CONF SEMI-FINALS: Nuggets vs Pelicans

[IamQuailman]

Poll will be open until Saturday, Jan 27 @ 5 PM CST

NUGGETS vs. PELICANS:

How they got here:

The Nuggets were looking to be a pushover in their matchup with the T-wolves. After getting handed a 0-3 hole to dig out of, the Nuggets showed true grit as they scratched and clawed their way back to a would-be reverse sweep. Each of their last 3 games were pushed decided by 6 points or less. In Game 6 they had a chance to tie/go for the win, but blew it with an errant pass on the last possession of the game (#ThanksKyleSingler).

Conversely, after the Pelicans' wings got clipped in Round 1 by the Grizzlies, they look to rebound in the SLOE Consolation Playoff Bracket. After a couple close losses at home, they gave up and didn't put up much a fight in VanMemphis (wherever the hell that is). The Grizzlies swept them like a dirty floor.

Tales of the Tape:

The Nuggets have a formidable and deep squad, with the only true weakness being at the Forward positions. Don't get me wrong; Kyle Singler had one of the best seasons of his career. He is just a defensive sieve in a league where perimeter defense is so important. Likewise for James McCormick, who had a fantastic rookie campaign. He can contribute on the offensive end, but the old cliché goes "Defense wins championships!" And well... let's just say Defense also doesn't send you to the second best bracket in the league... THE CONSOLATION PLAYOFF BRACKET. Chet Dooley and Jrue Holiday are phenomenal on the perimeter and facilitating the offense. With Buddy Hield coming off the bench, this is one of the nicer 3-guard rotations in the league. Lamarcus Aldridge and Tyson Chandler shore up their front court, with James McCormick getting the nod ahead of Chandler in the starting 5.

The Pelicans are similar to the Nuggets in a few ways. Their guards are very talented. Damian Lillard finished Top 5 in scoring this season, posting career best field goal percentage while not really dipping off in the usage. They added Brandon Jennings mid-season who helped them to make a late season push. Blake Griffin seems to have the advantage here over James McCormick, and should dominate him in the paint on both ends. Mozgov is serviceable (even if he is a Russian spy) and should be able to give Aldridge fits. But then we get to Aaron Gimme Dat Money Gordon... Who has been the season-long thorn in this team's side. If the Nuggets can attack him (along with Damian's weak defense), they could very much so have a shot.

[TheSyndicate]

For what it's worth, I switched my offense to Inside focus to try and dominate what I felt was (outside of the 2/3) an under-sized t-wolves team. If I'd have made the switch before the first sim, I don't know that I'd be in the consolation bracket...Against the Pels, I'd line up a small-ish-ball lineup with LMA at the 5, McCormick at the 4 (size/speed combo to defend Blake), with Singler/Jrue/Chet filling out the lineup. I think they'd have a tough time guarding me on the perimeter, and I'd expect Jrue and LMA to have huge scoring numbers per usual, but my x-factor would be Chet Dooley, who in an inside-focused game isn't going to do much, but can shoot the jumper (and hopefully would) over the smaller Jennings.

The defensive side is more tricky, but Jrue and Chet are both plus-defenders and McCormick gives me a decent chance of at least slowing down Griffin. I'm weak defensively at the 3, but the Pels don't have the team to take advantage as they only have Aaron Gordon or Luol Deng. A huge downgrade compared to Otto Porter Jr. who I faced in the 'real' playoffs. I like my team in 6...splitting the first 2, winning at home, losing game 5 in NOLa, and taking it home in game 6 in front of my fans.

[NickMalone77]

After acquiring Jennings, Deng, and Mozgov, around the midseason, this bolstered my roster a great bit. The dominance of Blake and Dame carried the team a great deal but the group as a whole had contributors all around. Used a balanced focus all year while playing to the strengths of my squad with a man defense. Using Jennings at the point helped to lessen his usage when he the main focal point with the Lakers and now playing on my squad, was still able to contribute for much of the year. Dealing with the Grizzlies was difficult due to the ultimate depth they were able to display defensively.

Nuggets traded away Klay Thompson to Charlotte in an attempt to sell and along with that traded away a few more depth pieces. They then tried to compete at a point where their biggest competition was a team without a GM. So with Thompson gone, that left Aldridge and Singler (surprisingly) to carry the load offensively the rest of the way. While Aaron Gordon was being paid a hefty sum according to some, he produced a great deal with an enhanced role. Used mostly as a starter switching between the 3 and the four for most of the year. I used Blake as a small ball 5 that with his speed was able to take advantage of slower 5's increasing his rebounding totals while still producing at a top 10 level. Used Mozgov mostly as a backup 5 but could slot in as a starter with his higher rebounding/defensive rates to cancel out Tyson or Aldridge.

Jennings would've destroyed Dooley playing him one on one instead of say Rajon Rondo. Weakness against the Grizz was guarding Jimmy Butler/Kawhi Leonard due to height above Lillard. Lillard wouldn't have much of an issue against Jrue who's around the same height. Singler is much of the same mold of Deng and Gordon. Swept the Nuggets 4-0 during the regular season and likely would net the same result if matched up again during the consolation bracket.

Pels in 5 is the smart choice. Nuggets backed in, Pels got clipped at the wrong time.

[TheSyndicate]

After acquiring Jennings, Deng, and Mozgov, around the midseason, this bolstered my roster a great bit. The dominance of Blake and Dame carried the team a great deal but the group as a whole had contributors all around. Used a balanced focus all year while playing to the strengths of my squad with a man defense. Using Jennings at the point helped to lessen his usage when he the main focal point with the Lakers and now playing on my squad, was still able to contribute for much of the year. Dealing with the Grizzlies was difficult due to the ultimate depth they were able to display defensively.

Nuggets traded away Klay Thompson to Charlotte in an attempt to sell and along with that traded away a few more depth pieces. They then tried to compete at a point where their biggest competition was a team without a GM. So with Thompson gone, that left Aldridge and Singler (surprisingly) to carry the load offensively the rest of the way. While Aaron Gordon was being paid a hefty sum according to some, he produced a great deal with an enhanced role. Used mostly as a starter switching between the 3 and the four for most of the year. I used Blake as a small ball 5 that with his speed was able to take advantage of slower 5's increasing his rebounding totals while still producing at a top 10 level. Used Mozgov mostly as a backup 5 but could slot in as a starter with his higher rebounding/defensive rates to cancel out Tyson or Aldridge.

Jennings would've destroyed Dooley playing him one on one instead of say Rajon Rondo. Weakness against the Grizz was guarding Jimmy Butler/Kawhi Leonard due to height above Lillard. Lillard wouldn't have much of an issue against Jrue who's around the same height. Singler is much of the same mold of Deng and Gordon. Swept the Nuggets 4-0 during the regular season and likely would net the same result if matched up again during the consolation bracket.

Pels in 5 is the smart choice. Nuggets backed in, Pels got clipped at the wrong time.

8-1 down the stretch, 21-11 in my last 32 games once I got Dooley and LMA. Save your 'backed into the playoffs' narrative for when you're in the oval office. #nicholastrump #fakenews #yuscaredbro #canweactuallysimthisplease?

[IamQuailman]

After acquiring Jennings, Deng, and Mozgov, around the midseason, this bolstered my roster a great bit. The dominance of Blake and Dame carried the team a great deal but the group as a whole had contributors all around. Used a balanced focus all year while playing to the strengths of my squad with a man defense. Using Jennings at the point helped to lessen his usage when he the main focal point with the Lakers and now playing on my squad, was still able to contribute for much of the year. Dealing with the Grizzlies was difficult due to the ultimate depth they were able to display defensively.

Nuggets traded away Klay Thompson to Charlotte in an attempt to sell and along with that traded away a few more depth pieces. They then tried to compete at a point where their biggest competition was a team without a GM. So with Thompson gone, that left Aldridge and Singler (surprisingly) to carry the load offensively the rest of the way. While Aaron Gordon was being paid a hefty sum according to some, he produced a great deal with an enhanced role. Used mostly as a starter switching between the 3 and the four for most of the year. I used Blake as a small ball 5 that with his speed was able to take advantage of slower 5's increasing his rebounding totals while still producing at a top 10 level. Used Mozgov mostly as a backup 5 but could slot in as a starter with his higher rebounding/defensive rates to cancel out Tyson or Aldridge.

Jennings would've destroyed Dooley playing him one on one instead of say Rajon Rondo. Weakness against the Grizz was guarding Jimmy Butler/Kawhi Leonard due to height above Lillard. Lillard wouldn't have much of an issue against Jrue who's around the same height. Singler is much of the same mold of Deng and Gordon. Swept the Nuggets 4-0 during the regular season and likely would net the same result if matched up again during the consolation bracket.

Pels in 5 is the smart choice. Nuggets backed in, Pels got clipped at the wrong time.

8-1 down the stretch, 21-11 in my last 32 games once I got Dooley and LMA. Save your 'backed into the playoffs' narrative for when you're in the oval office. #nicholastrump #fakenews #yuscaredbro #canweactuallysimthisplease?

Actually... we could.... but it would be alot of work lol

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[NOLa.]

They then tried to compete at a point where their biggest competition was a team without a GM.


Pels in 5 is the smart choice. Nuggets backed in

F


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[TheSyndicate]

Wait, so you got swept by a team that just got swept by the team I played a close series against and youre winning? Must be an electoral college thing.

[JNR]

I totally voted for the Nuggets.

[TheSyndicate]

I totally voted for the Nuggets.

#notmyconsolationsemifinalist