Thunder Steal Series
Playoffs would be even better if there were more rest days between games… – Aaron Gordon
The Nuggets-Thunder series was a great one for the NBA’s semifinals round, but unfortunately, Game 7 was a dud after the Thunder kept stealing the ball and stole the show with a 125-93 win to advance to the Western Conference Finals.
The NBA rumors would have been flying if Oklahoma City blew this series after a 68-win season, but we weren’t about to have a Conference Finals without a single No. 1 or No. 2 seed.
“[OKC] Defense just keeps coming… littered with individual defenders who love to put pressure on the basketball.” 💯 https://t.co/Huj6pMebK9 pic.twitter.com/7y0k59ausO
— NBA (@NBA) May 18, 2025
From 2014-19, 21 of the 24 teams that made conference finals were either the 1 or 2 seed in the conference.
From 2020-25, 8 of the 24 teams that made conference finals were either the 1 or 2 seed in the conference with only the Thunder doing it this season
— Josh Dubow (@JoshDubowAP) May 19, 2025
Respect for Aaron Gordon
One might say the 2025 Nuggets went as Aaron Gordon did this postseason. He had some incredible moments like his buzzer-beating dunk against the Clippers and his clutch 3 leading to an overtime win over the Thunder.
But a Grade 2 hamstring injury had many doubting that Gordon would even play Sunday. Given it was Game 7, he gave it a go, and the Nuggets even led by 11 points early despite Gordon clearly not being able to run well:
I felt this Aaron Gordon closeout sitting down on my couch pic.twitter.com/ZgeZJhPp9V
— Steph Noh (@StephNoh) May 18, 2025
But as many pointed out, a hobbled Gordon was still outperforming the likes of Jamal Murray, Michael Porter Jr., and Russell Westbrook as the supporting cast for Denver really struggled.
Aaron Gordon: *playing with a injury that takes a month to heal*
Jamal Murray and MPJ:
pic.twitter.com/xVMw0rQqac— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) May 18, 2025
After the game, Gordon made a valid point that maybe the NBA games in the playoffs would be even better if there were more rest days between games. In this matchup, it was every other day except for an extra day before Game 7, making it a grind of a series.
“I would really appreciate it if there were a couple of days in between games in the playoffs… The product of the game would be a lot better… Probably less blowouts.”
— Aaron Gordon
(h/t @ohnohedidnt24)pic.twitter.com/volbB1Qzyl
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) May 19, 2025
In the end, the Nuggets ran out of steam, but Gordon put together his career highlight reel this postseason, his first since his brother passed away.
Nikola Jokic Notices the Depth Deficit
Since winning the championship in 2023, Denver has lost in Game 7 in the semifinals in each of the last two seasons. While 3-time MVP Nikola Jokic’s stats show he did what he could in this series, it wasn’t lost on him that the remaining teams have better depth than the Nuggets.
Jokic on their depth: “We definitely need it. It seems like the teams that have longer rotations, longer bench, are the ones who are winning. Indiana. OKC. Minnesota” pic.twitter.com/7cJHEZBLM9
— Oh No He Didn’t (@ohnohedidnt24) May 18, 2025
We’ll see if major changes come in Denver, starting with a new head coach. It would have been shocking NBA news for this team to upset OKC after firing Michael Malone just days before the playoffs.
When it comes to getting Joker more help, maybe they should try finding a player who can actually make an All-Star team.
Nikola Jokic has gone the first 839 games of his career without having a teammate who was an All-Star, All-NBA or All-Defensive player that season. Of the ~5000 players in NBA history, he’s the only one to go his first 700+ career games without such a teammate. Insane. pic.twitter.com/GEfktCDamg
— Jokicism 🃏 (@jokicgoatic15) May 18, 2025
At least Jokic can be with his horses earlier.
Trae Young Trolls Knicks Fans
Atlanta’s Trae Young must have been watching Game 7 at home and chose Sunday chaos when he decided to troll Knicks fans by pointing out that OKC fans are louder than Knicks fans:
Hot take but not..
OKC fans are louder than Knick fans.
Happy Sunday!— Trae Young (@TheTraeYoung) May 18, 2025
But Young will have to watch the Knicks in the Eastern Conference Finals with the rest of us as they take on the Pacers in what could be a great series. The NBA betting lines now favor a Knicks vs. Thunder matchup in the Finals, so maybe Young’s hypothesis will be tested on which crowd is louder.
Anthony Edwards’ Timberwolves will have something to say about that. It’s definitely a “fresh” group as someone will win their first ring or the first for the Knicks since 1973:
The last four teams in the playoffs:
OKC – 0 championships
MIN – 0 championships
IND – 0 championships
NYK – 2 championships (last in 1973)We’re going to witness a team winning a championship for the first time or for the first time in 52 years pic.twitter.com/njKsoOFgAa
— Joel Moran (@joelvmoran) May 18, 2025
For the first time ever, the NBA will crown a new champion for the seventh-straight season. Embrace this era of unpredictability.
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