While you might catch CEO and AltitudeTV analyst, Bill Hanzlik, sharing his thoughts on the pre/post game show, here is an inside look on what his take is on the Denver Nuggets playoff run.
After last night’s game, the Nuggets successfully beat the Portland Trail Blazers to advance to Round 2 of the NBA playoffs. It was an all-around team effort. How did they do it? Here are my thoughts:
- MVP, Nikola Jokić, rises above everyone else. When you’re the MVP, you win games, and this series was no excuse. Jokić finished the series averaging 33 points per game, 10.5 rebounds per game and 4.5 assists per game. He took over games when he needed to and found the open man when the defense collapsed in. Nobody does it better than Joker.
- Threes are key. Everyone knows that Portland is a three-point shooting machine, and we needed someone to step up. MPJ was that player. After Game 1, he was on fire and found his three-point rhythm, shooting over 50% at 16/31 from behind the arc. He kept us in the game when we needed it most.
- Defense wins championships. If you don’t “D-up” you won’t win games. The Nuggets stepped up their defense in the second half, and particularly the fourth quarter. Portland was visibly tired and the Nuggets did not let up, holding Portland to 14 points in the game, and series, clinching 4th quarter.
The Denver Nuggets are a team to be proud of and get behind if you are not already a fan. They work together and support each other as teammates. In the end, it paid off. Now it is time for a new challenge, defeating the Phoenix Suns.
I always love seeing how the Nuggets can relate to what we are doing at Gold Crown Foundation. Next week, we kick off the 25th Annual High School Basketball Team Camps. I challenge the players coming to camp to compete together as a team, step up when you’re called upon, and ALWAYS play defense. Good luck!
Photo by Altitude TV