Vol 3 Chapter 252: Playoff countdown

It is said that one cannot fall twice in the same place. But the Nuggets once again fell under the iron tellurium of the Thunder at the critical moment of the impact of the playoffs. What makes Denver even more heartbreaking is that both times were defeated by the Thunder players in the most cruel way. Last year, Westbrook made a super long three-pointer at a 45-degree angle to the left of the three-point line. This year, Anluo ended the game with a three-pointer at the right bottom corner.
Jokic looked blank. Murray covered his face with both hands and squatted on the floor. Millsap and Harris hugged each other and comforted each other. History is always surprisingly similar, but why are the Nuggets so sad? It's not particularly uncomfortable to say that there is no hope of making the playoffs throughout the season. But whether it was last year or this year, the Nuggets have always hoped to make the playoffs.
Looking at the frustration of the Nuggets players, Anluo also had some sympathy in his heart. However, he didn't feel that he had done anything wrong. The playoffs can only be entered by more powerful teams. And luck is also part of strength.
After winning the Nuggets, the Thunder's record has come to 66 wins and 11 losses. This has broken the best record in the history of the Thunder, and it still includes the history of the Seattle SuperSonics. Moreover, they have already secured the first place in the Western Conference this season. Even in the entire league, you won't find a team with a better record than the Thunder. After all, the second-ranked Houston Rockets have just 60 wins.
After March, the entire NBA 2017-18 regular season is about to come to an end. By April, each team basically has 5 or 6 games left. Those teams still lingering at the gate of the playoffs must seize the last chance and work hard! For the Thunder, Rockets, Warriors, and other championship-oriented teams, those games are not that important.
Take the Thunder, for example, both Donovan and the players have focused their attention on the teams that may become their opponents in the playoffs. Judging from the current situation, the Spurs, Timberwolves and Nuggets are the most likely to become the eighth team in the Western Conference. Among them, the Spurs and Timberwolves are now ranked 7th and 8th in the West, respectively. The Nuggets ranked ninth, but they trailed the eighth Timberwolves by 1.5 games. If you want to overtake the Timberwolves in the last few games, the difficulty is indeed not small for the Nuggets.
For the Thunder, the three teams are actually similar. However, they prefer to meet the Spurs. After all, last season, it was the Spurs that eliminated the Thunder in the Western Conference semifinals. Although the Thunder themselves knew that they were definitely not the Warriors' opponent, everyone still sighed in their hearts. Especially the players who experienced that series last season. However, if they really meet the Spurs, the Thunder may not be so easy. Although Leonard has been absent due to injury, both the Spurs and Leonard himself revealed that Leonard will return in the playoffs. This guy is not a good match. In the series last season, the Thunder were almost defeated by him.
If it were the Timberwolves, it wouldn't take much effort. Although this season's Timberwolves have become stronger after Butler joined, this team is really not like a strong team. Downs and Wiggins, these two guys, are so talented that people bite their teeth with hatred, and the attitude of playing basketball is also hateful! Butler really hates iron and steel! Although the Timberwolves have beaten the Thunder this season, neither Donovan nor Anlor are concerned about any major trouble they will cause.
As for the Nuggets, it's hard to say whether they can make the playoffs! Even if they scored, the Thunder would be handy against them.
In fact, the Thunder are not particularly worried about the first round. The real competition starts from the second round. The Rockets, Warriors, and Trail Blazers are all big hurdles that the Thunder must overcome.
Not only the Thunder think so. Any team that has made it into the playoffs, whether in the East or the West, everyone is eagerly waiting for the arrival of the playoffs. While the Thunder are looking for imaginary enemies, other teams are also comparing themselves with the Thunder. It's just that there are really not many teams in this league that have the confidence to fight the Thunder for seven games. Except for those teams, other teams that might hit the Thunder are studying countermeasures, how to hold the Thunder's sharp offensive, how to break the tight defense of the Thunder, and I don’t know how many coaches want to break their heads. .
In addition to the team's players and coaches, the audience is also very concerned about the upcoming playoffs. Although everyone knows that the final teams that can participate in the championship fight are only those ~EbookFREE.me~, the fans of each playoff team still spare no effort to support their own teams and players. After all, in the NBA circle, which team is not the pride of a city? Apart from Los Angeles, what other city can have two teams!
There is also a group of people who are also staring at these teams. They are the journalists, media and so-called expert commentators who are active in the NBA circle. Don't look at the Thunder in the regular season so strong, but there are really not many people in the circle who are really optimistic about them. In comparison, the Warriors are still the team they think is the closest to a championship. Next is the Thunder. Of course, the Rockets and Raptors also have opportunities. The only surprise is that almost no one thinks that the Cavaliers led by LeBron James will become a contender for the championship. Even if the Cavaliers changed their blood in the season and the team's condition improved, no one would think that way. James is indeed very powerful, but there are really no helpers around him. It's impossible for this 34-year-old man to beat the 76ers, Celtics, and Raptors in the Eastern Conference alone with the Cavaliers!
These people's comments and reporting to An Luo soon understood. His reaction was actually quite plain. After all, he has come across too many things this way! Whether at home or abroad, was there a time when people were optimistic about it? But Westbrook is not happy. Of course, he doesn't actually care about other people's criticism of him. Over the years, he has received much more criticism than An Luo! But he is eager for everyone's approval. As a veteran who has been in the league for 10 years, he has not had much time to prove himself slowly. This season is the best opportunity. The Thunder he leads is the strongest, but why are so many people still not optimistic about them?