Denver Nuggets (2) vs San Antonio Spurs (7)
Which unique offense will prevail?
The Spurs and the Nuggets have two of the most interesting offenses in the league. Both pivot from the norms of the modern NBA, but both have proved to be effective.
For Denver, they are one of the few remaining teams built around a center. In a vacuum that may feel off, but it makes sense when you have one of the most unique and remarkable centers in the league’s history.
Nikola Jokic is a threat from every spot on the floor, with his combination of playmaking and shooting lethal for defenders. Surrounded by 3-point shooters and secondary playmakers, the Nuggets can attack from a variety of angles and players.
San Antonio, on the other hand, has spurned the three-point shooting trends of the league at large. While they shoot a league-leading 39.2 percent from deep, they are last in the NBA for three point attempts with just 25.3 per game. With a pair of mid-range deadeyes in LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMar DeRozan, they are able to adequately space the floor without taking a bucketful of threes.
While both teams have zigged while others zag, they are both in the top 10 in the league for offensive efficiency. That should make this a fascinating series to watch at both ends.
Does DeMar DeRozan have something to prove?
If anyone has some added motivation for the playoffs, it’s DeMar DeRozan. After multiple years of playoff stumbles with the Toronto Raptors, the team traded him to San Antonio and promptly had a franchise-best season.
That extra motivation could be a blessing or a curse for the Spurs. DeRozan has improved as a playmaker, but his calling card is still his ability to score in bunches.
A scorer with something to prove could go one of two ways; either he’ll take over games and win them single-handedly, or he’ll try to force the issue and suffer from the inefficiency that has often plagued him in the postseason.
Of course, it’s entirely possible that DeRozan is smart enough and measured enough to tune out these factors and play his normal game. But that wouldn’t be any fun to talk about, would it?