As the Denver Nuggets prepare for their second-round playoff showdown against the Phoenix Suns, head coach Michael Malone and Nikola Jokic, the team’s star player, are embracing their underdog status. Despite being the no. 1 seed in the West, the Nuggets are viewed as the underdogs against Kevin Durant and the Suns, who have formed a formidable Big 3 (or Big 4) with Durant at the core.
However, Malone understands the reality of the situation and isn’t surprised that his team is seen as the underdog.
Michael Malone on Denver being the underdog as the 1-seed in this series:
“We don’t take that personally. We know who we are. We know what we’re capable of.”
Mentioned that any team trading for Kevin Durant will be viewed in a drastically different light.
— Ryan Blackburn (@NBABlackburn) April 27, 2023
“We don’t take that personally. We know who we are. We know what we’re capable of,” Malone said, adding that the team is focusing on themselves and what they do best, instead of worrying about what their opponents can do.
Jokic echoed Malone’s sentiments, saying that they are not worried about the outside noise and are confident in their abilities. Despite the doubts from fans and experts, Jokic believes that the Nuggets are the best team in the West for a reason.
“We know what we can do. We know how good we are,” Jokic said.
While the Nuggets have had their share of playoff struggles in recent years, they have been one of the more consistent teams during the regular season. Jokic has been the driving force behind the team’s success this season, earning the NBA’s Most Valuable Player award.
As the Nuggets prepare to face the Suns, Jokic and Malone remain upbeat and confident. They know that beating Phoenix won’t be easy, but they believe in their team’s ability to overcome the odds and advance to the Western Conference Finals.
“We’re just going to go out there and play our game,” Jokic said. “We believe in ourselves, and we believe that we can win.”
The Battle of the MVPs: Jokic and Kevin Durant Lead Their Teams into the Semifinals
The stage is set for an epic showdown as the Denver Nuggets and the Phoenix Suns face off in the Western Conference semifinals. Led by reigning two-time Kia MVP Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets will take on a star-studded Suns squad headlined by 2014 MVP Kevin Durant and All-Star guard Devin Booker.
Both teams made quick work of their first-round opponents, earning their spots in the semifinals with five-game series victories. Jokic was dominant in leading the Nuggets past the Minnesota Timberwolves, recording a 28-point triple-double in Game 5, while Jamal Murray chipped in with a game-high 35 points. Meanwhile, Booker had a postseason career-high-tying 47 points in the Suns’ Game 5 victory over the shorthanded LA Clippers.
Although the teams split their regular-season series, both Jokic and Durant were absent for parts of those games. Now healthy and ready to go, the two MVPs will go head-to-head in what promises to be a high-scoring affair, as both teams boast some of the top offenses in the playoffs. The Battle of the MVPs is sure to be a must-watch event for basketball fans around the world.
