Spurs critics look ridiculous after Denver's uninspiring display vs. Timberwolves

The Nuggets went up 1-0 on Minnesota in their first-round series. Nikola Jokic powered their victory with a 25-point triple-double, but I wasn't overly impressed by the win. I don't think the Spurs will be either. San Antonio drew massive criticism from the media and fans for allowing Denver into their bracket by losing the last game of the season. The condemnation was premature.

Sentiments like this one were echoed across social media platforms and sports shows alike. Nobody seemed able to comprehend a team prioritizing health for their superstar over manipulating the standings in hopes of avoiding a beatable opponent.

The Spurs need not fear the Nuggets

Denver won their opening game by double digits, but don't let that score fool you. They had several stretches of bad basketball show up. Rudy Gobert was causing problems for the Joker, playing a significant role in the five turnovers the Serbian center racked up.

Jamal Murray went 16/16 from the free-throw line. Anthony Edwards only made 2/9 threes and went 7/22 from the field. He's a superstar who shoots 40% from deep. We can expect him to come back with a vengeance. The Nuggets were down in this ballgame but pulled it out because Minnesota is a very flawed team. The way they closed the season with a 5-5 record was a reflection of that.

San Antonio is a much more buttoned-up team. They won't have a guy like Gobert turning the ball over because he's trying to throw the ball behind the back when that's not his game. Victor Wembanyama is also a better defender than the four-time DPOY, so if Gobert could disrupt Jokic like this, it’s easy to envision Wemby taking that a step further.

The Nuggets aren't as in control as you may think

Now, we know that every meeting in a playoff series can be different, so maybe on a night when Ant-Man goes off, another Nuggets player contributes enough to match it. If it were easy to predict exactly how each meeting would go, there would be no reason to watch. Watching, analyzing, and making predictions are all part of the fun.

But the Timberwolves have the players to defend the Nuggets fairly consistently; Denver holding serve in Game 1 at home doesn't change that. Minnesota's roster is constructed of long, athletic wings and bigs with extendo limbs that are great for blocking shots and generating fast breaks via deflections. If Ant shows up for the rest of the series and they play unselfish basketball, I could see an upset.

Of course, the Spurs have their own meal to contend with in the first round. The Trail Blazers are hoping to do the impossible. They won't, but they'll certainly try very hard. Once they clean up, they'll meet the winner of the Denver/Minny series, and no matter who it is, they should be confident about their chances. Their 62-win season demands it.

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