NBA 2021/22 on Wednesday, 23.03.2022
The Denver Nuggets and the Los Angeles Clippers still had the exact same record at the end of the Regular Season last year. However, this time only “Enver” will be able to get a direct ticket to the playoffs.
Because Lob City can only play a minor role in the title race due to the serious personnel failures. In my Nuggets Clippers tip, meanwhile, I’m only assuming one sure winner – and that’s Nikola Jokic!
The Clippers’ 2021/22 basketball year is currently going about as you’d expect from a team that was without its two best players by far for much of the season.
From that perspective, it’s almost remarkable that Lob City is still in contention for a playoff spot with a negative record of (36-37).
Los Angeles will probably not make it into the top six. For comparison: Last year, the Californians, who were largely spared injuries at the time, finished the regular season in fourth place with a stellar record of (47-25).
For Los Angeles, Kahwi Leonard has been out since the beginning of the season, while the second superstar in the bunch, Paul George, suffered an injury in December that will keep him out of action until the end of the current NBA campaign.
Most recently, the Clippers have also had to play almost exclusively against teams that are in the playoff race and are known to be able to step it up at the end of the season. LA has not been able to find an adequate answer to this so far.
Lob City has a record of just (15-22) against teams that win over 50% of their games – and the Nuggets (42-30) are one of those! Incidentally, they have every reason to give it their all once again in the upcoming game.
The Nuggets have the same record as the Timberwolves, with whom they are currently fighting for the important 6th place. This promises a direct ticket to the playoffs and thus past the diversions via the play-in tournament.
However, in my Nuggets Clippers tip I won’t be able to bring myself to award the home side a win, because the Californians, who are shorthanded, have already given Denver a hard time on several occasions.
If we also take into account the pre-season, it has always been close in the four direct duels so far. Both the Clippers and the Nuggets won two games each, but in none of those games were there more than three points between the two opponents.
What I am convinced of, however, is that the Clippers will once again not find a remedy against Nikola Jokic. Especially because the Serbian is increasingly being traded as a possible MVP due to his current performances.
The joker averages 26 points, 14 rebounds and 8 assists per game. These values alone are impressive enough, but the decisive factor for my Nuggets-Clippers tip was the last direct encounter.
Because almost two months ago, the superstar contributed a massive 49 points in a 130-128 win over the Clippers. The Californians may be able to beat Denver as a collective, but their brawny centre will be difficult for them to get to grips with.
Conclusion: The Clippers will once again be without Paul George and Leonard Kahwi. However, that hasn’t stopped the Californians from always giving the Nuggets a real fight so far.
In none of the four direct seasonal duels have there ever been more than three points between the two opponents. So be careful not to give Denver an “easy win”.
But regardless of the exact final score, I expect another monster performance from Nikola Jokic. The Serb is excelling at the moment and already scratched the 50-point mark in their last meeting with Lob City!
My Nuggets Clippers tip : Nikola Jokic scores over 26.5 points.
