THE Denver Nuggets simply demolished the Los Angeles Lakers in the first round. While the games were relatively close, there really wasn't any moment when the outcome of the series was in doubt. The only question was whether it would be a regular sweep or a gentleman's sweep. The Nuggets chose to win at home.
Here's a question that nobody thought to ask after Game 5: Will that be the last Nuggets' win at the Mile High City?
It's unimaginable after how the defending champions masterfully disposed of the inconsistent, seemingly lost Lakers since they still had two generational talents. Surely, the Nuggets are the title favorites. Or at least, Western Conference champions.
But after two games at their home floor, 5280 feet above sea level (yes, that's why they have 5280 on their jerseys), the defending champions are two games away from elimination. Our last few columns talked about how quick player perception changes in the NBA. Well, the Denver Nuggets went from top title contenders to possible sweep victims in just one week!
No stranger to Denver
The secret to the Minnesota Timberwolves' success is no stranger to the Denver Nuggets. It's one person, and someone you would not see on the court. That's Tim Connelly, the president of basketball operations of the Minnesota Timberwolves. He's the person responsible for the Rudy Gobert trade, which was highly criticized, but fearless, nonetheless. At this point, Connelly is totally vindicated.
Side note: They used to call it general manager. But now, that's a subordinate position in most teams' organizational hierarchy. The real decision-maker for the team is the president of basketball operations.
Why is Connelly so integral to the Wolves' success against Denver, making them appear helpless at their homecourt? It's because he was formerly the president of Denver's basketball operations.
The master's understudy
Connelly took over from Masai Ujiri, one of the revered executives in the NBA, and often mentioned in this corner. He definitely learned from one of the best, and some of his career highlights include drafting Rudy Gobert when he took over in 2013. He traded him to the Utah Jazz, but he already knew he was a gem. Considering how bad the 2013 draft was, getting a multi-year Defensive Player of the Year awardee at the 27th pick was something, even though he acquired him 10 years later.
His greatest triumph so far was in the 2014 NBA Draft, when he picked Nikola Jokic in the second round, 41st overall. He definitely has an eye for skilled big men, and Denver should probably give him a statue for that masterful stroke. However, since the Nuggets seem to be cheap toward their executives (they let Ujiri leave, and win a title in Toronto), the T-wolves outbid and acquired Connelly in 2022.
Side note: Connelly was also responsible for drafting Jamal Murray in 2016, Michael Porter Jr. in 2018, and trading for Aaron Gordon from the Orlando Magic. He also hired coach Mike Malone in 2015. A true champion team builder.
His first major move was on July 6, 2022, trading for Rudy Gobert. Many thought it was untimely to build a twin tower formation, especially since the league was getting smaller and faster. But Connelly was already planning to defeat the team he built for almost a decade. He assembled the team, so he knew its weaknesses. It's like Batman keeping Kryptonite to defeat Superman.
Connelly was also adept at hiring coaches. He got Malone for the Nuggets in 2015, and Chris Finch for the Timberwolves. This is Finch's first head coaching job, and he finished in third place in Coach of the Year honors.
The two surprise "O-teams" coaches (Oklahoma City Thunder's Mark Daigneault and Orlando Magic's Jamahl Mosley) finished first and second, respectively. Just like Finch, the two were first-time head coaches. So it's not just the players undergoing a changing of the guard. Even the coaches are new.
Game 3 of the Minnesota Timberwolves vs. Denver Nuggets match-up is on Saturday, Manila time.