Denver Nuggets: 3 takeaways from big Game 7 win vs. Spurs

2. Defense on the Spurs’ best

Throughout the 2018-19 season, San Antonio’s two leading scorers were DeMar DeRozan and LaMarcus Aldridge. The two averaged a combined 42.5 points per game, accounting for nearly 40 percent of Gregg Popovich’s total offensive production.

Heading into Game 7, it was evident that the Spurs would have to lean on their two best players to provide consistent scoring if they were to walk out of Denver with a victory. That effort never materialized.

Neither Aldridge nor DeRozan hit the 20-point mark in the loss. They combined to shoot a ghastly 13-of-37 from the field overall. The former chipped in 16 points, 11 rebounds and four assists, while the latter cobbled together 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists of his own. Alas, their scoring is what made them into All-Stars, and it was that prowess that was sorely needed on Saturday night given the Spurs’ sub-90 performance.

Portland possesses one of the most electric backcourts in the game in Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum. While the two score in vastly different ways compared to San Antonio’s leading scorers, shutting them down is considered the ideal way to stifle the Blazers’ offense.

In order to advance even further, the Nuggets should employ a similar philosophy to the one they displayed against the Spurs: Cut off the heads of the snake and simply dare everyone else on the court to beat you. Such a strategy may result in some burns, but Game 7 showed that it will work out when it matters most.