The Denver Nuggets, widely expected to become the Western Conference's representatives in the NBA Finals for the second consecutive season this year, were instead shocked in just the second round of the playoffs. After dropping the first two games of their semifinal series with the Minnesota Timberwolves, both at home, it became clear that the reigning champs were in trouble.
"Your guy Peyton Watson, I don't know what they gave up on him, 'cause they were one guy short," Simmons told guest Kevin O'Connor. "They didn't have Bruce Brown from last year, they didn't have Jeff Green from last year. And the feeling was Braun and Peyton Watson were gonna be the two guys getting those minutes, and they just punted on Watson."
The 6-foot-8 Watson was selected with the No. 30 pick in the 2022 draft. He didn't quite crack the club's rotation during its run to the 2023 championship, though he had been part of Malone's 2023-24 rotations prior to the playoffs. On the year, the 21-year-old averaged 6.7 points per game, mostly off the bench, on a .465/.296/.670 slash line. That unreliable three point shot hurt his on-court impact.
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