See! I'm not crazy after all...

by Andrew Feinstein on Mar 27, 2008 1:10 PM MDT

ESPN.com's Bill Simmons (who was kind enough to mention this blog when it launched) has concurred with my prediction that the Nuggets will make the playoffs while the Mavericks will drop out of the postseason due to the Dirk Nowitzki injury. I disagree with Bill on which team the Nuggets will face, however. I just don't see us fans being lucky enough to have our beloved Nuggets draw the Hornets or Rockets in the first round, teams the Nuggets actually have a chance against. You almost just know the Nuggets will have to play the Lakers in Round One.

But let's not get too far ahead of ourselves just yet...we have to beat the Dirk-less Mavericks tonight first!

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Did you hear that Nene is coming back tonight? I am psyched! I don't see a problem with facing the Lakers in the first round. they will be at their weakest trying to integrate Ariza, Gasol and Bynum back in the lineup. The Lakers will only get stronger as the playoffs progress.

If the Nuggets don't give maximum effort tonight, it will only add to your support in firing Karl. Unfortunately, less that full effort is exactly what I expect.

by Matthew on Mar 27, 2008 2:02 PM MDT reply actions

Simmons doesn't watch the Nuggs and his comments on the team are bunk.

Peter Gammons always called the '78 Red Sox a "25 cabs for 25 players" team; in other words, the games ended and they never saw each other until the next game. To update that dig for modern times, I think this is a "12 PlayStation 3's for 12 players on every road trip" team. Weird vibe with these guys. They always look like they just met right before the game.

We're one of the closest knit teams, if not the closest knit team in the NBA. The players have a genuine affection for one another and AI, Melo, Kenyon and JR all hang out off the court.

And that's not to mention the great on-the-court interaction. Contrasting to Lebron, who often looks like he wants to kill his teammates, no one ever gets on anyone's case. The high fives and congratulatory gestures are bountiful (Camby's backhand, JR's rising high five, Kenyon and AI's triple slap).

The bench is always involved. Honestly, playoffs or not, this is an easy team to love. They want to win, they support each other and they play hard, if not always correctly.

I just pray we make it.

by Nadum on Mar 27, 2008 5:30 PM MDT reply actions

"Simmons doesn't watch the Nuggs and his comments on the team are bunk ... We're one of the closest knit teams, if not the closest knit team in the NBA. The players have a genuine affection for one another and AI, Melo, Kenyon and JR all hang out off the court."

What nadum said.

I enjoyed that Simmons column, but I thought he was far off the mark on that point.

There's a real interesting dynamic between AI, J.R. and 'Melo, with the two younger players seemingly really looking up to AI, the guy who pioneered the tattooed, cornrowed, I-did-it-my-way style that they embrace. J.R. had a nice quote earlier this year about how, "We play for Iverson."

And the veteran camraderie between AI, K-Mart, and Camby is pretty sweet as well.

Simmons in an enjoyable writer to read, but he's wrong as often as he's right.

by Petey on Mar 27, 2008 10:49 PM MDT reply actions

simmons is a moron...that's why we call him 'el retardo' or 'el tardo' where i'm from

by blue on Mar 28, 2008 8:55 AM MDT reply actions

I agree that Simmons is off the mark a little bit. He's falling from respectability a little by making blanket statements that make it obvious he's only a casual observer (the NBA used to be his strong suit and I think he's spreading himself too thin amongst sports).

Anyway, another point in which I think he's WAY off on, is that the Lakers are a sure fire Finals team... Bring that team on! I like our chances.

by Eric on Mar 28, 2008 1:20 PM MDT reply actions

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STIFF LIST (as of 4/26 by Andrew Feinstein)

1. METTA WORLD PEACE

Metta resorted back to Ron Ron last Sunday by clubbing James Hardenwith an "inadvertent celebratory elbow", landing him a 7-game suspension. Apparently, changing his name didn't prevent NBA commissioner David Stern from overlooking Metta's past behavior problems.

2. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS

The 'Cats are on the verge of securing the worst winning percentage in NBA history. Given that the guy who runs the team - Michael Jordan - had previously drafted Kwame Brown and Adam Morrison, should this really be a shock?

3. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
The team that was supposedly built to overcome the lockout-shortened season managed to lose 7 of its last 14 games, ceding the Western Conference's 1-seed to the Spurs in the process. Their reward might be a first round matchup with defending champion Dallas.

4. BILLY HUNTER AND DEREK FISHER

With report after report coming out about NBPA union head Hunter's shady, nepotistic dealings and questions arising about Fisher's own role in dealing with NBA owners behind Hunter's back during the lockout, this off-the-court scandal could prove to be more exciting than the playoffs themselves!

5. STEVE NASH AND THE PHOENIX SUNS
The Suns are on this list for squandering the last few great seasons from Nash. Nash is on this list for his stupidly stubborn loyalty to a franchise as awful as the Suns.