The Nuggets just shouldn't play the Lakers anymore...
by Andrew Feinstein on Nov 2, 2008 8:35 AM MST
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I'm sure Kroenke Sports Enterprises was thrilled when the NBA released the schedule for 2008-09 and they got two home dates against the Los Angeles Lakers (the Lakers only came to Denver once last season). After all, in what was sure to be a tough season attendance-wise with the economy in the shitter and the Nuggets roster itself in cost-cutting mode, KSE knew they had at least two guaranteed sell outs on their hands.After watching the Nuggets lose to the Lakers for the eighth straight time last night, I'm convinced that the Nuggets should just skip all these future Lakers matchups and use that time for extra rest. When you're asking Anthony Carter to guard Kobe Bryant (to quote Clint Howard from Parenthood: "He has no business being out there. NO BUSINESS!!!!") in the fourth quarter, aren't giving a well-rested energy surplus guy like Renaldo Balkman one minute of playing time in a game when the rest of the team is clearly exhausted and allow Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith to revert to rookie-like shot selection, you might as well not show up in the first place.
There were some positives, obviously, as the Nuggets led throughout the first three quarters and hung tough until about five minutes left in the game. But the Nuggets always get dismantled by the Lakers when the game gets tight towards the end of the fourth quarter. They are consistently out-matched from the coaching position all the way down to the last man off the bench and what's worse, they don't seem to have a clue for how to resolve it.
So I say, just forget these Lakers games. Concede three losses to them this season (you've already conceded one), and focus on beating everyone else.
On a side note: I have to admit loving the new Carmelo Anthony hairdo. Maybe it was just the hair, but I thought Melo looked like he was in better shape to start the season than we've seen from him in his career thus far. Of course, being in better shape didn't improve his shot selection.
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Also, I'm loving how Kmart is playing this year, he's playing like an animal! You go Kmart!
(though I'm not sure about the new bright red lips tat...?)
Connman
Southlands Aurora
by Anonymous on Nov 2, 2008 9:21 AM MST reply actions
George did have some fresh legs on the bench, and why he didn't use them is beyond me.
Maybe the fix is in, and the vaunted Lakers are the chosen ones (again).
by John S on Nov 2, 2008 10:57 AM MST reply actions
by bring back rauf on Nov 2, 2008 11:00 AM MST reply actions
2 big reasons the Nuggets aren't 3-0 right now. First (as usual) when games get tight down the stretch, good teams execute half court offense. Detroit did this to us last year to win 2 close games and the Lakers were fantastic down the stretch this year. It helps to have Kobe hitting jumpers, but it also helps that the Lakers (and other good teams) RUN OFFENSE down the stretch. The Nuggets just stand around after running pick'n'roll all game and having generally good player movement in all 3 games it just stopped with about 8 minutes to go in the game. Second, and perhaps worse, the Nuggets so far are the second worse rebounding team in the league. They get a lower percentage of offensive rebounds than anyone and are below the league average in the percentage of offensive rebounds they give up. Only Toronto has been worse in the offensive rebounding percentage differential, but that is because Toronto shoots so well that they don't try for offensive boards.
They have had 3 winnable games, would have beat Utah by rebounding and making FTs and could have beat the Lakers if they hadn't gotten torched on the glass. These are things that can be fixed (esp. the fts as that will likely average out over the season) and George can work on rebounding. Not having K-Mart down the stretch hurt, but it wasn't just at the end of the game that they got worked on the glass.
They played the Lakers tougher than anyone else so far and while the chances of beating LAL this season aren't that great, the team has looked much better than a lot of people anticipate so far despite the 1-2 record.
by Eric B on Nov 2, 2008 11:03 AM MST reply actions
0-3. if Karl doesn't start using his bench it's going to be a long season.
by Anonymous on Nov 2, 2008 1:32 PM MST reply actions
by samiam on Nov 2, 2008 1:42 PM MST reply actions
by samiam on Nov 2, 2008 1:47 PM MST reply actions
by Kieran on Nov 2, 2008 3:11 PM MST reply actions
by Anonymous on Nov 2, 2008 7:59 PM MST reply actions
Great blog, by the way. It's one of the few good things about being a Nuggets fan.
by Andrew on Nov 2, 2008 8:07 PM MST reply actions
by Goldennugget on Nov 2, 2008 9:43 PM MST reply actions
oh and to julian from australia. yeah that's me from the report cards on essendon website haha. what are the odds. favorite NBA team and favorite AFL team for both of us lol. that's weird. im from melbourne
by andrew fisher on Nov 2, 2008 10:24 PM MST reply actions
If Billups got traded to the Nuggets for Iverson, I would be excited for Iverson and feel sorry for Billups...i'm sorry I just don't think Billups would be happy getting traded from his competetive team for the Nuggets..even if he is a hometown hero in Denver. Although I do think with their defensive mindset, Iverson would be a decent fit for Detroit.
People have to understand that different players fit different teams and just because they are effective on one team doesn't mean they will be effective on another. Billups fits with Detroit perfectly, doesn't mean he could come to Denver (whose team has a completely different mindset) and do the same thing. Sort of like Steve Nash, Nash was good for Dallas..but it wasn't untill he reached Pheonix and their run and gun style that he reached his MVP level. He just fits better there. Get it?
So I can understand while some fans are desperate for something that could possibly help out the team (myself included), I just don't want to see Billups get traded out of a decent situation and end up losing his swagger in Denver. I think the Nuggets are a decent team, but not the type of team Billups is used to being on and if they trade off Iverson its a strong possibility that the Nuggets miss the playoffs this season in the West. If they trade Iverson I really hope they do have enough class to trade him to a decent competetive team like the Pistons, because god knows the guy deserves it for the work he's put into the league. Iverson isn't perfect, no player is, but fans would be lying to themselves if they said that the Nuggets have lived up to their promise when they traded for Iverson, and it will not look good on the Nuggets organization if they continue on with this nonsense. Like it or not Iverson has a ton of fans and judging by what I see on other b-ball sites people are already starting to get irritated about the situation, so if the Nuggets don't do right by that guy they may get a backlash..and unfortounatly Melo might be included, I read these sites and Philly fans cant stand Melo right now. So the Nuggets need to get it together, quickly. Good luck to everyone.
by Anonymous on Nov 2, 2008 11:20 PM MST reply actions
Balkman and Johns Zero min? come on now
by Anonymous on Nov 3, 2008 12:18 AM MST reply actions
by james b.(seattle) on Nov 3, 2008 4:46 AM MST reply actions
Being positive for a minute I think Marbury and Iverson would be an interesting backcourt. Lots of points and prob no defense. A bit undersized as well.
As for Melo "shedding his image", I couldn't care less if he was the baddest dude in the NBA. You guys should care more about his shot selection and taking the game over down the stretch than his hairstyle.
by Simon on Nov 3, 2008 5:59 AM MST reply actions
by Mike B on Nov 3, 2008 9:44 AM MST reply actions
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