2008-09 Game 25: Denver Nuggets at Houston Rockets Game Thread
Denver Nuggets at Houston Rockets, Dec 16, 2008 6:30 PM MST
Game two in the six game drive to dominance is tonight in Houston against the Rockets. In the past you could put a tick in the loss column whenever the Nuggets were playing a road game on the second night of back to back, especially against a quality opponent.
Not so this season.
As I wrote after the Nuggets impressive win in Dallas Denver is carving out a personality for road games. They are not afraid playing a game in the 80’s or 90’s (by that I am referring to point total, not the years 1980-1999). Last night was the fifth road win for the Nuggets this season where they have held their opponent below 90 points. Consistently winning that type of game has been nearly unheard of at any point during the Nuggets existence. This year it is a reality and the result has been eight wins in 12 games.
Denver does have a tall task ahead of them tonight, but then again, Houston is not playing at the top of their game. They lost their last home game against the Los Angeles Clippers by 13. However, because of that you can expect the Rockets to bring a very good effort tonight.
The Rockets play very good defense and are patient on offense. They swing the ball at least once on almost every possession. Sometimes the do it to give Yao a chance to get position on the weak side before they enter the ball or they dump it in to him first to force the double team in order to open the weak side up for their shooters. In the first meeting, won by the Nuggets, the Rockets were able to stay in the game thanks to some very good three point shooting made possible by ball reversals and penetration.
Defensively Denver is going to have to play physical with Tracy McGrady and make sure he is strictly a jump shooter. Yao is a load and they will have to swarm him with big players as they did in the first meeting. They cannot lose track of Shane Battier and when Carl Landry enters the game they need to treat him like would Carlos Boozer. He can hit the 15 footer at a very high rate and plays with a lot of energy in the lane.
The area of the game Denver has the advantage in this game is on offense. Denver will have to play better than they did last night in Dallas, and they certainly can. The Mavs are a decent defensive team, but Houston is at another level. Melo will have to contend with Shane Battier and maybe Ron Artest who may play tonight. Nene will have to attack Yao and oh by the way, a big key to this game is if either Yao or Nene get into foul trouble. Denver will have to attack the rim, and that means attack Yao, and make sure they are moving without the ball. Melo cannot get into a one on one battle against either Battier or Artest. He needs to get his assists back up in the five or six range in order for Denver to be successful tonight.
Obviously a win tonight would be huge and would really get this stretch off to a great start and I want a win like Lloyd Christmas desperately wants to make love to a schoolboy.
Previous Meeting: Game 18 - DEN 104 HOU 94
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60 comments
Comments
Is this game on nationally, or can I stream it through the web
"Me fail english, that unpossible" - Ralph Wiggum
by Broncoman on Dec 16, 2008 4:48 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
so your telling me theres a chance...
YEAH!!
by sleepydog on Dec 16, 2008 5:22 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
picks to click
I’ll go with Chauncey and K-Mart
by jakester on Dec 16, 2008 5:46 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
Chauncey 18-4
As the Nuggets’ game notes remind us, he went 2-0 for Detroit. He’s only a game and a half behind the Lakers!
by jakester on Dec 16, 2008 6:33 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
not a superb start yet
Gosh where is everybody?
Anyway, we’re back in the game after an awful start. Melo has the shooter’s itch tonight.
by jakester on Dec 16, 2008 6:58 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
I'm watching
Just trying to work at the same time.
by holly96 on Dec 16, 2008 6:59 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
Birdman!
Play-by-play indicating a putback DUNK after JR misses a FT at the end of the 1st to get us back within 5. I like.
by jakester on Dec 16, 2008 7:06 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
he better not be!
if we’re going to get a big man of substance for him
by jakester on Dec 16, 2008 7:12 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
AHAHAHAHA
Yao just got funking destroyed.
by BeefySwats on Dec 16, 2008 7:12 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
BOO YAA!!
NENE with the Monster Dunk on Yao’s eighthead!
by micb on Dec 16, 2008 7:18 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
KLEIZA
Might finally be getting his rhythm in.
by BeefySwats on Dec 16, 2008 7:22 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
Kleza a tre
mellow lose jr gets it back yao is confused and a score
by markph on Dec 16, 2008 7:23 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
The Nuggets are for real hands down
good or bad decisions they are always in it
by markph on Dec 16, 2008 7:24 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
Kenyon has been making some bad decisions
Not really enthused with his play so far tonight
by BeefySwats on Dec 16, 2008 7:31 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
quick question
who might we have a shot at as a back up at the five? there’s not a lot of good 7 footers out there that we can target, but I would be happy to get Atkins off the books for a decent five.
by micb on Dec 16, 2008 7:33 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
follow up
I know we’re playing well now, but the possibility of facing Yao, Shaq, or Bynum and Gasol in the playoffs has me thinking we need to get Nene some help. Maybe Brad Miller, although I think he makes 11mm. Do we still have some of that trade exception left?
by micb on Dec 16, 2008 7:37 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
We have all of it yet
But it would be foolish to use it without getting the best big we could, even if it means waiting until next year
by BeefySwats on Dec 16, 2008 7:39 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
close it out Nuggets before the half !!!!!!!!!
Houston closing in before the bell……………JR !!!! tre
by markph on Dec 16, 2008 7:36 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
Bad closeout of the half
But I’ll take being up 5 after being down 11
by BeefySwats on Dec 16, 2008 7:37 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
How many games can we win out of the next 5? Including this one?
by Fitzchivalry on Dec 16, 2008 7:38 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
it's all about D
if they can continue to be aggressive on the defensive end, we have a chance in every game.
by micb on Dec 16, 2008 7:40 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
I need to stop making picks to click
Chauncey with 3 TOs and only 3 shots!? K-Mart with a minus-10!?
Or maybe I should make them for the other team.
Anyway, we withstood a late charge, now it’s time to come out firing in the 3rd. Let’s build up this lead fellas!
by jakester on Dec 16, 2008 7:41 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
Nene's midrange game is declining
It was red hot earlier this season
by joshhopp on Dec 16, 2008 8:00 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
I can't stand seeing chauncey try to force it on offense
he’s supposed to be the one guy who doesn’t lose his head
by joshhopp on Dec 16, 2008 8:16 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
Great rebounding Denver
Lets see how many more chances we can give Houston.
by BeefySwats on Dec 16, 2008 8:22 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
We are playing like stink
but can turn it around by playing D
we need to go for the steal when they try to dump it to Yao because once he has it on the low block its over
by joshhopp on Dec 16, 2008 8:26 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
WTF
Nuggets seem to be ignoring Melo!
by Lethalturnip on Dec 16, 2008 8:31 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
ARtest for 3
That hurt. I really think they still have a chance to win this game, but missed opportunities and big shots by Houston are really hurting their chances.
by BeefySwats on Dec 16, 2008 8:31 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
There is a lot of time left
And it is a 5 point game. They can still win this game, but defense is CRITICAL.
by BeefySwats on Dec 16, 2008 8:35 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
Chauncey is forcing it.
Wrap it up, guys, we played a great game, but Houston at home on the second night of a back to back is too much.,
by BeefySwats on Dec 16, 2008 8:38 PM MST up reply actions 0 recs
hackfest
the Rockets are starting to remind me of Utah, they foul on almost every possession, but they do it so much, they only get called half the time
by micb on Dec 16, 2008 8:49 PM MST reply actions 0 recs
...
mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
by Lethalturnip on Dec 16, 2008 8:56 PM MST reply actions 0 recs

















