And now for some real competition...

by Andrew Feinstein on Dec 14, 2008 9:49 AM MST

While watching the Nuggets pummel the Warriors last night, it dawned on me what might be the biggest difference between this Nuggets team and the Nuggets team from recent seasons past: these guys are beating the teams they're supposed to beat.

What made last season so infuriating was that in spite of winning 50 games, those who follow the Nuggets religiously knew that that team should have had 54 to 55 wins...easily. Last season's Nuggets squad lost home games to Indiana and Sacramento, and road games to the likes of Seattle, Chicago, Milwaukee, the Clippers and the @#$%& Knicks! And if you think I'm nuts to harp on a few bad losses, that was the difference between playing the Lakers in the first round vs. a team like the inexperienced Hornets, or the banged up Rockets and Spurs.

All the best teams in the NBA will drop a couple games a season to a far inferior opponent, as the Lakers did to the Kings and Pacers last week and the Celtics did to the Pacers earlier in the season. But what separates great regular season teams from good ones is their ability to keep those bad losses in check (say, three to four inexcusably bad losses at the most), something the Nuggets couldn't do last season.

As far as I can tell, the Nuggets haven't had one such loss this season. When the Nuggets lost to the Warriors in Oakland on November 5th, they had just parted ways with Allen Iverson, didn't yet have Chauncey Billups and the Warriors were fully healthy. So that loss won't count as one to a far inferior opponent.

But beyond beating who you're supposed to beat, the truly great regular season teams beat who they'd be forgiven for not beating. And the Nuggets have six straight games against such opponents coming up. Beginning tomorrow night, the Nuggets play at Dallas on Monday, at Houston on Tuesday, host Cleveland on Friday, play at Phoenix on Saturday and then have a Monday/Tuesday home-and-home against division rival Portland.

Yikes!

While we're all thrilled with the Nuggets play and record to date, they remain just two-and-a-half games up over Dallas and Phoenix in the Western Conference Standings. There's your reality check. Throw in a few losses, and the Nuggets could slip into the bottom half of the playoff seeding in a flash.

These are tough games ahead to be certain. But this Nuggets team is playing with confidence, defensive intensity and unselfishly. I believe they have the potential to be a great regular season team and a week from Tuesday, we'll have a much better idea of who these Nuggets are.

Good luck and Go Nuggets!!

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Comments

I was just telling my friend in Detroit this same thing last night as we pummeled GS. We're cruising past inferior teams.

I also liken us to the last Piston's championship team a lot too. It just kinda caught fire for them and it is for us here this year too (maybe). There's similarities in the coach (Karl's a Brown disciple) and the players (Chauncey and if I'm not mistaken Chucky WERE Pistons then) and we have similar players to those who filled roles on that team that dismantled the Lakers.

I see a lot of Ben Wallace defensively out of Balkman (and both were given up on by teams before arriving to their respective roles in DET/DEN) but I also think that this team is much more talented than Detroit was that year.

JR is a lot like Rip (when given the chance to play), but K-Mart and Nene's similarities fall short of Rasheed Wallace offensively. The good news there is... we have Carmelo who's better than Wallace was offensively, and the tandem of K-Mart/Nene overall is better defensively than Sheed and his bench crew were (in my opinion of course).

So I think if there's a team that we can liken our Nuggets to and hold hope that we can mirror it's that Piston's championship team (and dammit I'm forgetting the year, either 03 or 04). We might not be 100% similar, considering we don't hold teams to 66 ppg like the Pistons were known for, but we play good enough defense that in most nights, regardless of how many we give up, it'll wind up less than we can score ourselves so who cares?

Wouldn't it be great to put together a run like that Pistons team lead by none other than Chauncey?

by Eric K on Dec 14, 2008 10:46 AM MST reply actions

Oh, and when asked if he was still liking that AI/Chauncey trade, my buddy responded "I'm liking the cap space!" I think AI's time has past and I applaud (begrudgingly) the Kronke cronies for making the move every time I see another Pistons loss. AI has to be the toughest HOF'er to fit on a team in the history of the NBA... sadly.

by Eric K on Dec 14, 2008 10:49 AM MST reply actions

Wow this is a first for me. Either all fans here are:
1) hungover from all the holiday partys
2) at their place of worship
3) too bored to post since there is nothing to complain about ( Kleza the lone exception )
4) open to the imagination.
So I hope for a 3-2 run for the Nuggets, it's time for the reality check.

by markp on Dec 14, 2008 10:54 AM MST reply actions

Damn,
As I was putting my thoughts together here Eric K beat me to the top of the comment board

by markp on Dec 14, 2008 10:56 AM MST reply actions

I'm a bit more pragmatic about the upcoming schedule. Unless they do a total face-plant & go 0-5, I figure theres been so much positive progress, that they have more than enough time to correct problems. There's a new toughness to this team, a MENTAL toughness, thats only getting stronger. A few early season setbacks should not affect that either way. I wanna see a more consistent performance from Melo & Nene, than what we saw vs the Lakers & Spurs. I'd love to have a defined, set rotation, where EVERYONE (JR, Balkman, CA, etc) knows their role, & performs accordingly. Make no mistake, 5-0, or even 3-2 would be GREAT. But its waaay too early for the season to be derailed because of a bad stretch.

by KaiserSoze on Dec 14, 2008 11:19 AM MST reply actions

The thing I see with this Nuggets team that actually kind of sucks is that last year even though we lost to inferior teams we still got up for the games against superior teams and actually beat then as much as we lost to the inferior ones and this year that seems to have been reversed. I know we beat Boston and Houston but Houston we should have beat. The other games against the Lakers and Spurs were just a joke and if we think we are who we are, which is a potential contender, we can't just fold every time we meet teams other good teams. It is a true mark of a contender to beat those teams mentioned above and until we do that I will refrain from any sort of talk about us actually winning a playoff series. The way I see it we should be able to win at least 3 of those games and if we do I will be satisfied as a .500 record during this streach basically traslates to, we could beat any of those teams in the playoffs, potentially. But, if we wan't to already be considered better than those teams and considered the favorite in the playoffs then we have to do better than .500, which we are fully capable of. I am excited too bad I am going to probably miss all of those games as I will be on vacation, but who's complaining? I am going to be in the Carribean!

by Goldennugget on Dec 14, 2008 5:15 PM MST reply actions

Goldennugget,
You may be surprised what you will find on TV in the Islands. Keep an eye out

by markp on Dec 14, 2008 9:47 PM MST reply actions

Oh Eric K, when comparing the team's best players with the champ Pistons team, you forgot to mention Melo is now better offensively better than anyone on that roster, and can hold his own on defense now that he tries. He's wayyyyy more talkented than anyone that was on that roster. And that's not putting the Pistons down either, that was one of the best teams of the last 50 years in my opinion.

by Jack on Dec 15, 2008 12:38 AM MST reply actions

I think ost of us spotlighted this upcoming stretch as the first crucil moment in the Nugz schedule, 2 wins should be easily (i use the term lightly) had, one of the portland games and at least noe of the texas showdown games. I have a hunch, jsut a hunch, that we smack cleveland in the mouth in denver, i personally am still, STILL, not sold on the Cavs, though i did pick them to only be a 6th seed in the east and they are making me foolish i give them that. I feel we should beat both Dallas and Houston, but we all know how the nuggets fair on back to back games. I really feel a 4-1 stretch through this week will make the nuggets, in my eyes, true blue championship contenders

by Zachm219 on Dec 15, 2008 12:43 AM MST reply actions

Melo seems to have improved his outside shot too. That helps.

by andrew fisher on Dec 15, 2008 12:44 AM MST reply actions

You gotta hope the Nuggests beat Portland twice to really let them know they are the best in the division. Then go 2-2 for the rest of the games. Thats some hard games coming up.

by Si on Dec 15, 2008 4:02 AM MST reply actions

GO NUGGETS, with all that said about beating the teams we're suppose to beat well I think
we stand a better chance at winning if Chucky Atkins who can shoot the ball and score over Anthony Carter who misses shot and turn the ball over to the opposition more often than not. If those turnovers were to have been caused by any other player they would have been under the bus. Not AC, WHY?

by samiam on Dec 15, 2008 5:24 AM MST reply actions

because AC gives coach Karl incentives to keep him on the floor

by andrew fisher on Dec 15, 2008 5:53 AM MST reply actions

This upcoming stretch will give all of the negative "fans" like that Patrick Kelly guy a great opportunity to whine. Even the 1996 Bulls wouldn't go 6-0 on this stretch. So wait for that loss and watch the naysayers have a big Nuggets bashing party.

by Anonymous on Dec 15, 2008 8:03 AM MST reply actions

Mr. Fisher, that is absurbed! Five turnovers and four of them straight. Give yourself a break.
Still giveing a D Leauger a free pass. What's with YOU? DENIAL?
Are you GK in disguise?

by samiam on Dec 15, 2008 10:12 AM MST reply actions

I've been missing Nugget games... they just don't show quality Nugget streaming videos anymore.

But I agree, this team seems to have confidence in winning games now. In the past, they knew they were good to win games but it seemed they were not quite sure.

I wouldn't say this team is there yet, but the mental toughness and team stability are definitely much better.

---

Now if we can steal Rasheed Wallace from Detroit for Marcus Camby expiring? That would be great wouldn't it? From Kroenke's perspective, that trade is a dream because Sheed's contract will expire after this season.

- Snake -

by Anonymous on Dec 15, 2008 11:59 AM MST reply actions

yo samiam i hate ac as much as you do. i was just kidding.

watch this video:

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=5YbuI9wBXDM&feature=channel_page

it perfectly depicts AC's game....

by andrew fisher on Dec 15, 2008 3:42 PM MST reply actions

J.R. went off tonight!!!!! He has got to get more minutes. End of story. J.R. Smith and Lebron James are the most electric players in the NBA to watch by far. George Karl is doing everyone that loves the game of basketball a disservice by not playing this guy more. 25 points in 24 minutes 17 in the fourth. Against a solid Dallas team

by Anonymous on Dec 15, 2008 10:40 PM MST reply actions

Comments For This Post Are Closed

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.