Nuggets/Jazz Recap: Could this be the best win of the season?...

by Andrew Feinstein on Jan 25, 2009 4:23 PM MST

Nuggets/Jazz Recap

I wouldn't go as far as saying tonight's win over the Utah Jazz was the Nuggets best win of the season (that would still be the Nuggets' 94-85 win at Boston on November 14th...the moment the Chauncey Billups' Nuggets served notice the NBA that they meant business). But tonight's victory may very well be the best played Nuggets game of the season.

The other day, a fellow blogger asked me a few questions about following the Nuggets. One of the questions was: "What are the three most important things I should know going in?" Of the three things I cited, I led with...

...no two Nuggets games are ever the same and yet they remarkably win about 65% of them - the rotations never make sense, the plays are rarely if ever repeated, the effort varies from quarter to quarter, etc. There is nothing consistent about the Nuggets...

Not tonight.

For the first time all season against a really good team, the Nuggets effort, commitment to defense and unselfish play never seemed the waver (with the exception of a few moments in the second quarter when we saw 18-point lead dwindle into the seven-to-eight point range).

Granted, the Jazz are banged up and were coming off a tough game against the Cavaliers last night, but they still got double-doubles out of their (current) big three; Paul Millsap, Deron Williams and Mehmet Okur. And the Nuggets sent them packing to the members-only bars in Salt Lake City early. (On a side note, if you were watching the Altitude broadcast, how classic was it when Scott Hastings astutely noted: "If I told you that Paul Millsap, Deron Williams and Mehmet Okur all had double-doubles tonight, what would you say about the Nuggets chances in the game?" To which Chris Marlowe replied along the lines of: "They'd be winning for sure." And Hastings all but said: "You're retarded, right?")

And let's give Nene credit for tying Bobby Jones' all-time Nuggets record by shooting 12-for-12 from the field on his way to a career high 28 points. Although I must say that I'm surprised Nene's career high is just 28 points. I thought for sure by now he'd have cracked 30 on multiple occasions in his career.

We have a busy week ahead in Nuggets Nation with three games in four nights. Go Nuggets!!

Nuggets/Jazz Preview: Finally, the Nuggets play basketball again...

It's hard to believe, but the Nuggets haven't played since last Tuesday when they gave the Sacramento Kings a drubbing at Pepsi Center.

Tonight, the Utah Jazz - the NBA's cockroaches - come to Pepsi Center just 3.5 games behind the Nuggets in the standings, despite having lost 120 games to player injury so far this season. Do you think the Nuggets would be winning 56.8% of their games if their players lost 120 games due to injury? No chance.

Not that a victory tonight guarantees the Nuggets will finish ahead of Utah at season's end for the first time since the 2005-06 season, but being up 4.5 games over the Jazz in the standings would look pretty damn good considering the big road trip ahead for Denver.

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yep big game today, very winnable however with boozer n possibly kirilenko out

btw i think u should take eddy curry off the stiff list, turns out he's going through a hard time right now

ps. here's a video i made for my fellow nuggets fans http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=GrobGPmfphM

by Anonymous on Jan 25, 2009 5:01 PM MST reply actions

Utah is 6 and 1 in the division. Nuggs had better go all out

by Anonymous on Jan 25, 2009 7:42 PM MST reply actions

I'm stuck in ND with no TV access. Are the Nuggets playing well or are the Jazz playing poorly? Nene's #'s look great

by Anonymous on Jan 25, 2009 8:14 PM MST reply actions

North Dakota huh? I bet it is prety desolate and cold out there. Nene tied a Nugget record going 12/12 from the field scoring 28 points and the Nuggets are just demolishing the Jazz, which is very nice to see. Everyone had a pretty good game all around.

by Goldennugget on Jan 25, 2009 8:22 PM MST reply actions

Hey man I live in Montana and I get coverage lol. And definitely this is one of the best games I have watched from the Nuggets this year. If the Nuggets would play like this every night, the press would still hate on them but they would get past the second round no problem. I don't know if I'm ready for Melo to come back. Would Nene get as many shots or good looks at the basket: probably not.

by Anonymous on Jan 25, 2009 8:35 PM MST reply actions

Nothing better than smacking the Jazz!

by john on Jan 25, 2009 8:42 PM MST reply actions

Denver Stiff author,

I know myself and other Nuggets fans want to see Dahntay come off the bench and JR Smith start.

82games.com has proven our point empirically: http://www.82games.com/0809/0809DEN2.HTM

The Billups-Smith-Martin-Nene-Anthony lineup is dynamite. Offensive efficiency is 1.25, d efficiency is .99.

Meanwhile, the usual starters Billups-Jones-Anthony-Martin-Nene lineup is lackluster, with a negative +/-. This explains why, when Anthony was healthy at least, the Nugs would play mediocre ball and then bring Smith in for a big run.

I'm not all against Dahntay Jones, I just think it helps to have a 2-guard who can shoot in order to spread the floor. Another good lineup while Anthony has been hurt features Jones at the 3, with Smith-Billups-Martin-Nene.

You should write an article about this.

by ballwarriorz on Jan 25, 2009 8:52 PM MST reply actions

To Ballwarriorz,

Thanks for writing in. I wrote an article about this very topic back on December 21st and I still stand by my statement that J.R. Smith should start. If the Nuggets didn't have Linas Kleiza, I'd be ok with J.R. coming off the bench in a Manu Ginobili-type role. But with Kleiza providing instant offense off the pine, why must the Nuggets play every game 4-on-5 out of the gate? And while I applaud Dahntay Jones' nightly effort, he's a very limited player - offensively and defensively - and there's a reason why he gets just 19.7 minutes a game compared to J.R.'s 27.2. Unfortunately, when Carmelo Anthony returns, I see J.R. returning to the bench and Jones remaining the starter.

All best,

Andrew

by Andrew on Jan 25, 2009 9:43 PM MST reply actions

Wow great win tonight. I would love to see GK gone as bad as anyone but wow the nuggets actually looked prepared to execute there defensive schemes tonight, like they had a week of actual coaching. It was also a great moment when JR sought out C Bill on the bench to ask him a question. Finally the nuggets have a true leader (Not saying Melo isn't but we all know he is not the vocal type). Great win Nuggs. Can't wait until Friday when Melo is back.

by Anonymous on Jan 25, 2009 10:03 PM MST reply actions

My two thoughts for the night.

1.) WTF did Karl sit JR Smith 7 minutes into the first. He had 13 points, was driving the lane effectively, shooting effectively, was firing on all cylinders.

2. Nene is write in on the all star ballot. Here is a list of Western Bigs that you can just click and vote for:

LaMarcus Aldridge, Portland;
Tim Duncan, San Antonio; Pau Gasol, LA Lakers; Andrei Kirilenko, Utah; Kevin Love, Minnesota; Kenyon Martin, Denver; Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas; Luis Scola, Houston; Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix; Al Thornton, LA Clippers; David West, New Orleans; Chris Wilcox, Oklahoma City.
Centers
Andris Biedrins, Golden State; Andrew Bynum, LA Lakers; Marcus Camby, LA Clippers; Tyson Chandler, New Orleans; Nick Collison, Oklahoma City; Al Jefferson, Minnesota; Chris Kaman, LA Clippers; Brad Miller, Sacramento; Greg Oden, Portland; Mehmet Okur, Utah; Shaquille O'Neal, Phoenix; Yao Ming, Houston.

Some of those are no brainers, Dirk, Stoudamire, Shaq, etc.

But Should Wilcox be one there ahead of Nene, Okur, Kaman, Love, etc.

The only Center playing better in my opinion is Yao, maybe. I think there are some 4's having better seasons, but Nene is playing the light's out at the 5 this year. Anyway, he got screwed.
\
Mordecai

by Anonymous on Jan 25, 2009 11:56 PM MST reply actions

From what i was reading J.R. got a cheap 2nd foul called on him that's why he was taken out early.

by AN from dubai on Jan 26, 2009 3:00 AM MST reply actions

Nene is getting married on he all star break so cant go. GP and Webber do a nice analysis of the possible events

www.youtube.com/watch?v=C5AodJFb29o

by Anonymous on Jan 26, 2009 3:52 AM MST reply actions

Anonymous said...
My two thoughts for the night.

1.) WTF did Karl sit JR Smith 7 minutes into the first. He had 13 points, was driving the lane effectively, shooting effectively, was firing on all cylinders.

Um...did you watch the game? JR got his 2nd foul... of course they're gonna sit him.

You also said:
Some of those are no brainers, Dirk, Stoudamire, Shaq, etc.

Stoudamire really is a no brainer. He's already in.

by Anonymous on Jan 26, 2009 7:29 AM MST reply actions

I thought Karl was going to get a technical when Nene knocked away the defenders arm with his elbow and got a technical himself. Karl was awake on the sidelines, although not awake enough to see the elbow thrown by Nene.

A good win against a quality team. They were shorthanded, but so were the nuggets, so a solid win.

I watch altitude HD on directv. There was something wrong with the signal last night. It kept sort of skipping. Did anyone else have the issue or was it just me?

Who do you think misses the playoffs? Based on last night, I might have to say Utah, although Dallas is right with them.

by KarlSucks on Jan 26, 2009 10:21 AM MST reply actions

I was at the game last night and it actually got kind of boring since we were just kicking the piss out of the Jazz the whole night, but i still stayed to the end to watch my man Sonny Weems score his first points. Also Karl was working the refs from the get go which was nice to see, did anyone else catch that god awful jacket Melo was wearing, absolutely atrocious.

by Zachm219 on Jan 26, 2009 10:39 AM MST reply actions

it is hard to gauge our player's performances because the league, the fans, and the players are all geared to STATS. That's right. STATS. the stats don't show D. The stats don't show player movement. the stats don't show boxing out. the stats don't show intimidation. and mainly, the stats don't show heart. this is why the FANS vote for FLASH and players on the Nuggets who play a team game get forgotten at All-Star time. That's why when the Tuesday night game votes come in you can have the Los Angeles Lakers playing the Des Monies Boys Club. h

This year we have contributors. Teammates. Melo's points are down. His rebounds are up (I know - a stat). And the Nuggets have more in win column. Going down the stretch the Nuggets have a chance to start beating the "elite" teams.

But the reason we could beat them doesn't necessarily show up in statistics. It shows up in heart.

by Anonymous on Jan 26, 2009 11:04 AM MST reply actions

A lot of things to talk about here but I want to start off adressing all the "Anonymous" posters. You all should get names if you plan on posting here so we know who is who. Just click "Name/URL" and put in something. That way we can adress you by name instead of "Anonymous about halfway down the page". Next thing is the point brought up about JR starting. I kind of gave up on that whole push to get him in the starting lineup a while ago. I just felt like Karl would never succumb and let actual judgement overpower his ego and pride. I stil feel that way but now we have an even greater argument than before with the way that JR is playing. Now he is playing defense, and great defense as well as making great plays for his teamates and being unselfish as anyone on the team. Like always he can sink the j and spread the floor which opens up the lane for Nene and KMare. But the biggest thing is he isn't making one bone headed play after another, he is learing and I think that is the one thing that drives Karl up a wall. But now that he isn't doing all those dumb things anymore how can Karl continue to start a far inferior player (no offense) in Jones? Like I said I really don't care anymore but if Karl continues to start Jones while JR is obviously far and above outplaying him on the defensive end and benifinting his teamates I will lose even more respect than I already have for him. As for the win I really wasn't that impressed. The Jazz are missing thier key All-Star, Olypic gold medalsist in Boozer as well as thier other All-Star AK47. So take away Chauncy and Melo from our team and a healthy Jazz would do the exact same thing. Props to Nene for going 12/12 (I am really trying hard to get him in one of my fantasy leagues) and tying his career high. It always seems like he gets so close to cracking 30 but never quite makes it. Next year he might be a 20-10 guy with over a block and a steal per game. Can somebody say "All-Star"?

by Goldennugget on Jan 26, 2009 11:42 AM MST reply actions

Way off topic but I had to post it anyways. Here's what Brandon Jenning's (Highschool phenom who skipped college to jump into a European payroll for a year before comming to the NBA in the 09 draft because he couldn't hack the SATs) had to say about playing with Euro-league coaches...

"If you get on a good team, you might not play a lot. Some nights you'll play a lot; some nights you won't play at all. That's just how it is."

Sounds kinda like Karl's coaching scheme. Inconsistant rotaions with no explanation as to why someone gets gobbs of PT one night and a DNP coaches decision the next. I always thought Karl looked like a snooty Frenchman.

Last night was an improvement, but why should we applaud Karl for doing what's expected of him? I don't get props at work for showing up on time, because I'm supposed to. "Hey Dustin, bang up job on clocking in my man.Gimme some skin!" It's required of me. So please don't start praising Karl for doing what he should have started doing when he took the team from Coach Buzz.

Nene is still a beast and the average NBA fan is an idiot for not voting for him as a write in. Shaq plays every-other game it seems, but he's voted in because he's Shaq. I guess if Nene gets an endorsement with Icy-Hot he'd get the geriatric vote too. Ooooh that burnt.

by joelsopinion on Jan 26, 2009 12:40 PM MST reply actions

To all of you wondering about The JR-karl saga, here's the low down(from a inside source).... Karl didNOT want JR resigned last offseason. Now the fact that JR is outplaying Jones is driving Karl nuts. If he starts JR when Melo comes back he will be admitting that he is wrong about JR. He doesnt want to do that. JR knows that Karl doesn't "trust" him and he wants nothing to do with Karl. Thats why he sits at the end of the bench no matter what. After all it is the farthest spot from Karl!

by 1NUGS1 on Jan 26, 2009 1:33 PM MST reply actions

1NUGS1, wow, i keep wondering why Karl uses his ass to think instead of his head....no resigning JR???? that's the craziest thing i've heard...and surprisingly JR is being real mature about this, another young player would've probably just demanded a trade or never would have considered resigning with the team at all

anyway, i'm the same person in the first post and here's an older video i made about JR Smith, which sorta touches this topic
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=lhc20tsRZVQ
enjoy
messed up on the url, had to repost, sorry

by Bektur on Jan 26, 2009 4:55 PM MST reply actions

When will the nuggets finally tell AC to stop shooting the damn ball. I watch every game, either live or on TV and every game i cringe when he shoots. He rarely makes them. His only 'good' shot is the runner but other than that he is lucky to hit rim. Its down right hard to watchand each time he gets the ball and looks to shoot the girl and I yell for him to pass it.

by Anonymous on Jan 27, 2009 7:35 AM MST reply actions

Anonymous said...

wow the nuggets actually looked prepared to execute there defensive schemes tonight, like they had a week of actual coaching.

--

Nene said something about being prepared in his post game comments, which I found interesting. He definitely reminds me of Cerrano.

A good effort all around. JR went off in the first, which enabled us to outscore the Jazz. This, combined with solid D, won us the game. Just goes to show that every quarter counts, and even a bad first quarter can lose the game for you. It has happened to us before, and this time I'm glad it happened to the other team.

Go Nuggets!

by Do We Have Any Plays? on Jan 27, 2009 9:35 AM 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.