Unraveling...

by Andrew Feinstein on Mar 3, 2009 2:42 PM MST

Nuggets/Pistons Recap...

Why do the Nuggets suck so badly against teams from the Midwest? Against the Cavs, Bucks, Bulls and now Pistons on the road this season, the Nuggets are 0-4 (2-6 including games at Pepsi Center).

I still haven't recovered from J.R. Smith missing that two-handed dunk with about a minute left that would have cut this game to two points. But give J.R. credit, he almost - almost - bailed the Nuggets out of yet another game. But as is often the case when George Karl turns to his former nemesis to bail out the team, it was too little too late. The Nuggets were just never able to sustain imposing their will on the Pistons and did their patented third quarter lead giveaway.

Tonight's loss, combined with Carmelo Anthony's insubordination and subsequent suspension, has us all scratching our heads right now. What happened to our once magical regular season where these Nuggets gutted out win after win after win? We could literally be in third place in the division by the weekend. No joke.

We'll get into all of this more with tomorrow's post. Right now I'm sick to my stomach having watched one of my all-time favorite Nuggets teams unravel before my eyes.

Nuggets/Pistons Preview...

First off, before everyone jumps down Denver Stiffs' throat about where I stand generally with Carmelo Anthony, please read this and this. As a self proclaimed Nuggets historian, I'm fully aware of the state of the Nuggets franchise before Melo's arrival in 2003 and also recognize that Jeff Bzdelik had this team pointed in the right direction before a) management sandbagged him without unequivocally supporting him and b) George Karl took over and hasn't taken the Nuggets any further than Bzdelik did. And frankly, I don't even want to think about what the Nuggets would look like sans Melo right now.

That being said, giving credit to Melo for resurrecting the Nuggets franchise doesn't excuse him from public acts of insubordination against his coach (if that's indeed what happened), regardless of who is coach is. Call me old-school for thinking that, but that's the way I see things. If a player has an issue with his coach, he can take it up in the locker room after the game or during halftime. Not in front of all his teammates and the fans in the middle of a game.

While the Melo suspension story remains front and center, we in Nuggets Nation have more pressing matters to attend to. Namely, beating a wounded Pistons team in Detroit tonight to give the Nuggets just a little more breathing room before the most arduous back-to-back games of the season kick off with the Trailblazers in Denver on Thursday and at Utah on Friday. Can you say "tough week"?

Simply put, while we're all thrilled with a surprisingly good regular season thus far, for all the Nuggets efforts they find themselves a mere 1.5 games ahead of Portland and just two better than Utah. Worse yet, the Nuggets are only three games ahead of eighth-seeded Dallas. In other words, a couple more inexcusable losses (like we saw in Indiana that led to the Melo suspension) and the Nuggets will be fighting to make the playoffs, not win the division.

Even though Detroit has won two straight (without Allen Iverson as everyone is constantly reminded), they remain a dreadful team. Melo or no Melo, the Nuggets have no excuse not to avenge a loss to the Pistons at Pepsi Center earlier this year. I'm looking - errr hoping - Chauncey Billups will take it to his old team from the get go tonight, and the Nuggets score their 40th win already. A plateau they should have reached by now.

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fire that asshole

by Anonymous on Mar 3, 2009 3:48 PM MST reply actions

i think it will be either me or him between melo and karl. nice it is starting to heat up between them maybe the nuggets fire karl to satisfaied melo

by nuggetsfun on Mar 3, 2009 4:05 PM MST reply actions

We will see tonight how it all plays out, but I think Karl is losing this team. Don't be suprised if the nuggets fall to the 7-8 seed, or miss the playoffs altogether. Karl will have the team blown up after the season is over, then we will have a shitty record next year. Then he will get fired and we will be left as fans to deal with the aftermath. Didn't this happen in Milwaukee and Seattle?

by KarlSux on Mar 3, 2009 4:36 PM MST reply actions

Looking forward to a nice win tonight, melo coming back focused, and a nice 3 seed. Oh, at Cutler not being a bitch. too much to ask?

by Brent on Mar 3, 2009 5:56 PM MST reply actions

So will chauncey retire a nugget or piston?

Fire George Karl!!!!!!

Is Dahntay Jones alive? Whenever they cut to him on the bench he has a stupid ass look on his face. Either high as hell or day dreaming. Maybe that's why Karl likes him.

Fire George Karl!!!!!

My vote is for Avery or Dantly. Seriously, who wants to get the petition going to get this terrible coach fired.

Good point, Andrew, that GK has gotten us no further than Bzdelik.

by Anonymous on Mar 3, 2009 8:10 PM MST reply actions

We still need to find more shots for Nenê.

by Julian from Australia on Mar 3, 2009 8:21 PM MST reply actions

Avery or Bzdelik!
Is there a way we could bundle for Thabeet in this draft?
Would love to see Nene at PF again.

by Anonymous on Mar 3, 2009 8:29 PM MST reply actions

Does anyone else just zone out these 3rd quarter collapses? I swear every 3rd I just go blank, and wake up in the middle of the 4th to a Nugget team struggling to stay afloat, before giving in with 2 minutes left.

What goes on in those locker rooms at the half? Do the guys just sit in a Jacuzzi and then get a massage? They come back in the 3rd a little too relaxed every game. Maybe our local Rasta is supplying some puff, puff, pass in the locker room.

Just a quick query. How many Karl lovers are still out there? I just need to know who to blow up at.

by joelsopinion on Mar 3, 2009 8:29 PM MST reply actions

Not I, sir. I hate Karl more than ever before right now. This team's chemistry is on the rocks right now. Yes, they could rebound from this but look at the long term. Nuggets success starts with a new coach.

Andrew, a request: please convert this domain name back to fire george karl, or we at least need petition going (already mentioned).

by The Lark on Mar 3, 2009 8:36 PM MST reply actions

I think we should trade AC, Dahntay and whoever else to sweeten the deal for a washing machine...

by Anonymous on Mar 3, 2009 9:01 PM MST reply actions

I have been busy lately and missed this news. I was watching half time and kept wonder why Melo wasn't in the game. I have to say that if the rumor is true, it was poor judgment on both parts. I wish there could have been another form of punishment to make the same statement. But we can't afford to lose....you never know...the season could come down to one game to make a difference in the outcome. It is going to be a tough race to the finish line and is bad timing. I hope they can make up move one and get their focus.

Tonight I wasn't sure what the answer was...sometimes you just lose...it can be a small difference...in this case it was the lack of Melo's presence and the lack of rebounds...toward the stretch...a bad pattern we have been seeing lately.

by Anonymous on Mar 3, 2009 9:09 PM MST reply actions

I like what you're saying, I do believe that Melo can't get away with insubordination. HOWEVAH, I do think that Karl loses credibility by playing Anthony Carter 23 min a game and Dahntay Jones 19. He is very stubborn about starting Dahntay Jones, even though time and time again the Nugs play middling ball to start and JR sends them on a big run to either catch up or blow open the game. JR Smith needs to start. Dahntay Jones and Anthony Carter aren't worthless, though, they simply combine for 42 min a game when they probably should be combinging for 30 or less.

by ballwarriorz on Mar 3, 2009 9:29 PM MST reply actions

I am just amused at how mad people are already. You have no idea what you are in for. There is no doubt in my mind that we won't win the division after leading it most of the year. We might win against Portland tomorrow but we won't beat Utah in Salt Lake City. The game was frustrating for sure. I too find myself wondering where the hard working team at the beginning of the year went. We have a huge identity crisis in the making right now. We come out, play a great first half, are solid on defense, and then at the start of the third we just fall flat on our face and can never recover. But the thing that bugs me the most is, once again, not THAT we are losing games but HOW we are losing games. We collapse, every game it seems like and this is ONLY a PURE reflection of the coach. I can't stress the losing mentality George brings in the crunch enough, he is just a natural loser, not a winner, and it rubs off on our team. I don't really see how George maintains any sort of dignity. I think Balkman should take over Kleiza's position on the depth chart until he can grow a pair and get out there and not be timid and just play. We got a long way before the season is over so this is only the tip of the iceberg. Hopefully we can turn it around, but if I had to bet on it, I hate to say it, but I would bet against our chances of winning the division and a 1st round playoff series.

by Goldennugget on Mar 3, 2009 11:01 PM MST reply actions

This team needs a coach like Rick Adelman. And be weary about changing this roster at GK's behest. I don't recall how it all ended in Milwaukee and Seattle, but I do know they ended on bad terms and the teams have stunk since he left.

This roster is actually a really likable group of guys. I'm a Sixers/AI transplant and I thought I'd be able to move on when he left but I've found that the Nuggets aren't going away as my second favorite team.

They may seem a little thugged out, but they all seem to genuinely like each other (Melo, Nene, Kmart, JR, AI, etc.). You never see that Kobe-esque sniping at each other and they all really want to win, which is more than you can say for GK.

In spite of all the Billups/AI talk (losing would be good cause it would shut people up about how much better Billups is), I'm rooting for you guys and hoping AI comes back and plays alongside Billups (who is a big, controlling PG that AI needs) next year!

by Jason on Mar 4, 2009 4:30 AM MST reply actions

Jason did you order s*** for brains soup last night? AI and Billups would never operate effectivly. NEVER. AI doesn't listen to coaches, why on earth would he listen to another player?

-Done with that

I think Melo's act of defiance should be followed by other players on this team. Melo obviously is tired of inconsistant rotations and befuddling sub-outs. I don't preach insubordination, but it's a wake up call to move GK out of the organization before it's too late.

-Done with that

I read the 5280 piece on Karl, and you can't help but think of him as a loveable loser. I highlight the LOSER portion. Karl has a proven history of implosions, resulting in dispersment of the team. Although he has fought hard to get where he is in his life and career I don't think he's qualified to direct a team of this caliber. I'm glad he's got his personal s*** together, but that has nothing to do with fans or the team. It's acctually his "I'm done with the drama" attitude that is sand-bagging this team. He has no sense of urgency about his game plan, and if this team does eek into the post season that lack of intensity and lack of urgency will haunt this team for a 6 game first round.

-Will we ever be done with this?

by joelsopinion on Mar 4, 2009 8:26 AM MST reply actions

Well, it was fun while it lasted...predictable though. You can't go the whole season with only 2 bigs and an energy guy. The bigs get tired. Where has K-Mart gone?

by Anonymous on Mar 4, 2009 8:54 AM MST reply actions

How many opposing coaches at halftime gave their team this speech:

"I know the Nuggets are up by xx points, but if we keep the pressure on them they will fold..."

and of course the defense folds...

and of course the Nuggs start missing perimeter shots (although not as many last night)...

by SpokenWar on Mar 4, 2009 9:17 AM MST reply actions

LOL spokenwar, I think it's more like...

"OK team we're down by xx, but it's the Nuggets. Go back in there and you'll catch up. I don't know how or why, it just happens that way. As long as we have five guys on the floor, we'll be tied up gong into the 4th."

by joelsopinion on Mar 4, 2009 9:23 AM MST reply actions

My hope is that Chauncey chewed Melo out, in private, about how badly he wanted that win last night and what Melo's absence meant to him on a personal level. As soon as Melo's suspension was announced, Chauncey had to know that a badly needed win against his old team just became that much more difficult. Melo may not listen to Karl, but he'd better listen to Billups.

Last night's game was obviously a winnable one. Say what you will about our bigs being banged up, our other guards that can't shoot, or even Karl's rotation, the bottom line is that taking Melo's 21 PPG average out of the equation hurt. And who was responsible for his absence? He was. He may not respect his coach, but he needs to respect his teammates (and us as fans), and he hurt them (and us) by not lacing it up last night. If you're pissed at Karl, great - I get that, and frankly like that he is being challenged. But do it in a way that is actually productive, not in one that hurts all of us.

I'm no George Karl apologist, but I put last night's loss on Melo. I keep hoping that he'll display the maturity and leadership he expects everyone to give him (i.e, "respect"), but then he goes and pulls another move like this one.

21 games left in the regular season and we've nearly run out of breathing room on Portland and Utah. You want to lead this team Melo? Now's the time to step up and do it.

by Nate on Mar 4, 2009 11:30 AM MST reply actions

The next two games will snap the Nuggets out of their funk. They will crush the Blazers tomorrow night and then squeak out a win over Utah on Friday night. This will put them back on a roll and they will secure the number two seed in the conference by the second week of April. Don't worry, I'll keep everyone's seat warm on the bandwagon. I'll just have a better seat, but you'll still be able to see the show.

by Anonymous on Mar 4, 2009 11:50 AM MST reply actions

^Nice optimism there. Many of us might stop our ranting (including me) for the time being if we pull a miracle out and win both. But I don't expect that, we'll see...

by The Lark on Mar 4, 2009 12:25 PM MST reply actions

Some of us (ME) just like to rant. I guess I just wasn't hugged enough as a kid.

Seriously I hope we do pull it together. I will still watch every game I can, win or lose, Karl or no Karl, Melo or no Melo. These rants happen because we as fans see a completely win-able game every time we tune into or attend a game. Sometimes it's a legitimate loss and we can stomache it. Other times (like as of lately) games aren't being lost they're being giving away. That's where the frustration comes from. That's why the comments on these posts have become increasingly angry.

Chauncey's outing against Boston was a "funk" or fluke. There's a difference between the team having an "off" night, and the team has something wrong. I personally think it's the latter. The Chauncey band-aid is wearing loose, and the stitches are coming out. Even in the wins they've had since the break, you can tell that something is wrong. The guys look unsettled, and at times akward on the court. As if they know something is wrong, but can't say/do anything about it.

Anyway that's my two cents. I will continue to rant. Even if they win. Even if they win it all, I'll rant about not beating the opposing team quicker or by more points. You just can't make some people (ME) happy.

by joelsopinion on Mar 4, 2009 1:48 PM MST reply actions

So NOW can you tell me why Ronaldo Balkman has hardly played at all? I did not see anything but good out there against the Pistons.

by imnogm on Mar 4, 2009 1:54 PM MST reply actions

KarlSux,

No stealing my name. You've got to go find one of your own.

I never even turned on the game last night. I knew there was no way they would win and didn't want to be angry all night.

Looks like 9th place in the west is ours for the taking...

by KarlSucks on Mar 4, 2009 2:24 PM MST reply actions

Haha, Karl Sux and Karl Sucks are two different people? That's classic. I too read the 5280 article and it really was well written though it did nothing for me on the level of how I feel towards the man. The fact of the matter is no matter how many different sides of Karl are unknown to the general public that are honorable, we still stand 0-5 in the first round of the playoffs for the past 5 seasons, enough said. And the comparison to the car mechanic was a good one but misleading on so many levels, most notably for the fact that there is a big difference between getting your car to work and pleasing millions of people all around the world, not to mention the players themselves.

by Goldennugget on Mar 4, 2009 5:16 PM MST reply actions

optimistic anonymous, i really hope that what you think becomes reality.

let's cheer for the nuggets tomorrow

by Lucas Navarrete on Mar 4, 2009 6:55 PM MST reply actions

3-7 against the central, we split with the pacers, memeber

by Anonymous on Mar 4, 2009 11:46 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.