Unable to win two "feel good" games in a row...

by Andrew Feinstein on Mar 6, 2009 7:08 PM MST

Nuggets/Jazz Recap...

Article courtesy of Goldennugget.

I am not going to be as quick as most people to criticize our Nuggets. We all know this team has bi-polar disorder, the only thing left to do to make it official is make an appointment for the whole team to see a psychiatrist and get diagnosed. Lets be honest, we all loved the (what, 19 point?) lead in the second quarter, but it was still inevitable that we would lose it sometime or another. The biggest shock for most people was probably how quickly we lost it though. A timeout to stop the Jazz's run at the last two minutes of the second quarter would have been ideal, but we are seriously fooling ourselves with if we think that way.

"Ideal" is a word that shouldn't exist in a loyal Denver Stiff reader's vocabulary. We get what we get with Boy George and we can't trick ourselves into thinking that we actually can reach our full potential because then we would be living a lie. The good thing is we still have the division lead, and that's the bottom line. We can complain all day about what we coulda, shoulda, woulda done, but we should still be happy with where we are considering who's at the helm.

Now, for some more specific commentary. J.R. Smith and Carmelo Anthony's isolations need to be as limited as possible. When those guys get the ball they think they have to go one-on-one. There isn't a part in their brain's that says: "Hey, look for the open man!". Their heads just don't work that way, sadly.

The other thing I want to mention is the identity of the Nuggets. Our identity is good defense. When we play good defense we play our best ball. You can see the confidence glistening off each of the players when we play good defense, which leads to good possessions on offense, and thus gives us our leads such as our big one we had in the second quarter. It's when we stop playing defense when we let the other teams in the game.

It is definitely frustrating watching games like tonight. This Nuggets team does not often get real "feel good" wins, if you know what I mean. Those are the ones where you walk away from the game feeling better than you did when you first started watching the game. We had one against the Lakers and the one against Portland the other night was good, but not quite on the level of the Lakers win. A win tonight in Utah would have been one of those "feel good" wins. In my opinion the more of these we continue to stack up the better prepared we will be in the postseason.

I personally can brush off the loss tonight. Utah is a great team whom many picked to get the second seed in the Western Conference and we gave them a pretty good game, though it was far from satisfying. The thing we all have got to be conscious of is the remaining schedule of Utah compared to us. Utah has only seven home games remaining for the entire rest of the year as apposed to our 11, not to mention 13 of their remaining games are versus opponents who are above .500. So lets not get down on ourselves just yet. We still have a long way to go and if we play tough, physical defense, and take care of business against weaker opponents, I think we are right in the mix for the division title and home court advantage. Lets rally behind our troops guys and make sure they feel our love down the stretch.

Go Nuggets!

Nuggets/Jazz Preview...

Hello from Vegas, fellow Stiffs. First off, many thanks to Goldennugget again for writing up the recap of last night's game and for doing it again after tonight's game in Utah. I didn't get into Vegas in time to throw some money on the Portland game, but i was able to watch almost all of it. Call me crazy, but I think Birdman's block on Rudy Fernandez's face might be the best block in Nuggets history.

But that was last night.

Tonight, a tired Nuggets team plays a rested Jazz team that's only won nine straight (and 10 straight at home). Oh, and the Nuggets have lost six of their last seven in Utah. And yet, while this might be me drinking the Nuggets Kool-Aid talking, I honestly think the Nuggets could pull this off. They seem to win games that no one gives them any chance of winning. I even bet the moneyline here in Vegas on our Nuggets, which will pay me four-to-one if they end up victorious. I'll be posting Goldennugget's recap either a) tonight when I'm hammered or b) tomorrow morning when I'm hungover. Either way, I have a big Nuggets game to watch first...Go Nuggets!!

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How much have you bet?

by sepioes on Mar 6, 2009 8:01 PM MST reply actions

Hammer time! I love it! Have fun there dude! Planning on getting pleasantly hammed myself this evening...

by Eric K on Mar 6, 2009 8:05 PM MST reply actions

what the heck! how come George Karl let the Jazz climb back without calling a time out!! What a genius! He really has gift to destroy Nuggets.

by Anonymous on Mar 6, 2009 11:21 PM MST reply actions

I'm sick of all the hate for the nuggets. They still have a shot to finish strong, yet every time they lose, everyone acts like the sky is falling. I think the Nuggets can get back on track in these next 7 games and I want to go on record saying that I believe they will go 6-1 in those 7. I may be wrong, and if I am, the Nuggets are in a whole mess of trouble, but this is make or break time. There are no more excuses. The upcoming schedule is cake, and if they can't beat these teams, then they would be an embarrassment in the playoffs anyway. Let's have faith that the Nuggets can end this inconsistency and string together a few wins next week.

by Josh on Mar 7, 2009 12:06 AM MST reply actions

Hey guys, sorry in advance. I just got back from a buddie's house. I was watching the game over there, trying to resist the urge to get smashed, and managed to do a pretty good job. It's 12:45 AM and I just sent the recap to Andrew in Vegas where he probably has not resisted the urge to get hammered quite as well as I have, haha. Sounds like he is having a blast. Anyways look for it in the morning, and again sorry I was so late.

by Goldennugget on Mar 7, 2009 12:52 AM MST reply actions

The Nuggets played well enough to win. If it were a playoff game, they would have won, because the refs don't go quite so overboard with the homecourt advantage in the playoffs. That's why the Jazz have never won anything.

by John on Mar 7, 2009 7:14 AM MST reply actions

Some good things, and some bad things against UT... A few observations from this game... First, GK got very creative with his rotations - maybe more so than any other game this year. I like that and I liked the Bird/Balk combo for energy. It worked very well in the first half.

Second, I think we are beginning to really see that JR has near unlimited potential.

Third... and this might be unpopular, but games like these really make it clear for me that the Nuggets, as presently constructed, will never win a championship. Never ever. Except for Nene, they just do not pass the ball. They can, but they don't. And when they don't, our offense is TERRIBLE. Its like an AI tribute, where five teammates play in total isolation from each other and no one ever passes the ball because they know it'll never come back. And I like him, but Melo is the worst.

And is anyone else beginning to see CB's limits? He is slow (DW easily made him look silly). He forces shots during critical stretches of games, and he bricks them more often than not. And according to stats on 82games.com, his nickname is an absolute farce. His regular season "game winning shot" percentage is near the BOTTOM at .162 and during the playoffs, it is .222 (also near the bottom).

by Anonymous on Mar 7, 2009 9:51 AM MST reply actions

i keep having this dream... i am on this sea of wood. millions of people surround me.i look down and DAMN! I'm naked! Around my ankles is a sea of red dust. I look in my right hand and there is a heavy red brick. Not the kind of brick with the three holes running through it, but a solid red brick. So, I throw the red brick in the air and it goes up and then falls smashing at my feet making more red dust.

Here's the bad part. When I look at my bloody hand there is magically ANOTHER BRICK.

I am serious. This is a disturbing dream.

So, here's the even BADDER part. I look up at the roof and there is a huge number 3.I don't know what it means, but I don't seem to be phased by this huge number.

And here's my friends is the WORST part. I am stand in naked with millions of people with bloody hand tossing a brick in the air under the #3 -

and I don't care. I am not embarrassed. I am not frightened. I am some sort of modern day Sisyphus and it doesn't faze me.

I just don't care.

Whew. I am glad I got THAT off my chest.

by SpokenWar on Mar 7, 2009 10:57 AM MST reply actions

Oh, I forgot... GO NUGGETS!

by SpokenWar on Mar 7, 2009 10:58 AM MST reply actions

Well this was a frustrating game.

I wish the lineup would have stayed intact before halftime...I mean they were going to get rest anyways. That was bad.

I have have to say that I liked the Anderson, Balkman, Smith, Anothy arrangement.

For some reasons they couldn't stop them defensively.

Chauncey is a great player but last night was struggling and I don't care...when someone is have an off night...use Melo, Smith or just make great passes.

It was nice to seem them play brilliantly in the beginning, but of late they have been losing games they should have won.

I think there is alot of potential with this team. They need to prove it to themselves that they are better than the teams they want to be a high seed than.

by Anonymous on Mar 7, 2009 11:15 AM MST reply actions

What was with the garbage lineup before half? Karl is worthless. Lets have 0 offense out there for the final three minutes and be shocked when they go on a 9-0 run and take back the momentum. JR should have been out there without a doubt. Oh and thanks Karl for talking the sorry front office out of trading your other lover Kleiza. Kleiza should talk Balkman's spot at the end of the bench because he actually deserves it.

Fire that fat piece of shit.

by Karl Loves The Little Guys on Mar 7, 2009 11:43 AM MST reply actions

I blame the front office for the Nuggets issues though. I am putting to much blame on Karl. Karl probably is a great coach if he could be running out his all time favorite line up every night.

PG - Anthony Carter
SG - Earl Boykins
SF - Eduardo Najera
PF - Linus Kleiza
C - John Amaechi

by Karl Loves The Little Guys on Mar 7, 2009 11:53 AM MST reply actions

According to some, Anthony's career and basketball skill never recovered from "The Punch", so he's already past his peak:

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/dailydime?page=dime-090307-08

I'm inclined to agree. What did he have, like 6 turnovers last game? Maybe we can get rid of both Karl and Anthony after this year.

by Anonymous on Mar 7, 2009 3:22 PM MST reply actions

GOLDENNUGGET you must be high to think JR is the same as melo one on one have you not been watching the last couple of games. Two of the only games JR has sadly started by the way. JR was creating so much for other players on the team, sadly players like Petro can't finish when JR creates a wide open dunk for him. Melo actually started backing down a guy from beyond the three point line last night JR never does that. When JR drives to the hole he usually finishes or picks up a foul. Melo either turns the ball over, throws up a wild lay up that does go in sometimes, or creates an offensive foul. Melo loves to just back guys down and just throw up a turn around jumper. That is the only thing he is really good at in my opinion. Melo=One dimensional player(has made some thres this year though I guess). I have seen Jr create so many easy dunks for Nene and K Mart this year and Kleiza as well. He does this without getting near the minutes Melo does. JR does take bad shots but he is the best overall shooter on the team. Chaunceys shot selection was just awful the past two nights and he had TWO assists last night. Why doesn't anyone ever give him any shit? Im done with my rant just don't compare Melo and JR when it comes to being a ballhog Melo is by far one of the worst in the league when it comes to ball hogging.

by Anonymous on Mar 7, 2009 5:12 PM MST reply actions

Melo you can do it. Just like the other night can be every night with 38 points..I saw the focus in your eyes and demeanor. The team just needs to give him the ball and easy dunks.

You did it that year you nearly won the scoring title.

Melo. You had that focus...the killer instinct. When you are having a bad night and cold hand just focus on other areas of your game...You have improved your overall game and you should be proud.

The only small adjustment is the finish to finish softly like Jordan and Kobe. They got alot of shot on impact....

This goes with every person on the team...if they can do that and have the self confidence I believe they can achieve what they set their mind too. Which should be championship. Go Nuggets and good luck with the rest of the season.

by Anonymous on Mar 7, 2009 8:10 PM MST reply actions

Chauncey played poorly.

by NugzD on Mar 7, 2009 8:40 PM MST reply actions

Billups shot 29%, had 2 assists and 0 steals. Got killed by Deron. Worst (by far) +/- on the team. Killed our momentum while trying for a comeback on more than one occasion with poorly timed jumpers. Didn't pressure the Jazz offensively.

by NugzD on Mar 7, 2009 8:48 PM MST reply actions

I know Billups will have better games. Someone needs to call him to a higher level though, explain that with the talent around him he should not be shooting as much as he is. 17 shots??? So here is my solution. We need to go back to not starting JR. JR should come into the game for Dahntay after a bit. Then, when Billups goes out JR takes over the point. He was surprisingly good last night with the ball, especially as a scoring point guard. He has too much talent to be utilized as a spot up shooter.

by NugzD on Mar 7, 2009 8:53 PM MST reply actions

Anonymous - Ok, what exactly are you trying to say? Between your run on sentences and worthless babbling I could hardly understand anything you were saying, other than the fact that you are in love with JR Smith. You know, normally I would rebuddle your naive statement but I am not in the mood right now. I am tired of "Anonymous" losers posting controversial comments. If you are going to post a comment that merits a response at least be a fucking man and put a name on it so I can answer you directly. And get over your stupid man crush on JR Smith. Yeah, we are all glad he is starting but he still isn't in sync with the rest of the team most of the time. If we are going to buy into Karl's philosophies of playing the game the "right way", then he still has a lot of work to do.

by Goldennugget on Mar 7, 2009 9:39 PM MST reply actions

Yeah like "Golden Nugget" is your real name. LOL

by Anonymous on Mar 8, 2009 4:02 AM MST reply actions

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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.