Let's party like it's 1988?...

by Andrew Feinstein on Apr 30, 2009 1:08 AM MDT

(Photo courtesy of Denver Stiffs' camera phone, Mordecai had the night off)

Normally I tack the game recap on to the game preview post, but given that tonight's win was a) so spectacular and b) so late, I figured this recap deserved its own post.

By the time you're reading this, you know all the particulars of this game/series. Such as Carmelo Anthony putting up a playoff career high 34 points to seal the Nuggets Game 5 victory (and did you notice Melo finally taking it to the hole routinely in the second half?). Or the Nuggets average winning margin in their four wins being an astounding 37 (that's what happens when you win one game by 58). Or this series win being the Nuggets first since 1994, and first seven-game series victory since 1985. Or George Karl/Melo getting that can't-win-a-playoff-series-victory monkey off their backs. Or Tracy McGrady retaining sole possession of The Best Player Never to Win a Playoff Series. And so on.

Sitting in the stands in an amped Pepsi Center tonight, my memory raced back to May 7th, 1988 - a date that will be overlooked by the mainstream sports media covering the Nuggets series win. It was on that date that I last witnessed the Nuggets winning a playoff series in person on their home floor, when the Nuggets defeated the Supersonics by two less points than they beat the Hornets tonight. And I suppose it's fitting that the Nuggets next opponent that year was the Dallas Mavericks, and here they'll be meeting the Mavericks on Sunday at 1:30.

We'll spend the next couple of days breaking down the Denver/Dallas matchup (it's still sinking in that I'm writing a second playoff series preview in the same year!) and there's no reason to celebrate anything yet. But for one day at least, let's savor this well earned, well deserved, long-time-coming Nuggets victory and give credit where credit is due...

...to Kenyon Martin for the best lockdown defense I've ever seen in a Nuggets uniform. K-Mart's footwork in particular has been exceptional.

...to Chris "Birdman" Andersen for his unrelenting hustle and activity every moment he's on the floor while cementing his reputation as what my friend Keith calls "The White Dennis Rodman".

...to Dahntay Jones for superior backcourt defense and becoming a much better finisher on the fast break.

...to Nene for maintaining his cool, not allowing the foul calls to get to him and putting forth the best playoff series of his career.

...to Anthony Carter for his timely steals to disrupt various Hornets' runs.

...to J.R. Smith for being patient, picking his moments and torturing his old team.

...to Carmelo Anthony for sharing the ball with his teammates, ceding the team's leadership to Chauncey Billups and (almost) committing to driving the ball to the basket more frequently.

...to Chauncey Billups for being an all-time pro's pro, thoroughly outplaying his point guard counterpart Chris Paul and revolutionizing Nuggets Basketball as we know it.

...to the organization for pulling the plug on Jailblazers 2.0 and revamping this roster with players the fans (and their own teammates!) could proudly root for.

...and to head coach George Karl and his coaching staff for their excellent preparation in advance of and throughout this series. The Hornets may have been "banged up" but they were a 49-win team at season's end. And yet Karl and his staff somehow turned them into the NBA's version of the Washington Generals.

With a date with a hot Dallas Mavericks team on the near horizon, Karl and his players have much work to do. But for one night, at least, we can party like it's 1988 all over again.

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I am still feeling a bit awkward about his whole thing. It just doesn't seem real. It has become an annual occurrence that about this time every year for the past 3-4 years I find myself in complete awe at the Nuggets as their dysfunctional ways come to a climax in a humiliating loss to a far superior opponent. Not this time though. We were the ones giving the beating, and I think that is the weirdest part. If you were to tell me at the beginning of the year the Nuggets would finally make it out of the first round of the playoffs, I would have had a hard time believing you, but if you were to tell me the Nuggets would drop only 1 game to the Hornets and set a NBA record for the largest margin of victory in a playoff game and largest average margin of victory for a series I would have probably laughed at you.

Seeing Karl and Anthony show love to one another after the game was incredible. (Did anybody else catch what Melo said to the interviewer from NBA TV about his wife? I think it might have been an inside joke.) I thought surely this team was destined for an epic collapse at the end of this year with Karl's firing being the highlight of the season. Instead the man I have been most critical of for the past few years managed to give us one of the best seasons we have ever seen and our first playoff seires victory in 15 years. I don't think I will ever be a Karl fan but after this season he has earned my respect and I feel I finally have an understanding of who he is and that all he needs is someone who will listen to what he has to say. (That doesn't mean I can't rip on him for keeping a tub of cough drops handy on the sidelines though.)

It just seems weird, almost like a dream come true for me right now. The NBA, as corrupt as it seems to be, is by far my favorite league out there because basketball is my favorite sport, and to have our franchise which is historically one of the worse ones in the league finally playing well while the other darling teams of the city have fallen off just seems nice for a change. Hopefully the Nuggets keep it up this year, get to the WCFs and keep it up for the next couple of years so that this town and all fans of the Nuggets have something to root for instead of QB drama from the Donkeys.

As for tonight's game specifically, there were a couple things I wanted to mention. First off, Nene still hasn't made much of an impact. He doesn't need to score, but what he does need to do to help the team out is rebound, clog the lane and play physical defense. I'm not saying Nene hasn't done those, but the rebounding could improve a bit. Also, Andrew mentioned Melo setting a career high in points in the playoffs, and just having a great game all around and specifically getting to the hoop. Well, I noticed that almost every time Melo got to the hoop was because he made an extra pass to another teammate which drew his defender towards them, then his teammate passed it back to Melo and by that time there was an open lane for him to go down. I am telling you guys, the key to Melo fitting in with the team like Bron or Wade does is his passing.

Anyways, enough with my rambling. I am just to enthused right now and I can't f*ing wait till Sunday. I'll leave you with this classic interview from the one and only out of Queen's Bridge, N.Y. Ron Artest last night on TNT. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QFFn-kH7WMw Keep in mind right after the video they go back to Charles and Kenny in the studio for commentary.

by Goldennugget on Apr 30, 2009 2:24 AM MDT reply actions

Congratulations to everyone in the organization, but you still have a long way to go. Keep on keepin' on.

by Jack on Apr 30, 2009 6:08 AM MDT reply actions

Andrew for MVB! (Most Valuable Blogger)

He got the attention of the franchise and the changes have been made to turn the Nuggets into a well oiled machine.

It's scary when you think about the fact that Chauncey wasn't a part of the training camp, Melo fought through injury for the first half of the season, K-Mart's back is finally feeling good now, Nene can trust his body to hold up, and Karl is just now learning to cope with JR's playing style.

by E on Apr 30, 2009 6:41 AM MDT reply actions

I know, its hard to gripe with everything thats gone down, but I don't want the Nuggs to stop playing the "disrespect" card! Immediately after the game, those nitwits in the TNT studio were making fun of the celebration after the game. Specifically Barkley, Smith, & Webber were saying stuff like "when's the 1st Rd Championship parade", & , "calm down, fellas- its only the 1st Rd". Its only when Earnie said "Let the fans in Denver celebrate their lon-awaited vitory", did Barkley especially- start giving some props. Webber & Smith acted like this series win was "no biggie". Call me sensitive but why do people have a "problem" giving this team its due? Eg; When Melo left the game & was hi-fiving GK, the TNT cameras were showing CP3, & telling us how "injured" he was! I feel like the Cleveland Indians in the movie Major League.... "Well, theres only one thing left to do. & thats win the whole F*CKING thing"! Period.

by KaiserSoze on Apr 30, 2009 7:05 AM MDT reply actions

What a thrill! That was the best sustained run of "team basketball" I have seen from the Nuggets in a very,very long time. Helping on defense, sharing the ball and, yes I'm going to say it, TRUSTING EACH OTHER.

We still have some work to do. But it sure feels great having to think about the next round rather than the next draft!!

by My3Cents on Apr 30, 2009 7:40 AM MDT reply actions

Correction: Average margin of victory in the series was actually 30.75, not 37.5.

by Tony Reali on Apr 30, 2009 8:21 AM MDT reply actions

My thoughts from last night:

1) Chris Anderson must be resigned. He singlehandedly brought us out of our 1st quarter funk and spent the rest of the game attacking the boards with passion. The guy is a gem and we are so lucky to have him.

2) I finally have some love for Melo. It was obvious last night just how much he has changed, from his overall fitness, to desire to win, to buying into the team concept. He looks like a different player. Granted, there will be times when he drives me nuts, but I have to give props to him. His quickness and passion were great to see.

3) Barkley gave respect, being the only one to pick the Nugs against Dallas in 5 games, and being the only one to say that the Nugs were the only team that potentially could hang with the Lakers. This was my point yesterday - as the winning goes, so does the respect.

4) Speaking of Mavs, I am going to call sweep right now. This series will not go to 7 games, or 6. 5 possibly if the Nuggets fall asleep for a game, but they are simply the better team. I really believe they will pull it off in 4.

5) The specialness of the team. Does any other team in the league have guys like JR Smith or Chris Anderson? Seriously, what a unique group of guys. As much as JR can drive you crazy, what an asset he has become. There's no other player in the league that has his shooting depth and accuracy. And Anderson is just a freaky, fun player to watch. If we don't keep him, it will be a serious blow to the team. He means so much to the team and the fans.

6) This team has chemistry - thank god for once this team has it! It's all Billups providing the calming force out there, but it's good to see.

I can't wait for round 2!

by Grant on Apr 30, 2009 8:44 AM MDT reply actions

there's that little thing... the TNT announcers talked about it. everyone recognizes it. it is in the back of the mind of every damn nuggets fan:

will they blow it tonight? will they find new and interesting ways to fail? will they blow a 20 point lead, OR, come out in the third like they really don't care, OR, will they settle for jump shots (something we've seen less of), OR OR OR! fill in the blank with the thing that makes the nuggets less than. I am as pissed of as anyone about the national treatment of the nuggets, but when I wake up and face the facts, don't the people who make the ten best play reels and not include the nuggets in them have a point? Cause when the Nuggets walk out on the court there is that thing in the back of my mind that says, "don'tfuckupdon'tfuckupdon'tfuckup..."

So now, after watching a team that is a monster on defense, and a team that can explode on offense on the floor at the same time, the thought of the nuggets imploding is extremely painful.

But, when they step out on that court and they start missing jumpers, that bad thought starts to germinate like a bad seed. Now, with so much on the line, I just want to see the awesome Nuggets. Emotionally I have too damn much invested at this point.

by SpokenWar on Apr 30, 2009 9:29 AM MDT reply actions

Provided we win, we will need the Mavs to get us ready for the Lakers.

by Anonymous on Apr 30, 2009 9:29 AM MDT reply actions

I know what you mean GN. Last night at half time I actually stopped watching the game for a bit because I had confidence the Nugs were going to pull ahead at some point in the second half. In a playoff game? That is an enormous first. When I turned it back on, Nugs by 8, went on to win easily.

Grant, I think we can all agree Bird is invaluable. The problem is that the better he plays the more people are going to want him. Hopefully Stan is willing to go over the cap to keep him.

3cents, I also appreciated the team ball. Apparently the team really trusts eash other, even giving Kenyon the ball in the corner to hit an open three. (Maybe they shouldn't trust that much)

I hate to end on a sour note but Melo finishing against Hilton Armstrong and Sean Marks is completely different than Ming or Gasol or Dampier or even Dirk.

by NugzD on Apr 30, 2009 9:35 AM MDT reply actions

It's a good feeling not being extrememly angry so early in the post season. The last few years have been like watching a kid try and fit a round peg in a square hole. You know he's gonna figure it out eventually. The Nuggets figured it out. At some point between the last game (loss) of the regular season, and the opening tip off of the 1st round a light came on and is now blinding bright.

I know there are still some huge holes in this team, like front court size and back court depth. The team knows where it's weaknesses lies and have been good about guarding them. That's good basketball.

As far as the national media goes, they are all eating a big bowl of shut-the-hell-up soup. Three weeks ago on the Ball Don't Lie power rankings, Denver was listed at 10 I think. The comments were "I know they're third in the West right now, but c'mon it's the Nuggets." Today their tone has changed to "Denver is a great team". It's nice to see that they have succesfully removed their heads from the ass caps they were wearing.

Next stop on the kick ass express is Dallas. Someone tell Dirk to pack his leiderhosen cuz we're giving his ass Das Boot all the way home.

On a side note: I really can't stand Mark Cuban. I hope he's found to have insider trading connections and is sent to a federal " pound me in the ass prison".

by joelsopinion on Apr 30, 2009 9:38 AM MDT reply actions

Let's not go sharing each others Popsicles yet... Getting beat by the Lakers is a very likely scenario and thus in the end, we will have come up short if that's indeed the case.

I'm as thrilled about this series win as anyone, but we all knew it was coming as of about a week ago, and I too believe we can crush the Mavs. But when it comes down to the WCF's and we DON'T have homecourt against the "Lakers holmes" we're in for a dogfight that ain't gonna be pretty.

But I'll still consider this season as pleasing emotionally as I've had across all sports in a long time. To come from no where and be here right now is amazing.

by Eric K on Apr 30, 2009 9:41 AM MDT reply actions

this blog deserves a lot of credit for getting this organization, coach and players off their asses and giving the fans the type of team we deserve!! thank you andrew

by j stevens on Apr 30, 2009 9:44 AM MDT reply actions

"Cause when the Nuggets walk out on the court there is that thing in the back of my mind that says, 'don'tfuckupdon'tfuckupdon'tfuckup...'"

That's so true. :)

NugzD - I agree about Birdman. I guess we'll see what happens.

Oh, what happened to Kleiza last night? Did he suit up at all?

by grantarchy on Apr 30, 2009 9:51 AM MDT reply actions

This may sound like blasphemy, but I say start JR Smith in this series, and let Dahntay come off the bench whenever the Jet does, and let him shut him down just like he did CP3.

And just like CP3, let Kenyon, Nene and Birdman beat the holy hell out of Dirk. He'll shrink into nothing by late in Game 2.

by Phony Gwynn on Apr 30, 2009 10:45 AM MDT reply actions

I don't know... since I have no job and nothing better to do, I have been sitting here thinking about Dirk's fade away jumper... i mean, what the hell do you do about that? start Birdman with the height and arms??? But then again, since I have no job and nothing better to do, I have been sitting here thinking that we have had players score high all season long and we have still walked away with the win. AND since I have no job and nothing better to do, I have been sitting here thinking that Howard, Barea, Kidd, and Terry and I really wish I had a job so I could have something ELSE to think about...

by SpokenWar on Apr 30, 2009 11:18 AM MDT reply actions

First of all, it's great to hang out with such like-minded fans. I'm gonna miss you guys in the off season.

I, too, was pissed that they were making fun of the Nugs on TNT. Yes, we have a long way to go, but we've come so far. It may just be the first round, but it is a great achievement for this team. I did agree with Kenny, however, when he said the Nuggets could be "wacky" at times.

The next series will be interesting. As long as we can keep our focus we will prevail. I am as guilty as anyone on the "don'tfuckup..." front. I get so nervous every possession (hence my handle). But if we play defense like we know we can, well, that's where the difference will be.

As far as Major League goes, I do indeed feel like we're in the middle of a movie right now. Maybe I've become a bit too invested in the season, but this team seems like a bunch of well-developed characters, and not just a collection of players. The Nuggets have this great chemistry, and I hope the core of the team will return next season.

I'll take "wacky" any day of the week. When these guys are focused they can be exciting, passionate, and just plain fun to watch. They seem like a good group of guys, and I hope that they will succeed further into the post season, for their sake as well as ours.

Well, I've rambled enough. Go Nuggets!

by Do We Have Any Plays? on Apr 30, 2009 11:34 AM MDT reply actions

DALLAS NEWS BLOG:

RedCowboyRaider:
"Denver, led by "Melo" and K-mart, are a band of thugs playing street ball. They are aggressive, athletic and very physical. Physical to the point where it borders on dirty play."

Thugs?? THUGS??? No, you got it all wrong. Here at the Mile High City we are about Peace & Love, brother. The idea that we play dirty is all a buncha media hype brought on by bad people. Just because Dahntay Jones outplayed one of the NBA darlings, all of the sudden The Nuggs are 'bad people.'

Now, just watch and see. Peace & Love brother. They are just good people with a bad rap.

Peace & Love... until the game starts.

by SpokenWar on Apr 30, 2009 11:36 AM MDT reply actions

Melo - The forgotten star:
http://www.playersvoice.com/nba/forgotten-star.html

by grantarchy on Apr 30, 2009 11:56 AM MDT reply actions

I was lucky enough to be at the game last night with family. Man my ears are still ringing, but I'm lovin' it.

I don't know if it was the Pepsi Center atmosphere or not, but that may have been one of the best games I've ever seen Melo play when he was centering his game so far from the hoop. I'm sure the lack of Chandler's bulk clogging the lane helped his long distance drives, but it was still great work by Melo and the rest of the team that was working hard to set him up . . .

which brings me to another point: I don't think I've ever seen as much on-court communication by our modern day Nuggets as I did in the 2nd half last night. (Not so much so in the first half.)

It was a great game. Yes I suppose the post-game confetti cannon barrage might have looked a little cheesy to Sir Charles on National TV. But that was just as much a celebration of the rebirth of Nuggets basketball in the Billups-era as it was getting out of the 1st round.

Bring on the Mav's.

by JTR on Apr 30, 2009 12:03 PM MDT reply actions

Did you hear Hastings reading off a list of Birdman fans last night? I got the feeling he was reading right off Andrew's petition.
There is no way the Nuggets are going to lose him next year. A fan favorite like that - no way. He's selling too many t-shirts at Pepsi Center.

by Anonymous on Apr 30, 2009 12:07 PM MDT reply actions

If Im not mistaken, Jay Vincent and Fat Lever got hurt in the 1988series versus the Mavs and that pretty much did them in.

And they had a competitive season series with LAL if they couldve got past the Mavs. Revenge in 09!!!

by Commish CH on Apr 30, 2009 1:22 PM MDT reply actions

I have to say great to be into the nba's version of the elite 8, but it's not enough. This is considering the fact that they are getting no respect from anyone but JIM ROME. he is the only one giving them credit. I have to agree with Phony Gwynn on the idea of starting:
Billups
Smith
Anthony
Kmart
NENE
and bringing dontay in to harass jason terry when he comes in. Obviously we know that CB will guard Kidd, Nene will get Dampier, Melo on Howard, and my favorite KMART on DIRK (the jerk).... This leaves the 2 guard spot. Dallas will either start Barea, Green, or Wright, none of which are worth wasting Dontay on. Thats why you start JR. He can guard any of those guys. If you do start Dontay. JR would have to be very relied on to stop Terry. The one good thing is that JR is 4 inches taller and has a 8 inch greater wing span. My final thought is that Denver players and us fans need to show the Mavs that "BIG D"
is played in Denver not Dallas.

by JASON 1NUGS1 on Apr 30, 2009 1:40 PM MDT reply actions

JoelsOpinion,

Love the office space reference! Great movie.

I was out of town for the two games in N.O. I did see the first one, but the 58 point win was not nationally telivised. It gave me some insight into the lack of national respect. Unless you live in the Denver area or have NBA TV, your exposure over the years to Denver has mostly been negative. Bad playoff appearances, and a few games a year on TNT, and I don't think they were great in those games. It takes more than a few wins to overcome that. They won 50 last year too, but in the playoffs when everyone was watching they did squat.

It looks like Anthony is figuring out how to play in the playoffs, setting his career playoff high, and playing pretty good defense. I did catch him resting some, especially on rebounding, but I think he played the entire game, so you can't play like Birdman with that many minutes.

How great would it be if Jones is developing into a true defensive stopper?

Overall this has been fantasatic so far. The only hickup was that loss in game 3 - which they opened up with a big lead. But it might help in the long run where you couldn't afford a letup like that against a top team. I know teams typically shorten the bench for the playoffs, but I would like to see Kleiza and Balkman getting some minutes. If the Nuggets are to put up any real chance against a team as big as the Lakers, those two are probably going to have to play some minutes.

Go Nuggets! Great Series Win!

by KarlSucks on Apr 30, 2009 3:28 PM MDT reply actions

Oh, and I must say, CP3 certainly came up small. I know his supporting cast was lacking, but for the "best" point guard in the NBA, that was a poor showing. Billups took him to school. At least he slowed down the flopping in game one. Perhaps the refs looked at the tape and saw how much he was doing it and told him to stop.

by KarlSucks on Apr 30, 2009 3:32 PM MDT reply actions

One thing I forgot about...Cuban hates JR so maybe we do start Dontay and bring in JR as the JET crasher. This is to wish Cuban bon voyage, cuz they are simular to the hornets in the fact that kmart will beat up dirk. and force their back court to try to put up big numbers.

by JASON 1NUGS1 on Apr 30, 2009 3:37 PM MDT reply actions

This season is a success at this point, even if we lose to a good, experienced dallas team.

We few true, longtime, hardcore nuggets fans have tasted so much defeat and disgrace, it's unspeakably exciting to be in the final 8.

Go Nuggets

by john on Apr 30, 2009 9:51 PM MDT reply actions

I just don't see it. We are good, but I think we'll fold like we always do. I agree with Andrew's earlier blogs about how bad we were and how Karl is no good. So what, we beat a crappy banged up 7 seed. It means nothing. I hate to say it, but the Mavs are going to roll us in 5. Andy, your blogs have convinced me of it. Keep writing.

by Bye-verson on May 1, 2009 8:51 AM MDT reply actions

Bye-verson, OK- we get it! You're a troll with nothing better to do. Stop begging for attention. Its not clever, or smart, or even cute. Just PATHETIC.

As for the series: I believe 2 Mavs will give our Nuggs the most trouble, & they're both flying under the radar. Brandon Bass & Barea. Bass is a hard-nosed, gritty garbage guy, who can take over the 2nd team rotation. Barea is a much better, very unorthodox player than we give him credit for. He's experienced & playing alongside Kidd, can be a matchup headache. The games where Kidd's hitting 3's, will be the ones that determine the series. If Melo plays like he has- & CB is CB, we'll take the series in 6 or 7.

by KaiserSoze on May 1, 2009 5:48 PM MDT 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.