A CALL TO ARMS (Nuggets/Lakers Game 6 Preview 7pm MST)...

by Andrew Feinstein on May 29, 2009 2:05 AM MDT

I don't have it in me to write another column begging Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith to take the ball to the rack, or for Nene to finish strong around the basket, or for Chauncey Billups to take care of the ball, or for George Karl to work the refs and use his timeouts throughout the game. We know how the Nuggets can and should beat the Lakers, and there's nothing more I can say about it that the Nuggets (in theory) don't already know themselves.

Instead of sounding like a broken record, I've decided to be more proactive and solicit some much needed outside help. Because while most non-NBA fans, Lakers fans, ESPN/ABC, the NBA, Nike, Vitamin Water and god only knows who else are desperately rooting for the Lakers to get to the NBA Finals, I strongly believe that true NBA fans - especially those in midsize or small Western Conference markets like Denver - want the Nuggets to win. A lot of them just don't know it yet.

With that said, below is the email I just sent to the bloggers and fans of teams who hate the Lakers as much or more than we do. I hope to rally as many true NBA fans as possible behind the Nuggets noble cause of appearing in their first ever NBA Finals...

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From: Denver Stiffs
Date: Fri, May 29, 2009 at 1:53 AM
Subject: A call to arms...
To: Kings fans, Trailblazers fans, Spurs fans, Timberwolves fans, Rockets fans, Grizzlies fans, Clippers fan, Jazz fans, Suns fans
Cc: Celtics fans

Dear Fellow Non-Lakers Bloggers and Non-Lakers Fans,

It's been said that the enemy of my enemy is my friend.

And today - and through Sunday night only - I am seeking your friendship and rooting interest on behalf of my beloved Denver Nuggets. Because we desperately need your help. You see, as many of you have experienced in recent years, we are on the verge of being yet another small market franchise to be knocked out of the playoffs by the Evil Empire known as the Los Angeles Lakers.

I know rooting for the Nuggets may on the surface seem preposterous to you. Kings fans are upset with J.R. Smith disrespecting your team while attempting to set the NBA's three-pointers made record in a meaningless blowout. Blazers fans still can't believe they had to cede the division title to us even though we had identical records and split our head-to-head matchups. Timberwolves fans likely haven't gotten over Carmelo Anthony tying an NBA best record with 33 points in a quarter at your team's expense. And if you're that one remaining Clippers fan, you're probably still stewing over the two at-LA games you gave away to us (actually, who am I kidding? All you care about is Blake Griffin right now).

But if we can put our past disputes behind us I know we can unify around one thing: our mutual hatred of the Lakers and the NBA's insistence on getting them into the NBA Finals.

Before committing to our cause, pardon me while I get you riled up (playoff series record against the Lakers in the Kobe Bryant Era in bold)...

For Kings (0-3) fans: surely you remember the worst officiated game in NBA history - Game 6 of the 2002 Western Conference Finals - costing you your best chance of ever getting to the NBA Finals. The free throw disparity in that game? Lakers 40, Kings 25.

For Spurs (2-4) fans: with a chance to tie the Lakers at two games apiece in last year's semifinals, Mark Wunderlich swallows his whistle when Derek Fisher hammers Brent Barry on a final three-point attempt.

For Rockets (0-3) fans: instead of ragging on me and my cohorts this late into May, you're probably watching the Astros thanks to the Lakers running away with your conference finals appearance after giving you no respect throughout that series.

For Jazz (2-2) fans: even though you're the tougher, meaner team, the Lakers have taken you out of the postseason for two consecutive years.

For Timberwolves (0-2) fans: you finally break through to the conference finals in 2004 with a fun loving, hard working team only to go up against a lazy Lakers team that internally hated each other's guts but defeated you nonetheless. I don't think there's ever been a more undeserving NBA Finals participant than the 2003-04 Lakers.

For Trailblazers (0-5) fans: your most recent best chance of an NBA Finals bid was ruined in Los Angeles in 2000 thanks to a garbage Brian Shaw bank shot three-pointer, suspect foul calls that favored (guess who?) the Lakers and the worst shooting fourth quarter in Blazers history. The Lakers-to-Blazers free throw disparity in that game was an unheard of 37 to 16.

For Grizzlies (n/a) fans: Pau Gasol mails in his last season for your team only to lower his trade value so the Lakers could poach him from you for nothing. Your reward for rooting for Pau all those years in Memphis? His stiff brother Marc.

For Suns (2-1) fans: actually, you've beaten the Lakers in three of your last four playoff series meetings...but as longtime division rivals you have every right to hate them.

For Clippers (n/a) fan: with your one chance of defeating your cross-stadium rivals in a playoff series on the line in 2006, they choked against the Suns after being up 3-1 and ducked you.

You're probably saying to yourself: I get it, I hate the Lakers. But why should I root for the Nuggets?

I'll tell you why.

First off, over the course of our franchise history we've never done you any harm. Up until very recently you didn't even cringe when you saw the Nuggets coming up on your schedule.

Secondly (and I'm exempting Houston and the Clippers here), like you we're a small market team. We get limited dollars from local sponsors, local TV deals and ticket revenue from fans who don't make that much money in the first place.

Thirdly, like most of you I root for the team I grew up with, not the one that happened to be winning when I was old enough to understand basketball (like my Benedict Arnold brother who roots for the Lakers). I've literally been going to Nuggets games since I was in the womb. There's no such thing as a bandwagon Nuggets fan, just as there's no such thing as a bandwagon Spurs, Jazz, Kings, Timberwolves, Suns, Rockets, Grizzlies or Clippers fan (except my friend Matt in LA who abandoned 30 years of Lakers loyalty to root for the Clips in 2006...not uncommon among Lakers fans, by the way).

All that said, the Nuggets are in trouble. After playing relatively well, fearless and aggressively for four straight games against the Evil Empire, they reverted to their former knucklehead selves in their Game 5 loss at Los Angeles and now face a daunting task. Only 17% of all teams in NBA history have come back from a 3-2 conference finals series deficit to win the series and march on to the Finals. You all should know, because many of you have been on the wrong side of this equation against the Lakers.

The Lakers are on the verge of appearing in their 30th NBA Finals, the Nuggets are fighting for the chance to make their first. If the Nuggets can somehow pull this off, they will proudly represent every small market team that's ever tried to take down the Evil Empire. In other words, we're in this together.

So please join me in rooting for my Nuggets. All I ask is that you ask your readers to do the same. You can even post this letter on your blogs if you want. Anything you can do to sway the energy of this country's true NBA fans towards our side would be sincerely appreciated.

I thank you in advance for your consideration and hope you join me in emphatically saying: GO NUGGETS!!

Warm regards,

Andrew Feinstein

www.denverstiffs.com

Like all denizens of Nuggets Nation, I'm going to be a nervous wreck leading up to and during game time. I still firmly believe that the Nuggets will win Game 6 and have a shot at stealing the series in Los Angeles on Sunday. But in order for this to happen, the Nuggets will need to play extraordinary for two straight games.

As always and more than ever...

GO NUGGETS!!!!

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Comments

Yahoo !

I beat Golden Nugget or some anonymous dork to deliver the first post.

Andrew, thanks for the over-time passion you pass on to Stiff Nation. Go Nuggets and I'm somewhat bummed I will not be a part of the running thread tomorrow but I will read back thru the entire thread when I look it up later tomorrow night. The comments that the thread/blogging are a great read on the dime. Thanks for adding that on as of late. I enjoy the GN's balanced spanking and Sam's utter distain of AC. Overall I enjoy the passion of the Denver Stiffs Nation and let's hope for the best, even though the deck is stacked against us for the obvious reasons.

by markp on May 28, 2009 11:35 PM MDT reply actions

BELIEVE! Mr Stern and your army, stay out of our f****** way!

11 Hours.

by Kaley on May 29, 2009 7:43 AM MDT reply actions

Home sweet home nuggies. Lets play like we're capable of and push this to 7, play hard, play smart and the rest will take care of itself.

LETS GO NUGGETS.....LETS GO NUGGETS.....LETS GO NUGGETS.....

by Melonugg on May 29, 2009 7:50 AM MDT reply actions

I'd like to thank my understanding wife for committing to watching the game tonight, especially since today is our anniversary! I believe that anniversary presents go as follows: 1st-Paper, 2nd-Cotton, 3rd-Leather, 4th-NUGGETS VICTORY, 5th-Wood. Right?

If the Nuggets can keep their heads, hit open shots, and get to the line, we will be okay tonight. The fact that LK is now contributing in a big way should take some of the offensive heat off Chauncey so he doesn't have to force shots. Please, just no technicals tonight in the fourth quarter.

by parce on May 29, 2009 8:24 AM MDT reply actions

Just win and get to game 7.

That's all.

by Pusherman on May 29, 2009 9:10 AM MDT reply actions

Thanks, Andrew. They know what they have to do to win - let's just hope they choose to do it.

We have Joey Crawford and Mark Wunderlich tonight. Just our luck.

Go Nuggets anyway!!

by Section380 on May 29, 2009 9:26 AM MDT reply actions

i have to give props to u andrew. Honestly as we have gotten deep into the playoffs the losses are harder and harder on me. This lakers series is specially worse specially when every media outlet that i read/watch is in favor of the lakers. the espn broadcast is basically our altitute brodcast but for the lakers. After a loss i don't turn on espn till the next game is on. i don't go onto espn.com either to read their bs LA bias. I don't even listen to scott and AL, this is my wifes favorit part of the nuggs losses.

Now i'm sure you are as big of a nuggets fan if not even bigger. so i know these looses hurt u alot. But u still do the the recaps and the previews of the next games. I give u much props for this as i would never be able to this.
lets hope u don't have to write about a loss again for a week.

GO NUGGETS

by AN from D on May 29, 2009 9:49 AM MDT reply actions

Andrew you forgot one major thing about tonights game 6 @ Pepsi.... its Melo's 25th birthday. There is no way he will let them lose at home on his bday.

by 1Nugs1 on May 29, 2009 10:01 AM MDT reply actions

Somebody needs to tell the refs that it's Melo's birthday.

Any questions about the nation bias- Check out NBA's website today, the headline is "Lakers try to Oust Nuggets." Yesterday before the Cavs game the headline was "Cavs try to Take Game 5 to Stay Alive."

Screw the National media, I believe there are thousands of fans dying for the Lakers to lose. Great article today, Please let us know if there is any response from the bloggers of the world.

by Not anonymous? on May 29, 2009 10:10 AM MDT reply actions

I'll be honest. I am rooting for the Nugs simply because I hate the Lakers.
In fact, I LOVE it anytime the Laker's lose. I just do. I gain as much pleasure from that as I do whenever my Trailblazers roll to victory against anyone. When my Blazers defeat the Lakers, like they so often do here in Portland, I reach near orgasmic levels of excitement.

by slOppyJoE72 on May 29, 2009 10:41 AM MDT reply actions

I'm in. Sending mind-bombs to the Lakers even as I type this.

P.S. Word Verification: "begonc," as in "The Lakers will begonc after the Nuggets win Game 7 in L.A."

by Basketbawful on May 29, 2009 10:48 AM MDT reply actions

In honor of the occassion I have changed my screen name from My3Cents.

Not happy about the officiating crew, but Nene plays better at home and as long as JR plays with confidence, the rest will fall into place.

Plus, I think the NBA wants the game 7 revenue.

A note to Parce; you should be able to get Wood all the way through your 10th anniversary. Good luck!

by Make Your Free Throws on May 29, 2009 10:54 AM MDT reply actions

Forget the Nuggets! It's all about Orlando!

by Andrew in Orlando on May 29, 2009 11:06 AM MDT reply actions

Let's Go Lakers!!!

by todd s on May 29, 2009 11:07 AM MDT reply actions

Viva Los Nuggets!!!

by ames on May 29, 2009 11:07 AM MDT reply actions

I know we can win tonight and even win big on sunday. It's all about the.. well, inbound pass? probably

Nick
trufancolorado.blogspot.com

GO NUGGETS!

by Tru Fan Colorado on May 29, 2009 11:20 AM MDT reply actions

With a win tonight, the Nuggets can have their first ever chance to win ONE game and go to the NBA Finals. As everyone already knows, we lost 4-2 in '78 and 4-1 in '85. We've never secured that third win to get a chance at the Finals. It may be a game 7 in LA, but I'll take it. Win and we are in the Finals. That's what is on the line tonight - that opportunity to play one game for a chance at the Finals.

by Anonymous Dork on May 29, 2009 11:24 AM MDT reply actions

Why is Denver the better team?

I think that has been the question asked more often (outside of the refs, for both teams)

I got into a debate with a friend, I said Denver has lead for about 75% of the series, he didn't believe me so a few of us worked together to get these numbers.

Through 5 games played: 240 minutes played
Denver has held the lead for a total of 156 minutes or: 65% of the series
LA has held the lead for a total of 60 minutes or: 25%
Teams have been tied for a total of 24 minutes: 10%

Analyze those numbers however you want...I find it interesting, in games 1 and 3, Denver held the lead for around 83% of the game and still lost both games. In game 2, LA held the lead for 62% of the time.

Game breakdown
Game 1: 84.5% Denver, 3% tied, 12.5% LA lead
Game 2: 20.8% Denver, 16.7% tied, 62.50% LA lead
Game 3: 81% Denver, 7.5% tied, 11.5% LA lead
Game 4: 97.5% Denver, .5% tied, 2% LA lead
Game 5: 41% Denver, 23% tied, 36% LA lead

What does this all mean? Nothing I guess...just a little fact to back up the talk, but the only STAT that matters is wins.

by danjustin on May 29, 2009 11:24 AM MDT reply actions

danjustin, I was wondering the same thing, good stats.

Anyway, good article by Simmons on ESPN today on the officiating.

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/090528&sportCat=nba

by Pusherman on May 29, 2009 11:29 AM MDT reply actions

Markp - Are you associating me with anonymous dorks? How dare you! Just kidding, I am a dork.

Andrew that was probably one of the best posts I have read on this blog. Very fun read, and ballsy move as well William! The only thing I thought you should know is that the Clippers actually have a fairly large fan base believe it or not. I know, not a lot of people show up for the games (I don't know why) but there are more Clipper fans than most of the small-market teams, likely due to the fact that the team is still located in one of the largest cities in the US.

Anyways, I can't wait for the game tonight. I too am praying we make it past this game, but if we don't there is nothing we should be ashamed of. We did far more than anyone, including ourselves, thought possible this year. Pushing the Lakers to even 6 games is more than the defending champion Spurs could do last year. I am proud of the Nuggets this year, for once.

Parce - Happy anniversary buddy! Nothing I would want more than for a Nuggets game of this magnitude to celebrate my anniversary, though I am not sure the same can be said for the lady friend. But those anniversary presents kind of have me scratching my head.

Happy b-day to Melo as well! I find it hard to believe he will let us lose tonight, on his birthday, on his home court, in his first WCFs appearance of his career. But you never know.

GO THUGGETS!!!

by Goldennugget on May 29, 2009 12:24 PM MDT reply actions

i agree, andrew. no more analysis, no more pleading for the nuggets to do the right thing. all that's left to do is sit back and root like hell. i don't know if we'll win, but i know we can. i'll take that.

by keil m on May 29, 2009 12:29 PM MDT reply actions

Nice read. I'm in. Luck the Fakers!!!!

by BlazerManiac on May 29, 2009 1:00 PM MDT reply actions

regarding the referreeing in the 2002 Lakers-Kings series: yes, that was a terrible game that favored the Lakers. But you do not mention that the two previous games in Sacramento were equally as bad (and I stress equally as bad) in favor of the Kings, and the refs were (wrongly) giving make-up calls therefore... which goes back to my original thesis, yes, the reffing sucks, but it favors the home teams, not the marquee teams. You will see tonight when the calls go your way, and then the LA media whines and screams... I guess bottom line is that until the reffing is fixed, work harder in the regular season so you get home court advantage.... still love the birdman, but hate the rest of your thugs.

by PT in LA on May 29, 2009 1:59 PM MDT reply actions

I'm missing a friend's huge bar-hopping birthday thing tonight, because there is no way in HELL I'm missing this game.

It's going to be me, my TV, and a bottle of Jack.

Happy B-Day Melo, and LET'S GO NUGGETS!

by Phony Gwynn on May 29, 2009 3:07 PM MDT reply actions

What the FUCK?

How does an entire team fail to show up?

by P-man on May 29, 2009 9:22 PM MDT reply actions

lol, busted out of the playoffs by the Lakers... yet again.

hahahahahah

by Anonymous on May 29, 2009 9:34 PM MDT reply actions

LOL see you in 24 years bitches!

by Anonymous on May 29, 2009 9:41 PM MDT reply actions

I guess the refs help the lakers again....Not hope denver enjoys there summer vacation. Thanks Billups you were the best player on the lakers tonight LOL LAKERS 09 CHAMPS BITCHES!!!!!

by Anonymous on May 29, 2009 9:44 PM MDT reply actions

You should have gone to that party, Phony.

by PoorPhony on May 29, 2009 10:17 PM MDT reply actions

Shhhhhhhh.

by Anonymous on May 29, 2009 10:50 PM MDT reply actions

Lakers fan here. Your team played great. Your fans were great. Phil Jackson said after the game that he thought the Nuggets have proved themselves to be one of the 5 elite teams in the league. I agree.

Most likely, Nuggets fans will feel extremely disappointed in this last game, and the summer will seem long. It might not help but just remember, most of you would have leaped at a loss in hard fought Conference finals at the start of the year (that's what I told myself time and time again last summer).

Now go resign Birdman cause it'd just be weird seeing him in a different jersey at this point (and cause the Lakers have no cap space to sign him themselves).

by James on May 29, 2009 11:55 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.