"We don't plan on going back to Dallas" (Nuggets/Mavericks Game 5 Preview 7pm MST)...,

by Andrew Feinstein on May 13, 2009 1:01 AM MDT

Chauncey Billups had two great quotes yesterday. In response to Mark Cuban's late (and lame) apology to Kenyon Martin and his mother in which he suggested that K-Mart's mom could sit in Cuban's suite "when the series comes back to Dallas", Billups retorted: "We don't plan on going back to Dallas."

And when the Mavericks Jason (the poor man's Fat Lever) Kidd suggested that all the pressure is on the Nuggets, Billups apparently chuckled and astutely countered with: "We can still afford to lose. They can't."

They can't and won't win tonight.

I expect the Nuggets to be all business in Game 5. I look forward to seeing a stoic Chauncey Billups set the pace early that this will be a no nonsense game. I look forward to seeing Carmelo Anthony blast by Josh Howard and his bad ankles on his way to at least 10 free throw attempts. I look forward to Nene punishing the ineffective, foul collecting, waste of space known as Erick Dampier. I look forward to J.R. Smith and a healthy/rejuvenated Chris Andersen leading a 10-0 run off the bench. And I look forward to Kenyon Martin honing all of his anger and converting it into supremely focused, untiring energy on the defensive end of the floor.

I also want to see no more scuffles with the Mavericks players and no more jawing at the refs that could lead to unnecessary technicals, ejections or future suspensions. (Ok, who am I kidding? The Nuggets always jaw at the refs.)

Bad calls and neanderthal-behaving fans aside, the Mavericks players put up an admirable fight in both Games 3 and 4. But these Mavericks are clearly gassed and they won't have their home court zoo of a crowd to rally them back to life in Game 5.

In these past two games, we haven't seen the Nuggets team that was beating its playoff opponents by over 21 points per game leading up to Game 3. I look forward to welcoming those Nuggets back tonight and having them reward us fans with a well earned victory.

And taking the lead from some of this blog's readers who were proposing signs we'd like to see at Pepsi Center tonight, here's my entry...

GO NUGGETS!!

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...Jason (the poor man's Fat Lever) Kidd...

Classic!

My old man used to play a slide blues guitar song called "Goin' back to Dallas" I hope that the AV guys at The Can dig that song up and have it ready for when the Mavs start packing up their bench. Shoulders slumped over like Chauncey took their juice money.

Anyways, I'm sure this will be the end of the "Mavericks". Just like it was in November. Melo and company will send them home. If I may remix the Notorius BIG they're "going, going, back, back to [Dallas, Dallas]*

Let's go Nuggets

*Contents of the brackets have been changed.

by Joelsopinion on May 13, 2009 8:06 AM MDT reply actions

Nene might as well send in a Western Union telegram and a Hallmark card. After stellar play in 1 & 2 he has been basically non-existent. The pundits called him the "X-Factor," and he was, but not now.

We might get away with him not getting the ball and missing lay ups in this series, but it will kill us in the finals. With Gasol it will be eat or be eaten.

Of everything that has happened in this series, this is the thing I understand the least.

by SpokenWar on May 13, 2009 8:32 AM MDT reply actions

Spokenwar,

For Nene, I think it was a combination of things. First, Dallas made some adjustments. Second, in Game 3 he was in foul trouble, which takes away agressiveness and limited his minutes. In Game 4 without Anderson he had to play extra minutes so he saved some energy. Hopefully with a full squad and back home he can have a good game tonight.

by KarlSucks on May 13, 2009 9:17 AM MDT reply actions

I sure hope our Nuggets take Game 5 tonight. I believe they will - especially since I wore my special "I need the Nuggets to rebound from a loss" Nugs t-shirt yesterday. It is amazing to have so much control over what happens as a fan!

But, this is something I thought about when reading some articles this morning that I believe is troublesome and might impact us next series: With Birdman out, why was GK playing LK instead of Balkman? It makes absolutely no sense to me. In essence, Balkman replicates Bird's presence minus the blocks. We needed his rebounding too. Anyone that remembers that game in UT knows what I'm talking about - he is high energy, athletic, disruptive, etc. Why replace Birdman with LK, who can't defend, can't rebound (flashbacks of that one rebound he tipped instead of securing that cost us a game a while back) and has been in a season long shooting slump? LK runs the floor well and used to be able to drain the 3, but... I really just don't get it.

To me, this decision is a reflection of GK's poor coaching. He confuses me and I think he's likely to be out coached in the next round by Phil Jackson.

I'm still excited about tonight's game and really look forward to disposing of the Mavs though. Go Nuggets!

by Bee on May 13, 2009 9:32 AM MDT reply actions

You never know SpokenWar, there may be something that we're not seeing or don't know. It seems like Karl has relied heavily on Melo to be the producer on the offensive end. Maybe he's keeping Nene as fresh as possible for the LA series. He will get worked over by Gasol and Bynum.

It could be that Nene is frustrated with the way he's being played by Dampier. He's constantly hanging on to him. That's a lot of weight to have hanging on you everytime you wanna make a move. If youve ever carried 5 sacks of potatoes up three flights of stairs you know what I mean.

I agree though that it is a bit out of character as of lately for Nene not to be the monster we all know he can be. He is an X-factor though. He poses a challenge to most other bigs in the leauge because of his foot speed. What he lacks in height he more than makes up for in strength. Not to mention his arms look like they were grafted onto him. His wing span is disproportionate to his body.

If he doesn't show up tonight though I will start to worry. He has got to be great against the Lakers and their 3 PF/centers. If doesn't show in that series we're toast.

by Joelsopinion on May 13, 2009 9:52 AM MDT reply actions

Bee - I completely agree and in fact, I was talking with a buddy of mine about this last night. In the absense of Birdman, Balkman seems like he would have been the best replacement. Tall, lanky, high-energy, rebounder, even a scorer sometimes. Instead, we get slow, lazy, bites on every fake, leaves his man open, doesn't foul with authority, meathead Kleiza. I don't get it either, and this seems to consistently be an issue with Karl not making the proper adjustments at the proper time. Next series, we might get Gasol and Bynum, and we could use Balkman off the bench. Hopefully Karl will watch the tape and see what everyone else sees.

by grantarchy on May 13, 2009 9:55 AM MDT reply actions

Bee, spot on post. I concure whole heartly, but you know I got to add the fact that AC ain't worth a damn and that DJ should get all this little piss ants minutes. If not sharing them with Hart.
GK is a bonified egostical epizoon.
In Chauncey we trust
Enjoy the game tonight@ the Pepsi Center

by SamIam on May 13, 2009 10:41 AM MDT reply actions

Sorry, guys. Whats obvious to all of us about AC & Balkman somehow has escaped the notice of George Karl, & the ENABLERS (read: Media), that cover this team.
Not a single question about using Balkman or even Petro last game, has been raised. Why do WE see whats going on, but the "assembled lemmings" don't seem to? IF we take care of business tonite, & i expect we will, all will be forgiven Karl's BS coachng manuevers, until he's further exposed in the next round. But of course, those of us who pay attention, will know better. Play Balkman!!!! Limit AC!!! Is that so hard to figure out???

by KaiserSoze on May 13, 2009 10:57 AM MDT reply actions

www.BringInBalkman.com

by Do We Have Any Plays? on May 13, 2009 11:28 AM MDT reply actions

http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/The_Baseline/entry/view/24074/is_melo_becoming_the_nbas_best_scorer?

Anthony getting respect in the national media? Scary.

by KarlSucks on May 13, 2009 11:28 AM MDT reply actions

entry/view/24074/is_melo_becoming_the_nbas_best_scorer?

by KarlSucks on May 13, 2009 11:29 AM MDT reply actions

is_melo_becoming_the_nbas_best_scorer?

Not sure why it won't post the whole link.

by KarlSucks on May 13, 2009 11:30 AM MDT reply actions

I think with Nene, it's an issue of him being probably the fourth scoring option on the floor, especially when you have Melo, JR Smith, and C-Billups taking shots. To score, you must get the ball. The Nugs were able to get him passes for easy dunks in the first two games. It looks like Dallas was determined to take that away. Given that they started to defend him and that he's the 3rd or 4th option at any given time, it's up to the coach to make sure he's getting fed the rock.

by grantarchy on May 13, 2009 11:36 AM MDT reply actions

Love the cartoon Andrew! Wish you would grace us with more of your 'true' talent.

How about putting some cartoons on T-shirts for the next round?

I definitely agree with posters here wondering about Kleiza's minutes and Balkman's lack thereof.

I'm counting on Denver to get up on the Mavs early so our backups can get some much needed work. Something tells me that Petro and Balkman are gonna be counted on during the Lakers' series when Nene/Bird get into foul trouble during during warm-ups.

by Brosephus Maxiums on May 13, 2009 1:02 PM MDT reply actions

Two Third team All-NBAers: http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=4164290&campaign

by Vanilla Gorilla on May 13, 2009 1:08 PM MDT reply actions

Look for Chauncey to get Nene going. He has done this in the season when Nene has been slumping. I think the key to this game is we can't let a gimpy Josh Howard go for 21 and 11. Let Dirk get his 25-40. Melo needs to continue punishing Howard on offense. On defense, Melo had trouble staying in front of Howard in Game 4. This needs to change.

by Anonymous on May 13, 2009 2:04 PM MDT reply actions

pics from tonight

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=79309&id=506538738&l=50d21e0d66

mordecai

by Anonymous on May 13, 2009 11:10 PM MDT reply actions

Haha Cougar Hunter...classic.

Dirk the 1st Team All-NBA? What about Melo matching him point for point despite having the ball a lot less? Hopefully this playoff run puts him in the national spotlight he deserves.

by MacroFocus1988 on May 14, 2009 11:46 AM MDT 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.