When to start JR? Or not
by runningdonut on Nov 12, 2009 12:48 AM MST
16 comments
After following summer league, preseason, every game since then and the way the Nugs have been playing, I didn't know what to think about watching the Bucks game. Nothing would have surprised me. I figured a blowout win was as likely as a blowout loss or a close game. There's little continuity to anything we are doing, the team hasn't established the way they want to play, and we have been through more lineup changes and starting fives than any team in the league.
This isn't about Karl rage. Put all that aside and just realize everything is not fine and peachy in Nuggets Nation right now. Watching the last 2 games has convinced me of something we can chnage that is immediately going to pay dividends for improvement over the rest of the regular season and beyond - start JR immediately and give him 30 minutes a game at least. It's time, and he's ready.
I thought the Nuggets actually played a pretty good game in Milwaukee. They missed too many shots and made some mental mistakes at critical times in the game. First off, it's clear that Afflalo in the starting lineup isn't as great as we thought it would be, especially with Melo trying his hardest to turn himself into Kobe Bryant. Aflac only plays the first few minutes of the 1st and 3rd quarters, nothing else. It doesn't matter if he gets a hot hand shooting because he's likely to be the first one sent to the bench at any given time. AA has shown good chemistry with Lawson and Billups, and surprisingly... JR Smith.
JR could solve a lot of problems Denver is having with establishing their offense. It's funny how easy it is to stop the Nuggets offense right now. All you need to is get set on defense, wait for Melo to get the ball and send help to the paint and stand straight up. JR is a willing passer and a playmaker who is going to shoot when needed and cover up some of this selfish stink eminating from Melo's game.
Even without his hot shooting, JR is providing the kind of defensive spark to rally back from a 10 point deficit in crunch time. The revolving door at starting SG has to stop now, give JR the job and play him 30+ minutes a night, the guy is clearly one of our best players without a doubt. The sooner George Karl and the Nuggets realize this the better. Otherwise I fear we're going to remain stuck in this terrible limbo never really knowing quite what we have with this group of Nuggets. Take my poll please
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First instinct is to start him...
…but part of me is dying to see him run the 2 with Lawson at point. I feel like they’d anchor a potentially devastating 2nd unit (up-tempo and maybe more explosive than our starting 5) that few teams in the league will have an answer for. The other upside is that with the second unit, he won’t feel compelled to defer to Melo, and will therefore have more opportunities to be THE MAN we know he can be.
Bottom line: as long as he’s getting 30-35 minutes a night, I don’t much care where they come from, but I’d like to see him paired with Ty and see where it takes us.
the sooner the better
balance is the key. earl in the starting line up will help melo from being double teamed and do the grunt work for chauncey. the first and second unit both have a quick element to it. billups and afflalo are similar in that they are pragmatic and decisive. smith and lawson are similar because they are spontaneous and free lance more. the guard play needs to compliment each other. there will be times where a need for a pragmatic or spontaneous approach will exist. that will be an exception not the rule. the only problem i have right now is the 3 point shooting. nothing wrong with taking a 3 as long as it is within the context of the offense. move the ball, make the other team play defense by making the extra pass. the speed game will be more effective in the second half when fatigue sets in. denver makes it too easy on the other team by shooting jump shots early in the offense. the situation denver has at center makes it critical that the shooting guard rebounds. earl has the skills of graham, afflalo and lawson in a single package.
pick up a calf every day pretty soon you will be picking up a cow
These proposals you and RD make a lot of sense
This year’s personnel create a different chemistry. LK is gone and AC’s pt is limited. (Thank God)
With Lawson, AA and Graham coming off the bench as the second team I think they could provide the energy and points needed against opposing teams
We can only hope that GK and his staff explore this option
The poll selection
is a though one. I have two selections I would like to make
The first is he should start NOW and my second one is that ………… (I have to be careful I’ve been warned)
by samdman on Nov 12, 2009 8:22 AM MST reply actions 1 recs
I actually completely agree with you.
J.R. has played a fantastic 2 games after missing 7 games and spending 24 days IN PRISON. He’s a phenomenal player. His game has been mature and unselfish. He is distributing the ball well, driving inside, and playing energized defense. Bring Afflalo off the bench and finally shelve AC for garbage minutes.
J.R. is my homeboy
by Greyson on Nov 12, 2009 9:37 AM MST via mobile reply actions
Wait, he went to prison? For the drunk driving incident? Is that what it was? I can’t even remember what he did, but I had no idea he went to prison!
Wasn't drunk driving, it was reckless driving.
He got in a wreck and his best friend was the passenger who was killed in the accident. Sent to prison for 30 days, served 24.
J.R. is my homeboy
The NBA Cares...
As if accidentally killing your best friend and serving time in prison isn’t enough punishment, the league decides to impose a 7 game suspension… Too bad he couldn’t Kobe his way out of it and drop a couple mil on the victim.
Practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.
by Big Mickey D on Nov 12, 2009 10:58 PM MST up reply actions 1 recs
I Agree ONLY if
Melo starts playing like he didthe first three games. Ever since he saw his name on ESPN in MVP talks he has taken it upon himslef to run 80% of the shots and offense when he is on the floor. Last nght Melo would either get te ball with 20 seconds on the clock and take a jab step jumper. If it wasn’t that, Melo would get the ball with 10 seconds on the shot clock. Hold it for 5, then drive into a bunch of standing 7 footers looking for cantact but wasn’t awarded with any because he jumped into them. HIs layups would just fire off teh backboard. To me, a supid play like that should count as a TO.
Anyways, with Melo playing like he is, starting JR would just take from his ability to score. He’d get a shot one in every 10 drives if he started with 7 others going to Melo, one to CB and one to Nene. So, if Melo can start playing his unselfish basketball and stop forcing himself into a tugh J or a double team post up, then I’m all for starting JR. It is Melo and Karl’s job to get Melo’s act figured out.
Oh and Warkentein needs to go to work on finding a 7 footer who will crash the glass, block out and play hard. Nene and Bird are soft on the defense glass and Martin is always paying a one-on-one. I’m pretty sure many of the regulars on this site have mentioned just about every big man possible.
I say we trade Melo, and Nene to Orlando, Orlando sends Dwight Howrad to Denver and Michael Pietrus and Ryan Anderson to Golden State and the Warriors send Jax and Turiaf to Denver.
Denver’s starting 5 looks like:
Billups Lawson
JR SMith Afflalo
Jax Graham
Martin Turiaf
Howard. Bird
Gives us three perimeter threats and the best low post presence in the game as well as the best defensive post presence. Give’s our bench a blocking big in Bird and a rebounding big in Turiaf. Balances our team and works under the salary cap.
I know it would never happen and it would screw up chmistry terribly, but I would do it… oh and also bring in Byron Scott as an assistent and let him take the reigns once GK is done.
Nugs would do that in a heartbeat
But there is no way in hell Orlando is parting with Howard for Melo. LOL. We all can dream though can’t we?
True But
You never know,
Nelson
VC
Melo
Lewis
Nene
That’s one hell of a starting line up.
by Garrett Olsen on Nov 12, 2009 4:29 PM MST up reply actions
No sane organization like Orlando gives up the best big in the game
For a selfish Carmelo Anthony no less. We can dream for sure but I do know that there is no way in hell that would ever happen sans Alzheimer’s disease for the GM in Orlando.
HAHA
Yes I know =)
I did however hear a rumor that if Bron wants out of clev next year that clev would look for a sign and trade in which Bron for Melo straight up was mentioned. Granted, it was from a writer i’m not very aware of but Melo could be the best value Clev gets in return if he leaves them. I think it’s a pipe dream as well but hey… never hurts to dream =)
by Garrett Olsen on Nov 12, 2009 5:27 PM MST up reply actions
90%
what denver has works over 90% of the time. the 5 to 10% comes back to kill them like in the western conference finals. last night is another example. nene played 40 minutes the night before and could not keep up with andrew CEMENT SHOES bogut. there are 2 options for a 7 footer. gortat from orlando. it will cost denver balkman, petro and kleiza’s rights. the other option in arron gray. he is out with a stress fracture in his leg. chicago is doing fine without him. nugs could get him cheap. with steve hess and adrian dantley he could be a force on the boards at both ends of the court.
pick up a calf every day pretty soon you will be picking up a cow
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