Three home tests ahead...
by Andrew Feinstein on Dec 11, 2009 5:16 PM MST
in Denver Nuggets: News and Opinion
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While a 16-7 record after 23 games is nothing to snub your nose at, the Nuggets have alarmingly lost five games to bad teams and haven't really been tested at home yet. Three tests are coming up...
Just when we thought the unacceptable loss to the Timberwolves a few weeks ago was the wake up the Nuggets needed to start playing better, we collectively fear that it may have just been a precursor of more bad outings to come. As I wrote at that time, there's a difference between good losses, bad losses and unacceptable losses. When you're playing the second of a back-to-back on the road against a sub-.500 opponent whose had a day or rest and end up losing (like the Nuggets did to the Bobcats on Tuesday), that's a bad loss. But when you're the team whose had a day of rest and your injury depleted opponent is playing the second of a back-to-bad and you still lose (like the Nuggets did to the Pistons last night), that's an unacceptable loss.
As I wrote after the Wolves loss, these types of defeats come back to haunt you later in the season. If you're scoring at home, the Nuggets were also 16-7 at this point last season en route to a magical 54-game, WCF run. But with the exception of an early season loss to a healthy Golden State team while the Nuggets were undermanned due to the Allen Iverson trade, the Nuggets didn't lose to any sub-.500 teams during those first 23 games. In fact, in 2008-09 the Nuggets would play nearly three-and-a-half months before losing to a sub-.500 team. And this year, they already five such losses on their ledger: at Milwaukee, at the Clippers, home against Minnesota, at Charlotte and now at Detroit. Yikes.
Does this mean that the 2009-10 Nuggets are inferior to their 2008-09 predecessors? It's too early to tell. And it should be noted that the Nuggets have attempted to make up for those five bad losses by winning two games no one counted on them winning: impressively at Portland and at San Antonio.
What's of equal concern to me beyond those bad losses is that the Nuggets haven't really been tested at home. And no, the Lakers game didn't count for much of a test: the Lakers were without Pau Gasol and had played very late the night before.
So I suppose it's fitting that while college students across America prepare and take their final exams right now, the Nuggets at last have three home tests themselves: Phoenix tomorrow, Oklahoma City on Monday and Houston on Wednesday. These three squads aren't lottery denizens like the last two teams that embarrassed the Nuggets, so hopefully we as fans will see a better effort from the boys in powder blue and gold. Most fortunately for the Nuggets, all three opponents will be playing the Nuggets as the second game of a back-to-back. And thus, if the Nuggets don't win all three games, consider the exam failed.
On a side note, I'll be at all three games and can't wait! Who's with me?!
Photo courtesy of AP Photos: Duane Burleson
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Interesting
I wonder if the team can come together and play some solid BBall
We have to pass the ball around and get everyone involved.
Billups should be in charge of doing this, and even if Melo has a hot hand
he CANNOT be relied upon solely to win the game. Team effort is required here.
I think sometimes we find our great players more willing to fail individually than to
spread the effort around and run the risk of losing collectively as a team. There really
needs to be some balance there.
by InboundingLobPass on Dec 11, 2009 5:46 PM MST reply actions
Expectations from now on are set low
If we win great, but I’m not expecting to much from this team from now on. Too many bad losses will do that I guess, we will just have to wait and see if these guys really want to win
by tknuckle on Dec 11, 2009 7:33 PM MST via mobile reply actions
Expectattions are low
Really tknuckle? wow because, i mean, you’ve definitely been brimming with optimism support and courage so far this season for the nuggets, my that is a shocker to hear you, such a devoted “fan”, have low expectations…:roll:
The Nuggets need to get back to the basics. Defend better, box out and play to their style. While PHX, OKC and Hou are decent teams, phoenix being the best of the three, they are all very beatable. I agree with Andrew, any less then three w’s will be a dissappointment
5 of 7 losses to
Sub.500 teams. You explain to me how any devoted fan can be happy about that. And you want to question my devotion I love this team just hate to see these types of losses when there really is no excuse.
by tknuckle on Dec 11, 2009 8:28 PM MST via mobile up reply actions 1 recs
The problem is
What is the Nuggets style? Last year I saw defensive intensity and high energy play. I think we are a good scoring team this year much like Phoenix
by runningdonut on Dec 11, 2009 8:37 PM MST up reply actions
I'm really fed up with this sh*t
That being fellow fans here on Denver Stiffs questioning other fellow fans’ devotion and commitment to this team when we express feelings of rightful pessimism. Blasting Karl falls under this category, and honestly it’s quit sad that we can’t express our concerns with the team among ourselves without our fandom being questioned. It’s bs. I’ll take a quote from a popular bumper sticker during the Bush administration, “Blind faith in bad leaders is NOT patriotism”. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
by GoldenNugget on Dec 11, 2009 9:48 PM MST up reply actions 3 recs
Well said!
I hate it when people call me out for not being a true fan. I’m so tired of the Nuggets not playing to their potential. One side note. I know for a fact that this is a true statistic but I forgot where I saw it: The Nuggets lead the league in missed layups. If they could just make a few simple plays and keep their composure, then they’d be a championship team. However, they cannot do these simple things. SO they are not a championship team. So frustrating!
Good observation
We have the same record right now as we did last year. I know a lot of us still have a big head about this team but no improvement from last year is unacceptable, and we didn’t have Chaunce for the first 5 games last year either.
we have had a few bad losses
Big deal its a long season. We will be a top seed in the playoffs. Only thing that matters is beating LA. We have to have that fire when we play them.
This is just me dreamin'
…but I wish somebody would challenge Melo to go for some triple doubles. Has he had any in his career so far? Could someone just whisper to him “Hey, LeBron’s had a bunch of triple doubles, you think you could do that?”
I would rather see his stat line say 15 points, 10 rebounds, 10 assists, than 40 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists.
I might just be showing my lack of basketball knowledge here, though. Is it that the offense isn’t set up to make it possible for him to do that?
by ParkHillNative on Dec 12, 2009 1:03 AM MST reply actions 1 recs
Just me
I’d prefer a win, regardless of points, assists, steals.
by CSprings_Tommy on Dec 12, 2009 7:13 AM MST up reply actions
Nene needed to step up when Martin got hurt
and he’s looked very mediocre the last two games.
I’m tired of waiting for Nene to improve and wonder if we should shop him around for a true center.
and, for the first time this season,
when the Nuggets offense seemed stagnant and the team lacked energy, I thought to myself “too bad Kleiza isn’t around to try to jumpstart the break”
Seriously
Nene’s ppg this season are down from last year and who the hell knows why. Granted all his other numbers are up big time, but you just figure with a guy as athletic and as talented as Nene, he should average at least 15 ppg easily. I think a big problem is that he doesn’t demand the ball, similar to Dwight. He gets cought up in being the nice guy on the team, the ONLY one not out to “get his”, and believe it or not it’s actually hurting us. Very seldomly do I ever see Nene post someone up and call for the ball, but when I do, he usually schools people. Not only this, but he is one of the best passing Centers in the league, so if he was in trouble he could kick it back out to Melo, Earl, Chauncey or Afflalo on the perimeter for the 3. Then again, this actual “strategy” is probably outlawed by George at training camp. You wouldn’t want to be TOO good would you now?
by GoldenNugget on Dec 12, 2009 12:50 PM MST up reply actions
Normally hes a good passer
However when he tried to hand the ball to CB1 and Wallace stole it I thought to myself has Nene been transformed to AC
Couldn't agree more
Did you see the uncontested dunk he passed out of the other day. I have said before, I’m starting to think they need to run the whole offense through him. There are so many options, including for Melo, when you throw it into the post. He can hit a cutter, he can kick it out for a three, you can run a screen handoff for either a layup or step back for an uncontested short jumper.
If only we had some formalized plays…
Another Instance
of GK at his worst. He won’t insist that the ball go into the post.
An iside out game would be awesome
do you know what the nuggets problem is-well i am going to tell you
this post is looking 3 games ahead. nuggets have a problem with looking too far ahead. they need to stay in the moment and play with the same kind of intensity in the first quarter as they do in the fourth quarter. no more saving it for later. they need to put their best players on the floor to start the game and match it with the best effort possible. if the nuggets are going to STRIKE OUT i would prefer they start swinging the bat instead of standing there with the bat on their shoulders. losing is one thing. anything but the max effort at all times sucks.
pick up a calf every day pretty soon you will be picking up a cow
Thankfully they are 3 over .500 teams
because we have been beating those type of teams, just can’t get by those powerful under .500 teams.
Look, it's a bird...no, it's a plane....oh never mind it's just fucking balloon boy
playing to the opponent
I honestly think the nuggets are playing to their opponents level. So they are not playing hard against these sub-500 teams. With Kenyon out it is only more noticeable, but what is up with chauncy? He normally wouldnt play down to a bad teams level, but most of these games he has, and he hasnt gotten on others who have. There are other issues (lack of assists) needing another big (might as well not even have petro or allen), ratcheting up defense. But I think the biggest problem is getting this team to play to its level, not to its oppenents level. Lets ruck up nuggets and move out!
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