free throws lost the game. another issue is the rotation on the front line. 3 players at the center and forward positions means too many minutes at one time. the foul situation is a result of the 8 player rotation and the 3 guard offense. there is nothing wrong with either tactic but it is doing it to the extreme. melo played 42 minutes and there will be fouls logging that kind of time. smith playing small forward will put him into a position where he will be playing against stronger and taller opponents. john brockman is a classic case of forcing the issue with melo and smith to get them in foul trouble. joey graham could fill the same kind of role with denver. joey not getting minutes makes it difficult to find a his niche. melo is the resident superstar. he needs to let his teammates help him. the current rut the nuggets find themselves in goes back to the hornets game. the nba was shown how to beat denver. double teaming melo disrupts the offense. the first portland game of the regular season showed melo can score at anytime. he had 19 points in the 4th quarter. he needs to pass first and rebound. trying to dribble through, around or shoot over the double team is doing things the hard way. denver is beating themselves in every conceivable way possible.

I’m sorry but our “system” if you want to call it that is set up to screw guys like him and Renaldo Balkman. I read in the Post where Karl called AA a utility player who needs to work for whatever he gets because the coaching staff does not factor him in the gameplan.

It’s pathetic. I wrongly called out Arron during his mega slump and watching us lose all of these tough games I have a new respect for the way he plays – with pride. There is no look of frustration or anger after a blown assignment or a bad call. It’s all in the game and I guess you just continue to work when you know you’re first off the bench and last in line to get back in when the game’s on the line.

He’s one of the only guys who gives a consistent effort when the chips are down and it seems like the game’s rigged against you. I wish I could say there were more than one Nugget who doesn’t deal with the moddswings of an NBA game like a whiny little bitch. Why doesn’t he play in the 4th quarter? Someone tell GK this a guy you can go to war with and win.

If you go to Koz’s blog there are postgame comments from Karl. Here is the link for this game.
I think it speaks for itself but excuses are all we ever get. I just want to see passion, maybe a sense of urgency or some kind of emotion – not even disappointment or anger but just a sense of someone who CARES that the outcome could have been different. Like I said, if George Karl has a passion for winning I don’t why he refuses to let us see it. I hope these losses cost GK his extension. The $12 million offer should be pulled immediately, it’s clear the Nugs need to re-think negotiating any offer.

After coming off an inspirational, Western Conference Finals season last year, the bar is higher this year for the Nuggs. I personally would like to win a championship (not just win 50 games and make the playoffs) and this is the Nuggets’ championship window with this core of players. Chauncey probably has a couple of good years left, Nene has talked about retirement after this contract is up, K-mart’s last season as a Nugget is next year, Birdman is in decline, etc. The Nuggs showed last year they could play with the Lakers, and the Lakers got better this year with the addition of Artest, the return to health of Bynum, and the emergence of Gasol as a Star. NBA Championships are so difficult to achieve, particularly for a team in Denver, and this is our window. In watching this year’s team play, it is painfully obvious that this is NOT a championship team, and it is disappointing to some of us. I think this is the reason for a lot of venting on this site.

A 7/8 man rotation isnt going to cut it especially with AC, Afflalo and Martin averaging 3ppg, 7ppg and 10ppg. If JR has a bad game (all too often) the team struggles to score and Melo goes back to forcing it.

Melos defence is proportional to his fouls, if we have to rely on him playing 42mpg he may as well not bother playoing defence.

The Wizards aren’t contending maybe we should look at a trade for Haywood/Blatche or Jamison. Their roster is too expensive to be that bad

Analysis/breakdown of the Kings game was very good. For anyone who didn’t watch it, you get a good understanding after reading AF’s write up.
3 things I liked:
1. Nene—best game of the year, on both ends of the court. Too bad it was wasted in the loss.
2. Can’t believe I’m saying this, but AC played pretty well last night. 0 turnovers, a few good assists and played solid defense.
3. Carmelo’s effort. Played 42 minutes on the 2nd night of a back-to-back, put up 34 points, 8 rebounds. Was getting banged throughout the game, not sure if he was injured or not (left-handed free-throw). Shocking how many calls he doesn’t get. Is it because he whines/compains/talks to the officials too much? When the Nuggets play CP3 or D-Wade, those guys never (and I mean never) get calls against them. The leading scorer in the NBA should get more respect from the officials than he did last night.
3 things that blew:
1. JR Smith—must be the hardest guy to coach. Not only was his shot off, but he was turning the ball over and his defense was trrble, just trrble.
2. Coach Karl—I don’t understand sticking with the 8 man rotation on back-to-back nights. AA was struggling, JR was having arguably his worst night of the season, and Birdman was non-existent. Why not give Joey Graham (or Renaldo Balkman) a shot? This 8 man rotation cost the Nuggets late in the 4th quarter when K-Mart, Nene and Melo had nothing left in the tank and the Kings went on an 8-1 run.
3. Predictability. The Nuggets are becoming too predictable; on defense they switch on everything, leading to mismatches like Lawson guarding the opposing center and Nene out on a point guard. It is this way on EVERY opposing posession. On offense, give the ball to Melo and watch him go one-on-one. No one cuts to the basket, or trys to set a screen. Nothing. Just hope Melo uses his talent to try and score or draw a foul.

without their 3 best players is beyond me

because we’re missing 5 of our rotation players, word.

I can’t agree with those who like the current win-loss ratio.
Yes, viewed alone it is very good.
However over the last month we have lost to some pathetic teams who we should easily beat, even without one of our top players (and especially so when they are missing their top player this season – Kings).

50 wins may normally be a good year, but IMO the Nuggets have set the bar high last year, with the Western Conference Finals, or at the very least a competitive (ie. 6 or 7 games) second-round playoffs exit the minimum acceptable finish to this season.

Remember we were tied with Portland on 54 wins after last season. 50 wins may not even get a top 4 finish this season, let alone top 2. Given our road record so far this seaosn, I wouldn’t feel confident going into the playoffs outside the top 2 and do you want to play the Lakers in the second round?

Also, while I agree with Andrew that Karl deserves credit for how the team has performed since the Billups trade, he also must take at least some of the blame for the continued losses to rubbish teams. This month has been pretty pathetic.

In general I’m not a fan of extending contracts (coaches’ or players’) during a season, unless the individual has contributed to sustained success. I could coach Iverson and Anthony to 50 wins, but last year was probably the first truly successful season for several years under Karl.

Anyway, based on the month of December, I would revoke the contract extension offer to Karl. Not fire him, but make him really earn the extension and in the process fire the team up so they play closer to their best night in, night out.