Game 19 Preview & Thread: Nuggets vs. Heat (8:30pm MDT)
by Andrew Feinstein on Dec 3, 2009 12:23 PM MST
in Denver Nuggets: Game Previews & Game Threads
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PrintMiami Heat at Denver Nuggets, Dec 3, 2009 8:30 PM MST
I probably should have titled this Game Preview: "Nuggets vs. Dwyane Wade (8:30pm MDT)"...
In team sports, it always seems easier to avenge a recent bad loss than replicate an easy win. We (unfortunately) witnessed how the Nuggets were unable to replicate an easy win by losing at home to the Timberwolves just days after whipping them in Minneapolis. So let’s hope the theory holds true on the good side; that the Nuggets learn from their loss at Miami a few weeks ago, make the necessary adjustments and beat the Heat at Pepsi Center tonight.
In Miami on November 6th, the Heat dealt the Nuggets their first loss of the young season thanks to a balanced effort (and perhaps some late night South Beach action by a few Nuggets players the night before the game…I’m just guessing). By the game's end five Heat players had scored in double digits, while the Nuggets sluggishly eeked their way to a mere 38 halftime points and only 88 total. Prior to that game, the Nuggets were averaging almost 54 points per game by halftime. Throughout that game, most of the Nuggets looked like they were stuck in mud as they were slow on their defensive rotations and – before making a too little/too late run at the very end – shot poorly from the start (hence the South Beach partying inference again).
Tonight it’s the Heat’s turn to be sluggish and get caught off guard. But this is a dangerous team and they’ll have had almost two days in Denver to acclimate to the altitude before tipoff. The Heat kicked off their four-game Western Conference road trip by winning impressively at Portland on Tuesday night, overcoming a 20-rebound/four-block night from Trail Blazers center Greg Oden. In that game, three Heat players - Dwyane Wade, Michael Beasley and Quentin "Traded Four Times in One Month" Richardson – each scored at least 20 points and shot 50% or better. With the Nuggets playing at a frenetic up-and-down pace lately, don’t be surprised if three Heat players go for 20 again.
Of all the Nuggets home opponents this season, I'd argue that only two were meaningful - the Jazz and the Lakers. Count the Heat as meaningful opponent number three and frankly, I'm glad. The Nuggets need to start getting tested by better teams and the fans deserve to see better competition for their high ticket prices.
Sizing up the Heat…
Heat Stiffs
-Daequan Cook: Now a three-year vet, Cook's minutes are down to an all-time low and he's shooting horrifically from the field at 29%.
-Joel Anthony: At 6'9" and 245 pounds, you'd think Anthony could make more than 42.4% of his shots and grab more than the 2.4 rebounds he gets per night. You'd think...but then you'd realize he's a Stiff.
-Shavlik Randolph: Deserves a permanent spot on the Stiff List for three reasons. 1) His name is Shavlik. 2) He went to Duke. 3) His name is Shavlik, he went to Duke and yet had the audacity to comment on gays in the NBA when the news broke of former NBA player John Amaechi coming out of the closet. Said Randolph at the time: "As long as you don’t bring your gayness on me I’m fine." Real classy, Shavlik.
Heat Non-Stiffs
-Dwyane Wade: Having another MVP-caliber season, Wade is again single-handily carrying the Heat back to the playoffs. While Wade probably doesn’t deserve to win the overall MVP, he’s unquestionably the most valuable player to his team. The Heat would be Nets-worthy without him.
-Mario Chalmers: 10 ppg and almost a handful of assists per night isn’t too shabby for a former second round pick making less than $800,000 a year. Like we’re seeing with Ty Lawson in Denver this season, Chalmers is further proof that leading a winning team in college transfers to success in the NBA.
-Jermaine O'Neal: If you can forget for a moment that he's making $23 million this season (!), the 14-year veteran (!) is actually having a decent season. Relatively healthy for the first time in years, O'Neal is shooting a career high 56.1%, averaging a respectable 14.5 ppg to go along with 8.2 rpg.
-The Heat in the 2010 free agent sweepstakes: Including O'Neal's $23 million, the Heat will be shedding themselves of $51 million worth of payroll at season's end. If they can convince Wade to stay, Miami will be a major player in the free agent market being that they one of the NBA's more attractive destinations geographically.
Opposing View: Peninsula is Mightier
Photo courtesy of AP: Wilfredo Lee
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D Wade
He had a subpar game when they murdered the Nuggets in Miami and he had 12 assists when they won in Portland. He is leading his team more unselfishly than Melo right now. The Heat have a better road record than the Nuggets so give them some credit. This is exactly the type of game Denver will not show up and hope that the other team is shitty enough that they win anyways. The funny thing is, the Nuggets should shellack the Heat and the Sixers in Philly, but I have serious doubts about their ability to win either one of those. Nothing would surprise me with this team anymore. I will say Nene needs to man up against JO
That's the thing
You can look up match-ups on paper, compare records and stats and while the numbers will favor Denver, as they do in this case, it doesn’t mean jack squat because, game-to-game, you just don’t know which Denver Nugget team is going to show up.
Heck, you don’t even know quarter for quarter.
That said, I think Denver wins this because Miami is a worthy opponent and will not be sneaking up on them. Melo a very meta-basketball player: he is aware of the things involving the game that are happening outside of it: like the fact that it is on national television or if he is getting his points average. Sometimes this isn’t a good thing. But it will be tonight because he will want the world to see that his team is better than Wade’s.
I think you are mistaken about the previous Miami loss
George Karl owns most if not all of the blame for that loss. That is when the collapse of the AC in the starting lineup began, even though there were signs it was a bad decision before that. The Nuggets had a big lead in the first half, and GK stubbornly refused to pull AC as Miami erased the lead and then built their own. He had been clearly denying more talented players like AA and Lawson minutes, and it cost them that win. By the time Ty and Aflac got into the game, they almost erased a 30 point deficit. In hindsight it was clearly a poor decision and Karl eventually admitted it by benching AC after they lost a few more. Sure, it’s easy to make up an unsubstantiated story about the Nuggets partying, but why not look at the concrete facts staring at you in the face. It was a lazy coach and his bad mistakes which played the larger part in that loss. Am i missing something here? Please open your eyes and stop making shit up because you are now incapable of taking a critical look at George Karl
Dude, what's your problem?
Lately you’ve come off as a tremendously negative asshole. I remember reading posts by you throughout the PA&R/Roundball sites all through last season and you were nowhere near as spiteful and trashing of your fellow Nuggets posters and this site’s proprietors as you have been lately.
Seriously, we get it, you (and others) think Karl is a bad coach. That isn’t going to change for the forseeable future.
Andrew: No mention of Michael Beasley? He put up 27 against the Blazers, one of the better defenses in the league. Sure he’s a headcase, but the Nuggets are gonna need to look out for him on offense.
Swats.
criticism is not trashing
While I don’t mean to attack anyone with sharing my own viewpoint, I just don’t like sitting on a high horse about how superior this team is and not being able to see the game outside of our Nuggets-colored glasses. If you’re going to make unfounded excuses about a loss then I don’t think it’s out of line to counter with my own reasoning for the same loss. I will admit, I was critical of GK to start the season because I saw major problems with this team during preseason. I have backed of Karl lately because I do believe he’s trying to put a winning team on the floor now. GK even took some blame for a loss which is unprecedented and I never expected, so it’s not like I do nothing but bash Karl all the time. I will cool off with the negativity because I hear you that it’s not something to go over the top with and continue forever. I just call out bullshit when I see it, that’s it!!!
Good call on Beasley too, he should be on the non stiff list. He reminds me of a Melo who can’t pass. If Beas gets his head right and puts a complete game together he will be a top SF in the future.
Well put
I stepped over the line by calling you an asshole, RD. You’re not an asshole. :) I apologize.
I have donned rose-colored glasses a time or two myself about GK after he has made a few good decisions, but there are definitely valid criticisms to be made of his style of coaching. Or lack of coaching, whichever side you fall on.
I want the Nuggets fans and the readers of this website to be awesome contributors who simultaneously support the team while not always calling for the axing of a head coach who (in my opinion) is trying, however hard, to get the team to its first finals. Too many other blogs (Blazers Edge, etc.) constantly call for their coaches’ head one night and then turn right around and praise them as geniuses the next.
If Karl was still playing AC significant minutes over Lawson and finagling with rotations, I would be much more critical. But he’s really unleashed Melo, established Ty Lawson, benched A.C., and figured out, somehow, to make Nene become even better than he was last year. For those reasons, I’m willing to give Karl a pass for a while.
Swats.
well said
good points on what Karl HAS done well. But I see RD’s point as well. I think often times we are responding to Karl’s in-game coaching regarding TO’s, Rotations, and player minutes, and hopefully, PLAYS RUN….But I still stick by my “this is a players game and therefore mostly their responsibility cause you cant coach shot selection, whether or not to pass and hustle” mantra. If that werentthe case, we’d see a lot of awkward Nike commercials of guys like Karl “coaching” in slow-mo….
by SternfluffsKobe on Dec 3, 2009 2:41 PM MST up reply actions
We have any YouTube gurus here? Somebody should make a "Where Amazin' Happens" coaches edition.
Good stuff.
Denver Stiffs.com: Defending the sovereignty of Nuggets Nation.
Love that idea
Or a Ricola commercial based on Beefy’s comment. Or even one of those bizarrely european Mentos commercials, where the protagonist pulls some sort of hijinx and everyone laughs about it in the end. I might have to make this dream a reality…
by Artimus Mangilord on Dec 3, 2009 3:04 PM MST up reply actions
Ha ha ... Mentos and High School.
I remember writing them a letter for a class project about how my football went in my neighbors yard or something or other … totally mentos style with my neighbor getting upset and me flashing mentos, but he was still upset.
Long story short … Mentos sent me like 24 free rolls of mentos … the pink kind are the best. (Strawberry perhaps?)
Denver Stiffs.com: Defending the sovereignty of Nuggets Nation.
hahahahahahaha!
Really, really? haha…If thats not true…its funny either way
by GottaLoveMelo on Dec 3, 2009 3:31 PM MST up reply actions
That would be hilarious!
I love the cough drop idea! Like a thirty second spot of an etreme close-up of Karl’s face suckin his cough-drop during a game and then right at the end the words appear like this:
WHERE (karl’s face) HAPPENS
by SternfluffsKobe on Dec 3, 2009 3:05 PM MST via mobile up reply actions
I can't stand the Aflac nickname for Arron Afflalo ... makes me think of that stupid duck. Cringe every time.
Denver Stiffs.com: Defending the sovereignty of Nuggets Nation.
Me too...
I like “the Duracell”..
by SternfluffsKobe on Dec 3, 2009 3:06 PM MST via mobile up reply actions
To defend Andrew ...
Obviously not a lot of posters know Andrew other than what he writes here, but I can tell you first hand that he is the kind of guy that is going to call it likes he sees it whether he had the opportunity to interview the Nuggets coach or not. That’s just who is he and he’s not afraid to speak his mind in person or on this site to whomever he’s talking to … I’ve seen it firsthand.
As far as the partying aspect goes … it’s well known that South Beach is a popular party destination and a tongue-in-cheek comment made about the Nuggets seeming a step slow after spending a night in Miami isn’t too far fetched. Although I’d venture to hope that professionals known their limits during the season.
-Nate
Denver Stiffs.com: Defending the sovereignty of Nuggets Nation.
Partying could happen every game
Years ago I worked in some bars downtown, I saw Kleiza and Greg Buckner out and about during the season a few times
Yes, I recall you mentioning that.
I like your perspective on the team runningdonut (regardless if I agree with it all, as I’m sure you find differences in my glass half full views) … need all kinds of voices here and you are definitely a seasoned vet of Nuggets basketball.
Denver Stiffs.com: Defending the sovereignty of Nuggets Nation.
shavlik randolph
is the grandson of ronnie shavlik from denver east high school. he went on to become an all american at north carolina state and play in the nba. the game in miami denver was tied in the second quarter when kmart was hurt. after that the nuggets fell apart.
pick up a calf every day pretty soon you will be picking up a cow
and another thing
earl was suspended at the time. with kmart and smith both in the line up things should be different.
pick up a calf every day pretty soon you will be picking up a cow
I know we're talking game here, but I gotta say...
Nice one Shavlik. Yeah, everybody keep your gayness away from him! It might mess up his sweetness on the court. What a tool.
It’s that kinda shit that makes me crazy! And sets our society back at least 50 years.
YOU CANT CATCH GAY, ITS NOT THE FLU…
by SternfluffsKobe on Dec 3, 2009 1:49 PM MST via mobile reply actions 1 recs
hahahaha
Shavlik Randolph?! haha…never heard of him…didnt even know he went to Duke…but yes…fuck that guy.
by GottaLoveMelo on Dec 3, 2009 2:30 PM MST up reply actions
pro sports exist so people can have something pointless to talk about
I kind of like GK. It’s no joke managing pro athletes loaded with cash. And doing it in the glare of thousands of people watching.
And since it’s just a game we can talk smack or get excited without it mattering too much.
Funny stat.
The Heat have never beaten the Nuggets in Denver since drafting Dwayne Wade.
"All by their heads, he places crowns."
by Tempestuous Binary on Dec 3, 2009 4:27 PM MST reply actions
Anyone know
if this game is blacked out on League Pass Broadband?
I got a free 24 hour pass at a nuggs game and don’t want to waste it if the game is blacked out.
AA should make the all defensive team
If Afflalo can defend Wade well tonight I’m going to push for him to be on the All defensive team.
Tbh
It feels like it’s unfair how Melo’s allowed to just bull his way into the defender when he faces up and drives to the hole. Not that I’m complaining, but from a TV standpoint, it feels like he shouldn’t be able to get away with/do that. :/
chauncey
what’s up with his shot selection? he’s been jacking 3’s at very questionable times for a player known for having such a high basketball IQ…
Shot selection
I don’t think his slot selection is much different from last year. Imo, the difference is that he’s not making them. He’s aware of how game changing/momentum building those shots can be, they’re just not falling.
I agree
also seems to be the hardest working off the ball on offense and defense
by ColoradoAggie11 on Dec 3, 2009 9:39 PM MST up reply actions
I agree
also seems to be the hardest working off the ball on offense and defense
by ColoradoAggie11 on Dec 3, 2009 9:39 PM MST up reply actions
Have they said what was wrong with Chauncey?
Practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.
So did I and that's what I missed! Thanks.
Practice doesn't make perfect. Perfect practice makes perfect.
Agreed but what is Melo shooting?
It seems like he hasn’t made a shot since the first two out of four. Although seems like he has gotten a couple of assists too which I don’t mind
by ColoradoAggie11 on Dec 3, 2009 9:42 PM MST up reply actions
Hope he doesn't start forcing shots to try and get his points up
Also hope he can contain Beasley after coming in now
by ColoradoAggie11 on Dec 3, 2009 9:46 PM MST up reply actions
Hopefully that loss helps us tonight though
and realize that if the twolves can come back then a team with a player as good as wade can easily make up ground in a hurry.
Just need to keep the food on the gas!
by ColoradoAggie11 on Dec 3, 2009 9:49 PM MST up reply actions
TNT really makes me miss Altitude. Ugh.
As bad as Marlowe and Hastings can be…. the truth is, they aren’t that bad.
Here you go...
“That Birdman block is a contender for the Mattress King rejection of the game, huh Scott?, We’re on pace for free Taco Bell tacos tomorrow after that Lexus drive of the game.”
That is the ONE thing I hate about Altitude.
Enough with the adverts DURING the game.
But that was a very apt imitation.
tnt
on these national games they have to go over all the stuff we heard about a long time ago.
birdman’s the crowd fav
k-marts knees
melos scoring.
blah blah blah
Maybe if they broadcast more Nuggets games... :)
I wouldn’t mind it being in Texas and not having altitude
by ColoradoAggie11 on Dec 3, 2009 9:59 PM MST up reply actions
bad call and about 3 secs late
refs waited till he missed to call it
by Rainbow skyline on Dec 3, 2009 9:53 PM MST up reply actions
strange game-slow paced and nugs are still blowing them out
heat just can’t hit a shot to save their lives
Think if Melo got treated like the average star player.
Or maybe like Kobe, Lebron…
by ColoradoAggie11 on Dec 3, 2009 10:02 PM MST up reply actions
hopefully twolves game helps them with that
They should realize the heat are a much better team than the twolves and should play like it
by ColoradoAggie11 on Dec 3, 2009 10:06 PM MST up reply actions
of course these are shoulda, couldas
since we shoulda beat the clippers and the twolves as well
by ColoradoAggie11 on Dec 3, 2009 10:07 PM MST up reply actions
Against Golden State...
You can get away with that. The Warriors have some of the craziest line-ups in the league. And it works for them sometimes.
But I expect Karl to play smart against a good Miami team.
nuggets tats finally getting the respect they deserve on tnt
by Rainbow skyline on Dec 3, 2009 10:10 PM MST reply actions
Quick question for you guys.
I want to ask for a Melo jersey for Xmas but I don’t know what size to ask for. I wear a L Broncos jersey…but I think NBA jerseys are really long and I don’t want a Melo dress. Thoughts?
"C" is for Championship...that's good enough for meeeee!!!
Depends on what kind you are getting
i.e. authentic, replica etc
by ColoradoAggie11 on Dec 3, 2009 10:20 PM MST up reply actions
Authentic is probably too expensive so replica.
"C" is for Championship...that's good enough for meeeee!!!
by PosterNutbag on Dec 3, 2009 10:20 PM MST up reply actions
I'd do swingman if I were you
they only cost like $10 more than replica but they last longer.
Size wize I wear a large for both but I am usually wearing the large-long or large tall so that might be why it works for me :)
by ColoradoAggie11 on Dec 3, 2009 10:23 PM MST up reply actions
I’m allergic to malls. ;-)
Plus I saw that the NBA store is 25% off until tomorrow night so I was going to send the idea to my rents tomorrow so they could save some $$$.
"C" is for Championship...that's good enough for meeeee!!!
by PosterNutbag on Dec 3, 2009 10:22 PM MST up reply actions
Cool…thanks for the tips everyone.
Unfortunately river-z is probably right and I just need to bite the bullet and go try some on.
"C" is for Championship...that's good enough for meeeee!!!
by PosterNutbag on Dec 3, 2009 10:29 PM MST up reply actions
good luck with that
i hate going to the mall anytime after thanksgiving
by ColoradoAggie11 on Dec 3, 2009 10:30 PM MST up reply actions
I hate going to the mall any time of year…particularly this time of year. Although I don’t mind scouting the talent (no offense to any talent).
"C" is for Championship...that's good enough for meeeee!!!
by PosterNutbag on Dec 3, 2009 10:35 PM MST up reply actions
I don't like these weird camera angles on TNT
its like they are trying to show off how many different cameras they can show like they are espn or something
by ColoradoAggie11 on Dec 3, 2009 10:26 PM MST reply actions
Not when you’re up by 20.
"C" is for Championship...that's good enough for meeeee!!!
by PosterNutbag on Dec 3, 2009 10:30 PM MST up reply actions
If the Nuggets would do that more often
They would be better than what they are
I love Martin trying to keep Karl from getting the second tech.
Oh man!
Aside from his salary, Martin is such a bright spot for the Nuggets.
by Fly Agaric on Dec 3, 2009 10:42 PM MST reply actions 1 recs
D has been stellar
I didn’t see the golden state game, but I’m guessing the wolves debacle has spurred a re-commitment to defense, at least for now
by Rainbow skyline on Dec 3, 2009 10:42 PM MST reply actions
Like to see Karl getting angry
These last maybe 8-10 games he seems more consistently working the refs than in past years
by ColoradoAggie11 on Dec 3, 2009 10:42 PM MST reply actions
Prediction:
This becomes Melo’s first game scoring under 20 points. At 16 right now. No need to keep him in in a blow out.
TOLD you EArlier Dont worry Will win this....
We will see Petro eArly
I was thinking of the same
But GK got an early tech
Where is Melo or Billups on that?
Need to help protect your guy and get him away from the refs
by ColoradoAggie11 on Dec 3, 2009 10:54 PM MST reply actions
I think they all found it amusing. Including GK.
"C" is for Championship...that's good enough for meeeee!!!
by PosterNutbag on Dec 3, 2009 10:54 PM MST up reply actions
Agreed
GK couldn’t because he already has a tech.
Feel like if Melo wants to be THE leader on this team
he should be the one helping others stay out of trouble. This game is not over yet and I would prefer not to lose KMart from the game after he MAKES a shot!
by ColoradoAggie11 on Dec 3, 2009 10:58 PM MST up reply actions
Had to come on here and say
For all the talk about trading him for Shaq… LOVING K-Mart tonight. I’m a big fan of having that goon there to be the toughness for his team. No way the Nugs give up this lead at all now that KMart stood up like that, they’ll play for their teammate
Avs leading the Western Conference
Broncos killin everyone
Nuggets gonna be sick
Rocktober cut short
...man Denver sports are sick
He's got 17
Avs leading the Western Conference
Broncos killin everyone
Nuggets gonna be sick
Rocktober cut short
...man Denver sports are sick
hopes its just a tweek that needs to be walked off.
Do not want to see Petro or Allen in this early. And hope if he is out for the rest of the game that he will be back for Spurs since we need him for that one
by ColoradoAggie11 on Dec 3, 2009 11:06 PM MST up reply actions
Should take birdman out now
He is obviously hurting
by ColoradoAggie11 on Dec 3, 2009 11:10 PM MST reply actions
I'm worried
I’m watching with the sound off, have they said anything about what’s wrong with him?
by ParkHillNative on Dec 3, 2009 11:18 PM MST up reply actions
i know. they played way better in the second half than i expected.
goes to show how lucky i was the other night.
Ok time to actually finish my two final papers due tomorrow...Can't wait for semester to end
Enjoyed the game tonight though!
by ColoradoAggie11 on Dec 3, 2009 11:13 PM MST reply actions
lawson
my favorite thing about lawson is that he passes up outside jumpers in order to take it to the rim. Alot
See
I’m a believer. He has a shooting touch and — he’s young. If he is coachable, that means everything. I like to think the Nuggets front office knows what they are doing when they resign these people.
He has no PT
You can’t get a rhythm if you don’t play
GREAT tonight
This is exactly the kind of game I’ve been wanting to see them play. Great defense, great passing.
Petros playing time
the main good thing about his playing time is that we’re usually way ahead when he comes into the game. then I don’t have to take his awful moves too seriously.
and i can avert my eyes if he does anything that looks like it’s gonna sprain my neck.
Good Game
It was great to see that the Nuggets did their due diligence and played like a decent basketball team.
Kudo’s to GK
Next Four on the road
GO Nuggets show them what you’re made of
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