Wolves vs. Nuggets recap: Ok, so maybe we need a power forward...
by Andrew Feinstein on Dec 18, 2010 10:44 PM MST
in Denver Nuggets: Game Recaps
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PrintKevin Love had more points and rebounds than the Nuggets three "big men" combined. Hell, even the Wolves Stiff center Kosta Koufos managed to grab 10 rebounds against our soft bigs tonight...and he played just 20 minutes. Chris Andersen and Kenyon Martin can't get healthy fast enough.
43 points scored and 17 rebounds were grabbed by Timberwolves power forward Kevin Love tonight. Nene Hilario, Shelden Williams and Al Harrington combined for 27 points and 15 rebounds. The Nuggets still managed to win the game, but eventually this unacceptably low production from the Nuggets bigs will bite this team in the ass in the form of a bad loss. I fear it's coming.
Hockey experts say what made Wayne Gretzky great wasn't that he seemed to always be where the puck was, but that he always seemed to be where the puck was going. That's how Love rebounds. While Williams - whose sole purpose is to rebound - and Nene stood flat waiting for rebounds to bounce their way, Love was always a step or two ahead of them and got to the ball quicker. Even though Love isn't nearly as quick as Nene. But I guess that's why this guy leads the NBA in rebounds.
Fortunately for our Nuggets, other than Love and small forward Michael Beasley, the Wolves had very little ammunition to throw at Denver tonight. Love may have out-distanced the Nuggets front line all by himself, but the Wolves backcourt of Luke Ridnour, Corey Brewer and Wesley Johnson combined to shoot 0-9 from three-point range, with Ridnour and Brewer making just three of their 15 combined field goal attempts.
Unfortunately for our Nuggets, we're still seeing a recurring habit of them blowing big second half leads against bad teams. The Nuggets two-point win over the Timberwolves eerily mirrored their recent one-point win over the Grizzlies, their five-point win over the Clippers, their five-point win over the Suns and their four-point win over the Nets.
On a different topic, watching this game you had to wonder if Wolves' GM David "Wrath of" Kahn was cringing seeing the Nuggets Ty Lawson - whom he drafted for Denver with the 18th overall selection - dominate his backcourt. Kahn famously had the fifth and sixth overall pick in the 2009 NBA Draft and managed to end up with two point guards, none of whom were named Stephen Curry, Brandon Jennings, Darren Collison or Ty Lawson. Maybe - just maybe - Ricky Rubio (whom Kahn took fifth) is watching Love and Beasley play and is reconsidering playing in Minnesota someday. Maybe.
Including Lawson's stellar offensive performance, the Nuggets won the old-fashioned Nuggets way: they out-scored their opponent to the tune of 115 total points. Carmelo Anthony led the charge with 24 points (although he sunk back into a non-.500 shooting night and took some suspect late-in-the-game shots) to go along with 23 from Lawson, 18 from J.R. Smith, 17 from Arron Afflalo and 15 from Al Harrington. When five different players score at least 15 points in an NBA game, their team typically wins. This is how the Nuggets routinely won games in the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s. Maybe the Nuggets organization should have labeled tonight's game "80s Night."
But two things stood out to me watching the game: the Nuggets desperately need a bona fine power forward (ahem, Kenyon Martin, please come back soon) and they still haven't grasped how to defiantly close out games against bad competition. Both issues need to be rectified entering the new year.
NON-STIFF OF THE NIGHT
-Kevin Love: 14-23 shooting, 10-12 from the free throw line, 5-5 from three-point range, 43 points, 17 rebounds (seven offensive) and three assists. Love embarrassed the Nuggets bigs tonight from the opening tip to the final buzzer. It's too bad Carmelo Anthony - who had a pretty good game himself - is dictating where he wants to be traded because I'd trade him straight up for Love any day of the week.
STIFF(S) OF THE NIGHT
-Corey Brewer and Luke Ridnour: If Brewer and Ridnour continue to perform as they did tonight, Love will be the next big name to demand a departure from his small market city.
PARTING SHOT
The optimists - who are right on this - will point to the "a win is a win argument" in reference to tonight's Nuggets victory. But an inability to close out games, especially against sub-par competition playing on a back-to-back, must be addressed by Nuggets head coach George Karl and his coaching staff. For if it's not addressed soon, the next time the likes of the Wolves comes to town the Nuggets could end up with their first unacceptable loss of the season.
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Kevin Love is a fucking beast.
You dont even want to know the sort of depraved and disgusting things I would do to have him on the nuggets.
If Rubio does ever decide to come play for the Wolves, there are gonna have a pretty good core to build around. I certainly hope not, seeing as we are going to already have to deal with the Jazz and Thunder in our division.
"I beat all man. Someday, I will beat a real champion. If he dies, he dies." Ivan Drago
by jcd823 on Dec 18, 2010 11:09 PM MST reply actions 1 recs
Once the wolves can Rambis and bring Rubio over, watch out.
Think about it, one more lotto pick, Rubio and a new coach… uh, oh. That is, if Ricky is the real deal. I think Rubio WILL come over, the wolves will just have to pay handsomely. Think about how young and good their potential starting 5 could be.
Rubio
Wes Johnson
B-Easy
K-Love
Darko, I guess.
With Flynn, Webster and a lotto pick off the bench. Jebus… Darko is 26, webster 25, everyone else… >23. Shit, goddamn.
Anyway, Kevin Love is on my fantasy team, which is now in 2nd, soon to be in 1st cause Joakim went down. I am pretty pissed I started Conley and left Ty on the bench. Gah, one fantasy mistake among many good decisions.
This LOVE fest is kind of squicky
Optimism Warrior
2011 Colorado Zombies--Will rise from beneath homeplate with the shards of a broken season in Tulo's hand!
Brad Hawpe - Thanks Brad, you were a class act.
QPU #4, YHEG #4, Proud Member PR Gynocracy
Yeah. the Wolves are 6-22
they are not that close to greatness and a Spaniard who has to decide between Barcelona and Minneapolis will not save the day.
2010 F1 Champ: Sebastian Vettel-JAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Quitter's People United member # 42
Meh
a win is a win
On to the revenge game with San Antonio
Overheard during Nuggets radio broadcasts in the 80's: "....Hanzlik.....HEY HANZLIK...don't ever dribble the ball again or I'll bench your ass!" Doug Moe
by Jeffrey Morton on Dec 19, 2010 12:06 AM MST reply actions
+1
I’m ready and already pumped for that one!
Quitter's People United member #7
"Every morning we wake up we got two options, you get better or you get worse. What you gonna do today?" - Steve Hess
Aussie Aces - Owner, General Manager, Head Coach, Executive of Basketball Operations, PR Consultant, Cheerleader and Mascott!
Please be healthy Kenyon!
we need VERY HARD FOULS on their pussy players.
2010 F1 Champ: Sebastian Vettel-JAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Quitter's People United member # 42
I have a feeling that the refs are gonna keep a close eye on Kmart
and any stuff is gonna get whistled in a hurry…Techs all around…and Kmart gets ejected..
Optimism Warrior
2011 Colorado Zombies--Will rise from beneath homeplate with the shards of a broken season in Tulo's hand!
Brad Hawpe - Thanks Brad, you were a class act.
QPU #4, YHEG #4, Proud Member PR Gynocracy
That's why you send in Melvin Ely to "regulate"
Overheard during Nuggets radio broadcasts in the 80's: "....Hanzlik.....HEY HANZLIK...don't ever dribble the ball again or I'll bench your ass!" Doug Moe
by Jeffrey Morton on Dec 19, 2010 12:16 AM MST up reply actions
Yeah we have got more players
and it only takes one hard foul to break a limb make Gibobili worry
2010 F1 Champ: Sebastian Vettel-JAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Quitter's People United member # 42
Oh yeah!
Got my beer ready!
Don't forget to thank the men and women who fight for our Country who will not be home with their families this holiday season.
Free JR!!!!!!!!
Steamboat here I come!
by Army of Nugs on Dec 19, 2010 11:57 AM MST up reply actions
Holy hell
The Wolves scored 38 points in the 4th quarter.
by ParkHillNative on Dec 19, 2010 1:00 AM MST via mobile reply actions
imagine if Love played alongside Blake Griffin!
that would be something!
worth the price of admission probably.
make it happen basketball gods!
by InboundingLobPass on Dec 19, 2010 4:38 AM MST reply actions
Nuggets Must Play Hard and Smart for 48
I watched closely what happened after the Nuggs went up by 20 points late in the 3rd Quarter. Simply put, the Nuggs rested. For the next 10 possessions, there was little ball or player movement on offense, no offensive rebounds, few defensive rebounds, and the Nuggs took 7 questionable 3-pointers, all fairly early in the shot clock. Meanwhile, a desperate Minnesota team, down 20, ran the ball back, made passes, found the open man, had several offensive rebounds, and took good shots. They played hard and smart.
Last night against the Wolves, the Nuggs clearly began to rest/coast when they had the big lead. Karl is right, teams resting/coasting at different parts during an NBA game is part of the personality of the NBA. It’s why a lot of fans prefer the college game (I don’t). The NBA schedule is grueling, and teams tend to look for opportunities to rest if they can during the physical drain of an NBA season. It’s called “turning it off and on” or “coasting”, and a lot of NBA teams do it.
Frankly, it seems like Karl coasts a bit too with his rotations and timeouts when his team gets a big lead. My recommendation to Big George would be to keep coaching hard when your team has big leads. Call a time-out early if your team starts coasting/taking bad shots. Replace a player or two (or three) if they take bad shots. Karl’s challenge (and, every NBA coach’s challenge) is get his team to play hard and smart for 48 minutes. The great teams, teams that win championships, find a way to play the right way for 48 minutes – - the Spurs are a classic example of a team who plays hard and smart for 48. The Celtics and Lakers are teams that have found that personality too. If a team can continue to play hard and smart when up 20, it can really demoralize the opponent and big leads are not lost.
When the Nuggets have had great teams in their history, they had this personality as well. The great Nuggets teams also ran more – - I think Karl needs to get his team running more – - the Nuggs don’t take advantage enough of the mile high altitude and Ty Lawson’s speed. Of course, you have to have guys running back and filling lanes to get fast breaks. Again, running is hard, and if your coasting a bit, there are few to none fast breaks.
Telling it like it is
Thanks, ACEIII. My moniker notwithstanding, I was fairly well disgusted with Coach Karl last night. Sure, the players take plenty of possessions off, but it’s up to the fellow who’s ostensibly running the show to get their attention and let them know they’re about to lose an eminently winnable game. In fact, the Nuggets didn’t even deserve to win that game, did they.
But this complaint is an old saw by now, eh?
by LongWindedHank on Dec 19, 2010 12:55 PM MST up reply actions
Lovefest is right,
Dude is unreal, I had to double-check stats to make sure. If this guy was in NY he’d be called the next Jesus. He leads the rebounding category by an incredilble 3 rebounds pg over the next best Dwight. 43% on threes and all of this accomplished at about 6-9 and really slow.
He will keep up this production well past 30 becuase his game isn’t predicated on athleticism. In fact with threes and intelligence he could play to 38. The remarkable part is how bad the players are that surround him as most NBA gms can luck into a couple good guards.
Truly amazing is that his minutes were limited at the beginning of the year becuase of… effort? Wow.
We Need a Power Forward
We need Derrick Favors not a couple of guys who are overpaid and constantly injured, ala Kmart and Bird. Ujiri needs to move not only Carmelo but Kmart, Bird, and J.R. We shouldn’t be fooled by J.R. – we’ve been down this road with him before – he shows flashes of brilliance but then does something either on the court (remember the Utah playoff series) or off the court (the New Jersey car accident and the choking pre-season). Plus if GK is going to be our coach the next 3 years, you know that J.R. and Karl will have issues which will lead to a benching of J.R. Despite what Scott Hastings said in pre-game yesterday that this is a championship team – it is not and the sooner we start to change the team the better – maybe we will no longer be known as the “Thuggets” once we dump some of these guys. Keep Ty, AAA, Forbes, Nene, and Shelden and work to move Melo, J.R., Bird, Kmart, and maybe Chauncey (he deserves the respect the Nuggets are giving him to ask whether he wants to be traded to a contender or stay and take a reduced role)
You say Thuggets as though its a bad thing.
I love our reputation.
1) Because it’s stupid and untrue.
2) They play hard and not wussy Euroflop basketball, so flopper like Ginobili whine and cheat
3) I love our team in all it’s glorious Thuggetry…
I’m totally serious.
Optimism Warrior
2011 Colorado Zombies--Will rise from beneath homeplate with the shards of a broken season in Tulo's hand!
Brad Hawpe - Thanks Brad, you were a class act.
QPU #4, YHEG #4, Proud Member PR Gynocracy
Thuggets is a bad thing
I know all Nuggets fans hate the Spurs but the fact is:
World Championships:
Spurs 4
Us? Not yet. I can’t see us winning championships with J.R. Smith and Kmart – just not going to happen. So might as well move on. As far as Ginobili goes – every other team hates him but I would love to have him on our team – he’s a winner. You can bet that the Spurs are glad he’s on their team.
Yeah he’s a whiner and a player everybody loves to hate – but you can’t argue with the championships he owns.
Championship team...
…my skinny white ass!!! “Al Harrington” and “championship team” do not work together in any version of the English language uttered by a person not considered psychotic or otherwise delusional. I realize Hastings is a local hero and all, but holy shit, what a fucking dork. The proof is in the pudding.
Harrington is the perfect of example of the NBA type I call insolently lackadaisical. (Yeah, “lackadaisically insolent” works almost as well.) If the look on his face and his body language don’t convince you of my assessment, surely his defensive “presence” does – as in he’s rarely in the right place with the right play at the right time. Nor does he seem to give a weak watery shit about it, even when he’s been close enough to being in position to realize he could have made the stop. In case it ain’t yet abundantly clear, I fucking LOATHE this type of player.
That said, if and when Martin is starting and firing on all cylinders, I could see Harrington coming off the bench to pour in the points for short stretches. Profound nausea emerges as I write those words, but then, that’s the NBA. And that less-than-stellar combo at the 4 does NOT make any case for Hasting’s “championship team” nonsense.
Anyway, YES, the Nuggets need a power forward. Surely this rates a “duh.” And I mean that in the nicest possible way.
While I’m at it, I don’t quite get the “dump J.R. ASAP” camp, jjbugs. I continue to believe his behavior can be modified and his play can become more consistent. (I also accept the possibility that I fit the “delusional” profile above.) btw, a big part of what needs to be modified is turning to gloat and glare at the opposing team’s bench when he’s just plunged in a dagger trey from in front of said bench. Leave that shit on the playground. Dumbass.
Let’s hope the trade(s) that finally take place this season can leave the Nuggets in good shape for the immediate future. But I’m not counting on it. These are ugly days for Denver basketball fans. I guess it’s appropriate to write these dark comments as the shortest, darkest day of the year approaches. It also happens to be my birthday. Yee fucking hah.
by LongWindedHank on Dec 19, 2010 12:38 PM MST up reply actions
Hey thanks!
And I hope it was clear I was being silly. I’d read back over my long, nasty comment and, well, I was just making fun of myself for being so dark. I will indeed have a blast on my b-day: whisky + sushi (and maybe some sake) + friends + family = a pretty damn fine day.
by LongWindedHank on Dec 19, 2010 7:01 PM MST up reply actions
Speaking of PF, a Nets fan just realized that Orlando could use Troy Murphy at this point, after leaving themselves short.
Murphy has been in Avery’s doghouse and not giving him the PT he needs to get back to where he was,
1. in part because Hump is playing so well and Favors needs to be given PT
and 2. because Avery expects too much and doesn’t have patience.
Can anyone suggest what Magic have that you want (for rebuilding) so that Murphy’s $12 could go to Orlando?
If you can think of something, and let Ujiri know, maybe you can have Favors ASAP.
Dwight Howard....period.
Optimism Warrior
2011 Colorado Zombies--Will rise from beneath homeplate with the shards of a broken season in Tulo's hand!
Brad Hawpe - Thanks Brad, you were a class act.
QPU #4, YHEG #4, Proud Member PR Gynocracy
We are not making a title run without a trade for another big man
Center or Power Forward, it does not matter because Nene is as average at rebounding as average gets. I love Shelden Williams, I really do you know because he is a very fundamental and smart player but he is not good. He will block a few shots, grab a few rebounds and man up on defense but he disappears in long stretches of the game. Williams would make a very good backup PF but he is a weak part of the starting rotation and Al Harrington is good at what Williams is bad at such as offense but everything else he sucks at, he can’t defend big guys because he is not a bruiser, he can’t box out. He can’t defend Small forwards because he is too slow. He is the definition of a backup chucker because his body and frame and game is too awkward and misplaced for any kind of starting role.
Nene? I love the guy but watching him get worked by Kevin Love, who is 2 inches shorter, much more nonathletic just shows how bad of a rebounder he is, we have no shot of a title run with these guys carrying the load with or without Melo (who is our top rebounder…) I would rather trade Melo to a title contender for much less than he worth but at least get a solid big man in return like a straight up for Aldrige (doubtful) or maybe we could convince the Blazers for a straight up trade of Oden and Joel Przybilla (that is straight up 2.1 ppg and 3.1 RPG of production combined on 14,000,000 payroll) and why would we do that? Well the Blazers have given up on Oden but there have been flashes of greatness or at least goodness from Oden when he does play and we have had a great group of trainers on the Nuggets (lots of people didn’t think Nene would play again after season ending injuries and going through testicular cancer) and why would we do this trade? To get two big men who when healthy can contribute very well and it would be a risk but Portland would do that because they don’t want to deal with that much payroll for that little amount of production and they would do that trade for a salary dump and Melo rental which would be a salary dump as well considering Melo would be on the market next year and who knows, maybe Portland would have a very good shot in the playoffs with Melo and a bunch of very good role players around him in Portland.
Looks like a classic nuggets game this season
Blown lead but they found a way to win. Maybe they were just recovering from the tough loss from a couple nights before. But as some say I agree, a win is a win
Games boycotted-3
Why live life on the edge, when you can jump off?
Trade Melo!
I'm sad that you are boycotting....seriously :(
Optimism Warrior
2011 Colorado Zombies--Will rise from beneath homeplate with the shards of a broken season in Tulo's hand!
Brad Hawpe - Thanks Brad, you were a class act.
QPU #4, YHEG #4, Proud Member PR Gynocracy
Worry not, I have a feeling it will be over sooner than later
Why live life on the edge, when you can jump off?
Trade Melo!
So once a deal is made you stop boycotting?
your problem is that the FO is waiting for the best deal to be made? Really?
2010 F1 Champ: Sebastian Vettel-JAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Quitter's People United member # 42
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