The re-awakening of J.R. Smith continues... (Nuggets/Kings recap)

Even better game.

I mean, it is hard as a fan to be happy about your favorite team playing like #$^% for the first two and a half quarters, but as a fan of basketball and close games, you have to enjoy the ride and spectacle of an OT game.

The Nuggets looks flat and tired. But something said to them in the locker room found them digging into their reserves to gut out a win against a pesky Kings squad.

I’m really eager to see Melo back. But it’s been great to see Kenyon step on on offense.

I can’t be the only one who isn’t surprised at all that JR has bounced back?

Andrew: making you can write a column calling out Nené to shake him out of his slump?

Peace.

I think we should all just be happy we finally beat the Kings and move on from the sordid mess….no analysis needed. lol

paid off in the 4th quarter and overtime. denver follows the game plan at he start they would not have to play in overtime. 3 of the past 7 games have gone to overtime. coach karl was pushing all of the buttons. ac played and there was a 3 point guard offense. the only thing better then that would be double elimination in the mens ncaa basketball tournament. denver was killed on the boards 48 to 33, shot 68% from the free throw line and 4 for 21 from 3 point land.

Soon as I saw in the game comments thread this afternoon that Melo was not a sure bet to play, I started worrying about this one. I had figured if he was back and had fresh legs tonight, he’d carry the load and win the game for the Nugs.

It has been frustrating watching the struggles with the Kings this season, but all 3 games were the 2nd of back-to-backs. I had hoped that it would make some difference tonight that yesterday’s game was in the morning, giving the Nugs plenty of time to fly home and get a full night’s rest. But then Chauncey logged 45 minutes. So I really hoped Melo would be the guy tonight.

I’m just relieved they found a way to pull this one out.

i ditched my first class to watch it. and that was the best idea iv’e had in a while. as disgusting as this win was, i will keep it down, if only because the lakers loss makes it even sweeter.

Andrew / cessair: I think I may have found something you might want to read

i missed the second half tho….. i was so mad when karl put billups at SF!!!! really?!!

so from what i saw we did bad the first half, and i read we did well the 2nd half, so at least we got the win….

btw its weird highlights arent up on nba.com

i saw some espn but thats it

I watched the entire game from tip-off to finish…I have to agree with cessair. Pretty typical game for JR Smith. He’s Defense has improved all year, had a couple decent drives, shot 0-7 from 3 point. Seems about right for the ‘09-’10 JR/Earl Smith. But like I said earlier, I’m not going to bash/suggest trading JR anymore. His play speaks volumes.
The true hero of the night (and possibly the season) is Kenyon Martin.
He is the Real K-MART. That other guy for the Kings is a flopping Manu Ginobli wannabe…
Martin is the real deal. Significant plays of the game:
Nene makes a bone-head play with a minute left in regulation and takes it out from underneath the basket, and throws right to Sacramento. After the Kings score, K-Mart rips the ball out of the Nuggets players hand, saying I’LL TAKE IT OUT!
Another great play:
With 5 seconds left in OT, every player is jostling for position, while K-Mart and the Kings player gets ready for the jump ball. Kenyon wins the tip and puts it right to AA (where Hastings said he should go). AA knocks down the game winner
K-Mart almost pulled a Melo in the 4th quarter, after making 2 great scores, Carl wanted to substitute him for Bird. Kenyon clearly did not want to come out of the game, but not wanting to pull a Melo and get suspended, he begrudgingly came out of the game.
24 points, 12 boards, the best defender on the Team. Keep kicking ass Kenyon. It’s a pleasure to watch!

I’ll say the same thing I’ve said since the beginning. JR can do whatever he wants on the offensive side of the ball AS LONG AS HE HUSTLES ON DEFENSE! Last night his offensive output was poor, but was more than made up for with his defensive hustle (in the second half). I’m fine with him scoring only 9 points on 12 shots (terribly inefficient) because he played smart, HUSTLE defense. This was by far, JR’s best half of basketball in my opinion, and yes, I’ve watched his two games where he dropped 10 3-pointers and all the others as well.
Chauncey looked tired last night. That’s what happens when you play 45 minutes in one game and then 41 the very next night. I realize that Melo has been out and Smooth has been lights out, but that is WAY too many minutes. I like the 3-guard rotation, it helps the spacing on the floor on the offensive end and they all play hustle defense, but Chauncey needs to rest. I would rather he plays only 35 minutes a game.
AC came in and played his heart out. He showed why Karl has confidence in him, he forced three turnovers in the first 5 minutes of the second half and if the bigs would have been running we would have cut into the lead that much faster. Props to AC, I know I’ve laid into him for his bad games so I want everyone to know that AC helped to change the game last night. I was actually disappointed that he didn’t get any 4th quarter minutes.
Afflalo has been playing out of his mind. He’s been getting called for ticky-tack fouls but he’s been playing great defense — which makes his offensive output like, what did Hastings say last night, buttered popcorn? He’s been huge.
Lawson. That kid can play. It was nice to see him be more aggressive last night. I really felt that was what was holding him back in the last few games. He hadn’t been driving to the basket and when he did he wasn’t looking for his shot. Last night he went in looking for his shot, and when he started making them, it opened up passing lanes that the little guy didn’t miss. In Lawson we trust. Go at ‘em, go at ’em, and go at ’em again. Sometimes you get blocked, sometimes you don’t, but that kind of aggressive play is a game-changer.
I’m looking forward to Melo coming back, many games just seem easier for the Nuggets when he’s there. At the same time, I think some of the other guys get lazy and rest when Melo has the ball. If there’s anything we should take from the Kings game it’s that moving without the ball, ie back-screens and rolling to the basket, gets EZ Bucketz. Melo has had a few games now to really watch his guys and see where they like their shots. I hope that he encourages his teammates to play just as hard when he’s in there, and rewards them likewise with the smart pass. We all know that Melo is one of the best passers in the league. I tell you what, 30 points per game may get you the scoring title, but 28-8-8 will get you MVP.
The Bigs. I shouldn’t lump the three of them in the same pot because…. Okay, I won’t. Nene and Bird, what can I say? I don’t know if they’re gassed or what, but they’re not playing with the same intensity that we’ve seen from them. Bird had a nice block and an offensive rebound or two late in the game last night, but continues to be out of position on defense, giving up the easy bucket AND the offensive rebound. On the offense I love how he goes for the rebound, but that’s no excuse for not being ready for the pass.
Nene has been too timid. He gets the ball and the first thought in his head is “pass.” For some guys, that’s a great first thought to have. For Nene, I want his first thought to be “I’m fucking Godzilla and anyone in my way is just a japanese tourist.” Come’on Nene, POUND THE ROCK!
And finally, KMart for President. Lips has been absolutely KILLING IT on both ends of the floor. It’s not just one double-double. It’s 12 and 15, 27 and 11, 24 and 12. It’s no Brockman (who I would LOVE to see in a Nuggs uniform) 11 and 11. It’s efficient, it’s pretty, it gets the job done. If KMart doesn’t win player of the week (3 Nuggs in a row???) it will be because the league has their head up their ass. KMart. 2012. He’ll drop a double-double on the economy AND fix the deficit! Now THAT’S bipartisan!

I think its hilarious that you would call Martin’s contract bad. Over the past two years, only 4 Shooting Guards have had a PER greater than Martin. Yet he’s only the 68th highest paid player in the NBA. His contract is very reasonable for a player of his caliber. He’s making 9.8 million this year. If the Kings wanted to move Martin, they could do it very easily.

We are 18 games over 500.

I cannot remember the question exactly but I damn sure remember the answer. The question was something like, “Do you have any regrets?” Chauncy said,

“I wish I had worked harder.”

Can you imagine? This is a guy who has reached a couple of the pinnacles of his profession. He has been there, at the top. He wishes he had worked harder. He wished he had done more. I imagined all the hundreds of hours he had spent becoming the very best – and he wishes he had worked harder.

My life is not pathetic by any means, but I felt a little bit smaller when I heard him say that. I will keep what he said in the back of my mind and use it to improve myself.

also billups has a minor sprain (prob for tom) and melos is probable for tommorow

What a crazy game! I was sooo frustrated early on then amazed at the resiliency the Nugs showed. That is the heart of a champion right there. Also, Nene needs to wake the hell up. His numbers are atrocious lately, especially on the boards. AC was a great spark off the bench, I have to say. If it weren’t for his defensive presence we probably wouldn’t have won last night. JR still can’t shoot a 3 into an ocean if he tried. Is this the same dude that is 2nd in terms of 3s made in one game? I can’t figure him out. Andrew needs to get off Brockman’s d*ick, Marlowe is STILL a complete idiot and I might just have to change my screen name to King Stiff. That’s a classic.