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Just as the Nuggets need to come together as a team, we'll be gathering for tonight's game at Jake's Food & Spirits to watch the game with as many Stiffs as possible. RSVP HERE. I don't think we'll be able to match the crowd noise expected at Oklahoma City Arena, but spirits will be high in downtown Denver.
I honestly have no idea what to expect in tonight's Game 5 on the road. The Nuggets came out and had a special performance in the second half of Game 4, but the Thunder players didn't give up or concede the game. No, they fought back from a 9 point deficit at the 2:54 mark to actually have a shot to tie the game with a final heave by Russell Westbrook.
Things are not going to be easy for the Nuggets and they'll probably have to play nearly perfect in order to extend this series to a Game 6 back in Denver. And that near perfect game will mean hitting free throws. Check out the numbers from the charity stripe for Denver and OKC in this series:
Free Throws:
- Game 1: Denver 21-33 (63.6%) / OKC 22-28 (78.6%)
- Game 2: Denver 28-37 (75.7%) / OKC 24-28 (85.7%)
- Game 3: Denver 30-45 (66.7%) / OKC 33-43 (76.7%)
- Game 4: Denver 31-44 (70.5%) / OKC 24-31 (77.4%)
- Game 1: Denver 4-16 (25%) / OKC 9-19 (47.4%)
- Game 2: Denver 7-16 (43.8%) / OKC 10-30 (33.3%)
- Game 3: Denver 6-23 (26.1%) / OKC 6-21 (28.6%)
- Game 4: Denver 9-19 (47.4%) / OKC 7-19 (36.8%)
Mainly talk about the Thunder, but a couple cool questions about Hollinger's quirky stats.
When Mark Cuban talks about keeping some web reporters out of his locker room, I hope this reporter makes that list as well. A horrific one-sided article that complains about complaining, has no mention of the Thunder issues on the court with the officials (even though it was updated after Game 4), and claims the author has no concern for who wins the series. I actually emailed Carlson and asked her about some Thunder player reactions from Game 4 and received just a quick response telling me I was a big man for sending an email "AFTER" the game was already over and she failed to mention any of my questions about the OKC on-court tirades. Pure garbage ... much like the Denver Post's Mark Kiszla - these columnists who bring nothing to the table should be kept away from writing about the game we all love.
Some excellent insight and thoughts from the ESPN Truehoop Thunder blog. Those guys do a great job over there and actually write about the things fans of both teams care about. Major props.
Dempsey talks about the pressure being back on the Thunder a little bit and has some quotes from Lawson and Karl.
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