2008-09 Game 39: Denver Nuggets vs Dallas Mavericks Game Thread

January 13, 2009
by Jeremy

The Nuggets home stand carries on as the Dallas Mavericks come to the Pepsi Center for the second time this season.  The Nuggets are 2-0 against the Mavs for the first time since the 1995-96 season.  They have not won the first three games of the season series against the Mavs since the 1993-1994 season.

The first matchup between the two teams was a close battle thanks to the 13 threes the Mavs dropped in.  A big key in that game was the way Melo passed out of the Mavericks’ double teams.  Obviously the Nuggets will not have that advantage this evening.

In the second game in Dallas Denver rode a great defensive performance to a solid ten point win.  Unfortunately I have argued that was the last game the Nuggets have played solid defense for most of the night.

The Nuggets will have to play stout defense once again tonight (how’s that for some deep mystical insight?).  Offensively just because Melo is not drawing double teams does not mean the Nuggets are incapable of moving without the ball and getting easy points in the paint.

Dallas, as you would expect from a jump shooting team, runs very hot and cold.  Right now, they are cold having lost the first two games of their three game road trip at Phoenix and Sacramento.  Jason Kidd has been bad so far in 2009.  In six January games he is shooting 32.7% (28.1% from three point range) while averaging only 6.7 assists per game.  After watching him in the Olympics I expected him to really drop off this season.  He had a solid start to the year, but perhaps he is already wearing down.

George Karl has announced that J.R. Smith will start, but at small forward instead of shooting guard and Linas Kleiza will have to provide the offense off the bench.  We can all only hope that he brings more than his 0-6 one point performance from Friday night to the table.  Karl believes that he can get away with J.R. at small forward due to the fact that Josh Howard will sit out his second consecutive game after aggravating his wrist injury again.  Dallas is starting Antoine Wright in Howard’s place and J.R. should be able to handle that assignment and Dahntay Jones will have to chase Jason Terry all over the floor.

The Nuggets folded up like a Monopoly board in the second half against the Detroit Pistons and hopefully with that loss in the back of their minds they will play a complete game.  They have had three full days off to regroup and I think we can expect a strong effort from them tonight.

Denver Nuggets Game Notes

Featured Blog:  Mavs Moneyball

Previous Matchups:  Game 5 – DEN 108 DAL 105 | Game 24 – DEN 98 DAL 88

Update:  J.R. was supposed to go to New Jersey today to take part in a court hearing ragarding an auto accident he was involved in in the summer of 2007.  There was no explanation given, but I guessfor one reason or another he did not need to be there.  I do not know if it was postponed or if he was not required to appear after all.  Of coures, this opens up the potential that he will be hauled out in handcuffs during the game for missing the hearing, which would be entertaining.

Posted on January 13, 2009 at 4:39 pm | filed in Game Preview |

140 Responses to “2008-09 Game 39: Denver Nuggets vs Dallas Mavericks Game Thread”

  1. Josh Hopp Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 5:44 pm

    Thank goodness JR will be present. It would be Sonny’s night for sure if he had to be in NJ.

  2. CCH Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 7:23 pm

    Nice start, Chauncey’s on fireeeeeee

  3. UnarmingMermaid Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 7:23 pm

    Hey guys…

    Does this thread update automatically?

    We need to win tonight. Portland is hot on our tail.

  4. Josh Hopp Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 7:24 pm

    Very hot start offensively, particularly by Chauncey although some of his (made) shots were suspect choices.

    Defensively Nene needs to stop getting sucked out of the paint to help on penetration. This starts with perimeter D.

  5. CCH Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 7:32 pm

    Mermaid- the thread does not automatically update you have to refresh.

  6. BeefySwats Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 7:34 pm

    Chauncey, what are you DOING?

    This is some horrible decisionmaking with the ball to close out the first. Turnaround fadeaway 3, clank, dunk for Dallas, 12 seconds on the shot clock. Contested drive to the lane, no passing, shot, clank, Dallas 3 point play.

    I almost like it better when Chauncey’s shot is NOT on, because it forces him to distribute when at times he has seemed very reluctant to.

  7. CCH Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 7:37 pm

    kaw kaw!

  8. BeefySwats Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 7:37 pm

    Kenyon is really frustrating Nowitzki in the post.

    Beautiful pass by carter to close out the quarter.

  9. BeefySwats Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 7:38 pm

    Oops, Chauncey.

  10. BeefySwats Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 7:40 pm

    Kleiza: Hurrrrrrrrrrrr how I close out shot clock when I’m wide open from 3

  11. UnarmingMermaid Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 7:47 pm

    Did GK just squeek?

  12. CCH Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 7:47 pm

    Kleiza is horrible tonight put balk in for him please.

  13. UnarmingMermaid Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 7:49 pm

    why is Dallas strugglin’ this year?

  14. Josh Hopp Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 7:50 pm

    Jason kidd.

  15. BeefySwats Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 7:51 pm

    @ CCH - wait, Balk-man? To whom are you referring?

    He’s a player on our team?

    I thought he was just a mythical beast, told of around campfires lit in the deepest wood of the earth, resigned to a legendary status.

  16. Josh Hopp Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 7:53 pm

    Really great stuff on both ends there.

  17. UnarmingMermaid Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 7:56 pm

    Birdman!!! Ballin’

  18. UnarmingMermaid Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 7:57 pm

    WOW!!! Kleiza is really sucking donkey balls tonight!

  19. jeremy Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 7:57 pm

    Why on earth did LK take the defensive 3 second free throw?

  20. UnarmingMermaid Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 7:58 pm

    How come the Nugs never where some throwbacks?

  21. Josh Hopp Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 7:59 pm

    Yeah that is flat out ridiculous! What, did Karl think we didn’t really want that point???

  22. jeremy Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:02 pm

    Thank you for a great first half Birdman. He is the reason Denver is ahead.

  23. Josh Hopp Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:04 pm

    Dirk is just a born scorer. He never ceases to amaze me.

  24. jeremy Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:04 pm

    That is a good question Mermaid. I would love to see the Nuggets wear the old rainbow skyline unis.

  25. jeremy Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:05 pm

    Dear Nuggets,

    Please quit flopping on defense.

    Thank you,
    A concerned fan

  26. Josh Hopp Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:13 pm

    Why the heck wasn’t Diop fouled just then

  27. jeremy Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:15 pm

    I think the reason that was not a foul on Diop was because Dahntay did not have the ball. He lost it before the contact.

  28. Josh Hopp Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:15 pm

    13 points going into the half

    If I supported any other team I’d be encouraged

    We played pretty well on both ends though despite bad outside shooting

  29. Josh Hopp Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:16 pm

    jeremy - Ah. Didn’t see that.

  30. jeremy Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:24 pm

    Halftime stats

    Pace Factor: 105.2

    Defensive Efficiency: 89.4

    Offensive Efficiency: 114.1

    Bonus interesting stat

    Dallas is 3-4 from the line, Denver is 18-25. Do not expect the Nuggets to get a lot of calls in the second half.

    Hopefully the Nuggets break the string of playing sloppier offense in the second half than in the first. If they do not the second half might be unwatchable.

  31. jeremy Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:27 pm

    Who needs Ron Artest or Tracy McGrady? Former Nugget and current Rocket Von Wafer is 10-13 for 23 points against the Lakers early in the fourth quarter.

  32. NuggetsandRockiesGirl Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:29 pm

    Looking forward to the start of the 2nd half. Nene and Birdman looked good, but the rest of the guys need to step it up. I did like the emotion from Karl and Jones on the earlier play though.

  33. NuggetsandRockiesGirl Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:31 pm

    Alright Chauncey to shoot 2 to start the half!

  34. NuggetsandRockiesGirl Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:32 pm

    Nene does it again!

  35. NuggetsandRockiesGirl Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:34 pm

    We’ve got to stop Nowitzki jeez.

  36. jeremy Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:34 pm

    Denver better hope no one other than Dirk gets it going for Dallas.

  37. UnarmingMermaid Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:35 pm

    Alright Nugs…let’s see if you can actually put a team away early for once.

  38. jeremy Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:36 pm

    Gosh dang it Denver, get your crap together.

  39. NuggetsandRockiesGirl Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:36 pm

    Thank you Chauncey.

  40. NuggetsandRockiesGirl Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:37 pm

    J.R. has to make a shot sometime.

  41. Josh Hopp Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:39 pm

    NuggetsandRockiesGirl - that sounds like a wager

  42. Josh Hopp Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:40 pm

    Dahntay really should have finished that

  43. UnarmingMermaid Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:41 pm

    wtf nugs?

  44. CCH Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:41 pm

    I wish I could meet a nuggets girl thats rad lol.
    Also is it just me or does birdman look like he’s on meth tonight?

  45. UnarmingMermaid Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:41 pm

    wow…this is some of the sloppiest ball i’ve seen in awhile.

  46. Josh Hopp Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:43 pm

    CCH - what do you mean “tonight” :)

  47. NuggetsandRockiesGirl Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:44 pm

    Josh Hopp, I love J.R. like a fat kid loves cake, but I suppose he’s gotta have his off-nights sometimes. I’m betting he will at least get a few good shots off tonite.

  48. jeremy Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:46 pm

    I have reached the point where I want everyone who takes a jumper benched.

  49. NuggetsandRockiesGirl Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:47 pm

    Nowitzki can go away anytime now. Enough with the turnovers Nuggs, get it together!

  50. Josh Hopp Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:47 pm

    Our offense is now going the way of jeremy’s video

  51. jeremy Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:47 pm

    Why are we trying to hard to force the ball into Birdman on the block?

  52. CCH Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:48 pm

    lol @ josh, seriously he was licking his teeth and lips and looked all ancy.

  53. NuggetsandRockiesGirl Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:48 pm

    Bring Back Balkman please!

  54. Josh Hopp Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:49 pm

    Ah man. I really can not stand this team. It is totally uncanny how we refuse to capatalise on leads. Couple of morons standing around the 3 point arc jacking up dumb shots

  55. jeremy Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:49 pm

    Timeout maybe?

  56. CCH Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:50 pm

    No Jeremy, we have to wait until we blow a 10+ pt lead before we can take a timeout you should know better.

  57. NuggetsandRockiesGirl Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:50 pm

    I concur, timeout much needed.

  58. jeremy Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:51 pm

    No kidding CCH.

  59. NuggetsandRockiesGirl Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:52 pm

    Nice dunk Dahntay!

  60. jeremy Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:52 pm

    Mavs in a 2-3 zone the result is a dunk. Why would they switch defenses?

  61. CCH Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:53 pm

    bench kleizas trigger happy ass please.

  62. jeremy Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:53 pm

    Does Kleiza know he is ice cold and probably should stop shooting threes? I guess not.

  63. Josh Hopp Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:54 pm

    LK and JR = a couple of incredibly expensive paperweights this game

  64. UnarmingMermaid Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:54 pm

    and the Detroit game?

  65. CCH Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:55 pm

    please replace kleiza with the mythical creature as beefy says, pleeeaaasse

  66. CCH Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:56 pm

    lol wow airball a free throw

  67. NuggetsandRockiesGirl Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:56 pm

    Dahntay again nice!

  68. NuggetsandRockiesGirl Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:58 pm

    Birdman OMG! WOW! It needs to count!

  69. Josh Hopp Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:58 pm

    OH!

    OH!

  70. jeremy Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:59 pm

    That is going on Youtube.

  71. CCH Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 8:59 pm

    wow bird you need to shoot up more often.

  72. jeremy Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:00 pm

    That is one perimeter shot I can handle.

  73. NuggetsandRockiesGirl Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:02 pm

    Carter!

  74. jeremy Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:02 pm

    That was a nice possession capped by AC’s runner.

  75. NuggetsandRockiesGirl Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:03 pm

    Dahntay Dahntay!

  76. CCH Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:03 pm

    now were movin again.

  77. CCH Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:04 pm

    Carter has a good runner , wish he’d use it more

  78. jeremy Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:04 pm

    The Nuggets offense turned around when Dallas switched to the zone. Thanks Carlisle!

  79. Josh Hopp Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:04 pm

    our cheapest guys are carrying us

  80. UnarmingMermaid Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:05 pm

    dude…are we really tied?

  81. UnarmingMermaid Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:06 pm

    what the hell do the Nugs do at halftime? Smoke themselves?

  82. Josh Hopp Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:06 pm

    Huh???

  83. jeremy Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:06 pm

    Look out, Mavs back in man to man.

  84. UnarmingMermaid Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:07 pm

    oh wow…somehow my DVR had gotten me on a couple minute delay. I was wondering what the hell you guys were talking about.

  85. jeremy Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:07 pm

    J.R. is in the book.

  86. CCH Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:08 pm

    I like that shot by JR , creative

  87. NuggetsandRockiesGirl Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:08 pm

    Finally J.R.!!! *sigh of relief*

  88. CCH Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:08 pm

    Is it just me or does our offense look way better with AC running it tonight?

  89. NuggetsandRockiesGirl Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:09 pm

    Birdman at 15 pts!

  90. Josh Hopp Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:09 pm

    theres your JR heat check shot jeremy

    guess JR thinks of his first bucket in 10 attempts as “heating up”

  91. UnarmingMermaid Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:12 pm

    Wait? Are WE getting offensive rebounds? Do we do that?

  92. Josh Hopp Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:12 pm

    JR SMITH YOU STINK STOP TRYING TO TAKE OVER

  93. NuggetsandRockiesGirl Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:12 pm

    Ugh the outside shooting and no more jumpers please!

  94. CCH Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:12 pm

    LOL all those boards and were back up 4.

  95. CCH Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:16 pm

    im fricking amazed karl is letting JR play through all this.

  96. NuggetsandRockiesGirl Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:16 pm

    Apple,cherry etc. we like turnovers I guess.

  97. Josh Hopp Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:17 pm

    What a bunch of losers

  98. NuggetsandRockiesGirl Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:18 pm

    Chauncey thank goodness!

  99. CCH Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:18 pm

    uh oh gap band is playing we gonna win I can feel it.

  100. NuggetsandRockiesGirl Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:20 pm

    Go away Dirk no one likes you.

  101. NuggetsandRockiesGirl Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:21 pm

    A.C. Baby!

  102. CCH Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:21 pm

    Atleast ac, dahntay, and Bird came to play tonight.

  103. UnarmingMermaid Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:23 pm

    Alright…time to put this thing away.

  104. CCH Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:24 pm

    JR is playin like Kidd tonight, 2 pts, 5 reb, 7 assists

  105. UnarmingMermaid Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:24 pm

    omg…somebody slipped that dude something.

  106. CCH Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:24 pm

    LMAO did you see that clown dancing?

  107. NuggetsandRockiesGirl Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:25 pm

    LOL at dancing guy in the crowd!

  108. UnarmingMermaid Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:26 pm

    we’re going to lose.

  109. CCH Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:26 pm

    WOW really JR

  110. NuggetsandRockiesGirl Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:26 pm

    Why are Kleiza and JR still in?!?!!?!

  111. Josh Hopp Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:27 pm

    This is one of the most atrocious performances by my team I have ever seen .

  112. CCH Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:27 pm

    another blown 2nd half ridiculous

  113. UnarmingMermaid Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:28 pm

    Kleiza and Smith combined 2 for 20.

    Incredible. Seriously…that’s amazing.

  114. NuggetsandRockiesGirl Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:29 pm

    NENE!!!!

  115. CCH Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:30 pm

    It seems Nene is always a monster in the first half of games and then non existant in 2nd halfs?

  116. UnarmingMermaid Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:31 pm

    holy poop

  117. CCH Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:32 pm

    WOW thank you AC

  118. NuggetsandRockiesGirl Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:32 pm

    AC BABY!!!!!

  119. UnarmingMermaid Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:32 pm

    got a little lucky on the no call on nene.

  120. Josh Hopp Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:32 pm

    Please let us close this out.

  121. CCH Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:32 pm

    I CANT BELIEVE DIRK PASSED THAT with AC on him. IDIOT

  122. UnarmingMermaid Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:33 pm

    wtf?

  123. Josh Hopp Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:34 pm

    ok JR, what we need from you is to run straight up the floor and take a shot from the pickaxe sticker, then foul the rebounder

  124. CCH Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:35 pm

    wow we got lucky on that call.

  125. Josh Hopp Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:36 pm

    Wow

    lucky lucky call

    Horrible way to get a win

  126. UnarmingMermaid Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:36 pm

    that was a nice jump kick. A little MMA action.

  127. NuggetsandRockiesGirl Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:37 pm

    Chauncey Chauncey!

  128. UnarmingMermaid Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:37 pm

    Shut the hell up Mark Cuban.

  129. CCH Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:37 pm

    lol @ cuban

  130. NuggetsandRockiesGirl Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:37 pm

    Nuggets Win!!!

  131. Josh Hopp Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:38 pm

    What the… was Cuban going to deck the ref?

  132. CCH Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:40 pm

    that guy dancin was awesome.

  133. UnarmingMermaid Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:40 pm

    What is that? 2-1 without Melo? Not too bad (although the DET game still pisses me off).

  134. CCH Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:44 pm

    Dahntay with 5 steals

  135. BeefySwats Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:46 pm

    Wow, I was posting in blog section :[

    I’m an idiot! Jeremy, any way you can post those comments here?

    Ugh, ugly, UGLY win for Denver. Once again, 0 minutes for Balkman and JR and Kleiza have another atrocious night, but they gut out a win.

  136. Josh Hopp Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:46 pm

    hate to win a game on a suspect decision like that

    we played like absolute…freaking…. trash in the 2nd half. I hope we can attribute a lot of that to Melo’s absense.

  137. NuggetsandRockiesGirl Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:49 pm

    I’m just glad no one from the Mavs really got going other than Dirk…or we would have really been in trouble.

  138. BeefySwats Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:55 pm

    JR Smith has 2 pts. on 1-14 shooting with 3 turnovers, 30+ min
    KMart fouled out with 5 minutes left; 5 pts and 1 TO, 30 min
    Kleiza has 5 pts on 1-6 shooting, 4 TOs, 4 fouls, 21 min

  139. BeefySwats Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 9:59 pm

    play balkman

  140. jeremy Says:
    January 13th, 2009 at 10:14 pm

    Great conversation tonight everyone! Thanks for reading and commenting.

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