2008-09 Game 46: Denver Nuggets at New Orleans Hornets Game Thread

January 28, 2009
by Jeremy

Hey look everyone my ESPN colleague John Hollinger agreed to put together the game preview for today.  OK, Hollinger has no idea who I am, but you should check out his Per Diem article for today to get all the key elements of tonight’s matchup between the Denver Nuggets and New Orleans Hornets.

Hollinger is very high on both of these teams and his projections call for Denver and New Orleans to finish second and third in the west with very comparable records.  If the seeding holds they would face off in the semifinals and the tiebreaker could determine who has home court and potentially who makes it to the Western Conference Finals.  Thus the final two games of the season series, both in New Orleans, are huge games for both teams.  The winner of tonight’s game will be assured that they cannot lose the season series as they will be up 2-1 with one game left.

I do disagree with Hollinger’s belief that Chauncey needs to play Chris Paul to a draw in order for the Nuggets to win.  Of course Chauncey has to play well, but I think the key to the game is how badly the rest of the Nuggets roster can out produce the other Hornets.  Denver has a big advantage at every position other than the point and small forward (although if Dahntay Jones can play solid defense on Peja Stojakovic that matchup will even up a bit as Peja does little if he is not scoring), including the bench. 

The two players that worry me not named Chris Paul are Hilton Armstrong, who has had two good performances against the Nuggets in limited minutes, and Rasual Butler who always seems to put up big numbers against Denver.  Also, I would also be remiss if I did not mention former Nugget James Posey.  In both of the first two games he hit big threes in the last couple of minutes.  Hopefully he will not have the opportunity to do so tonight.  Even so Denver should be able to control the paint and hopefully as a result, the game.

Denver Nuggets Game Notes

Featured Blogs:  Hornets 24/7 | At the Hive

Previous Matchups:  Game 16 – Den 101 HOH 105 | Game 35 – Den 105 NOH 100

Posted on January 28, 2009 at 3:03 pm | filed in Game Preview | 33 Comments

33 Responses to “2008-09 Game 46: Denver Nuggets at New Orleans Hornets Game Thread”

  1. jeremy says:
    January 28, 2009 at 6:10 pm

    In his pregame comments George Karl said that the Nuggets were going to try to plug or hedge on the screen to slow Chris Paul down. If that is not working and they cannot recover to stop penetration and/or the three point shot they would resort to switching. Look for them to start doubling in the fourth quarter.

    One thing I forgot to mention was look for Jones to start out on Paul and J.R. will have to make sure Peja does not get off.

  2. markph says:
    January 28, 2009 at 6:29 pm

    Cmon Jr Grow up already !!!!

  3. UnarmingMermaid says:
    January 28, 2009 at 6:35 pm

    Man…are the refs awake?

  4. UnarmingMermaid says:
    January 28, 2009 at 6:38 pm

    Marlowe says the Nugs aren’t as good at flopping as other teams. I, for one, am glad. We don’t need that garbage. We traded the flop master to Detroit for someone who wants to play legit ball.

  5. BeefySwats says:
    January 28, 2009 at 7:08 pm

    You know, I think Chris Paul is an amazing player, but he can be a real bitch.

  6. markph says:
    January 28, 2009 at 7:15 pm

    I want to but I can’t enjoy the Chris Paul show. He annoys me, he has that cocky, above the playing field attitude. I am sure he is a great person but as a player he is a pest. Now if he were playing for Denver…

  7. UnarmingMermaid says:
    January 28, 2009 at 7:19 pm

    wow…Nugs did a terrible job finishing out the half. Terrible! That is really frustrating.

  8. UnarmingMermaid says:
    January 28, 2009 at 7:20 pm

    GREAT play by JR!!!

  9. markph says:
    January 28, 2009 at 7:22 pm

    Marlowe is challenging Hastings, the game has everyone testy !!!

  10. WhaHuh says:
    January 28, 2009 at 7:27 pm

    JR Smith is one of the most creative players in the league. Am I the only one enjoying how aggressive the Nuggets have played these last couple of games? That backcourt trap is genius, It feels like playoff basketball

  11. BeefySwats says:
    January 28, 2009 at 7:33 pm

    Denver is shooting 21st in the league in FTs.

    New Orleans is shooting 3rd in the league.

    Denver is lucky to only be down two at the half.

  12. BeefySwats says:
    January 28, 2009 at 7:43 pm

    Welp, here comes the nightly third quarter collapse. Let’s hope we can keep it under ten by the fourth.

  13. Jordo5150 says:
    January 28, 2009 at 7:49 pm

    Seriously? A 3? There?

  14. Jordo5150 says:
    January 28, 2009 at 7:51 pm

    what a WEAK call on Nene!

  15. BeefySwats says:
    January 28, 2009 at 8:02 pm

    Wow, you could see Sean Marks mouth “that was all ball” on the replay. From tied to 68-63 on two technicals.

  16. BeefySwats says:
    January 28, 2009 at 8:15 pm

    Kleiza is so fucking lost on defense. He’s like a Kevin Love clone.

  17. BeefySwats says:
    January 28, 2009 at 8:19 pm

    Slipping away. Bad possession by Chauncey. Kleiza was completely ineffective tonight and Karl left him in about 2 minutes longer than he should have. Kenyon is sitting on the bench with 20 points and 2 blocks, while Carter is playing.

    Figure that one out.

  18. BeefySwats says:
    January 28, 2009 at 8:20 pm

    It’s over. From 70-68 to 72-82 New Orleans.

  19. Jordo5150 says:
    January 28, 2009 at 8:23 pm

    I may be a homer, but the refs are TERRIBLE tonight.

  20. BeefySwats says:
    January 28, 2009 at 8:24 pm

    Chauncey, once again, really hurt the Nuggets by making bad decisions with the ball and taking outside jumpers rather than entering the ball in the post to Nene. There was no Chandler, no West, and Nene has only 11 points.

    That is inexcusable. The Nuggets shut Chris Paul down but absolutely stank it up on the offensive end. And the responsibility for coordinating a good offense falls on the PG.

    I love you, but this loss goes on you, Chauncey. Jacking up threes in transition when your team is down 10 and JR losing the ball in a behind-the-back dribbled extinguished any remaining life in this game.

  21. UnarmingMermaid says:
    January 28, 2009 at 8:24 pm

    total and utter collapse.

  22. UnarmingMermaid says:
    January 28, 2009 at 8:26 pm

    FUCKING GARBAGE!!!

  23. markph says:
    January 28, 2009 at 8:29 pm

    terrible fucking terrible play by us. we force the shots, turnovers ssssuck. we gripe ( NENE )at the refs and then have one guy short on a fast break D. Game fucking over. Pathetic. Marlowe thinks the scrub minutes are going to go back to the Nuggets. A well deserved loss.

  24. markph says:
    January 28, 2009 at 8:33 pm

    Anderson finally closes one to the net. YAfuckingHOO !!!

  25. UnarmingMermaid says:
    January 28, 2009 at 8:34 pm

    Trying to look at the bright side, the Nugs did a pretty damn good job covering for Melo while he was out. He should be back of Friday. This was obviously a though game going to NOs on back to back nights without our best player. Nevertheless, we played them tough thru 3 quarters. This loss sucks…but there is hope.

  26. markph says:
    January 28, 2009 at 8:34 pm

    PLease someone hit Marlowe on the head with a shovel.

  27. BeefySwats says:
    January 28, 2009 at 8:35 pm

    Chauncey tonight: 4-14, 2 turnovers, 2 ast, 12 points.

    JR: 7-17, 4 turns, 5 ast, 20 points.

    Nene: 5-9, 1 TO and only ELEVEN points.

    They just ran out of gas after leading 70-68 with 10 minutes to go.

  28. BeefySwats says:
    January 28, 2009 at 8:35 pm

    Oh, and Kleiza was 2-8 on the night.

  29. markph says:
    January 28, 2009 at 8:38 pm

    Ok on the bright side GK was fired up and he was off his ass getting technicals and in the Ref’s ears so hat’s off to George, however I think he is a heart attack away before his next technical

  30. markph says:
    January 28, 2009 at 9:04 pm

    So now GK is being interviewed by the Press. Once again he’s on a bench looking up at more than 1/2 a dozen mikes. His back is against the wall. He looks like Faukker during a Robert Deniro lie detector interrogation. Geeze, our leader.

  31. snafuthai says:
    January 29, 2009 at 12:16 am

    Jeremy was that you on the Office Liquidators email of the night?

  32. jeremy says:
    January 29, 2009 at 12:36 am

    Hey snafuthai, it was not me. I did not even realize there was a Jeremy that sent a question in. I must have fast forwarded through it. I do know the owner of Office Liquidators though. Does that count for anything?

  33. Stumbleweed says:
    January 29, 2009 at 9:04 am

    Yeah, Chauncey is starting to get to me with his refusal to throw the alley-oop on the break (he had Kenyon and/or Bird several times last night and backed it out, ending up with a bad jumper instead) and his penchant for chucking up those pull-up threes with 20 seconds on the clock. If it’s a 2-for-1 situation, the clock is winding down, or we absolutely need a quick three, then yeah, go ahead… but otherwise, NEVER TAKE THAT SHOT. If JR did that nearly as often as Chauncey did, he wouldn’t see the light of day because Karl would yank him immediately. Kleiza too — the guy is a total defensive sieve, he does nothing most nights but stand in the corner waiting for the pass, and he never creates ANYTHING for others (even by accident). I’m still firmly in the “trade LK” camp despite his recent solid play… we have no use for someone so inconsistent and offensive-minded as a backup for Melo. I’d rather have Balkman or something.. at least you know what you’re getting from him every night and he won’t get lit up by whoever he’s guarding.

    Do you guys think George will start JR when Melo returns, or still bring him off the bench? More minutes? He earned more PT with the starters after his playmaking and other contributions over this Melo-less stretch IMO, and Dahntay Jones has done basically nothing. Speaking of, I agree completely that dude needs to never touch the ball — he’s still the ONLY Nuggets player (even Cheikh and Chucky managed to zero out) with a negative season-long +/-, he turns the ball over more than JR (% of possessions, which adjusts for minutes), and he’s such an offensive liability that nobody cares to cover him… and he hasn’t made them pay. At least AC will occasionally get hot from 20 feet or from three… Dahntay couldn’t buy a jumpshot.


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