that lakers game was a top to bottom spanking. we would win the championship if we played like that every night. hmm, maybe a 3 seed – 6 seed rematch with the lakers…?

I don’t disagree with defense being a higher priority for JaVale. But I do think it’s worth throwing out there that maybe if you get a chance to train with Hakeem, you say yes first and ask questions later. I think it was a great move by the Nuggets organization to do that, especially considering that when he was with the Wizards he asked Ernie Grunfeld for a big man coach and was told he could have one — if he paid for it himself. In his first offseason with the Nuggets, they sent him the exact opposite message — not only will we pay for it, but we’re sending you to the freakin’ DREAM, dude. It’s a vote of confidence on the higher order of putting their money where their mouth is. And it’s the perfect message to send to a developing player: We are serious and committed about maximizing your potential. Regardless of what specific aspect of his game he’s focusing on, creating that kind of positive atmosphere to reverse the crapfest he went through in Washington is important in its own right.