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I Hate Myself for Writing this Post

I have never promoted this before for the Denver Nuggets at any point during a season where they have a quality team capable of going places, but as much as I want to promote the band together and produce a super human effort I think tonight is a situation where Denver should play to win…on Saturday.

According to Chris Tomasson, Carmelo Anthony is out, Chris Andersen is out and Ty Lawson is doubtful.  Benjamin Hochman is reporting Nene is a game time decision and both are saying Chauncey Billups will try to come back for the second time from his groin injury tonight.

Oh, by the way, Denver is playing the East leading Cleveland Cavaliers who have won eight of nine and 13 of their previous 15 games.  The Cavs have crushed the Nuggets the previous two  meetings, especially last year in Denver and I do not see that changing with the current state of health at the Pepsi Center.

The Nuggets can kill themselves, play on bad ankles and work their tails off to hopefully stay close to the Cavs or they can let the bench have their night, give everyone another day to heal up, including Chauncey, and give it their best shot in Sacramento on Saturday.

It pains me to say it, but I say give up tonight to win tomorrow.  Of course, there is no guarantee that Denver will pull out a victory in Sacramento by resting all their injured players against Cleveland, but there is a good chance by sending Nene and Chauncey out there and giving big minutes to Kenyon could greatly reduce your chances of winning on Saturday.

Anthony Carter and J.R. Smith can handle the point.  Arron Afflalo, Joey Graham and Renaldo Balkman can deal with the swing positions, Kenyon martin can play a few minutes at power forward with Balkman and Malik Allen filling in the rest and Petro and Allen can take care of the minutes at center.

It will be horrible to watch and ESPN will undoubtedly be bummed out, but once, just this one time, I think it is the right thing to do.

A View of the Nuggets From a Nets Fan

Sebastian over at Nets are Scorching, a member of the TrueHoop Network, has prepared a video scouting report on the Nuggets.  I recommend you check it out to get a feel for what an opposing fan thinks of some of the Nuggets players.

By the way, there is no joy in playing a team that is 0-13.  Devin Harris is back and the Nets are hungry.

Denver Nuggets at New Jersey Nets Pregame Q & A

I was fortunate enough to exchange questions and answers prior to tonight’s conflagration between the undefeated Denver Nuggets and the defeated New Jersey Nets with Mark Ginocchio of the TrueHoop Network Nets blog, Nets are Scorching.  You can check out Mark’s responses to my riveting questions below and I implore you to head on over to Nets are Scorching to read my responses to his well though out inquiries.

RMC: With the Nets in rebuilding mode do you like the young talent they are amassing or are all their hopes of turning things around contingent on LeBron signing on to make the move to Brooklyn?

Mark: I think, overall, the Nets have some interesting young players in their stead, but they still seem to lack a true star, which may, or may not come next year via free agency depending on the odds of guys like LeBron or Chris Bosh leaving town. Devin Harris had a breakout year last season, but he gets injured a lot, and I wonder if that will ultimately affect him from taking it to the next level. Brook Lopez shows a lot of promise, but with more defenders targeting him now, I’m starting to see what guys like John Hollinger were trying to temper the enthusiasm of Nets fans. I think Courtney Lee and Terrence Williams will be very nice complimentary pieces down the road. I still don’t know what to make of Chris Douglas-Roberts. He seems to need the ball a lot to be effective.

Mark: Well Brook Lopez may be one of the most likeable players in the NBA. This is a guy who has no shame about dressing up for Halloween or showing up at Comic Con, though I still don’t understand why he won’t join Twitter (he said he rather do “real” writing). Terrence Williams may be unselfish to a fault, which is something you like to see in a young player. Chris Douglas-Roberts has a chip on his shoulder, but also has a certain toughness and meaness thata lot of players lack. And believe it or not, I’ve really enjoyed seeing what a healthier Eduardo Najera brings to the table. You guys would probably know better than I, but he really does do a lot of the “little things,” that I think make up for his talent-level.

Mark: Well, never say never in the NBA, but with no Devin Harris, and it appears, no Yi Jianlian for Wednesday night, I don’t know if the Nets will be able to score 44 points in a half, no less have a margin of victory by that level. Nets fans should have known from the onset that with no Vince Carter, putting the ball in the hoop was going to be a problem. Now, with all of these injuries, a big problem may have become an insurmountable one.

Mark: Well, the Nets got killed on the boards against Charlotte Wednesday night, so I wouldn’t worry too much on that end. They’re two best rebounders are Brook Lopez and Yi - and that’s not saying much when you include Yi in the conversation. (Editor’s Note:  It has since been announced Yi will be out indefinitely with a knee sprain.) As for transition D, the Nets do have some quick wings that can run the floor, so maybe they can steal a few points there, but I would hate to see the Nets get into a shootout with the Nuggets because that’s just not going to end pretty.

2009 Western Conference Finals Game 6: Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Lakers Live Blog/Game Thread

Game 6 Live Blog at Forum Blue and Gold

Kia NBA Shootaround on ESPN360

Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Lakers Game 6 Live on ESPN360

This is it.  I have had a lot of people ask me if I think the Denver Nuggets can win a game seven from the Staples Center.  While I do not love their chances of winning that game, they first have to earn the right to play a game seven by beating the Los Angeles Lakers in game six at the Pepsi Center.

As George Karl said today there are not many adjustments to make and any alteration is bound to be a slight one.  At this point both teams know each other inside and out.  It comes down to execution. 

Denver will be looking for bounce back games from players like Chauncey Billups, J.R. Smith and Nene while the Lakers will be hoping they can get another exceptional effort from Lamar Odom. 

A few minor changes that I would like to see is better execution of the trap the Nuggets like to spring on the sideline off the screen and roll.  The two trapping players need to smother the ball handler.  In game five they allowed themselves to be spread out and provided too much room to locate an open teammate.  Also, the positioning needs to be better from the other three players to cut off any pass that can lead to an immediate scoring opportunity. 

I would like to see Melo post up more often.  If the Lakers double him, it will open the lanes for players to cut to the rim.  If he is not doubled, he is a quick dribble from getting to the rim.  No matter what the Nuggets will need better movement off the ball than they established in game five.

Do not force the three ball.  Players like Chauncey, J.R. and Kleiza all need to shoot a couple of threes, but if it is not falling, try something else.  I can live with a 1-4 or 1-5.  I cannot live with another 1-10.

Play with controlled desperation.  I do not think Denver will suffer from a lack of effort tonight, but they cannot afford to lose their focus as they have been wont to do from time to time this series.

As you would expect I think the Nuggets will win tonight.  There is certainly a chance that the Lakers will relax ever so slightly knowing they have an ace in their pocket that is home court for game seven. 

Denver Nuggets Game Notes

Featured Blogs:  Forum Blue and Gold | Lakers Blog | Silver Screen and Roll

Take this with you:  The Nuggets have lost seven straight close out games tying the all time record held by the Hawks (1968-78) and Hornets (1993-2002).  That sounds bad, but let me spin it for you.  It is not easy to set any all time record so I suspect Denver will end that string tonight.

Also, Carmelo turns 25 today.  If he is as aggressive tonight as he was in the fourth quarter of game five I think it will be a memorable occasion.  I wonder if Rocky will manage to throw another cake at a Lakers fan to commemorate the moment.

2009 Western Conference Finals Game 5: Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Lakers Live Blog/Game Thread

NBA Shootaround on ESPN360

Nuggets at Lakers on ESPN360

With so much on the line tonight we are going all out to document the action.  Kurt Helin from Forum Blue and Gold and yours truly will be running a tag team live blog right here on Roundball Mining Company for game five of the Western Conference Finals.

Will Carmelo bounce back from two disappointing performances in Denver?  Can Denver continue to overcome the Lakers’ size in the lane or will the Lakers repeat their dominance from game one?  Is J.R. Smith about to catch fire and go on one of his incredible hot streaks?  Can Kobe keep carrying the Lakers game after game?  Will L.A. get Pau the ball?  Will Andrew Bynum start playing like he is the biggest dude on the court like he did in the fourth quarter of game four?  What will Dahntay Jones do for his next flagrant foul?  Will we see a game with over 100 free throws attempted?  Will any member of the Lakers’ supporting cast have a big game?  Which team will put a strangle hold on this series?

Check back at 6:55 PM Mountain Time (8:55 PM Eastern/5:55 PM Pacific) for answers to those questions and much more.

Denver Nuggets Game Notes

Featurd Blogs: Forum Blue and Gold | Lakers Blog | Silver Screen and Roll

By the way, I was on the NBA Today podcast with Jason Smith today. We talk about getting in Kobe’s head and whether or not the Nuggets can win a game seven in Los Angeles.

2009 Western Conference Finals Game 4: Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Lakers Game Thread

NBA Shootaround on ESPN360

Nuggets vs Lakers on ESPN360

Sorry for the shot recap of game three and brief game four “preview” game thread post, but with graduation this weekend and now Memorial Day, I have had a busy weekend.  Anyway, Denver is facing a must win game tonight and I believe you will see a great effort by the Nuggets.  I expect a win.

Denver Nuggets Game Notes

Featured Blogs:  Forum Blue and Gold | Lakers Blog | Silver Screen and Roll

Take this with you:  Denver does not need to improve their play much to win and I think we will see a return of the playoff caliber Nuggets squad as opposed to the regular season quality of play we were subjected to in game three.

BeefySwats has weighed in on what changes he would like to see from the Nuggets for game four.

2009 Western Conference Finals Game 3: Denver Nuggets vs Los Angeles Lakers Game Thread

How long can the Denver Nuggets continue their home court dominance?  They have won 16 straight games in the Pepsi Center and so far in the 2009 NBA Playoffs the Nuggets have won each of their six home games by at least 12 points.

Of course the Los Angeles Lakers are not the New Orleans Hornets nor are they the Dallas Mavericks.  As Kobe Brant has enjoyed pointing out after game two the Lakers had the best road record in the NBA at 29-12.  To put that in perspective there were 20 teams who failed to win as many as 29 games at home.

To expect another home blowout might be presumptuous.  Of course, after the four conference finals games that have been played the Nuggets three point win in game two has proven to be the largest margin of victory.  One of these games has to be over before the final possession, right?  If not health care facilities in Denver, Los Angeles, Cleveland and Orlando better stock up on defibrillators. 

After two games I do not know that any of us have a better grip on what to expect.  Was the resurgence of Linas Kleiza for real or was it a one night only special event?  Are Anthony Carter and Dahntay Jones both going to be restricted to spot duty?  Will George Karl trot out the big lineup again?  Will either of these teams run?  Can the Nuggets keep the battle on the boards even or will the Lakers size slowly wear them down?  Is this all we can expect out of J.R. Smith?  Is this all we can expect from Lamar Odom?  Is this all we can expect from Andrew Bynum?  Will Nene be the guy who scored 14 points in the first half of game one or will he be the guy who scored six points in the three halves since then?  How long can Kobe carry this team on both ends of the floor?  Will Phil Jackson demote Derek Fisher from potential game two hero to watching Jordan Farmar and Shannon Brown from the padded folding chairs?  Who will blink first Kobe or Carmelo?

Pretty much all we do know at this point is both of these teams seem to be very evenly matched and you do not want to build up a double digit first half lead and end up scoring 103 points.  That has not worked yet.

I believe at this point in the series both teams feel just as confident as they did when the series began.  They are both laying in their beds right now thinking to themselves that they should be up 2-0.  Neither team has landed a blow that has rattled the other.  The only way I see that happening is if one team wins both of the games in Denver. 

As good as the Lakers are on the road, they do not play better there than they do at Staples Center.  On the other hand we can expect the Nuggets to play better than they did in those first two games when they were on the road.  While both teams are confident it is clear that the Nuggets have the advantage until the Lakers knock them off in Denver.  That might happen tomorrow or it may not happen at all. Plus if there was any doubt in the Nuggets’ heads before game one, they have been obliterated.

I am pumped because tomorrow I will be attending my first playoff game since the 2005 series against the Spurs.  If you want to say, “hi” or “you suck, quit blogging” or “go Nuggets” I will be planted in section 342, row 4, seat 1 and I will have my baby blue Nuggets shirt on.  I would love to get a chance to meet some of my loyal readers so if you have a minute stop on by.  I have a good bladder and no desire to pay what it costs for a hotdog and a Sprite Pepsi so I will be there all game long.

Denver Nuggets Game Notes

Featured Nuggets Blogs:  Pickaxe and Roll | Denver Stiffs | Nugg Doctor | Nuggets Nuggetz | Nugg Love check out the Kobe Stop Crying sign pictures and Chauncey’s inbound pass off the back of a defender from his George Washington days

Featured Lakers Blogs:  Forum Blue and Gold | Lakers Blog | Silver Screen and Roll

Take this with you:  Some numbers for your consideration:

• Denver is 5-0 in the 2009 playoffs when Chauncey scores 25 or more points and they are 3-4 when he scores 24 or less. 
• After only averaging three fouls a game over the Nuggets first seven playoff games, Nene is averaging five over his last five games. 
• Carmelo has five straight 30 point playoff games setting a new Nuggets record.  Over the past 25 years only three players have had longer streaks and they are Shaquille O’Neal, Hakeem Olajuwon and Michael Jordan all with streaks of six. 
• Kobe has five technical fouls in the 2009 postseason and if he hits seven he has to sit a game.

2009 Western Conference Finals Game 2: Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Lakers Game Thread

ESPN 360 Links:  NBA Shootaround | Game 2 Live

A few more game one thoughts as we prepare for game two:

• How nice was it to have a physical game played where neither coach was complaining about how the game was called in his postgame press conference.  Yes, that is directed at you Byron Scott and Rick Carlisle.
• I have read in several places, including the Denver Post (although the article was by Anthony Cotton, not Hochman or Dempsey) that the Nuggets’ front line of Nene, Kenyon Martin and Chris Andersen won the battle against their Lakers counterparts because they outscored them 37-26.  I am not sure why Josh Powell’s four points do not count when adding up the scoring by the Lakers’ bigs, but whatever helps make your case.  If that was winning the battle, I do not want to see what will happen if the Nuggets loose that matchup.  Nene did not score a point in the second half, not that his 14 first half points did not count, and he pulled down only four defensive rebounds.  To put that in perspective Pau Gasol had six offensive boards.  The Nuggets’ bigs held their ground well, but to say they outplayed the Lakers’ big men is just wrong.
• Chauncey Billups said that he wished he could have received the inbounds pass when Denver inbounded the ball with 5.8 seconds left in the game.  His direct quote was:
  

  “They did a good job. I couldn’t get it.”

  Following Chauncey’s second three pointer with 6.0 seconds remaining Carmelo was all over Kobe trying to deny him the ball, but Kobe ran directly to the inbounder to make sure he received the pass.  On the play Chauncey was recounting the Lakers did not defend him any more vigorously than Melo did Kobe.  The difference was Chauncey ran parallel to the baseline about ten feet away instead of running to the passer to make sure he could receive the ball. 

• In the same quote he goes on to say that he wished he had either had the ball or told J.R. to shoot when it appeared the Lakers were going to foul him to get three free throws.  It sounds nice, but nearly every referee in the world is going to call that foul on the floor no matter how quickly you get your shot up after they grab you.  If you go into your shot too early, then they can layoff and just watch as you chuck a running 40 footer.  The Lakers were not going to make the same mistake Antoine Wright made by fouling too early or too lightly.
• When you have to bring the ball up the floor in that situation and the other team has decided to foul, there is not much you can do.
• That brings me to another point.  Denver ran out of timeouts at the end of the game.  With 7:33 left in the fourth Carmelo was trapped along the sideline and instead of bouncing a pass between the defenders to Nene he held the ball and called a timeout.  At the time my wife asked if that was a good idea and my response was that it was fine as long as they did not run out of timeouts at the end of the game.  Well, it turned out to be a big decision by Carmelo.  Picture how much different that final play could have been with Denver inbounding the ball from their end of the court with the recipient in position to shoot as opposed to having to bring it up the length of the floor.
• I am sick and tired of talking about the turnover on the inbounds play by Anthony Carter, but I thought one of the TNT analysts, I think it was Kenny Smith, made a good point about how Chauncey could have run into the backcourt to get the pass.  If he keeps running and Carter leads him away from Ariza that would have been another way to prevent the turnover.
  I have defended Karl’s decision to put Carter in the game, but I noticed just 20 seconds later with the Nuggets inbounding the ball in the same spot on the floor Birdman was in instead of Carter and Kenyon was the inbounder.  It was a different situation with Denver down four and needing a three instead of down two and maybe that played a role in who was on the court, but it merits mentioning that Karl did not have AC out there.
• I am already sick and tired of the moron who always wears yellow and sits just to the right of the Lakers’ bench.  He is constantly arguing correct calls like a child and stands up and claps his rolled up program.  By wearing yellow he can make sure he is visible and show everyone how much of a fan he is.  The guy drives me nuts.

That is enough of game one.  It is funny how I can write so much about something that was so frustrating.

With game two on the horizon I could not sleep last night. 

Despite being completely worn out I laid in bed for almost two hours before I nodded off.  Game two is not necessarily a must win, should the Nuggets lose I can definitely see them winning both games in Denver and tying the series at two.  However, if they go down 2-0 and have to win four of the remaining five games I do not see any way they win this series.

That being said, I think we see the Nuggets play their best all around game tonight and I even went so far as to predict a Nuggets victory.  The one disclaimer I will make is if J.R. Smith is clearly limited by his calf strain, which I have still heard referred to as a knee injury in more than one place, it will require Carmelo and Chauncey to both have big nights.

Much of the analysis of game two centers around how Melo will surely not be able to score so easily and that bodes well for Los Angeles.  I agree that Melo will not shoot 14-20 and 4-5 from downtown, but I will not be surprised to see him put up another 30 point game.  He may have to work harder to get to the rim and not settle for so many jumpers, but he can score on this Lakers defense and on Kobe. 

What was most impressive about Kobe’s offensive performance in game one was that he was able to do it while working so hard on defense.  Even so, there were times, especially when he was guarding Chauncey, that Denver chose to go away from him.  In game two, whoever Kobe is being guarded by must attack him and make him expend energy.  He cannot carry this team on both ends of the floor over a seven game series. 

Los Angeles can only get away with moving Kobe from guy to guy as long as players like AC and Dahntay are on the court who can be covered by Derek Fisher, Jordan Farmar or Shannon Brown. 

When it comes to keeping the Lakers off the offensive boards it will require a conscious effort by everyone on the floor.  We talk about team defense, but seem to consider rebounding an individual effort.  Rebounding is also a team skill and against a team like the Lakers requires all five players to do their part.  The bigs must do a better job of clearing space, but that is easier said than done.  Gasol in particular is very good at prepositioning himself for offensive rebounds before the defender realizes the shot is going up. 

The guards need to either crash the lane if the shot is from the lane or get to the elbows if it is a longer shot so that they are in position to chase down a long rebound.

Other than the rebounding both Nene and Kenyon did a solid job on defense.  They continually forced Gasol off the block and keeping him a little further out than he likes to operate.  They did a lot of switching, which was fine as the Lakers did not look to post Bynum on Kenyon when the Nuggets did so.  If L.A. decides to go at Martin when he switches onto Bynum, Denver will probably have to double him.

When it comes to double teams Denver would obviously prefer not to have to double anyone.  However, they seemed like they were prepared to double Kobe after he put the ball on the floor and they showed some desire to have a guard come down to dig at Gasol in an effort to force him to pass. 

When the Nuggets do double team they must be prepared to rotate.  Gasol is an excellent passer and when Odom is in the game the Lakers have four players all capable of hitting three pointers on the floor at the same time. 

Another way to keep the Lakers from getting open looks from behind the arc is to get back better in transition.  On a couple of different occasions in the second half of game one Kenyon was stuck guarding Fisher in the corner.  Of course, Kenyon wants to be ready to help on a drive or rebound so he stays as close to the lane as possible.  The result is Fisher is left open and he made Denver pay. 

Both team also need to do better at running when the opportunity presents itself.  They combined for 14 fast break points in game one.  I expect both teams to top that mark in game two.  Of course, if Denver cannot garner any defensive boards they are not going to be able to run.  That is another reason why limiting the Lakers’ offensive rebounds is so important.

I do believe the Nuggets will win.  I honestly had a bad feeling about game one.   I was excited before the game, but not the kind of excited you are before opening a birthday present.  It was the kind of excited you get when you have to line up to run suicides for conditioning.  That is bad excited. 

For game two I feel a little more as if I am going to get a present tonight and less like I am going to be sprinting for a good 20 minutes.

Denver Nuggets Game Notes

Featured Blogs:  Forum Blue and Gold | Lakers Blog | Silver Screen and Roll

Take this with you:  Denver was able to get Bynum in foul trouble because they were not afraid to attack him.  J.R. and Melo both drew fouls by going right at him.  They will need to continue to do so tonight.  Nene fouled out in game one and he must do a better job of avoiding contact when he is covering the pick and roll. He uses his hips too much to slow down the ball handler and referees will call that every time.

2009 Western Conference Finals: Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Lakers Game Thread

Watch the game live online on ESPN360!

I was intending to put together some final thoughts on the series and then post some game one insights in a game thread, but sadly we are running out of time so I am going to have to combine both into one final pre-series post.

In my previous posts I have focused on matchups such as Bynum and Gasol versus Kenyon and Nene and how Carmelo can finally break out against the Lakers, but have not paid much attention to the most important key of all and that is how the Denver Nuggets defend the Lakers.

It all starts with Kobe and filters down from there.  No matter who is guarding the Mamba they must make sure he gets nothing easy.  On the other hand, if you pay too much attention to him and double and triple team him, you get Pau Gasol roaming the lane scoring on a barrage of dunks and layups. 

What is the answer?  Denver will trap Kobe off the pick and roll, but when he has the ball look for them to expect Dahntay Jones, J.R. Smith, Chauncey Billups, Carmelo Anthony or whoever is guarding him to play him straight up, keep him out of the lane and force him to shoot jumpers.  

The problem with playing him straight up like that is Kobe has an excellent post game and he can take Jones, J.R. and Chauncey down on the block and drain turnaround jumpers over them all night long.  If the Nuggets do trap Kobe outside of coming off of a ball screen, look for them to do it when he has the ball in the post.

Denver will need Dahntay Jones to do a very good job on Kobe when Jones is on the floor.  If he cannot at least make Kobe work hard for his points, Denver cannot afford to have him in the lineup.  I expect Kobe to draw fouls on Jones quickly and do not be surprised to see Dahntay collecting four or five fouls in just ten or 12 minutes.

Even if Jones plays the best defense of his life it is unfair to expect him to put the clamps on Kobe.  No one can shut Kobe down and few teams have been successful in even containing him.  If Kobe is looking to score, he will get his 30 points and if he is on fire, he will get 40 or more.  One thing to keep an eye on is Kobe has only made four of his past 16 threes.  Denver will have to hope he remains cold from long distance, but we all know it is only a matter of time before he goes off.

If Kobe is wreaking havoc on Denver and they must adjust their defense to commit more resources to covering him the Nuggets must make sure they rotate perfectly.  The Lakers’ shooters will make their open shots.  I do not care that Derek Fisher or Jordan Farmar or Sasha Vujacic have been in shooting slumps lately, they will make their shots in the conference finals.  If Denver is consistently giving up open looks to those guys the Nuggets will be in trouble.  Equally as important as making sound perimeter rotations is ensuring their interior defense remains intact. 

Players like Gasol, Bynum and Odom are all great finishers in the paint.  If Denver shows cracks in the lane the Lakers are a great passing team and they will feed the ball to one of their big men at the rim.  Look no further than Gasol’s 36 point outburst in game one of the Nuggets/Lakers series last season where ten of his 12 made baskets were assisted (he made 14 shots, but only 12 are on record in the play by play at least that I can see).

The other potential issue for Denver defensively is if they have to bring a double team to help Kenyon guard Pau in the post.  If you double Pau, it opens up the floor for Kobe and if Kobe drives or is red hot from the perimeter your defense is going to get embarrassed.

Looking at the Lakers’ defense they really struggle to contain penetration.  Their guards play hard on defense, but Fisher and Vujacic are just not quick enough to contain athletic guards.  Much has been made of how Aaron Brooks shredded the Lakers’ defense in the semifinals although as everyone has pointed out the Nuggets do not have a Brooks type player.  Do not let that fool you into thinking that Denver cannot get into the lane against the Lakers.

Chauncey may not have blazing straight line speed, but he is great with the basketball and when he wants to drive, he gets in the lane.  You can count on J.R. Smith to find his way into the lane more than a few times and Anthony Carter is also capable of getting into the paint off of ball reversals when there is a gap in the defense.

The Nuggets are not only going to be facing the Lakers, Denver will also have to fight history.  To me anything that happened two or five or especially 20 years ago is practically meaningless.  The truth is tonight will be the first time these two teams with this mixture of player face each other with both teams fully healthy so who cares who won a series 24 seasons ago?

That being said, a negative history can weigh a franchise down.  A team and their fans can get conditioned to expect failure.  The Lakers actually have a ten game postseason winning streak against Denver, which is the fourth longest streak of its kind ever behind a 12 game winning streak the 76ers held over the Knicks from 1968-83, a 12 game winning streak the Lakers held against Seattle from 1980-89 and a 12 game streak Boston compiled against Chicago from 1981-87.  In addition to the losing streak Denver is 2-14 since joining the NBA in 1976 in game ones on the road.  Denver also has to deal with their history in Los Angeles where they have not done well over the previous 12 seasons. 

The one thing this Nuggets team has going for them in that area is they are the team that is defying the franchises’ sorry postseason history.  They are the ones who are overcoming those past embarrassments.  I do not think they will be at all intimidated and I expect them to play well throughout the series.

If you listened to the NBA Today podcast from May 19, you heard me say that my official prediction is the Lakers in seven games.  Do not let that disappoint you, I have undersold the Nuggets in each of the first rounds and hopefully I am doing so again.   Denver has an excellent shot at winning this series and as long as they can play competent defense and players like Carmelo, Chauncey and J.R. continue to shoot the ball the way they have been there is no reason why Denver cannot represent the west in the NBA Finals. 

I doubt that the Nuggets are going to get a lackadaisical effort from the Lakers like the Rockets did.  Then again, there is no guarantee that L.A. truly sees the Nuggets as a legitimate competitor and they may certainly overlook Denver as they did Houston.

Enough talk.  It all starts tonight.  If Denver can steal game one that could be the only spark they need to get over the hump against the Lakers and it would be a great step towards winning this series.

Denver Nuggets Game Notes

Featured Blogs:  Forum Blue and Gold | Lakers Blog | Silver Screen and Roll

Take this with you:  The Lakers are the first team the Nuggets have faced in this postseason that provide multiple difficult matchups.  It seems Denver has taken a large step forward since the regular season ended, but we will not know if that is truly the case until tonight. 

One more thing.  It is not fair that I wrote all of this without mentioning Chris Andersen so I just wanted to say, “Birdzilla!”

2009 NBA Playoffs Round 2 Game 5: Denver Nuggets vs Dallas Mavericks Game Thread

The Denver Nuggets have another chance to close out a series in game five at home in the Pepsi Center.  Following their game four loss I fully expect the Nuggets to come out with a strong desire to put Dallas away. 

Denver better be ready to play because the Mavs have been slowly figuring out how to beat them.  Dallas has done a better job attacking in transition (I cannot believe they have not used J.J. Barea more), swarming Nene in the lane and decreasing the Nuggets dominance in the paint and Dirk has been absolutely on fire.  The Mavericks also have tried to ramp up their own physical play committing two flagrant fouls. 

Hopefully the Nuggets will respond by locking down on defense, fighting for rebounds on both ends of the floor and playing aggressive and unselfish offense.  If the Nuggets just think they will win tonight simply because they are at home, they will surely be booking another trip to Dallas for game six.

I hope that George Karl decides to make an adjustment on how they are going to defend Dirk.  If I were in charge I would put a stop to the perimeter switching just as they did to close out game three and double Dirk in the post.  Dirk has been destroying any smaller player who has switched onto him and he has broken out an impressive array of fakes and pivots to get to the rim in the post. 

Those adjustments will make it more difficult for Dirk to score and it will prevent him from getting to the line so frequently.  After averaging six free throws a game over the first six postseason games, Dirk has averaged 15 a game over the last three games against Denver.  Part of that has been due to how the games have been officiated, all the complaining after game one seemed to have worked, but it is primarily a product of how Denver has chosen to defend him. 

With all the X’s and O’s and change of venue the biggest adjustment from game four to game five will be having Chris Andersen in the lineup.  Had Birdman been on the floor for game four I would be stuck watching Lost tonight instead of enjoying a Nuggets’ game. 

It will also be interesting to see if George Karl continues to play Linas Kleiza and if so, for how long.  When the only thing a guy can do to help the team is score and the tip of his thumb is fractured I would hesitate to play him.  Sadly, any hope of seeing Renaldo Balkman hounding Josh Howard all over the place and finding the nooks and crannies in the interior of the Dallas defense is sure to go unrecognized.  

I expect the Nuggets to close this series out just as they did against New Orleans and six hours from now we will be celebrating the Nuggets’ first appearance in the conference finals since 1985.

Denver Nuggets Game Notes

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Take this with you:  Apparently the key to winning in the playoffs is not to shoot 9-21 from the three point line, which is what the Nuggets did in game three in New Orleans and game four in Dallas.  

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