Mental Toughness

March 30, 2009
by Jeremy

By BeefySwats

Mental Toughness: Time to Start Thinking About It

As we draw closer and closer to the playoffs, it’s time for us to start thinking about one of the most important parts of the playoff game.

Mental toughness. The ability of a team to keep its cool and execute when fouls are not going their way, to tighten the screws and apply pressure to a team with a lead and the ability of a coach to influence his players to take the direction needed to win the game.

Do the Denver Nuggets have it? A recent article from the Denver Post’s Chris Dempsey provides some insight:

“[T]he Nuggets have more technical fouls than any other team, a total of 63 going into Saturday’s game. Boston had 51 going into Saturday’s action, and Phoenix had 50. ”

Think about that. The Denver Nuggets, ladies and gentlemen, have more technical fouls than even the volatile Pistons with Rasheed Wallace. Even more concerning, Carmelo is just 3 technical fouls away from a mandatory one game suspension.

“Almost every player on the Nuggets’ roster has at least one. Carmelo Anthony was tied for second in the league with 13; Chauncey Billups was tied for fifth in the league with 10; Kenyon Martin was tied for sixth with nine; Dahntay Jones, Linas Kleiza and J.R. Smith all had four; Anthony Carter and Nene both had three; Chris Andersen had two; and Renaldo Balkman had one. Karl was tied for third among coaches with 10. ”

Carmelo CANNOT afford to get suspended due to technical fouls in the playoffs and he’s on very thin ice. He – and the rest of his teammates – must keep their emotions in check.

The worst part about all these technicals is that this team typically accrues them at the least opportune time (if there ever is one for a technical), usually right after the other team has scored or after an offensive foul. Multiple times this season I have watched in disbelief as J.R. or Carmelo have thrown their hands in the air or screamed at an official after an opposing team made bucket, exacerbating the situation by spotting the other team another point. Not only that, but a player also places himself in danger of being removed from the game if he picks up another.

Given Denver’s altercations this year with officials – Nene getting thrown out, Carmelo’s attitude when he’s not getting the calls he thinks he deserves, J.R.’s complaining after he turns the ball over – it is imperative that Karl focuses on his team keeping their cool in a playoff series, no matter who the Nuggets face.

Enter Chauncey Billups. Of all the Nuggets, Chauncey has the most playoff experience, has been in the league the longest, has been on volatile teams before, and most importantly, is the most capable “floor general” we’ve had in Denver for decades. However – Chauncey still has 10 technical fouls, tied for fifth in the league.

In a playoff series, technical fouls add up quickly. Rarely are games decided by double digit differentials, and a technical here and there can completely alter the makeup of a game and thus, a series. Right now, Karl needs to make this a priority to address. The Nuggets are *not* a mentally tough team. I see them collapsing in situations that force them to “tighten up”, like a one-possession lead in a game against a team like the Spurs or Lakers, or when the other team is going on a run. Part of this is Karl’s inability to gather his players together and force them to pay attention to the importance of playing with vision and calm. But part of it must lie with the players.

If this team is ever to advance out of the first round of the playoffs and be considered a serious contender, they have to mature mentally. It starts with the most visible face of the team, Carmelo Anthony, and goes all the way to the roots with Karl. Chauncey must also provide the rudder to this team when things are coming down to the wire.

Time to grow up, Denver. We all know what you are capable of with the talented individuals stacked on this young team. You have to have a commitment to playing tough, playing smart, and most of all – playing with a cool head.

Posted on March 30, 2009 at 2:27 pm | filed in | 2 Comments

2 Responses to “Mental Toughness”

  1. chris says:
    March 30, 2009 at 5:04 pm

    I did read that article about how the nuggets have so many technicals. To an extent it’s disturbing, but to be honest it’s the tech’s on the role players that I think are worse. The leaders sometimes need to get on an official in games when they feel the other team is being given an advantage. For this reason the 10 tech’s that Karl has I think are a good thing, he sometimes gets a reputation for being too passive but he definitely has stood up for the guys this year and I think it’s a good thing, although in his past he had a reputation as a hot head, but he certainly has not been one here in Denver. Chauncey’s tech’s don’t bother me too much either, and for the same reason. Kmart and Melo are the captains so a tech here and there may show their leadership, but I think they have a few too many tech’s for that argument to hold. Melo and J.R. tend to be the ones who give the team a technical free throw right after a make and that is what needs to stop. A technical foul to get the crowd into the game or to show leadership can be a good thing overall; a tech because you can’t control your emotions is never a good thing, and the refs can probably tell the difference and will make a mental note.

    Reply
  2. BeefySwats says:
    April 3, 2009 at 8:40 am

    Melo picked up his 14th tech of the season. While I am glad they are reset for the playoffs, that is concerning.

    Reply

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