| 08 April 2010
LA head to Denver, to play the Nuggets - one of a few 'elite' teams who find themselves struggling as much as the lackadaisical Lakers at the moment.
It should be an interesting game: Denver are struggling with finding some form going into the playoffs, and have found the standings of late to be a particularly rocky road.
Not so long ago, the Nuggets were the clear #2 team in the West. Now? They find themselves sitting at 3rd - dead even with Dallas (2nd), but only half a game ahead of Phoenix and Utah... with the Spurs and OKC (2 of the NBA's hottest teams at the moment) sitting only a few games behind them.
Reality says that neither San Antonio or Oklahoma will catch them, but by the time the playoffs hit, they could be anywhere from 2nd to 5th. Not finding themselves currently in a happy place.
LA are a different story. It's not so much as they can't find form, as they can't be bothered finding form. As I said in LA Laker fans: looking for that "signature win"..., "it's not so much as they can't get it done as they just don't seem to care about doing it." Once it became apparent that LA weren't going to catch Cleveland for the best record in the regular season, it's almost as if they decided to rest up for the playoffs. They've been at times enthused - a very good win over Utah - but mostly somewhat lethargic (see cringe-inducing losses to both San Antonio, New Orleans, Atlanta and OKC... ugh).
We could wax lyrical about the necessity of the team do certain things better, but it's gotten a bit repetitive - the same thing ad infinitum. It all comes down to passion, and the fact that it's been difficult recently for LA to find anything remotely resembling 'passion'.
It all makes for an interesting drama that will play itself out in the gasping confines of the Pepsi Center.
Can Denver cope with LA's length sans K-Mart and the Birdman?
Will Ron Artest bully Melo into submission?
Does Chauncey Billups ignite and go 3pt-nutsoid on LA again?
Will LA be bothered to show up?
I truly don't know the answer to any of those ponderings... but the last one certainly gives me pause.
After the jump, an interview with Nick Sclafani of The Nugg Doctor...
*****
Behind Enemy Lines
Don (With Malice): Hey Nick, LA haven't looked so hot recently... but then Denver have had their fair share of speedbumps too. What happens in this game?
Nick Sclafani (The Nugg Doctor): The Nuggets win of course. The Lakers don't really have that much at stake compared to the dog fight Denver's in for playoff positioning. Not to mention four teams from the Northwest Division are playoff bound! So, Denver wins this game, obviously.
WM: I'm maintaining that come playoffs, we'll see a different LA. How true do you think this is? Do you think that the same could be said of Denver - that in two weeks time they'll lift considerably?
TND: Well, the Lakers have Kobe. So, I think that he will raise his game come playoff time and that will inherently raise the Lakers to another level rarely seen during the regular season. As for the Nuggets, they have some bigger issues still to resolve. Whether or not Kenyon is back and what shape he will be in is going to play out huge for this team. The same goes for Head Coach George Karl. Without him, I think this team is a different team when the game is hanging in the balance. Karl is not expected to make it back for the first round of the playoffs so that just makes having the best possible seed even more important for the Nuggets. With that being said... Carmelo and Chauncey are also going to up the ante when the chips are on the line so beware of the Nuggets regardless of what seed they end up with.
WM: LeBron or Melo?
TND: I'll take 'Melo any damn day of the week. LeBron is great, don't get me wrong, but 'Melo's been my man since the word go.
WM: How's George Karl doing? Do you think that his health impacts the Nuggets at all?
TND: George Karl is an amazing man. The entire Nuggets Nation pours its heart out and prays for him everyday. There is the "Win one for George" angle to this season now, but I'm not sure that kind of motivation can do it alone for the Nuggets. It helps, but the Nuggets miss his leadership and savvy on the bench.
WM: Do you have a favourite non-star player?
TND: Yeah, I'll admit it... Joey Graham is that guy for me. I like how he takes the ball to the rack and finishes with power at every opportunity that comes his way. Plus, he conducts himself as a pro. When he doesn't get minutes he doesn't sulk. When he does he doesn't go ape shit trying to make too much happen. My kind of guy.
WM: What song would you apply to being an appropriate one to reflect the season Denver's had/having?
TND: I thought about this question for awhile and, while this sounds crazy, I'd have to say Party in the U.S.A by Miley Cyrus. It's so stupid, but yet considering how bad the Nuggets have been on the road compared to their record at home this year it seems applicable. Plus, I have a non-creeper crush on her and for some reason I can see J.R. Smith belting it out in the locker room shower after big wins!
