| 28 February 2010
The Denver Nuggets come to LA in what is a very, very big game. Denver knows it. LA knows it. With only a little over 20 games to go, Denver will be looking to build some momentum against the team that is generally held to be the favourite to come out of the Western Conference. LA?
LA go into this game knowing that the greatest obstacle they have to making the Finals is Denver.
Not many teams have the prerequisite length to be able to stay with LA, but the Nuggets do... as long as their bigs can stay healthy - sure, they lack depth with their front court - but Nene and Kenyon Martin match up quite well, they have a tenacity that I often wished LA's bigs would show.
But the Nuggets still have a propensity for choking on the moment. They get over-excited at times, and the enthusiasm that's one of the key reasons they excel, can also lead to being their undoing.
The limelight doesn't sit well with Denver...
LA, on the other hand, tend to thrive in that same spotlight.
Kobe loves a stage, and I think that we'll see a particularly good showing from the length of LA, with Bynum/Gasol/Odom all due for a good game against Denver. The last time Denver visited the Staples Center resulted in Denver walking out with a 13 point win (126-113), even with Kobe Bryant having a good game, and Melo sitting out. But that game, Chauncey Billups lead a Nuggets team that shot the lights out. Freakishly so. Denver hit a massive 68.2% from 3pt land, even better than their 57% shooting. Chauncey Billups hit 9 three pointers. NINE. Even with Carmelo Anthony in the line-up, I don't see a repeat of that kind of shooting. LA weren't particularly bad that night - except for perhaps Derek Fisher - but they can play better, especially on defense.
Kobe will probably start out facilitating, and keep an eye out for key moments to assert himself. I think there'll be some good performances from LA. In particular, Andrew Bynum, who needs to assert himself against Nene... and I'm looking for Jordan Farmar to be better - he'll see some court-time when Ty Lawson takes the court (averaging around 20 minutes per over the last month), and perhaps more - depending on Fish's play. How Ron Artest goes on Melo will make for interesting viewing... afterall, that's why Ron's here.
Last game of February, only 23 games to go.
Time to get your game-face on.
Lakers' Phil Jackson on Denver...
After the jump, read what Denver blogger Nick Sclafani thinks...
*****
Behind Enemy Lines - The Nugg Doctor
I spoke to Nick Sclafani of the Denver Nuggets fansite The Nugg Doctor (if you want to see what he had to ask me, head over to his preview!), asking him a few questions about the game, life... and Denver. Here's what he had to say:
Don (With Malice): At times Denver have looked damn good, at other times pretty damn ordinary. Please explain.
Nick Sclafani (The Nugg Doctor): The Nuggets play to their level of competition, but luckily always seem to beat the best teams in the league. It's perplexing, I know, and the easy thing to do would be doubt their focus or question George Karl's preparation tactics but this team is like a genius level student in the slow class... You can't expect them to pay attention all the time and as a result they lose track of a game here and there.
WM: Another writer at With Malice thinks that the most important player on the Nuggets is Kenyon Martin (not that he's the best tho'). Do you agree? TND: NO. Emphatically. More important than Carmelo's scoring exploits and Chauncey's leadership? Surely your said writer think such a thing in jest.
WM: To be fair, I don't think he was saying that he's the best player, but that sans-Billups/Anthony, Denver 'survives'... but take out one of your big men and they're going to struggle, as Birdman's good... but he's not as good as K-Mart...
WM: What the hell is a "lark bunting" any way?
TND: Technically, it's the Colorado's State Bird, but I bet more people would say Chris Andersen if you asked them the same question.
TND: Technically, it's the Colorado's State Bird, but I bet more people would say Chris Andersen if you asked them the same question.
WM: Denver match up well with LA, but my perception is that the Nuggets biggest weakness is their mindset, and a general frailty of the mind (I think they can get TOO excited at times). Has anything happened that could change my mind?
TND: Probably not, but here's my open-ended plea to those who doubt the Nuggets as a legitimate contender: The Nuggets are good. In fact, damn good. They have the most fluid scorer in the NBA in Carmelo Anthony, the league's top game manager in Chauncey Billups, the most electrifying bench duo with J.R. "Swish" Smith and Chris "Birdman" Andersen, and highly underrated defensive big men in Kenyon Martin and Nene. Sprinkle in Arron Afflalo hitting a great percentage from three and playing stifling defense, and remind D.J. Mbenga how Ty Lawson's demoralizing dunk on him felt.
TND: Probably not, but here's my open-ended plea to those who doubt the Nuggets as a legitimate contender: The Nuggets are good. In fact, damn good. They have the most fluid scorer in the NBA in Carmelo Anthony, the league's top game manager in Chauncey Billups, the most electrifying bench duo with J.R. "Swish" Smith and Chris "Birdman" Andersen, and highly underrated defensive big men in Kenyon Martin and Nene. Sprinkle in Arron Afflalo hitting a great percentage from three and playing stifling defense, and remind D.J. Mbenga how Ty Lawson's demoralizing dunk on him felt.
Then add in a "win it for George Karl" attitude and the motivation for this team to do something special this season is there.
WM: My game prediction is that at some stage during the game, DJ Mbenga rips off his jersey and reveals a massive "I love Kiki Vandeweghe" tattoo on his back, just prior to clothes-lining JR Smith. What game prediction do you have?
TND: A Denver win, of course!
TND: A Denver win, of course!
WM: It's good to have dreams Nick.
