| 24 March 2009
(Denver-CO) Chalk up last night’s, 118-115, loss to the Suns as one that got away. The Nuggets had their chances to pull out a win and extend their five-game winning streak to a season-high six games, but fumbled possessions down the stretch put Denver on the losing end.
Here’s five quick points from a “good loss” of which the Nuggets can learn a lot from:
1. After a slow start offensively due to too many isolate and stand possessions in the first quarter, the Nuggets did open things up offensively in the second with crisp passing. Denver scored just 22 points in the first quarter, but exploded in the second with 38. Anthony Carter was the catalyst for the ball movement with a team-high three assists in the first half, but he would have had far more dimes had the Nuggets been able to convert around the rim. Nevertheless, all the foul shots he created for his teammates with his passing allowed the Nuggets to shoot 16 free-throws in the second quarter alone. In fact, had it not been for Denver shooting 9-10 from the charity stripe in the final 4:20 of the second quarter they would have been down by more than just three entering half even with Linas Kleiza throwing in a running three-point hook shot at the buzzer.
Here’s five quick points from a “good loss” of which the Nuggets can learn a lot from:
1. After a slow start offensively due to too many isolate and stand possessions in the first quarter, the Nuggets did open things up offensively in the second with crisp passing. Denver scored just 22 points in the first quarter, but exploded in the second with 38. Anthony Carter was the catalyst for the ball movement with a team-high three assists in the first half, but he would have had far more dimes had the Nuggets been able to convert around the rim. Nevertheless, all the foul shots he created for his teammates with his passing allowed the Nuggets to shoot 16 free-throws in the second quarter alone. In fact, had it not been for Denver shooting 9-10 from the charity stripe in the final 4:20 of the second quarter they would have been down by more than just three entering half even with Linas Kleiza throwing in a running three-point hook shot at the buzzer.
2. The defense in the first half was deplorable. Granted, Phoenix plays at a fast pace, but to allow the Suns to shoot 55% from the field in the first half leaves a lot to be desired. Denver’s rotation on the backside, especially on dribble penetration, was to blame for this as the Suns connected on only six shots from outside the key in the entire first half. In addition, Shaq scoring 19 points in 24 minutes highlights just how soft the Nuggets’ interior defense really is.
3. Nene being ejected after Louis Amundson flopped on the floor like a fish after chest bumping Big Brazil up and down the floor on consecutive possessions was ridiculous. Amundson is half actor/half antagonist who is always giving the officiating crew the “what, me?” expression after ever whistle. And while that kind of play annoys the hell out of me because it’s really a revelation of his lack of the ability to play straight up basketball, I blame the officiating crew for taking his performance hook, line, and sinker. The Nuggets really could have used Nene on the glass in the final minutes of the game, but because he too fell into Amundson’s trap. The Nuggets were shorthanded down the stretch.
4. The Nuggets were dominated on the boards all night. This may have had something to do with Shaq’s big body taking up space in the paint, but I believe the true onus rest solely on Denver. The Nuggets really never hunkered down and attacked the glass; especially on the offensive end. Countless times the ball would be put on basket and not a single Nugget was in the picture to try and carom an offensive rebound. As a result, Phoenix finished a decisive edge on the boards, 46-33, while not a single Nugget reached double figure rebounds. Uncharacteristically, the Bird and the Perfect Stranger combined for just six boards in a combined 40 minutes of action.
5. All four previous points aside, the Nuggets had their chance to steal this game on Phoenix’s home floor. In the final minute of the game, Denver committed two offensive fouls (one by Chauncey and the other by Kenyon Martin). Kenyon’s was a player control foul due to Martin raising the elbow while spinning on Jared Dudley. The game was tied at 113 at this juncture and there was no reason for Kenyon to do this. That call hurt the Nuggets terribly as the empty possession was just the opportunity the Suns needed to take the lead for the final time. The second came when Chauncey Billups was whistled for charging. Steve Nash guessed correctly and planted his feet as Chauncey barreled into him. Credit Steve Nash for a heady, gutsy gamble with under a minute remaining in the game with his team leading by just two, 115-113.
What the Nuggets need to take from this unfortunate turn of events in the final minute of regulation is they need to execute as a team in similar situations in the future in hopes for a more favorable outcome. Had the rest of the team afforded both Chauncey and Kenyon more options than trying to make something happen individually who knows how this game might have ended up. And that’s not to take anything away from the Suns because they DID execute down the stretch and played with more defined sense of urgency than Denver and deserved the win.
Thankfully, Denver is still tops in the Northwest Division by a full game due to Portland losing in overtime to the 76ers and the Jazz having two fewer wins while having the same amount of losses. The Nuggets are also hanging on to the fourth seed in the Western Conference’s playoff picture, but that could all change tomorrow night when they face the fifth seeded New Orleans Hornets down in the Big Easy.
Go Nuggets!
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