| 04 May 2009
(Denver-CO) I’m just hoping the Mavericks can play better than they did against Denver in game one. Otherwise this is going to be a very quick series. The Nuggets were able to control Dallas in a, 109-95, victory after getting off to a slow start and overcoming both of their superstars not having the greatest individual outings. Carmelo battled foul trouble and Chauncey a rough shooting performance, but the rest of the Nuggets were so good that it didn’t even seem like an issue as the Nuggets cruised over Dirk’s 28 points and three other Mavericks scoring 15 apiece.
The Nuggets battled through a very rocky first quarter by sticking to their defensive game plan even after it was rattled by torrid Dallas scoring. It was the only thing Denver could rely on after scoring just 16 points in the first twelve minutes of the game. Kenyon Martin matched up with Dirk Nowitzki heads-up without the help of a double team, but it was to no avail as Dirk scored the first ten Dallas points on a perfect 5-5 from the field. Offensively for the Nuggets things weren’t easy. The Nuggets were 0-4 to start the game with only two Carmelo Anthony free-throws through the first 3:48 of play before Nene was the recipient of a great Chauncey Billups pass for Denver’s first field goal. The Nuggets were a frigid 6-17 shooting in the first quarter, including 0-4 from downtown for a total of 16 points, but despite Dallas enjoying an early ease scoring the ball were able to hold the Mavericks to just 24 points for the period.
Denver sticking to its defensive game plan is what kept the first quarter from getting out of hand. The Nuggets wanted to establish their physical brand of defense early and at any cost to set the tone of the series. This was no better exemplified than Kenyon Martin knocking Dirk to the deck with a forearm shiver after a non-shooting foul. Kenyon was hit with a technical, but it was well worth the message it contained. That message was even if you score on your first ten shots we’re not giving up anything easy and we’re not impressed.
With the defensive tone established in the first quarter, the offense established itself in the second. The Nuggets recorded just five assists and one steal in the first, but in the second their commitment to aggressive defense led to Dallas turnovers and easy buckets. Denver was able to force four steals, five turnovers, and the transition game that followed translated into ten assists in the second quarter. The player who benefited most from this was Nene. Big Brazil needed to breakout of a lingering funk from round one and the easy baskets helped propel him to a game-high 18 points at halftime on 8-12 shooting. It also did wonders for the Nuggets overall. The Nuggets shot a scorching 14-21 from the field in the period and shot eleven free-throws in a 35-point explosion that put Denver in the lead, 51-47, at the half.
Unfortunately, the brutish brand of defense the Nuggets were dishing out left one Nugget in a bit of foul trouble. Carmelo Anthony was hit with his third foul with over seven minuets remaining in the half and was forced to sit with a mere four points. Thankfully, Carmelo was the only Nugget in foul trouble at the break, but he wasn’t the only Nugget having trouble. In fact, all the starters except for Nene had a rough first half offensively. Chauncey Billups was 1-4 shooting and scored just three points. Kenyon Martin, albeit focusing on guarding Dirk on the defensive end, finished the half with just five points and Dahntay Jones did a great job limiting Jason Kidd to a paltry five points and three assists, but didn’t provide much firepower either with just three points. Combined, the starters minus Nene were outscored 18-15 by the reserve trio of Anthony Carter, Chris Andersen, and J.R. Smith each scoring six points in the first half with each player giving the Nuggets their own special brand of energy. The Bird ruled the roost with three blocks and five rebounds in 14 very effective minutes subbing in for defensive duties on Dirk Nowitzki. J.R. gave the Nuggets four assists and two steals and Anthony Carter was a perfect 3-3 from the field and handed out three assists all in transition.
But the most important aspect of the Nuggets’ execution was their defense.
The Bird and K-Mart bent but never broke guarding Dirk. Nowitzki scored the aforementioned first ten points of the game for Dallas, but was held to only six more points in the entire first half. The Nuggets were also fortunate to have Josh Howard tweak his ankle in the second quarter right as he building some offensive continuity. Howard finished the half with 13 points, but was never the same player after sustaining the high ankle sprain to his good, right ankle.
The Mavericks were able to reclaim the lead, 66-64, midway through the third quarter, but a 6-0 spurt put the Nugget back into the lead by four and for good. The closest the Mavericks could get was two points, 82-80, early in the fourth quarter before a 15-4 run that lasted over five minutes turned game one into a laugher. The Nuggets led by as many as 19 points with under two minutes to play and like vultures on the Serengeti all the Nuggets feasted on the kill.
Carmelo Anthony scored 14 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter as five Nuggets finished in double figures. Nene led the way with a playoff career-high 24 points on 9-13 shooting and the bench contributions from Andersen, Smith, and Anthony were invaluable. Those three reserves outscored six Maverick reserves 38-30 and Johan Petro threw in one more point just for good measure. J.R. notched 15 points and tied Chauncey with a game-high six assists. The Prodigy also recorded three steals and three rebounds in an amazing +22 performance in 32 minutes of burn. Anthony Carter was the Nuggets most pesky perimeter defender with two steals and AC dished out four assists and scored a dozen points in 22 very effective minutes of which he chased Jason Terry for much of.
Then there is Birdman.
Tweet-tweet for Andersen’s half dozen blocks, half dozen rebounds, two assists, a steal, and eleven points not to mention his defense on Dirk Nowitzki. The Bird was a game-high +28 in just as many minutes on the floor and his six blocks sets a new career-high in the postseason.
But, the Bird wasn’t alone in his defensive quest. In fact, the entire Denver effort was amazing on the defensive end and their advantage gained from such a stifling performance was sensational. Just listen to these statistical discrepancies: The Nuggets out blocked the Mavs 11-2, out thieved the Mavs 15-10, outscored the Mavs 29-4 in fast break points, and caused 20 Dallas turnovers fruiting 25 points. That kind of lopsided tale in the game’s underlying storyline will almost always ensure the team enjoying the success will be victorious and in the case of game one that team was the Nuggets. They overcame both of their stars having individual problems and relied on the finer tuning to get the job done.
It was almost as if it was too easy…
Go Nuggets!
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