| 04 December 2009
(Denver-CO) The Denver Nuggets are maturing. They are taking the right chances at the right times, George Karl has found solid rotations, and the players are showing more familiarity for what their teammates prefer to do.
The results are shocking. Just ask the Miami Heat.
Denver beat the Heat last night, 114-96, in their first complete 48-minute blowout that had Craig Sager asking Chauncey Billups if the Nuggets are an elite team just two games after a black-eye loss to the Timberwovles.
Chauncey’s reply, “We’re a work in progress.”
Denver took control right out of the gate and never trailed in this game after the Miami Heat scored on their first field goal. It was nice to see Denver still find a way to dictate their style of play while being able to shake off a frigid shooting start. The Nuggets were shooting an icy 30% in the first quarter (7-23), but heir saving grace was free-throws. Denver did a great job taking the ball to the rim and shot 9-11 from the line in the first quarter.
Slowly, but surely, Denver extended a three-point lead after one to twenty in the second quarter once the Nuggets focused in defensively. Chris Andersen was a catalyst for the Nuggets with a block in his first two minutes of burn before finishing the half with three blocks, five rebounds, and a steal. The Birdman also scored five points by patrolling the nest for a tip-in and three free-throws where he is 15-18 in his last five games.
Offensively, the Nuggets were paced by J.R. Smith’s hot shooting off the bench and it was J.R.’s back-to-back three’s which blew the game wide open. Smith hit 3-4 from three and 5-9 overall from the field to score 16 points and hand out three assists. Carmelo Anthony and Nene each had eleven points as every Nugget except for Kenyon Martin scored in the first half to give Denver a, 58-42, lead.
But make no mistake about it, Nuggets Nation. The Denver bench was outstanding in the first half. They outscored Miami’s bench 25-11, the Birdman was spectacular defensively, and Ty Lawson pushing the pace and putting guys in positions to get fouled and shoot free-throws when all combined gave this team a huge boost while the starters got a rest. Kudo’s to George Karl for finding the rotation that gives this team the best compilation of players at the right time. In particular, I like when he plays Lawson, Bird, and J.R. Smith with Carmelo and Nene. That group has a winning percentage of 80%, according to 82games.com’s Denver Nuggets section and to me is the fastest paced group Karl can play without sacrificing much size and maximizing speed.
Nevertheless, the Heat went five minutes without scoring as Nene scored nine of Denver’s 13-0 run that crippled the Heat. Denver would maintain a 20+ point lead for much of the third quarter and were able to rest their starters for a vast majority of the fourth quarter. Things did get testy at the end of the third quarter after Dwyane Wade was fouled on three-pointer by J.R. Smith and the referee swallowed his whistle thus incensing Wade and Coach Eric Spoelstra. Dwyane and his coach were hit with technical fouls and within the next minute Kenyon Martin thought he too was fouled to which there was no whistle blown and Kmart lost it. Martin let Monty McCutchen have it and after being warned with his first technical and given the opportunity to continue he did so and was given the early shower.
The Nuggets were up by 25 at this point in the third, so I’m actually ok with Kenyon letting off some steam in this situation. It revived the crowd, gave the team an emotional boost, and the Nuggets reacted favorably. Bottom line: Getting ejected may not be the smartest thing for Kenyon to do, but if it doesn’t happen at the detriment of the team and is within its situational boundaries. It isn’t the worst thing in the world.
George Karl played his remaining starters for the first couple of minutes of the fourth before minimizing down to a line-up of Arron Afflalo and Ty Lawson plus the end of the bench.
Now, let me sing the praises of Arron Afflalo. I really enjoy watching Afflalo play defense in the same manner that Dahntay Jones used to (minus a few of the questionable dirty plays), but the thing about Afflalo that makes him an upgrade is his collective cool on the offensive end. He’s very good about taking shots within his repertoire and within the flow of the game. I think this is why George feels so confident starting him, and in the fourth quarter of last night’s game hit a three and a long jumper in rhythm as regulation played its course. “Double A” finished with the final line of 17 points, six rebounds, and a frugal two turnovers.
All five starters finished with double figures led by Carmelo Anthony. ’Melo continued his consecutive games with 20+ points streak with a quiet 22 points and three rebounds. Chauncey Billups scored 13 points, but struggled from the field. He was 1-5 shooting, but hit 10-11 free-throws and handed out a team-high seven assists. Nene added 15 points and eight rebounds, and Kenyon Martin chipped in twelve points, four rebounds, two blocks, a steal, and an assist before getting DQ’d.
J.R. Smith did not score after half. Chris Andersen finished with the near double-double of nine points and ten rebounds. He was the only Nugget in double figure rebounds. Miami’s Dwyane Wade struggled shooting the ball and was visibly unhappy with the officiating finishing with 25 points on 8-20 from the field as Pepsi Center remains the only arena he has not won in over his career. Wade is 0-6 against the Nuggets at home.
Up next for the Nuggets (14-5) is a four-game road trip that kicks off in San Antonio against the Spurs. San Antonio had their five-game winning streak broke last night against the Boston Celtics, but are still a team most pundits think are an elite team in the West. Additionally, the Spurs are 8-3 at home this year and should provide a litmus test for the Nuggets on the road.
Go Nuggets! 
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