| 06 December 2009
(Denver-CO) The Denver Nuggets fought hard for last night’s, 106-99, victory over the Spurs. For three quarters they were a jump shot away, a whistle short, and a turnover shy from taking the lead from the San Antonio, but Denver used a three from J.R. Smith to take their first lead of the game on the first possession of the fourth and never looked back.
Let me start out by saying this game was like a staring contest. Neither team flinched even though San Antonio clung to a small lead for the 36 of the 48 minutes in regulation. With that in mind, and instead of boring you to death with a play-by-play style recap, let’s take a deeper look at how the Nuggets individually stunned the Spurs in the Alamo City.
Carmelo Anthony was his typical, point-hoarding self. ‘Melo fought through a sluggish offensive start in the first half (twelve points and only one assist), but found enough rhythm in third quarter to score 14 points in the period. These 14 points were the salvation Denver needed in the third quarter to fight back from their second largest deficit of the game. Without Carmelo’s offensive brilliance coming out, I think a ten-point San Antonio lead balloons and the Nuggets fold. Thankfully, the Western Conference Player of the Month was wearing baby blue and he scored ten consecutive points for the Nuggets to keep Denver in the game over such a critical stretch. ‘Melo finished with a game-high 34 points and seven rebounds despite not getting a whistle blown in his favor.
Ty Lawson and J.R. Smith are my co-stars of the game. When the Nuggets fell behind by eleven (their largest deficit) in the second quarter, it was Lawson and Smiths’ combined efforts that pulled this team from their first brush with death. Trailing by seven after one quarter in the books, and with their bench being outscored 11-0, Denver was bailed out by J.R. Smith’s one-on-one exploits offensively. Smith scored seven straight points to kick start a 12-2 run by the Nuggets to bring them back within one after Arron Afflalo hit a bookend three assisted by Nene. Smith scored eleven points total in the quarter and Lawson did his damage with extra effort defensively. The diminutive rookie was the only Nugget who could keep Tony Parker out of the lane and his passing set up his teammates to get to the free-throw line on numerous occasions. I’m with Scott Hastings when he says the NBA should start keeping track of who’s passes get people to the free-throw line because Lawson does this a lot, but it doesn’t find its way into the box score. Maybe this stat should be called “assisted free-throws.”
I digress, but only to talk more about Lawson’s second half. Ty scored three points through the first three quarters of play, but George Karl showed a lot of faith in the rookie by playing him seven out of twelve minutes in the fourth. And for good reason. Lawson scored eight consecutive points in a back and forth duel with Tony Parker to keep the Nuggets out in front after the aforementioned three by J.R. gave Denver their first lead. Lawson literally grew up right in front of our eyes, Nuggets Nation, proving he is not only playable during crunch time, but he’s also capable of putting this team on his back AND going head-to-head with anyone in the league. Ty finished with the line of eleven points, three rebounds, two assists, and a steal in 21 minutes of burn. J.R. Smith added 17 points, seven rebounds, three steals, and two blocks when all was said and done.
Let me start out by saying this game was like a staring contest. Neither team flinched even though San Antonio clung to a small lead for the 36 of the 48 minutes in regulation. With that in mind, and instead of boring you to death with a play-by-play style recap, let’s take a deeper look at how the Nuggets individually stunned the Spurs in the Alamo City.
Carmelo Anthony was his typical, point-hoarding self. ‘Melo fought through a sluggish offensive start in the first half (twelve points and only one assist), but found enough rhythm in third quarter to score 14 points in the period. These 14 points were the salvation Denver needed in the third quarter to fight back from their second largest deficit of the game. Without Carmelo’s offensive brilliance coming out, I think a ten-point San Antonio lead balloons and the Nuggets fold. Thankfully, the Western Conference Player of the Month was wearing baby blue and he scored ten consecutive points for the Nuggets to keep Denver in the game over such a critical stretch. ‘Melo finished with a game-high 34 points and seven rebounds despite not getting a whistle blown in his favor.
Ty Lawson and J.R. Smith are my co-stars of the game. When the Nuggets fell behind by eleven (their largest deficit) in the second quarter, it was Lawson and Smiths’ combined efforts that pulled this team from their first brush with death. Trailing by seven after one quarter in the books, and with their bench being outscored 11-0, Denver was bailed out by J.R. Smith’s one-on-one exploits offensively. Smith scored seven straight points to kick start a 12-2 run by the Nuggets to bring them back within one after Arron Afflalo hit a bookend three assisted by Nene. Smith scored eleven points total in the quarter and Lawson did his damage with extra effort defensively. The diminutive rookie was the only Nugget who could keep Tony Parker out of the lane and his passing set up his teammates to get to the free-throw line on numerous occasions. I’m with Scott Hastings when he says the NBA should start keeping track of who’s passes get people to the free-throw line because Lawson does this a lot, but it doesn’t find its way into the box score. Maybe this stat should be called “assisted free-throws.”
I digress, but only to talk more about Lawson’s second half. Ty scored three points through the first three quarters of play, but George Karl showed a lot of faith in the rookie by playing him seven out of twelve minutes in the fourth. And for good reason. Lawson scored eight consecutive points in a back and forth duel with Tony Parker to keep the Nuggets out in front after the aforementioned three by J.R. gave Denver their first lead. Lawson literally grew up right in front of our eyes, Nuggets Nation, proving he is not only playable during crunch time, but he’s also capable of putting this team on his back AND going head-to-head with anyone in the league. Ty finished with the line of eleven points, three rebounds, two assists, and a steal in 21 minutes of burn. J.R. Smith added 17 points, seven rebounds, three steals, and two blocks when all was said and done.
Last but certainly not least is how Mr. Big Shot was “Mr. Fourth Quarter” for the Nuggets. Chauncey Billups may have only scored five points in the fourth quarter, but it’s how and when he got his teammates easy looks and scored those five points that make him the premier game manager in the league today. In the final six minutes of regulation, Chauncey handed out three assists and scored five of Denver’s final seven points to put the Spurs on ice. The three assists constituted half of the Nuggets’ final six field goals not made by the King of Park Hill personally and Chauncey finished with 18 very quiet points and five assists overall. Talk about clutch!
Overall, there was one aspect of this game that, honestly, I couldn’t have been more impressed with by the Nuggets.
Composure.
Denver could have folded with the kind of inconsistent officiating and style of game that transpired last night in San Antonio, but they weathered the storm and struck when the door was open. They did so on the road, against a solid Spurs team, and didn’t allow said contender to come back once they put them on their back. That right there, Nuggets Nation, is what a championship caliber team does.
Go Nuggets!
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