| 14 December 2009
(Denver-CO) The Denver Nuggets have found their crux. It’s shown itself now twice this season and without it the Nuggets are 0-4.
Figured it out yet?
Kenyon Martin is turning into as pivotal of a piece to the Nuggets success as his contract would warrant. In the Nuggets 17-point comeback victory over the Phoenix Suns, Kenyon Martin was nothing short of the difference defensively as the Nuggets held the league’s top scoring team to under 100 points for only the fourth time this season.
Thoughts from a game which featured about as fantastic of a second half as the first half was dreadful, lethargic, and disappointing:
- I just can’t stop singing the praises of Kenyon Martin’s defensive effort. Kmart stepping out on screens and doing the kind of job he did corralling Steve Nash to the point where he doesn’t even need to switch back to his man was special to watch. And as if scripted for an Alvin Gentry nightmare, Martin’s block on Nash at the end of the game, a play that probably gets the former MVP a whistle and two free-throws in any other arena, gave George Karl the biggest smile I’ve seen him with in awhile. Gentry on the other hand went ballistic and blew any chance his team had to win by being ejected and giving the Nuggets the game sealing free-throws.
- Carmelo Anthony needs to stop looking around for whistles and just play the game. In the first half against the Suns, ‘Melo was woofing at the officiating crew up and down the court and at one point I think they just started to ignore him. altogether He needs to take a piece out of George Karl’s approach to the game in this regard and realize that berating another human probably isn’t going to get them to do you any favors in the long run. (Credit Dean Smith for the Carolina wisdom). Nevertheless, Carmelo came out determined in the second half after scoring just a dozen points in the first and finished with 32 points, eight rebounds, and three assists when all was said and done.
- Ty Lawson has been going through some rookie growing pains over the last three games and with Arron Afflalo having an off night George Karl decided to give Anthony Carter a chance to rejoin the fold. Carter, who hadn’t played since the day after Thanksgiving, did a nice job in 13 minutes down the stretch. He did a solid job on Steve Nash on the perimeter defensively and although he finished scoreless didn’t take any out of character shots while still contributing offensively with three assists.
- Is it just me or does the Birdman top out at about 10 points and 10 rebounds this year? Last season, I felt that he had a lot more impact on games defensively with his shot blocking, but this year he seems to be a lot more quiet of a contributor. Could it be that I’ve just grown used to his antics and technicolor dream coat of tatoos? Either way, I’m not complaining. Birdman finished with nine points and ten rebounds.
- The first half overall was just what I didn’t need after spending the afternoon Christmas shopping in a crowded mall. The Nuggets played selfishly (nine assists, again?), turned the ball over a ton (eleven turnovers in the first half with Chauncey and Carmelo guilty of three apiece), and shot the ball terribly (go figure right, with all the turnovers and the low assists, it‘s not wonder they were under 40% from the field). About the only thing the Nuggets were doing well was not allowing Steve Nash to get everyone involved offensively. The NBA’s top set up man had only five assists at the half and, as I previewed for this game, the Suns struggle when Steve struggles to distribute the ball. Nash finished with seven assists, his average in Suns' losses.
- The second half on the other hand was a joy to behold. The Nuggets embarked on an 18-2 run spanning much of the third quarter and tied the game at 77 entering the fourth. Denver then built a five-point lead by once again holding the Suns scoreless for three more minutes in the fourth quarter while putting on a 7-0 run. Pointblank: Defense wins basketball games.
- The final point I want to make is more of a retraction. I will never second guess Chauncey Billups’ shot selection again. Mr. Big Shot scored 17 points in the second half, including four huge three-pointers, to finish with 24 points and eight assists. From now on I’ll live and die with whatever shots he takes and bite my tongue happily.
Up next for the Nuggets is a look at the Oklahoma City Thunder. I know they’re in our division and that I shouldn’t secretly receive joy from their success, but I kinda like the Thunder. They’re young, exciting, and play with a lot of enthusiasm. Plus, when the Nuggets and Thunder play there is usually high drama at the buzzer!
Go Nuggets!
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