The Nuggets lose a close one in Oklahoma City. After being up late, Denver once again fails to close out a dangerous team, allows things to get to overtime, and get beat 124-118.
1st Quarter:
- Ty Lawson, Arron Afflalo, Corey Brewer, Kenneth Faried, and Timofey Mozgov starting for the Nuggets. I like this lineup ... should be good energy, rebounding, and hopefully some nice defense. At the 10:41 mark and Kevin Durant is heading to the foul line, uh he wasn't shooting - but gets fouls shot. Hope it's not one of those heavy whistle games for either team.
- 9:23 mark, Mozgov starts off 2-2 shooting! I like that. A layup and a little baseline jumper, good to see his offensive game come back. As I'm typing Brewer takes it to the rack and it's 8-5 Denver. Glad it's a nice start for the Nuggets offense. Moz now heading to the foul line after using a pump fake ... he goes 2-2 and it's 10-7 Denver and Moz has 6 points.
- 7:15 ... Russell Westbrook goes for his signature straight-away tomahawk jam, but MANIMAL IS THERE FOR THE EPIC BLOCK! BREWER THE OTHER WAY ... JAMS IT HOME TWO HANDED, it's 15-9 Denver. This fast start has given me hope. Loving the way Denver is playing tonight, that Memphis loss (as Jeff Morton suggested) has given the Nuggets some MOJO back.
- End of the first and it's 27-25 Denver after a 10-0 run by the Nuggets to close the quarter. From the 7:15 mark (it was 15-9 Denver) the Thunder used a 16-12 run to get back into the game. The expected run at home. George Karl pulled Faried a little quick for my liking, but we'll see how this one shakes out. Good game thus far, very competitive and the Nuggets' defense looks up for the task, making Durant and Company take some tough shots and giving them few easy looks.
2nd Quarter:
- Ok, so I'm watching on a bit of a delay ... accidentally saw a score and one team had 32 points. Nuggets sitting on 31 points and I was hoping they'd get to 33 ... an intense series for him as Denver gets three possessions and they get to 33! I know who has the lead later!
- At the 9:50 mark Kosta Koufos and Jordan Hamilton check into the game ... does Karl know what quarter it is? Bizarro world as J Going Ham only plays garbage time so far, I like this sub. Hamilton misses his first shot ... Nuggs get an o-board and Ham sinks a little hook/runner and gets fouls, misses the shot, gets the board, Kouf gets a layup (from Lawson) and gets fouled! Love offensive boards! It's now 38-30 Nuggets as Kouf makes the And-1.
- 7:37 and it's 42-32 Nuggets, this was the score I saw (didn't see the teams) ... I now know nothing of what happens in this game and I'm terrified. I want Denver to win this game. It's now 46-32, hoping this good thing lasts. Westbrook gets bailed out on an awful call, just seconds after James Harden sprains an anke (stays in the game) on a missed layup.
- It's 58-53 Denver heading into the half. Denver was up 12 with just a couple minutes left before the break, but OKC used an 8-0 run to get right back into the thick of the game. Loving the energy and fire Denver is playing with tonight. Will it be enough? We'll find out and I hope we don't have to find good news in a loss again. Tough one not to win tonight.
Nuggets are 0-6 from deep tonight, out-rebounding OKC 25-17, and the Nuggs have 17 assists already. Not sure the long ball will start to fall, but keep hustling and sharing the ball and things could be very good for Lawson and Company.
3rd Quarter:
- To start the second half, we get the same lineup from the first half. Lawson has had his shot blocked a few times and now he's a bit hesitant to shoot. Costs the Nuggets with a turnover on their first possession. OKC scores on theirs and it's 58-55 Nuggets.
- 9:44 and the Thunder have the lead back 59-58. Nuggets letting themselves get pushed around a little bit and they have to figure out a way to get the pace back. Karl takes a timely timeout. Thunder on a 14-0 run at the moment ... Denver yet to score this half.
- 8:02 mark and it's 65-58 OKC ... this game is getting away from the Nuggets as Durant and Co. are on a 20-0 run - ouch.
- 1:53 left in the third and the Nuggets have fought all the way back up 77-76 for a moment before Westbrook buries a three ... this game has turned into a slug-fest. It's 83-83 tied ballgame. We'll see who closes better - the team or the Superstars.
4th Quarter:
- Karl opens with Miller, AAA, Brewer, Big Al, and Chris Andersen. Nuggets went big at one point with K2 and Moz together ... now going small at a crucial point as it's bench vs. bench right now. Thunder using Nazr Mohammed and Nick Collison in the front-court - both good rebounders, but not shot blockers.
- 9:29 left and Durant is back in ... it's 87-84 Denver. Miller going to work scoring and dishing assists. Big Al buries a three and it's 90-84 Denver. Nuggets are executing and now allowing easy buckets right now. After the timeout and Westbrook is back in as well. Nuggets sticking with the same lineup, said for Lawson being in for AAA. Harrington another three and it's 93-84 Nuggets.
- 6:52 and it's 95-90 ... the crowd is REALLY into it and every possession feels like a big one. Crazy good game so far. Feels like there is less than four minutes to go, but that's not the case ... a nail-biter. AAA back in for Brewer at the timeout, he misses a three.
- 2:50 to go and it's tied at 104-104 ... crazy game. Nuggets not getting easy shots or shots that I would think Karl wants as Birdman is 1-2 on jumpers and 1-2 from the foul line and just tipped one in for a 106-104 Nuggets lead.
- 54.5 seconds to go, Westbrook misses a jumper, Bird rebounds, Durant falls down, the Nuggets run, and Lawson buries a three and it's 109-106.
- Thunder ball and AAA is covering Durant on the inbounds play ... Durant misses a tough runner, Harrington grabs the rebound with two OKC guys around him. Big Al to the foul line ... he goes 2-2 and it's 111-106 Denver.
- There is 7 seconds to go and Durant blows by AAA and Birdman and gets an open dunk ... it's 111-111 with 4.4 seconds to go ... what does Karl draw up? Can the Nuggets get a game winner in Oklahoma?
- Lawson takes the last shot from the foul line ... misses it, might not have counted anyway. Going to overtime ... are you kidding me? Barf.
Overtime:
- 3:07 to go ... Koufos in for Birdman and Miller called for a travel, there was none. It's 114-113 Thunder ... Westbrook jumper and it's 116-113. Tough game here ... Nuggets looking tired, having to work for every single shot. Koufos with an offensive board and it's 116-115.
- 1:36 and Miller uses a lot of spins and travels again ... he's looking tired. Nuggets can't buy a call and OKC getting them all. Miller throws a ball away, his third turnover in the period. It's 120-115 with under a minute to go and Karl rode Miller too long.
- AAA hits a three out of the timeout and it's 120-118 OKC. Now 122-118 as Westy hits an open jumper at the free throw line. Can't believe the Nuggets are letting this one get away from them, need something special to happen to pull this one out after failing to close out the Thunder.
- AAA fails to go for the dunk, gets blocked, and it's game over ... 124-118 Thunder in overtime.
Game recap: Frustrating game. Westbrook goes for 40 points and Durant for 51 points. The Nuggets had the game in the bag and just let things for perfecting for the Thunder late and blew the lead and eventually the game. Denver put up a great effort, but they needed to find a way to win this one and they didn't get it done. Karl's argument for a team over a closer loses again as he rides one lineup midway through the fourth all the way through overtime, said for K2 for Birdman. Moral win wont cut it here, the Nuggets handed this game to the Thunder.
Nate_Timmons on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Nate_Timmons
ntimmons73@yahoo.com
This is the anti-clutch team...
….it’s amazing. If the game is close, we fold like cheap lawn chairs…very sad.
bonaire - February 19, 2012
I think I am going to take a break from these Nuggets.
As not watch or read a out any games for awhile.
L.A_NuggetsFan - February 19, 2012 via mobile
I die a little bit inside with every poor rotation
love4nuggets - February 19, 2012
Then I don't know how you are still alive.
bonaire - February 19, 2012
Hanging by a (post game) thread...
love4nuggets - February 19, 2012
Lmao.... I see what ya did there
L.A_NuggetsFan - February 19, 2012 via mobile
I think I'm going to take a break from Denver Stiffs
Arguing with a bunch of mindless drones who think they know more about coaching then a guy who is going to end up in the banners in the pepsi center and sees his team every day up close and personal…it’s lost it’s appeal. It’s sad, the writers of this site do a great job too.
Zachm219 - February 20, 2012 via iPhone app
keep on...
keepin’ on, Zach! Don’t give up fighting the good fight, my friend.
UKnowULovedVanQwik - February 20, 2012
mindless would be just to continue to follow along with whatever is going on without questioning it
especially when there are instances when perhaps a taller lineup or a more defensive lineup could be put into the game in the last 50 seconds when we are 5.
mindless would be make excuses like we’re injured to use a crunch for the coach making a public comment that he would be happy if we go 5-5 (thus settling for average)… No team with any championship aspiration goes out and hae its leaders sa hey, we’d like to go 5-5 over our next 10.
mindless would be to watch older tired guys get repeated beat and not make adjustments during the game…
mindless is continuing to NOT question coaching decisions when perhaps if the coach had made a few different decisions, we would have won yesterday and i counted perhaps 6-7 more games this season…(football coaches get grilled every week on their play call, why can’t basketball coaches get questioned on their rotations?)
and finally mindless is to continue to support a coach that outside of 1 year with CB as his assistant, never getsout fo the first round with a talented team…
LEEDS - February 20, 2012
right, these are your opinions
And seeing as how your mind has never been put to the task of being a professional head coach, your opinions are mindless. They’re emotional and bias at best.
Oh I’ve heard it all over the years, Byron Scott, mike brown, bill laimbeer, and up until coach karl got cancer my favorite stiffs candidate to replace him…Adrian Dantley. All are supposedly vastly superior to Karl.
Funny how everyone who’s been in the league and knows what they are talking about says Karl is an amazing coach. It’s only the irrational fans who have no experience whatsoever that can’t stand him.
You’re right, I shouldn’t call you mindless because your not, but your theories on our coach completely are
Zachm219 - February 20, 2012 via iPhone app
i thought you were taking a break
??? my opinions arw not mindless ansd if mind are then so are yours…LOL
LEEDS - February 20, 2012 via Android app
also zach, i like most of the stuff you write here, but don't call us mindless drones just because we are tired of karl's coaching
LEEDS - February 20, 2012
I'm with you Zachm219
“You never know what you got till it’s gone.”
TakeFive - February 20, 2012
One big long sigh.
That seemed both inevitable and yet truly devastating. I’m glad to see the Nuggs grit out a great road effort, but it means little when we lose a game we should’ve won. Is it a small consolation to wonder whether KD and Westbrook could do that nightly on us (or anybody)? No, not really. The NBA “superheroes” prevailed tonight.
neumdaddy - February 19, 2012
Here is my wall of GK rage
In 8 years of watching GK make terrible lineup decisions, fail to use timeouts properly, fail to adjust to what’s happening on the court and get repeatedly get worked over like a speed bag by every other coach in crunch-time situations, this game is probably the most egregiously bad crunch-time coaching performance I have ever seen from him, and I do not say that lightly. All the points below have probably been covered ad infinitum in this and previous threads, but I just want to consolidate all of my grievances in one place, to show this coaching performance for the Buick-sized steaming pile of elephant shit it was. The most obvious point is that we had the same 5 guys in from about 7 minutes left in the 4th, all the way to the end of OT, save for one substitution with a few minutes left (more on that later). Now, this is fine for younger, high-energy players, but this lineup consisted of wily vets Miller, Bird, and Harrington, with about 100 years of age between just the three of them. And Miller and Harrington played every minute (are you ready for this?) FROM 4:54 AND 8:02 LEFT IN THIRD QUARTER, RESPECTIVELY. This is so baffling that I cannot even discuss it rationally. Miller played a mostly fantastic game, but did absolutely nothing on either end of the floor from about 5 minutes left in the 4th on-by OT he could not even dribble properly. Same goes for Al, who did literally nothing all game except hit two consecutive threes at one point. That’s nice, but he was clearly gassed by the end of regulation. And when this lineup had just given up a big run with about 3 mins left and OKC tied it, maybe GK could have used a timeout? Both to stem the momentum and give his lineup that he had no intention of changing a rest? Sometimes I honestly wonder if GK is even awake during games. Aside from fatigue, this was a questionable lineup anyway. First, we could not get a rebound to save our lives all quarter, and OKC kept contact for a while through second-chance points, yet GK continued to sit both seven-footers, including Koufos, who had an amazing, game-changing first-half. And when Koufos finally went in in OT, it was for Bird-the only guy that could occasionally grab a rebound, not Al, whose corpse was already decaying by then. Second, Durant was going off all game, but especially the fourth and OT, all while Corey Brewer, the only healthy guy with any chance of containing him, sat and watched. Instead, Harrington and Miller took turns standing sort of close to him while he scored (JA Adande tweet: “Al Harrington is guarding Kevin Durant in overtime. Either that or there’s vodka in my coffee”). OK, so despite all of this, after blowing the lead Ty hits a big shot and then Al hits fts and we are up by 5 with a minute left. The only way to lose is to give up 5+ points in the last two possessions. We all know Karl is not aware that he is allowed to make rapid offense-defense substitutions at the end of games, but maybe now is the time to insert defense and rebounding, right? Nope: offensive rebound (where Ty was hacked), Durant 3. No TO to draw up a play, awful shot by Ty, Durant uncontested dunk. OK, now it’s OT, your preferred but tired lineup failed to close it out and, I know! Lets put in the SAME FUCKING 5 GUYS. OT is predictably uncompetitive, with Al and Miller in particular stinking out the joint.
Did I miss anything? It’s not even all GK’s fault we lost. The reffing was predictably awful as was our end-game execution. And considering all that and the fact that OKC had a 50-point scorer, a 40-point scorer, and a triple double, and we still almost and absolutely should have won, maybe we should be encouraged. And maybe I will be sometime tomorrow when I get over my white-hot rage at GK’s imbecility.
/rant over
Rainbow skyline - February 19, 2012
nicee
I agree with a lot of what you said. I did however like the choice to use bird in the 4th, the energy he brought (although clumsy at times) seemed to piss off the okc fans. It was a fun game to watch, but a difficult one as a nuggets fan…
orangeNblue52 - February 19, 2012
I think rainbow pointed out
That Bird played well but got gassed. Any good coach would notice that earlier than OT
JR15 - February 19, 2012
Recd
ThrowItDownBigManThrowItDown - February 19, 2012
awesome....exactly on point.
Good coaches always sub for defense, rebounding and offense. GK said he coaches this as playoff game…Uh oh. Are you listening Ujiri….So the playoffs don’t have offensive and defensive subs and the game should end in regulation with timeouts in our pocket that we didn’t use.
Bigdorph - February 20, 2012
This isn't the first time
He has failed to do the offense defense subs
ThrowItDownBigManThrowItDown - February 20, 2012
don't get, and flashing back to previous playoff losses where Karl never intervenes
and leaves bad lineups in…not playing JR in playoffs. i sure hope are season doesn’t end like this game did tonight..
Bigdorph - February 20, 2012
Strong take
100% truth. This was a COACHING LOSS, period.
Colin Neilson - February 20, 2012
strong take.
Colin Neilson - February 20, 2012
Nice post
I agree with everything but most importantly:
Second, Durant was going off all game, but especially the fourth and OT, all while Corey Brewer, the only healthy guy with any chance of containing him, sat and watched.
We all know Karl is not aware that he is allowed to make rapid offense-defense substitutions at the end of games, but maybe now is the time to insert defense and rebounding, right?
hungryhead - February 20, 2012
Rec'd
Thanks for being the one to do this work… today. We all take our turns.
LongWindedHank - February 20, 2012
This is a nice post
another issue: closing out regulation and ot (save for Bird) is Lawson, AAA, Miller, Big Al and Andersen/Kosta Koufos. 3 of these 6 guys, in my humble opinion, will not play a major role in the Nuggets future (Birdman, Andre, big Al). If we’re going to lose this game, I’d much rather see some young guys in there getting the experience of how to close out games. Jordan Hamilton had a nice second quarter – benched. K2 had a great second quarter – benched. Perhaps Faried could have gotten some of those rebounds – benched. Perhaps Brewer could’ve slowed down Durant – benched. These are the guys that I want to see in at the end of the game scrapping for the victory, not players that are stunting the future of this team.
NugNugz - February 20, 2012
I think Nugz have two options
1) if they make a playoff run they better be a top 4 seed, I am tired of one and dones, so no low seed crap anymore.
2) Go the way of RMC and tank to the lottery. Purge away the bad with Fernandez and Miller, and start playing Ham, Faried, and Stone more.
Also I do think Karl can be a good coach if he has the right personnell, but this group should not be with him. Karl has to have a star to bail him out he relies heavily on few people in crunch time when this team needs a coach who understands to put the right players in at the right time rather than riding tired ones.
You can win without stars, but you need a coach who knows the team strength is depth and actually rotates players in vs riding them till they die
JR15 - February 19, 2012
And the worse part is,
he criticizes said stars for being too selfish when they lead the team to wins despite his “coaching”.
paidinfull87 - February 19, 2012
I thought this was the team he wanted!!!!
no superstars, no big egos (outside of Miller wanting to start and Big All wanting to shoot all the time)…
Karl keeps saying they don’t need a closer ot a go-to guy…
THIS IS THE TEAM HE WANTED! PLEASE QUIT MAKING EXCUSES FOR HIM like its not really his team.. Karl is an average coach, was outcoached by Scotty Brooks last night, his former assistant….we had the game and his in-game decisions contributed majorily to our LOSS
LEEDS - February 20, 2012
THIS IS THE BEST TEAM THE NUGGETS HAS HAD IN EIGHT YEARS
And this POS still can’t utilize the personnel properly. This team has the Twin Vanilla Towers (TVT) and he wants to go small ball. WTFIT
samdman - February 20, 2012
I have been a fan
Since we drafted Mutumbo. I called him akimbo timbe and learned to count by tallying his block shots.
I was a fan when robert pack posters were given out at conocos.
I was a fan when Jeff Hornacek and Stockton murdered us.
I was a fan when it was “Rauf, there it is” and his refusal to stand for the national anthem.
I was a fan when when we drafted Brent Barry and trades his rights for McDyess.
I was a fan during the Bernie Bickerstaff era – even the 10-72 season.
I was a fan during the Melo years. Playoff exits Knicks brawl, Iverson/Chauncey, Melo sprinting off the court a game after Karl benched him, the 32-8 streak.
I was a fan during the Melo-drama, the new look Nuggets, and the United Nations of Nuggets.
If you guys wanna leave, that’s fine, but shame on you. I may be pessimistic and argumentative, but I’m a life long fan and I will always stand by my team.
KevinAwesome - February 19, 2012 via mobile
Not to be a pedant
But it was 11-71, not 10-72.
Otherwise, I agree 100%.
ParkHillNative - February 20, 2012 via mobile
Really? Whoops.
KevinAwesome - February 20, 2012
link
http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/DEN/1998.html
I just remember how they spent most of that season on pace to tie or set a new record for fewest wins in a season (9-73), but put together a couple of wins late to avoid it.
Anyway, I missed the whole debate in the game threads with people saying “That’s it, I’m leaving, not rooting for this team anymore.” I’m just agreeing with your post because I figure anyone who’s not used to failure and futility and losing must not have been a Nuggets fan for very long.
ParkHillNative - February 20, 2012
I too remember all of that
I remember going to work when the Nuggets were going through their turmoil and being ridiculed.
The Laker fans were always on my ass.
Bzdelik got the rawest deal of them all. His team was injured and Stan canned him for the POS the Nuggets have now.
I continue to preserver, and eight years of GK is whingeing.
This team is to talented and coachable to have George Michael Karl fuck it up
samdman - February 20, 2012
I'm not sure the Bizz is better than Karl
But he did some commendable work.
KevinAwesome - February 20, 2012 via mobile
some fan you must be...
NugNugz - February 20, 2012
And it was Allan Bristow and not Bernie on the 11 win season.
BrianD - February 20, 2012 via mobile
god is KevinAwesome
just trying to hustle us or what!?
NugNugz - February 20, 2012
He was the general manager, though.
He let Mutumbo go, drafted the guy from Greece, etc. etc.
KevinAwesome - February 20, 2012 via mobile
so standing by our team means to agree with everything they do?
Hmm.
Bigdorph - February 20, 2012
Didn't say that at all
I am one of the biggest critics on this team. I’m not on the level of Throwitdownbigman, but I’m not DJyoung fan boy optimist.
I will keep watching the games. I will bitch. I will extrapolate. But, at the end of the day, I’ll be there. If all y’all wanna ditch out then leave now and don’t come back.
KevinAwesome - February 20, 2012
of this team*
KevinAwesome - February 20, 2012
Well there is your big problem!
ThrowItDownBigManThrowItDown - February 20, 2012
You called me a lesbian or a hipster
One of them is more true than the other and the answer might surprise you!
KevinAwesome - February 20, 2012
Lesbian hipster? Sweet!
ThrowItDownBigManThrowItDown - February 20, 2012
Eh.
You go to City O’ City enough you will get more than your fill.
KevinAwesome - February 20, 2012
I pray you're not a hipster.
NugNugz - February 20, 2012
Hehe, put two of them on blast.
Kevin L - February 20, 2012
I have been here win or lose
but the losses bring out more emotion
Bigdorph - February 20, 2012
Agreed
I just saw some “I may not come back” talk in the last thread and I wanted to be the first to say, “adios.”
KevinAwesome - February 20, 2012
that's also what you should do as a patriot of your country
NugNugz - February 20, 2012
Thanks Kevin
I appreciate that post. I’m with you.
Alaskan4Fat - February 20, 2012
Looks like we have the Timberwolves tomorrow...
Does anyone know how Ty matched up against Rubio? I haven’t seen too much of the Spaniard.
LanceArmstrong_LIVESTRONG - February 19, 2012
Tough loss...
Didn’t like Karl’s lineups – we had a chance to win this one though.
chantech - February 19, 2012
Chantech,
Is there any hope for Karl to wake up and improve…Harrington from 8 mins left in the third til the rest of the game, no D subs, Miller from 4 mins in the third til end of the game….No brewer??!!!!! NO MOz??…No Kouf until 3 mins left.
Bigdorph - February 20, 2012
Nope, so just cope.
Kevin L - February 20, 2012
How will I cope?
Bigdorph - February 20, 2012
3-10
Things have to get better.
ThrowItDownBigManThrowItDown - February 20, 2012
They will...
actually I feel pretty optimistic…who cares what happens in the regular season. I think we saw that although OKC is really good, they are not great. We get our guys back and get a solid rotation..(one without Harrington) and we are right there. Our schedule will look up with guys healthy I think we can make a run. I am just worried that Karl will never learn from his mistakes and his stubbornness will never change.
Bigdorph - February 20, 2012
This is pretty accurate
We need our guys back, we need Karl to play the right ones in the right way, and the schedule will ease up a bit and we’ll be good for the playoffs IMO.
Not mentioned in all this is I thought Hamilton had some solid minutes.
The Unitary Executives - February 20, 2012
I hope so, but kind of doubt it...
I really hated him not playing Kouf after he played so well all game and he’s probably our most + bench player.
Also really don’t like playing Andre big minutes in the 4th. Karl might not think he has a choice since we need him on offense, but he needs to rest him a bit. That small lineup that can’t get any rebounds really kills us.
The Unitary Executives - February 20, 2012
Didn't you ask that same exact question last year
I think it was with the JR deal.
Anyways it’s a shame that since then GK HAS NOT CHANGED HIS COACHING
samdman - February 20, 2012
Enough with this shaking rage.
Off to go listen to some J Dilla and drift off to sleepy land. Much needed.
paidinfull87 - February 19, 2012
How are we the first to get to 100 twice
And still find a way to lose both games?? I want the lottery, I’m tired of excuses and incompetent coaching
JR15 - February 19, 2012
Karl is a stiff.
Albafica - February 19, 2012
and should be on top on the list all the time
samdman - February 20, 2012
We did see a GK breakthrough
in the first half we saw koufos and bird be effective together and then mozgov and koufos play well together.
but maybe I’m wrong since Karl never went back to it.:(
Imagine how devestaing having koufos and bird go against other teams second units on a nightly basis? We got a taste tonight but George loves his small ball.
I will point out we saw Ty fail when he had to be big time. The second tolast nugs possession at the end of the fourth before durant tied it. It was obvious the play was for Ty to drive to the hoop after a pick. He was way to hesitant and ended up shooting a 3, this was the key play to get it back to a 2 possession game. This will make Ty better I hope, he will use this to learn from.
james b - February 19, 2012
I think the fact that Ibacka had 10 blocked shots probably got in his head.
You can’t fear the paint if there is a shot blocker, you gotta tske it to him, or pump fake the hell out of him.
All Day Jay - February 19, 2012
about 4 of ibaka's blocks were fouls.
No way Ty would have gotten a call.
Monkfish - February 20, 2012 via mobile
Ty didnt fail, A gassed Miller was in playing bad after playing great for most of the game.
Bigdorph - February 20, 2012
he is referring to last 2 lawson shots where ty dribbled out the clock and shot
truly idiotic play calls by karl, as they burned a timeout to setup both plays. miller wasnt part of either play
utahcoyote - February 20, 2012
was there actually a play in place there?
NugNugz - February 20, 2012
Karl= Don Nelson for all the Karl supporters
Both “good” coaches according to the national media, but can’t win with the talent they are given.
To be honest Sloan couldn’t win with taken either.
Is there a way Phil can come to Denver??? In our dreams lol
JR15 - February 19, 2012
I honestly think Hunt can be a good coach
Plus he will have defensive schemes. I wouldn’t mind seeing what Hunt does. He is active and kinda reminds me of a mix of SVG/ Spoelstra
JR15 - February 19, 2012
I hope Chauncey would retire and take the place of GK.
Albafica - February 19, 2012
Good players tend to be bad coaches.
But there are plenty of smart role players out there who could be good coaches. I still think Hunt might work out better than we think.
JR15 - February 19, 2012
There is absolutely no reason to assume Chauncey would be a good coach.
georgekarl - February 19, 2012
There is also no reason to assume he wouldn't be either :)
SDcat09 - February 19, 2012
+1000000000
samdman - February 20, 2012
Who is Hunt?
samdman - February 20, 2012
He is an asst coach on the Nuggets
Used to work for the Cavaliers in the LeBron days.
georgekarl - February 20, 2012
Hire him TODAY
samdman - February 20, 2012
I liked him from day one.
He seems to actively speak with the players during the game and during timeouts.
You don’t really catch it on TV but at the games you can see he’s really into it. He points out problems and solutions to the players on the floor. Kind of reminds me of Doc Rivers in that respect.
georgekarl - February 20, 2012
Yesterday during a TO GK was sitting on his ass drinking
his Gatorade while Chris Anderson was barking out instructions to the players taking the floor. I said to my shelf wtfit
samdman - February 20, 2012
He said he was coaching this game like it was a playoff game.
and thats how he coaches a playoff game I guess.
georgekarl - February 20, 2012
One and Done
after eight years most people can read the writing on the wall.
And then it’s those who live in denial and can’t read.
samdman - February 20, 2012
I've watched Karl during timeouts
usually he sits or stands to the side for the first seconds, letting the assistants talk to the players individually. Then he gathers the team to give them one collective thought or plan.
ThrowItDownBigManThrowItDown - February 20, 2012
of the melvin variety.
NugNugz - February 20, 2012
nice comparison
Bigdorph - February 20, 2012
My question regarding George Karl...
There comes a point for every team where a coaching change needs to be made. We have seen it with every other team in Denver. The Broncos with the great Mike Shannahan, The Avs with Marc Crawford, The Rockies with Clint Hurdle. It’s not that they are bad coaches, it’s just time to try another approach.
Are we approaching that point with GK? This team is floundering, maybe it’s time to pull the trigger. Go with an interim coach and risk kissing the season goodbye, go after another big name coach, or maybe give an unproven coach an offer?
Personally, I’d like to see Jamahl Mosley, who is currently an assistan in Cleveland, or somebody sitting behind Popovich.
All Day Jay - February 19, 2012
Past the point
He should be replaced during asg. I think he will stay through the end of the (non playoff ) year, unfortunately.
ThrowItDownBigManThrowItDown - February 19, 2012
If he were to be replaced I would like it to be with whomever they intend to keep for next season as well.
Give the new guy the end of this season to work with the squad and then next season wouldn’t be a total what-if.
georgekarl - February 19, 2012
you think we miss the playoffs?
5baker5 - February 19, 2012
no
Fans just overreact after a couple of losses.
LanceArmstrong_LIVESTRONG - February 19, 2012
3 and 10
Not a couple of losses.
Also, my predictions are nearly 100% inaccurate
ThrowItDownBigManThrowItDown - February 19, 2012
except for that whole 82-0 thing :p
Russscot - February 20, 2012
And my knee is injured
I understand you can hook a guy up with some quick healing
ThrowItDownBigManThrowItDown - February 19, 2012
not just losses...but they way they loss
when games could have been won if we had better in-game coaching decisions
LEEDS - February 20, 2012
Denial
How do you feel after eight years of defending this coach who gets no where other than the first round of the playoffs?
samdman - February 20, 2012
This is for you Lance Armstrong
samdman - February 20, 2012
I think it is impossible to guess that.
There are I think 34 games left so we could pull ourselves back into the top 8 and stay there.
georgekarl - February 19, 2012
i think we can get to 6th seed...
5baker5 - February 19, 2012
I think we have the potential to go to 5th even
But with this many games left and who knows what player on which team will get injured or come back from injury. Man, it’s a total guessing game.
You know how it is in the West. The last ten games of regular season is like a craps game.
georgekarl - February 19, 2012
Finally, he says it.
Kevin L - February 20, 2012
Positioning in the West is shot. Just make it and come in hot.
Kevin L - February 20, 2012
past that point
LEEDS - February 20, 2012
I understand the frustration.
but this was a game that quite frankly we should not have been in, but we were with a chance to win it at the end. Maybe we lost because of Karl’s “wacky” rotations. Maybe that was the reason we didn’t get blown out by 20. I think it was just too much Durant, Westbrook, and Ibaka for the team to handle. Our best defense for all 3 of those guys were wearing street clothes tonight. I thought we played valiantly. Was Bird in the game to long? Maybe. Maybe if he is subbed out earlier we don’t even make it to OT. There is way to much negativity on this site for this to be a Nugges FAN site.
Larry Cunningham - February 19, 2012
I got an idea for handling Ibaka
Put in the tall Greek who was stomping all over them both defensively and offensively in the 13 minutes he played. That’s just one of those “wacky” rotation things I tend to critique.
KevinAwesome - February 19, 2012
Crazy talk
A guy goes for 8 and 11 in the first half, why would he get any minutes after that?
ThrowItDownBigManThrowItDown - February 19, 2012
Whoda Thunk It?
KevinAwesome - February 19, 2012
karl has dementia?
Bigdorph - February 20, 2012
I hope not
Truly a sad thing. My 93 year old grandmother is reliving her teens.
ThrowItDownBigManThrowItDown - February 20, 2012
yeah let's avoid throwing this term around. for the old folks.
NugNugz - February 20, 2012
cancer treatment accelerates aging
That’s the truth
jd80229 - February 20, 2012 via mobile
Bird played pretty damn good tonight.
K2 was balling tonight, but Bird had the better all around game.
Larry Cunningham - February 19, 2012
Did I ever say take out Bird?
I don’t think I did. Perhaps, and this is just a thought, we could have played Kouf and Bird together. You know, ride the hot hand a little bit.
I know I’m not a 1,000 game winner or anything so my opinion must be void.
KevinAwesome - February 19, 2012
Didn't say you did just commenting on the game.
such hostility!?!
Larry Cunningham - February 19, 2012
Not hostile at all
I think you or maybe another Karl-defender like you threw that in my face. I think it’s funny so I run with it.
KevinAwesome - February 19, 2012
I just thought this was a Nuggets fan site.
and not a F*** George Karl site. After every loss people come on here and want him fired for not doing what they would have done. It just gets old after awhile. I’d much rather talk hoops with fans than talk improbable hypotheticals of firing a coach that isn’t going to get fired. That’s all.
Larry Cunningham - February 20, 2012
Karl fan or not
You have to admit that the players played well enough to win tonight. Ran out of gas due to being overplayed.
ThrowItDownBigManThrowItDown - February 20, 2012
Yeah they did run out of gas.
It was a shame they couldn’t win it in regulation. But had GK given some of the hot hands some more rest and we still lost, people would be on here bitching because Karl took them out of the game.
Larry Cunningham - February 20, 2012
Kk was the rested hot hand
ThrowItDownBigManThrowItDown - February 20, 2012
I think KK was a defensive liability tonight.
Don’t have the stats but I would bet that his +/- wasn’t that good. GK found a combo that worked and he rode it.
Larry Cunningham - February 20, 2012
Problem was he rode it to the ground tonight.
Kevin L - February 20, 2012
Dude you never criticize anyone except when I troll
Are you converting?
KevinAwesome - February 20, 2012
I only criticize when needed be.
And I’d rather call them interjections.
Kevin L - February 20, 2012
he wrote it til the wheels came off ...and they did...
Larry, Didn’t the combo of Moz,K2 work, what about brewer that combo worked. Do you remember we were up by 14
Bigdorph - February 20, 2012
In bits it worked
he problem was Durant was playing the 4 spot a lot of the night. Which means KK, Bird, Moz, or Harrington was going to have to guard him. I looked it up KK has a -3 tonight despite his numbers. It was just a bad matchup tonight for him.
Larry Cunningham - February 20, 2012
Yeah, but Perkins and Ibaka couldn't handle him at all
You can’t go totally off +/- as you already know.
KevinAwesome - February 20, 2012
No you can't,
but the lineups tonight were working. We just need to find a way to win it in reg. As good as KK was Bird was better. And because of Durant playing the 4 it was hard to have both on the floor at the same time IMO.
Larry Cunningham - February 20, 2012
I just don't understand why both couldn't have played at the end.
KevinAwesome - February 20, 2012
because GK has a love affair for Al
he is the new AC
Bigdorph - February 20, 2012
Al can inbound the ball
ThrowItDownBigManThrowItDown - February 20, 2012
Hindsight my friend.
They call that over he back on Ty’s rebound it’s game over and a moot point.
Larry Cunningham - February 20, 2012
Or just foul for two and make it a FT game when we were up 5.
Kevin L - February 20, 2012
It's not hindsight when the problem keeps recurring
KevinAwesome - February 20, 2012
I disagree with you there
but we have another one tomorrow. We played well tonight.
Larry Cunningham - February 20, 2012
I don't remember the stat
But Karl is 175-175 in games that are decided by 2 points or less.
Pretty terrible for a guy with a win percentage above 60 % and 1,000 + wins.
KevinAwesome - February 20, 2012
No Bird wasn't better....especially when he got tired.
yes would’nt you play Durant at the 4 if you knew Harrington was playing the 4?
Bigdorph - February 20, 2012
IDK. Bird was pretty damn good tonight
You have that backwards tho. Harrington was on him beacuse he was playing the 4 not the other way around.
Larry Cunningham - February 20, 2012
Wait I thought we were
Cutting bird. Or al. Or aaa. Maybe it was nene.
ThrowItDownBigManThrowItDown - February 20, 2012
I never really liked +/- integers. I miss pre school rithmetic.
Kevin L - February 20, 2012
K2 completely ran Perkins in the 2nd quarter
we were beating them with the running game…can’t run when you are tired. What exactly did Al do to deserve him playing from the 8 minute mark tl the end of the game? You want to talk about crappy D…
Bigdorph - February 20, 2012
How was it a bad matchup for him?
13 points 9 reb in 13 min. He was huge in the first half. He was grabbing offensive boards scoring and was a presence down low. Koufus had a great game.
gonugs - February 20, 2012 via Android app
He ended up -3
But in the first half he was (I think) +6 or +7.
georgekarl - February 20, 2012
Man go to milehighreport.com
And come back here. You’ll thank us for being pragmatics.
We are fed up and while some us are more extreme (mozgovcocktail, georgekarl the poster, etc) some of us will give him some credit when he warrants it. Thing is is he hardly warrants it cause he pulls this kind of crap all too often. So it gets kind of impossible to just talk about hoops when as BeefySwats put it “we in spite of him and lose because of him.” I believe that to be true 90 % of the time.
And isn’t the debate part of the fun that comes along with the game? If any of us truly hated it, we wouldn’t be here.
KevinAwesome - February 20, 2012
I love the debate my brotha!
Larry Cunningham - February 20, 2012
+10000000000000000000000000000
It’s so old, it’s so clearly fans being emotional and irrational yet they’re on here after every loss acting like they’ve got more rings than Phil Jackson. They throw out names like Melvin Hunt even though they have absolutely no clue, let me emphasize that, ABSOLUTELY NO CLUE what his ability as a coach is yet he must must has to be better than a 1000+ win coach and anyone who thinks otherwise is obviously a blind fool.
It’s so ridiculous because most of them werent even alive to see Mutumbo wear a nuggets jersey
Zachm219 - February 22, 2012 via iPhone app
You're right their with that SDcat
samdman - February 20, 2012
Bird got tired
Along with the rest of the guys playing in the fourth.
ThrowItDownBigManThrowItDown - February 19, 2012
til he got tired just like Al and Miller
Bigdorph - February 20, 2012
I was listening on the radio.
When Koz said, ‘ok, looks like Kufos is finally coming back in’. I was like, alright, kk coming back big al getting a rest. Then he takes out Bird who is doing well. I knew it was the end right there.
georgekarl - February 20, 2012
why due you still stick up for karl for?,i would like to know plz
ice357 - February 19, 2012
Yes we played great and coached abhorrently
Bigdorph - February 20, 2012
seriously dude...do you want a ribbon for participating?
I don’t care if we were meant to be in it or not. WE WERE IN IT..UP 5 with less than a minute!
DO SOME FREAKING COACHING and put in a defensive lineup in…seriously most teams don’t lose when they are up 5 with less than a minute… I WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND fans who settle for being average or for moral victories “but this was a game that quite frankly we should not have been in, but we were with a chance to win it at the end”.
OPEN YOU EYES Larry!
LEEDS - February 20, 2012
we had more than a chance to win at the end
We were leading a good portion of the game throughout, coaching mismanagement was worth at least 50% of the loss.
jd80229 - February 20, 2012 via mobile
The only positive thing right now in nuggetsnation
Is wilson chandler could agree on a deal tomorrow, itll be nice to see him with the team
5baker5 - February 19, 2012
great effort, poor late game rotation
Stated simply, we needed high energy defensive substitutions late in the fourth quarter and overtime, i.e.,Brewer,Faried and possibly Mosgov instead of pretending that Al H can guard talented big men or play extended minutes without running out of gas. If George won’t act on this, then trade Harrington for God’s sake to get out of this rut. If Chandler returns and Hamilton shows some smarts at both ends, not sure we lose anything without Big Al
Afflalo played with great heart and grit tonight, Koutas and Bird were great off the bench and Andre was absolutely terrific but should have been rested on defense possessions in overtime. We might not have won, but at least we would not have made the Durant/Westbrook domination inevitable.
rhaustin - February 19, 2012
agreed
Big Al’s defense is shocking. I give the guy credit for starting the season in better shape and playing well early but his minutes need to be cut so he doesnt run out of gas
gonugs - February 20, 2012 via Android app
Too late
love4nuggets - February 20, 2012
At least Nuggets Nation can agree that
Westbrook is an intolerable piece of shit. I hate that little spud.
KevinAwesome - February 19, 2012
hes a prick
5baker5 - February 19, 2012
That faried block was a thing of beauty.
ThrowItDownBigManThrowItDown - February 20, 2012
didnt see much of faried after that, but great block
5baker5 - February 20, 2012
That was EPIC!!!
NugzJunkie - February 20, 2012
I just hate his face for some reason!
On the other hand, I can’t hate on KD, he’s just too good. Faried block was nice! Lots of yelling at the TV tonight!
cdeeznuggs - February 20, 2012
got that right
Bigdorph - February 20, 2012
It's understandable. I hate his face, too.
This 4 second video sums up my feelings whenever I see him on the TV
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2raR8we0U4c
KevinAwesome - February 20, 2012
More Koufos Please!
Why only 13 min? In that time Kouf got 13 pts 9 rebounds and went 6-7. It may have been against OKC’s bench, but he was feeling it. Why take your hottest hand out of the game?
cdeeznuggs - February 19, 2012
Get me to the Greek
Bigdorph - February 20, 2012
Well Stiffs, tough loss but all is not lost!
GO NUGGETS!!!!
Peace out
SDcat09 - February 20, 2012
They will win at least 5 more games this year!
ThrowItDownBigManThrowItDown - February 20, 2012
I never took you for a guy who overestimated at anything
I made myself feel bad with that joke. :(
KevinAwesome - February 20, 2012
So I understand everyone (at least a bunch of you) here wants to fire George...
Well, I too am incredibly annoyed and flabergasted with his lineups and inability to make basic coaching decisions. Remember when he said “if I was a smarter I would have called a timeout” during the OKC series after the botched goal-tending call. Here is my question though, do you remember when Karl went out with cancer and our team imploded? At that time I realized that Karl truly does make a huge difference for this team. Maybe there is something more to coaching then just what we see during games…. However, you would think at the nba level he should be able to do both
justin7201 - February 20, 2012
Impossible to judge
As the coach replacing Karl during the cancer wasn’t coaching as he wanted to. I think Karl is good except during games
ThrowItDownBigManThrowItDown - February 20, 2012
I felt the same way when I watched the Association
I was like he gives some good speeches and advice to his players. Then he plays 4 guards and Al Harrington at center.
KevinAwesome - February 20, 2012
Yeah, that’s GK for ya.
Kevin L - February 20, 2012
thats the reverse Jeremy Lin effect
AD was just so bad. He coached exactly like Karl, but worse. Its all about replacement level.
Monkfish - February 20, 2012 via mobile
I thought J-Ham looked good for his time
Too bad he didn’t have one second longer for that 3.
I am very intrigued if this kid could be the playmaker/long ranger we so desperately need.
KevinAwesome - February 20, 2012
He’s JR that’s a GK guy. If that made sense.
Kevin L - February 20, 2012
A more sane JR.
KevinAwesome - February 20, 2012
Better hairdo too.
Kevin L - February 20, 2012
he has skills, we got a steal for him...will we ever see him play much?
Bigdorph - February 20, 2012
Again as long as he stays as a GK guy.
Kevin L - February 20, 2012
I hope so
Faried can contribute. We just need to figure out the right role/time scheme for him. I think J-Ham could as well.
I’m not sold on Stone.
KevinAwesome - February 20, 2012
Thing is about our depth, they actually get to ease in instead of leaving things to faith and throw them to the fire.
Kevin L - February 20, 2012
Eh. Sometimes trial by fire can be the best thing for someong.
Lin?
KevinAwesome - February 20, 2012
Lin had a year in his black belt.
Kevin L - February 20, 2012
LOL
He had 76 points all last season. Something tells me he didn’t get much attention with Monta and Curry on the team/
KevinAwesome - February 20, 2012
Exactly.
He had a year to ease in to the practices games and trips.
Kevin L - February 20, 2012
You could argue that stifled his development
KevinAwesome - February 20, 2012
But it also gave time to adjust from Harvard.
Kevin L - February 20, 2012
Stupid, smart Asians.
Wait. You’re Asian, right?
KevinAwesome - February 20, 2012
None taken.
I’ve had my cracks at “Asians driving to the rim”, MSG references and NY on that Yellow Fever jokes
Kevin L - February 20, 2012
None taken what? I never said no offense.
NERD!
KevinAwesome - February 20, 2012
We just made sure D-Rose will never start an All-star game ever again.
Who’s the Nerd again?
Kevin L - February 20, 2012
Unless GK becomes an All Star coach for the east.
KevinAwesome - February 20, 2012
You’re forgetting the Fan voting….
Kevin L - February 20, 2012
Bringing math into it again.
KevinAwesome - February 20, 2012
Plus
You really didn’t expect a Chinese Guard from Harvard to explode in the Mecha, didn’t you?
Kevin L - February 20, 2012
No?
KevinAwesome - February 20, 2012
See, sometimes it works sometimes they crack.
Kevin L - February 20, 2012
Mozgov is our key guy!
Mark my words. Once he grows a pair watch this team take off. He’s still playing way too soft for as big as he is.
Larry Cunningham - February 20, 2012
I think Mozzie is slowly figuring stuff out.
I’m excited for him next season.
KevinAwesome - February 20, 2012
He just came off from an ankle break.
Kevin L - February 20, 2012
You can see the growth each game
I have a straight up man-crush on the kid! He just needs to be a “bigger” big man. It was nice to see him pump fake Ibaka a couple of times but part of me was like “Slam that sh** in his face!!!! You’re 7 foot 12 for crying out loud!”
Larry Cunningham - February 20, 2012
I'm still flabbergasted that Harrington played from 8:00 in the third the rest of the game
I mean…I just don’t understand. Koufus was 13/9 in THIRTEEN MINUTES and you can’t find a way to get him in until the waning minutes of overtime??
And for all his great plays tonight, Dre clearly cannot be effective past 30 minutes, especially in consecutive quarters, without a break!
I just shake my head, man. It was an utter coaching loss. Those lineups down the stretch were worse than bad, they sent a message to all our young players. This is what Mozgov, Koufus, Faried, Stone and Hamilton heard:
“I trust you so little that I would rather play a gassed Andre Miller and Al Harrington from the 3rd quarter onward and take the loss instead of give you the opportunity.”
That’s all there is to it, really.
Colin Neilson - February 20, 2012
Oh, and Brewer.
Colin Neilson - February 20, 2012
I freaking can't stand Karl
This
teamhell ANY TEAM will NEVER win a championship with this guy as the coach.Colsportsfan - February 20, 2012
I am brain fried watching videos instead of studying for my test tomorrow
This reminds me of our loss.
GK is ron and we are Andy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2raR8we0U4c
KevinAwesome - February 20, 2012
wrong video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGUkc9ajgiU
KevinAwesome - February 20, 2012
Here is one thing to look at
the team’s defense is terrible 51 points to Durant and 40 to Westbrook? Really?! To top it off, we don’t seem to hardly ever keep a team under 100 points
Colsportsfan - February 20, 2012
lol when al is on kd...
And Dre is on westbrook yeah they are gonna have big games
Monkfish - February 20, 2012 via mobile
and yes,
I am blaming our terrible D on Karl. He creates defensive mismatches for the other team. Karl also manages to create horrible rebounding lineups, game in game out. Like a goddamn broken record.
Monkfish - February 20, 2012 via mobile
Heartbreaking.
Let’s get that one against Minnesota at home.
NuggetsFan99 - February 20, 2012
wasn't able to watch this one
But the fact we nearly won without Gallo / Nene / Rudy is pretty impressive.
Wait till we have those guys back and Chandler to boot. AAA leads the scoring. It’s A Shame Faried wasn’t more effective tonight.
InboundingLobPass - February 20, 2012 via mobile
Tight Games Play Like Playoff Games
And GK’s “roll out the ball and let the players figure it out” approach really kills us in tight games and playoff games. You have to be able to execute plays down the stretch, and the Nuggs free lance offense stalls in tight games down the stretch, where they often play one on one ball and take bad shots at the buzzer. Karl needs to work on some designed half court offense in these tight games or we are going to be one of the worst closing teams in the League. Really like the effort against Memphis and OKC, so that is encouraging, and Karl deserves credit for having his guys ready to play. Just wish we had more execution in the half court down the stretch.
ACEIII - February 20, 2012 via mobile
Chauncey had to coax Karl into drawing up inbounds plays. Attention to detail and strategy are not Karl’s strongsuits.
BryanM - February 20, 2012 via mobile
What kind of F ing lineup was that? Played Bird for like a whole half straight? Are you kidding me? That was fing terrible and the officiating was shit. If you didnt have Durant or Westbrook name on your jersey you weren’t gonna get shit for calls. Karl was fing horrible tonight and he lost the damn game.
waterboy31321 - February 20, 2012
ouch
9th spot
I say get into the lottery and get a guy who can score in crunch time, you know someone who doesn’t pucker up when things get tight (which is like every bball game)
NewEraNugg - February 20, 2012
It doesn’t matter who they get. As long Karl is the coach, the nuggets aren’t going to win anything.
Defensive substitutions, calling a timeout to set up a good play when you need a bucket to put the game away? Why bother with any of that?
BryanM - February 20, 2012 via mobile
I disagree
Put a player of KDs skill on this Nugg team and watch the changes
NewEraNugg - February 20, 2012
Karl had Melo and save for one season (thanks to Billups) it was first round exit after first round exit.
We had blamed the lack of a consistent half court offense (Melo got it done or they lost) and poor defense on Melo. However, the half court execution has been poor and the defense is garbage.
Karl is the common denominator.
BryanM - February 20, 2012 via mobile
MElo
isn’t on KDs level, I think KD has been better then MElo since his rookie year
NewEraNugg - February 20, 2012
they won
last night, cause whenever they need it KD can score. He can score from anywhere, with anyone guarding him. Oh bball game is tight, don’t worry KD can score to loosen in up. It’s a commodity that the Nuggets do not have and it makes a huge difference in a tight basketball game
NewEraNugg - February 20, 2012
Melo is an elite scorer and outclutched KD when he was here.
Poor defense, poor half court offense, failure to use and win timeouts, all Karl. And things that will prevent the Nuggets from winning it all.
BryanM - February 20, 2012 via mobile
Melo is
an elite chucker who throws up alot of shots
KD is way better then Melo and has proved it by actually winning a scoring title and getting his team out of the first round the first time he was in the playoffs, pretty sure he’ll get his team out of the first round this year too. Meanwhile Melo loses in the first round again sans George and had NYK off to a horrible start until Lin bailed them out. You ask 30 GMs who they would build a team around Melo or KD and 30 out of 30 would pick KD
the Nuggs didn’t win it all before Karl and probably won’t win it all after Karl
NewEraNugg - February 20, 2012
Melo out clutched Durant countless times
don’t let your dislike of Melo cloud the facts. Say what you want about Melo, he IS a clutch player.
Jeffrey Morton - February 20, 2012
I reject your reality and substitute my own.
ThrowItDownBigManThrowItDown - February 20, 2012
Durant is better then
Melo and it’s not really close. I’d say to you, don’t let your under estimation of KD cloud your judgement. I’m actually over the Melo thing so it’s not sour grapes, it’s just what I see. Yes Melo won over KD early, but it’s what have you done for me lately in pro sports. We’ll never know, but I think KD would be doing this to the Nuggs with or w/o Melo now. KD is a great player if not the best in the league right now, has Melo ever been considered the best in the league?
KD moves w/o the ball better then most I’ve seen. KD has won a scoring title and will probably win multiple b4 he’s done. KD also has been out of the first round in less years played and pretty safe to assume he’ll be out of the 1st round again this year. Ask yourself this, if a GM was starting a team right now and had a chance for Melo or KD who would they take?
NewEraNugg - February 20, 2012
Oh KD is without a doubt a better player
I just think Melo is the best closer.
NugNugz - February 20, 2012
Melo
is a great closer, no argument there
NewEraNugg - February 20, 2012
best in the league?
at scoring, maybe. I do not like him personally, but LeBron is hands down the best PLAYER in the league. If you let your mind think KD>LBJ, then you need to pay attention to gameplay. KD is a better scorer, but James can match him point for point when needed. The difference between great scorer and great player would be the passing, the ability to make your entire team better, defense. Lebron can guard any position on the court, KD is good, but not that good. He might crack top 5 in the league after this season, but not the best.
Army of Nugs - February 20, 2012
agreed there's no one in the NBA that i'd rather have taking the last shot.
NugNugz - February 20, 2012
I've never
seen Melo do to a team what KD did to Nuggs in game 5 last year. Dude just puts team on his back and wins.
Melo is a great player, but he’s better as a component, not the lead guy….IMO
NewEraNugg - February 20, 2012
KD actually
moves w/o the ball ala Reggie Miller, that’s right Reggie Miller Jeff
MElo has an iso & 20 second jabstep, though watching this nugget team I’d actually take that at this point
again KD > Nuggs
and KD > Carmelo Anthony
NewEraNugg - February 20, 2012
Rainbow was on the money
Subbing Brewer for Miller and Koufus or Moz for Harrington at the end of the game for defense was an obvious move. Why wasn’t a big parked under the hoop to prevent the easy bucket?
passtheball - February 20, 2012
+100000000000000
that’s a no brainier.
samdman - February 20, 2012
Watching
the Thunder makes me sad that the Nuggs never progressed like them. That team is good and is only getting better.
guess that’s what you get when it’s Melo, Kmart & JR vs KD, Westbrook & Ibaka…who would you rather have?
NewEraNugg - February 20, 2012
Melo saved Karl's A$$
so many times with his games against OKC…how many game winners did Melo hit against OKC?
LEEDS - February 20, 2012
how
many points had Melo given up to the man he was defending? score 30 but give up 35 was his MO
NewEraNugg - February 20, 2012
true that...but i remember several games where hit won for us
I am NOT a melo fan so I would prefer KD and Westbrook any day, but just stating the fact that Melo bailed us out for than a few times…and until we can someone who can do that, I do not think this team balll can work in close 4 qtr situations…look at how many of our losses are a result of bad coaching and no one willing to take a shot
LEEDS - February 20, 2012
I hear you
on those points
NewEraNugg - February 20, 2012
I think coaching is at fault here
A leader on the floor would emerge if you had plays which encompassed spacing and a half court game.
samdman - February 20, 2012
Yeah, and this team gave up 51 to Durant.
BryanM - February 20, 2012 via mobile
Al scored 11 to offset the 51 we gave up lmao
808inDenver - February 20, 2012
Durant > Nuggets team
Durant is good and the Nuggs cannot beat them, especially w/o a constant threat to score the ball. KD can score whenever he needs, Nuggs struggle to get points especially in crunchtime.
NewEraNugg - February 20, 2012
This was a good game.
If you are a Thunder fan. I’m not so I think it sucked to see a tired bunch of guys trying to keep up with Durantula and Pestbrook. Why didn’t our coaching staff rest guys like Andre Miller and Al Harrington. What a stupid loss.
WintermuteAI - February 20, 2012
pushing the tempo
only works for 45 minutes. possessions are too valuable at the end of games and in the playoffs. but GK obviously doesnt value possessions bc there is no offense/defense substitutions. really Al and Dre tryna guard KD? ridiculous. its like last season when he thought Felton could guard KD.
and i like Bird’s energy. but i dont like him in crunch time on D bc he always goes for weakside blocks and we tend to give up a lot of offensive rebounds/putbacks.
so fustrating.
808inDenver - February 20, 2012
KD & Westbrook > Nuggs team
through in Ibaka and it’s not even close.
That being said, I was glad to see this team fight it out & be in a close game wtih a team that is just better. When Nene & Gallo come back it’ll make things better, though we’re not beating OKC as currently constructed.
NewEraNugg - February 20, 2012
this was a great recap
think karl needed to give miller a break in the middle of the 4 th qtr, even if only for a couple of minutes. one of the oddest things to me in this game was how easily miller could penetrate, yet the okies managed to make lawson go side to side. that said, miller was using an incredible amount of injury and needed a blow.
he was gassed in the overtime, but that first travel call was bogus as he fooled the ref. he clearly didn’t move the pivot foot. on the second travel call, he did slide it.
the biggest problem for me was the last 2 shots that lawson took in regulation. with a timeout you have to come up with more than dribble clock away and shoot. realize ibaka had a monster game, but you have to penetrate and either go to the rim or kick out for open jumper. have to assume lawson was running what karl called, but this was horrendous.
don’t say this very often, or think it for that matter, but coaching cost us this game. it wasn’t durant, westbrook and ibaka as great as they played, but coaching!!
utahcoyote - February 20, 2012
injury =energy i need more cawfee!!!
utahcoyote - February 20, 2012
GK is stuntin Ty's growth too
with no halfcourt structure, Ty really doesnt know how to run any type of halfcourt offense. GK’s message to Ty is always the same, “Attack attack attack.” da fuck? i can do that.
man how bout teaching our guys to set legit screens? teach our shooters like AAA how to use a off the ball screen properly.
808inDenver - February 20, 2012
Word
With this team, GK would better serve the Nuggets in the FO not on the bench trying to coach
samdman - February 20, 2012
Freakin awesome game
OKC is poised to dominate for years to come. I believe Moz and KK are the answer. Zone it up and punish them on the o boards. OKC is too good and too young, we are going to have to strategize for them for years.
KK with 13 and 9, 85% shooting and 13 min? C’mon Karl. I know his rotations and p&r defense is poor but he’s better than any other choice.
NugzD - February 20, 2012
what!?
i acutally think KK headges the best out of all our bigs on the PnR. and lets be honest, our PnR D is freakin pathetic. easiest way to beat the Nuggs is run high PnR all game. we cant stop it.
808inDenver - February 20, 2012
Pathetic
Rotations. Lineups. “Play-calling.” Inexplicable. Beyond belief. It’s oh so easy to see how Nuggets fans are so flummoxed by it all.
You know what else is pathetic? Some of the fans here calling out others for having strong, informed opinions about the above. PLEASE express your contrary opinions without calling into question the loyalties and/or sanity of those with whom you disagree.
LongWindedHank - February 20, 2012
I expect lots of j-ham and faried time
tough b2b
5baker5 - February 20, 2012
Gotta Sign Chandler
If for nothing else, to be our Durant stopper. Will matches up about as well as anyone can with with KD with his size, long arms and great perimeter defense. Signing Will is critical if we ever want to compete with the Thunder.
ACEIII - February 20, 2012 via mobile
By The Way
Heard Will we be in Denver today and will be attending tonight’s game with Twolves.
ACEIII - February 20, 2012 via mobile
yup, talking with masia about a possible contract today also
5baker5 - February 20, 2012
Here is a pretty decent article about Chandler
http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=ycn-10905571
I don’t know if Denver is his preferred top pick but he’s probably terrified of getting stuck with the Raptors.
georgekarl - February 20, 2012
He already said denver is his top choice
5baker5 - February 20, 2012
Yes, out of Denver and Toronto
But if he had the chance to play for the Lakers or OKC he would probably take it.
georgekarl - February 20, 2012
Nuggets have dropped to 17 in steins power rankings
5baker5 - February 20, 2012
How can they even be that high?
ThrowItDownBigManThrowItDown - February 20, 2012
Koufos has a 11 points and 8 rebounds in the second quarter
and I don’t think he plays again until Overtime. That is ridiculous.
NugNugz - February 20, 2012
OKC
may win it all this year
NewEraNugg - February 20, 2012
I would rather see them win it all instead of Lakers, San Antonio or Miami
georgekarl - February 20, 2012
this
NewEraNugg - February 20, 2012
It's hard not to respect OKC.
Hard working bunch of guys and I like the coach too. Kind of like San Antonio but those guys have had their wins. I’d like to see someone else (preferably the Nuggets) do some dynasty dominating for a while.
georgekarl - February 20, 2012
I'm just
saying that cause everyone needs to realize Nuggs played the best team in the NBA last night. People are calling for Kosta Koufus, like he was going to be a difference maker or something. This team will win more often then not.
NewEraNugg - February 20, 2012
he might have been a difference maker or not
but we’ll never know since Karl planted him on the bench after a fantastic 2nd quarter.
NugNugz - February 20, 2012
Maybe kk would have made a difference and maybe not
But a reasonable person has to ask themselves, since we were inches away from a win, was there anything that could have been done differently to cross the finish line.
The guys on the floor didn’t get it done so if there had been a different set would the results be better, worse, the same? This is why I am continually led down the path of thinking that the coaching in the 4th quarter was the reason we lost.
georgekarl - February 20, 2012
Please tell me when
this will become a true statement? Hasn’t been true for weeks.
ThrowItDownBigManThrowItDown - February 20, 2012
after getting over the initial rage after the game and thinking about more
I still feel the same about the coaching fail in the 4th qtr, and that it seems that Coach Karl is getting progressively worse in critical late game situations, which is more concerning in that it could be beyond “basketball reasons” that would rather not be acknowledged, but hope the front office is paying attention.
jd80229 - February 20, 2012 via mobile
He’s playing favorites again. Al was playing bad but doesn’t get pulled, Dre was obviously gassed, but he stays in as well. Up 5 with 50 seconds left, if we had the proper DEFENSIVE lineup in there we win the game.
JBnuggs - February 20, 2012
agreed
the more i think about karl fing this team…the more pissed i get…i am sorry bt we have had better than one and done teams but..GK find a way screw it up…only consistent thing is karl for the past 7 yra
LEEDS - February 20, 2012 via Android app
This is one time I wish Masai was a little more talkative
He runs a tight ship, no leaks, which I think is the best policy. Unfortunately, it leaves the fans completely in the dark relative to his thinking. Is Karl on the hot seat about to get fired? Is Karl safe for as long as he wants to coach? Either could be true and we as fans have no idea.
ThrowItDownBigManThrowItDown - February 20, 2012
Agree it's the best policy
But as I’ve said before, plenty of other GMs hold press conferences at intervals throughout the season. Sure, they’re sometimes hilarious exercises in futility from a journalistic standpoint, but they often yield insights into front office thinking. Ujiri doesn’t have to toss employees under the bus in order to let Nuggets Nation in on some of his thinking.
LongWindedHank - February 22, 2012
I love GK
But his refusal to utilze Koufos more last night, when Kouf was so incredibly effective during his limited minutes, was absolutely mind boggling.
Bob in Boulder - February 20, 2012
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