As nice as it would have been to take on a depleted Rockets team, keep home-court advantage and sweep through the Western Conference Playoffs as the favorite in every round, this is the match-up the Nuggets needed in order to be taken serious as a contender.
Much has been said of Denver's easy path to Round 3 of the 2009 Playoffs, and about how they have yet to really deal with any adversity, but I think that's more due to the performance of the Nuggets rather than the shortcomings of their opponents. New Orleans was clearly not playing great hoops in the first round, but I would certainly take them in a 7-game series with the tanking Jazz team that took on the Lakers in Round 1. Dallas didn't look up to the challenge against Denver, but had been playing their best ball of the season leading up and in to their first round victory over San Antonio. There's no question in my mind that Dallas would have been able to knock off the McGrady and Yao-less Rockets in less than the 7 games it took L.A.
We've been watching a Denver Nuggets team that has embraced and conquered every challenge laid in their path this post-season, and playing the Lakers will just be the next on the list. I don't doubt the talent that Los Angeles brings to the table. Their front-line is very formidble and it will take the best effort from Denver's big guys to match up with them. Phil Jackson will not be rattled in the way Rick Carlisle was, and will have his team prepared as far as X's and O's. Kobe is easily the best all-around talent in the Western Conference and won't be settling for fall-away jump shots nearly as often as Dirk was, but I think these are the things that will keep this Nuggets team focused.
My biggest worry in the playoffs has been how the Nuggets will respond to their continuing success. All season long, they've been able to play the "Nobody Believes In Us" card, and matching up with the Lakers will allow that to continue for a little while longer. Denver only managed one victory over L.A. in the regular season, but if you look at the line-ups in each of the 4 games, you'll see that one team or the other had somebody significant missing in each game. The season-opener came before the Billups trade and before Dahntay Jones had made his way into the starting lineup; the second game featured Vlad Radmonovic starting for LA and Birdman missing the game for Denver; game 3, Denver's dominating victory came with Bynum sitting out and the final regular season game was played without Kenyon Martin, who is unquestionably the Nuggets' defensive spark plug.
There's no more time for excuses now. It doesn't matter who's hurt, who's tired, who got the better match-ups and who didn't, it's all about showing it on the court. The Lakers have been written into the Finals in ink since the start of the season, and they've been playing as if they believe it's a foregone conclusion so far in the playoffs as well. Denver has yet to fall behind in a 2009 playoff game by more than 11 and has yet to lose a 2009 playoff game by more than 2. I don't expect either of those numbers to stand up throughout this next series, but just as the Nuggets' play has remained consistent, my series prediction will stay the same as I'm looking forward to stealing one of these first two in the Staples Center and continuing the dominant play at home:
Nuggets in 6.
I tried to rile your blog reader's up with my last post. However, I suppose there won't be any intensity until our teams give us reasons to hate each other (only while the series lasts of course). So don't get used to the polite banter, as I'm sure it won't last. Now to the issues at hand. Inconsistent play . . . check. Lack of motivation . . . check. Arrogance . . . check. Now here's the misnomer, they are not playing like that because they're not as good as the hype. They are playing like that because up until now they have been bored. I'm not certain if you got to see them play the Celtics or the Cavs this year, but that's what you guys are in for. It's time to get to the finish line, and these guys have a serious chip on their shoulders. The series with Houston, and the recent comments in the media have not been falling on deaf ears, trust me on that. Oh and Martin had some stupid things to say about taking both games at staples to start, not a smart move. I can guarantee you that's on the locker room wall. He should follow Chauncey's lead, and give props where it's due ( I like Chauncey, he's pretty cool). No need to fire up a team that can not wait to tear into your ass. Anyways good luck.
ReplyDelete-LAKERS FAN
Oh I forgot,
ReplyDeleteLakers in 6. Maybe even 5.
I can see what you're saying about the lack of motivation, but that's a dangerous game to play. Fall asleep on one home game and you're looking at losing the home court advantage.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I think the same can be said of Denver's defense. The only time I've seen the Nuggets put a complete game together defensively, they won by 58 points, so I think there's plenty of room to improve off of their performance against Dallas.
As far as Kenyon's comments, I'm ok with them. Obviously you don't want to fire up an opponent, but Phil Jackson doesn't seem like the type that worries about firing his guys up, and Kenyon's brashness can do a lot to fire up his teammates as much as it does his opponents.
Regardless, I'm really looking forward to tonight's game. Both teams play an exciting brand of hoops and I think this could turn into a classic.
We had no time to prep, you guys had 5 full days. We were tired, you were well rested. Your team played about as well as it can, half our guys didn't have their legs. Your rotations were tight, all our bigs were in foul trouble. This was your best chance to win at Staples and give yourselves a shot in this series. You guys won't win here. Therefore you just won't win.
ReplyDeleteI think by "LAKERS FAN" this poster actually means "giant douche". Go back to Mexico you filthy front runner!
ReplyDeleteMore cogently stated: The Rockets best chances to win were in games 1, 2, and 3. They only won 1 of those games. Once Yao went down, an unbiased observer would have given them a 0.5% chance of making it to game 6, let alone winning it. Your assertion that the Nuggets somehow won't win at Staples because they didn't win tonight just doesn't hold water with me for some reason... might have something to do with the fact that Denver lost by 2 points while missing 12 free throw attempts and dealing with the fact that all 3 of their guards not named Chauncey Billups played their worst games of the playoffs concurrently.
Assuming JR isn't hurt (and I really have no idea if that's a safe assumption to make) I'd give the Nuggs a good shot in game 2... unless Bennett Salvatore or Violet Palmer is on the officiating crew. Then yeah, I'll admit LA's got that one in the bag too.