Maybe the Third Time is the Charm

As I wait for the Nuggets/Spurs game tonight my mind keeps wandering back to February and the day after the big Carmelo trade. I had my only tickets to a Nuggets game for this season, as I don’t live in Colorado anymore. I had gotten very good seats for myself and two of my friends. It should have been an exciting day for us, but we were all so depressed and unsure about the team we were actually dreading the impending experience. My friend Tomas texted me before Alex and I began the drive down from Ft. Collins, “Are you ready for the weirdest game of the season?” Turns out weird was only partly right in describing the game and the post-Melo trade team to this point. Weird usually implies some sort of off putting aspect, but in reality it simply means out of the ordinary. That night certainly did end up being “weird”. When we arrived I could tell my friends and I weren’t the only fans feeling a certain apprehension. We sat in our seats then went to grab some beers. As the lights dimmed and the line-ups sans Melo and Chauncey were announced, the crowd was putting on their own show of support. I was starting to come around myself, realizing as the starters were announced we still had a pretty good team and this was without the Knicks included in the trade.

The game began and right off the bat the Nuggets were dominating. They were sharing the ball and playing the best team defense I had seen from them in a very long time. Mind you, this was against the Memphis Grizzlies, a team that before the all-star break had been surging and playing their own brand of team ball. I believed that as the game wore on the Nuggets’ lead would dwindle as they stopped playing as hard as was necessary. This had happened on many occasions previous, but this night was “weird”. The Nuggets continued their gritty style of hustle play and I was really getting into this game. The Melo trade blues were slipping further and further from my mind. As the first half begun, the new Nuggets were introduced during a time out. Truly spontaneously, with no prodding by the PA guy, the crowd gave the new players a standing ovation and from across the arena I could tell they really appreciated it and were surprised by the outpouring. As the Nuggets continued to lay it on, packaged t-shirts parachuted down from the rafters. I looked up and realized one was heading my direction. As it came closer I began to believe I could actually grab it. I had never received any free swag at a Nuggets game before. I reached up and my above average height proved advantageous as I snagged it away from my best friend Alex at the apex. Then with the onslaught well in hand, Rocky began his routine of behind the back, half-court shots. I quipped to Alex, “I’ll bet he makes the third one.” Low and behold, his third attempt went in. I knew then that something special was going on. I just hoped the new Nuggets could buy into Karl’s system and put in the effort for winning to continue what had begun that night.

Now, almost a month since then, I’m realizing the third time might just be the charm. Since Carmelo came to Denver there have been three major trades. First for Iverson, then Chauncey, and then the one that sent Melo to New York. Who would have thought it might be the final one that would get them over the hump to being an elite team? Certainly not me. It is my hope the Nuggets keep their attitudes positive and their focus in the right direction. Tonight will be another real test of just how good they are compared to other elite teams in the Western Conference. The Spurs have been playing the style of basketball the Nuggets have been for the entire season and truly have each other’s backs. They may not have Tim Duncan tonight, but I’m sure they will rally to get this win. The Nuggets will have to play their best and not take anything for granted. A little bit of divine intervention and magic couldn’t hurt either. LET’S GO NUGETTS, BEAT THE SPURS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!