Saturday, April 23, 2011
Nuggets Game 3 Thoughts
The Thunder now lead the Nuggets 3-0 in their first round playoff series largely due to a pathetic offensive 4th quarter by Denver. No team has ever come back to win a seven game NBA playoff series down 3-0. I don't think my sanity would be best served to write any more.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Nuggets vs. Thunder: Game 1 Thoughts
The Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Denver Nuggets 107-103 in the first round of the NBA playoffs on Sunday night. Both teams played exceptional basketball in most areas, but the home team prevailed late in the game thanks to some clutch shots and an obvious missed call by the officials.
The Nuggets led by one late in the game. Russell Westbrook then took a contested mid-range shot that rattled around on the rim and was tipped in while it was still on the rim. Replays confirmed what was apparent to the naked eye and most of the Nugget players: that the call should have been offensive basket interference. The referees also called an unfortunate technical on Raymond Felton earlier in the quarter.
Nevertheless, the Nuggets, trailing by three, still had a chance to come back with over twenty seconds left in the game. It would have certainly been advisable to only shoot a three if not contested and go for a quick two-pointer otherwise, but Felton missed most of the basket on a rushed shot with the Thunder defender up in his grill. Poor execution combined with a terrible call doomed the Nuggets after making a ferocious run to gain the lead late in the game.
The Nuggets would have had a more substantial lead late in the game if it wasn't for some poor free-throw shooting throughout. It seemed as though every Denver player missed a few freebies, and improving in this specific area is a must in the upcoming playoff matches. Arron Afflalo's eventual return will certainly help defend against Russell Westbrook who, call or no call, was the Nuggets' downfall late in the game. Fastbreaking and a keen defensive concentration on Westbrook and Kevin Durant could be keys to the Nuggets for the rest of the series. The Thunder will eventually need to rely on other offensive threats than their two stars, and George Karl may roll with a strategy to give open shots to other Thunder players who may not be as offensively efficient as Westrbrook and Durant.
The Nuggets led by one late in the game. Russell Westbrook then took a contested mid-range shot that rattled around on the rim and was tipped in while it was still on the rim. Replays confirmed what was apparent to the naked eye and most of the Nugget players: that the call should have been offensive basket interference. The referees also called an unfortunate technical on Raymond Felton earlier in the quarter.
Nevertheless, the Nuggets, trailing by three, still had a chance to come back with over twenty seconds left in the game. It would have certainly been advisable to only shoot a three if not contested and go for a quick two-pointer otherwise, but Felton missed most of the basket on a rushed shot with the Thunder defender up in his grill. Poor execution combined with a terrible call doomed the Nuggets after making a ferocious run to gain the lead late in the game.
The Nuggets would have had a more substantial lead late in the game if it wasn't for some poor free-throw shooting throughout. It seemed as though every Denver player missed a few freebies, and improving in this specific area is a must in the upcoming playoff matches. Arron Afflalo's eventual return will certainly help defend against Russell Westbrook who, call or no call, was the Nuggets' downfall late in the game. Fastbreaking and a keen defensive concentration on Westbrook and Kevin Durant could be keys to the Nuggets for the rest of the series. The Thunder will eventually need to rely on other offensive threats than their two stars, and George Karl may roll with a strategy to give open shots to other Thunder players who may not be as offensively efficient as Westrbrook and Durant.
Anxious Excitement
It's NUGGETS Time!!!!!!!!!!!! Let's go guys, get mean out there and hit that 3 Ball!!!
Saturday, April 16, 2011
Nuggets vs. Thunder: Round 1 Preview
The Denver Nuggets will face the Oklahoma City Thunder in a highly anticipated first-round series against the two division rivals. The matchup pits young teams against each other with fascinating stories about their respective paths to this point. The Thunder moved from Seattle and have risen from an NBA cellar-dweller to a feel-good story of a talent filled organization blossoming in a small market. The Nuggets have fought injuries, incessant trade talk, and an eventual reorganization of much of their squad to reach the playoffs for the eighth straight year.
Oklahoma City, led by a versatile scoring threat in Kevin Durant, have a bevy of offensive and defensive weapons (not to mention a home-court advantage that will feature an undoubtedly frenzied crowd of wild Oklahomans). Russell Westbook, Serge Ibaka, and Kendrick Perkins will surely provide tough matchups on both ends of the floor in addition to the megastar power of Durant. Denver lost two games down the stretch to the Thunder, who reportedly provided no shortage of trash-talking. Fans will be advised to closely watch the not-so-buddy buddy relationship between centers Nene and Perkins, who literally butted heads in the last few weeks.
The Nuggets, while certainly facing a tall task ahead, can beat the Thunder if a few key elements come together. First of all, injuries to important players could be a detriment to Denver. Basically every player on the team has had his fair share of injuries throughout the long NBA season, but the injury monster seems to be rearing its ugly head again at a very unfortunate time. If certain Nuggets players, especially Ty Lawson, Arron Afflalo, Danilo Gallinari, and Nene, all who have suffered injuries as of late, can remain healthy during the series, it would be highly beneficial to the franchise and its fans.
Secondly, the Nuggets can gain confidence and swagger by defeating their foes at least once in the first two games played in the Sooner state, thus giving the men from mile high a home-court advantage, especially significant because of their prowess for consistently high caliber play at the Pepsi Center.
Finally, the Nuggets can prevail by developing a successful plan of attack and executing it flawlessly. For instance, the Nuggets could play a similar strategy that they utilized against a playoff series against Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks two years ago in the second round of the playoffs. The Nuggets surprised many NBA experts by simply not double-teaming the deft shooting German power forward. This resulted in Nowitzki having several high scoring games, but in turn allowed the Nuggets defense to focus more on his capable counterparts. Perhaps the Nuggets could employ a similar defensive scheme in regards to Durant. By playing tenacious defense against the Thunder as a whole, the Nuggets can box-out their individual defensive assignments or create turnovers and flow into their highly effective run-and-gun fastbreak offense and possibly do a little trash-talking of their own while defeating the Thunder.
Oklahoma City, led by a versatile scoring threat in Kevin Durant, have a bevy of offensive and defensive weapons (not to mention a home-court advantage that will feature an undoubtedly frenzied crowd of wild Oklahomans). Russell Westbook, Serge Ibaka, and Kendrick Perkins will surely provide tough matchups on both ends of the floor in addition to the megastar power of Durant. Denver lost two games down the stretch to the Thunder, who reportedly provided no shortage of trash-talking. Fans will be advised to closely watch the not-so-buddy buddy relationship between centers Nene and Perkins, who literally butted heads in the last few weeks.
The Nuggets, while certainly facing a tall task ahead, can beat the Thunder if a few key elements come together. First of all, injuries to important players could be a detriment to Denver. Basically every player on the team has had his fair share of injuries throughout the long NBA season, but the injury monster seems to be rearing its ugly head again at a very unfortunate time. If certain Nuggets players, especially Ty Lawson, Arron Afflalo, Danilo Gallinari, and Nene, all who have suffered injuries as of late, can remain healthy during the series, it would be highly beneficial to the franchise and its fans.
Secondly, the Nuggets can gain confidence and swagger by defeating their foes at least once in the first two games played in the Sooner state, thus giving the men from mile high a home-court advantage, especially significant because of their prowess for consistently high caliber play at the Pepsi Center.
Finally, the Nuggets can prevail by developing a successful plan of attack and executing it flawlessly. For instance, the Nuggets could play a similar strategy that they utilized against a playoff series against Dirk Nowitzki and the Dallas Mavericks two years ago in the second round of the playoffs. The Nuggets surprised many NBA experts by simply not double-teaming the deft shooting German power forward. This resulted in Nowitzki having several high scoring games, but in turn allowed the Nuggets defense to focus more on his capable counterparts. Perhaps the Nuggets could employ a similar defensive scheme in regards to Durant. By playing tenacious defense against the Thunder as a whole, the Nuggets can box-out their individual defensive assignments or create turnovers and flow into their highly effective run-and-gun fastbreak offense and possibly do a little trash-talking of their own while defeating the Thunder.
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