"Trap game against the injured insects in the Hornet's nest. Aka if you can't trap 'em, zap 'em"
Pre-Game Thoughts: I'm confident that given time, this Nuggets squad will become a cohesive unit. Let's face it; the only player who's role this season isn't drastically different is Harris, and not surprisingly he's been our best player so far. He didn't play well in his last game however, and Denver can't afford many off nights from him, given that the rest of the team are still getting acquainted with each other's tendencies, which in my view is the reason for the exorbitant amount of turnovers lately.
What is worrisome, is that Denver has a very lopsided schedule this season with the early portion being the time to make hay, so they simply can't afford to have massive growing pains from nearly all rotational players at once.
When healthy, the Hornets have a very good team with decent depth. That depth will be tested tonight because, well they aren't healthy. What they do have however, is Kemba Walker; a dynamic PG, precisely the type who can give Denver fits. They also added D12 in the off season, and impressive rookies Dwayne Bacon & Malik Monk, so the Nuggets will have their work cut out for them. Also, as R&B pointed out in his pre-game piece, Charlotte is amongst the very few teams who had the magic elixir last season, rendering Denver's high-octane offense, pedestrian. The absence of defensive stalwarts MKG and Batum will undoubtedly help things, but given Chandler's lackluster performance on both ends of the court this season, can he capitalize? No road win is an easy road win, so go out there and earn it. Play with pace. Move without the ball, Move the ball with purpose, and communicate defensively.
Denver Roster:
Will "The People's Champion" Barton,
Juancho "Ironically, No Room For A Nickname" Hernangomez
Richard "The Dragon Slayer" Jefferson
Kenneth "The Manimal" Faried
Trey "Bien" Lyles
Darrell "Darth" Arthur
Tyler "Not just Anunobody" Lydon
Nikola "Big Honey" Jokic
Mason "Plumdog Millionaire" Plumlee
Michael "Mr Imagination" Malone
Charlotte Roster:
Kemba "Not Averse To The Shocker" Walker
Michael "Denver IS A Very Underrated City" Carter-Williams
Malik "With That Back-court, He'd Better Have The Patience Of A" Monk
"Sir" Michael Kidd-Gilchrist "Of Gloucestershire"
Mangok "Individuality Is" Mathiang
Johnny "Knight Of The House Of Gilchrist/Gloucestershire" O'Bryant III
Cody "I'm The Good" Zeller
Dwight "D12" Howard
Update: Juancho is out with "The Kissing Disease." For Charlotte, Batum is out with an elbow injury, Zeller with a knee, MCW with a knee, our old friend Julyan Stone, also with a knee and MKG is taking in a concert at Red Rocks.
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Data: Open this link in a new tab for the definition of TPM™
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TPM™ Game 4 CHA
Jamal Murray: +16
Emmanuel Mudiay: -2
Monte Morris: N/A
Gary Harris: +9
Will Barton: +11
Malik Beasley: +7
Torrey Craig: N/A
Wilson Chandler: +20
Juancho Hernangomez: N/A
Richard Jefferson: N/A
Paul Millsap: -6
Kenneth Faried: -4
Trey Lyles: +0
Darrell Arthur: N/A
Tyler Lydon: N/A
Nikola Jokic: +2
Mason Plumlee +1
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Total TPM™ starting Game 1 vs. Uta
Jamal Murray: 4 Games +36
Emmanuel Mudiay:4 Games +34
Monte Morris: 0 Games +0
Gary Harris: 4 Games +51
Will Barton: 4 Games +50
Malik Beasley: 4 Games +18
Torrey Craig: 0 Games +0
Wilson Chandler:4 Games +22
Juancho Hernangomez: 2 Games -9
Richard Jefferson: 0 Games +0
Paul Millsap: 4 Games +27
Kenneth Faried: 4 Games +17
Trey Lyles: 3 Games +1
Darrell Arthur: 0 Games +0
Tyler Lydon: 0 Games +0
Nikola Jokic: 4 Games +33
Mason Plumlee: 4 Games +11
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Avg. TPM™ Per Game
Jamal Murray: +9.00
Emmanuel Mudiay: +8.50
Monte Morris: N/A
Gary Harris: +12.75
Will Barton: +12.50
Malik Beasley: +4.50
Torrey Craig: N/A
Wilson Chandler: +5.50
Juancho Hernangomez: -4.50
Richard Jefferson: N/A
Paul Millsap: +6.75
Kenneth Faried: +7.00
Trey Lyles: +0.33
Darrell Arthur: N/A
Tyler Lydon: N/A
Nikola Jokic: +8.25
Mason Plumlee: +2.75
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Analysis:
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Qtr1- Denver is sticking to the same starting Lineup they've rolled out in all previous games. You've gotta' keep the band together if you are to expect them to gain cohesiveness. Charlotte counters with Walker, Lamb, (man this roster is not good for my diet) MKG (concert must have been rained out... I kid, My condolences to him and his family), D12 and Williams. I'm wearing my lucky, autographed Nuggets jersey that was so generously gifted to me by the artist formerly known as Fly Agaric. Hopefully it changes their fortune. I'll settle for a W, no injuries, and improved synchronization. Denver is moving the ball very well AND hitting the offensive glass; Both very good signs. With his outside shot not falling, Murray is doing the wise thing and blowing by Walker with impunity, all the way to the rack. D12 gets his 2nd foul at 7:27. This might not be all together good news since Frank/Johnny O' match up far better against Jokic, but the Hornets elect to leave Howard in. Plumlee and Barton are first off the bench at 5:30, down 12-13. Murray looks (understandably) tired from chasing Walker all over kingdom come, as Mudiay checks in for him at 4:10. Lovely red lace choker-dress combo Ally. I'm not quite as sure about the clashing, fuscia lipstick, however. Plumlee is completely out of sorts in his brief action so far. Charlotte is on an 13-2 run, and pushes the lead to 11. The Nuggets are playing an enormous lineup right now, and it's been very effective actually (Mudiay, Barton, Chandler, Plumlee & Jokic). This lineup doesn't have the offensive or defensive holes that some others do. Two games in a row now that it's Denver's turn to hit a buzzer beater, this one a three by Big Honey, cutting the Hornets lead to five, 22-27 after one.
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Qtr2- That was working too well, so Malone decides to put the kibosh on it. Beasley and Faried are in to start the 2nd, for Plumlee and Chandler. The refs apparently forgot to put a pea in their whistles tonight. Either that or someone from the Nuggets must have peed in them. Mudiay has not been the same player tonight on either end of the court, that he'd been thus far in the season. He simply doesn't have it so far, and he's replaced by Murray at 8:20. Frank the Plank has some impressive footwork/moves offensively. Barton is pressing a bit; most likely fatigue, and he grabs some pine at 5:20. Denver once again, can not buy an outside J. Hydroponics are better anyway. Grow your own. Harris and Chandler are once again no shows tonight. Just as I typed that, Chandler hit Harrris for a much needed three. Jokic is the only Nuggets player with double figures in scoring, with 10. Kaminsky is killing Jokic (reminiscent of last season) and the Charlotte bench has inexplicably outscored Denver's 36-8! Charlotte leads 62-39 at the half.
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Halftime: Smoke break? I'll have two!
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Qtr3- These officials leave much to be desired. When Howard drills 2 at the line, it just may not be the Nuggets night. D12 could be called for a foul on just about every single play. With that being said, Jokic could receive a $5K fine for flopping nearly as frequently. D12 goes 1-2 at the line, and the 25 point lead for Charlotte no longer seems insurmountable. Harris joins Jokic as the only Denver players with double digits in scoring. He is also starting to pick it up on the defensive end; a welcome sight. Chandler, FINALLY scores, but to his credit, he leads all Nuggets with a +10 TPM. The two teams are basically trading buckets at this point, which will not affect the momentum change required for a Denver come back. Monk is being added in deep format - fantasy keeper leagues the world over as we speak. Sick jam by Harris, all over Monk. It's safe to say that last games dud against The Wiz was an aberration for G.H. Murray is the 3rd Nuggets player with double figures in scoring. D12 picks up his 4th foul with just under a minute to play, and is at this point, the only player for either team in any sort of foul trouble. Barton does his best impersonation of Howard at the line, missing two. Denver is no longer listless and in fact won the 3rd period by 6 points, but trail after three, 85-68.
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Qtr 4- Jokic has had a splendidly efficient offensive game, but his defensive lapses and turnovers have resulted in just a +5 TPM thus far. Denver comes out with a 4-0 mini-run, (14-2 overall) and have cut the lead to 13. This game is within reach, and a comeback win may be precisely what this squad needs to gain traction going into this four game eastern swing. "Good" Barton is starting to make his presence felt. Ill-Will is distributing very nicely tonight. Mudiay just does not have it tonight, and is killing any shot at a comeback almost single-handedly at this point in time. I suggest letting Barton run the point for a couple of minutes and then re-inserting Murray, if his leg injury isn't too debilitating. The W is still very much attainable, with a little over 8 to play and a 15 point deficit. Mudiay finally scores at 7:28, sinking two FT's to cut the lead to 14. The starters - Chandler + Emanuel are in the game, so I fear Murray's injury may be troublesome. I said the magic words and Murray checks in. Whew! Barton is guilty of his 5th foul at 6:32, a highly questionable call. So many disfunctionalities will be rectified as soon as Murray can find his stroke. Jokic has a 2d with 18-11. Charlotte is in the bonus with a 21 point lead, and under 5 to go. A win is not looking likely for the good guys. Frank the plank is going to be a keeper. Not much in the way of defense, but he has a tremendous offensive BBIQ. Lyles is getting some burn at 4:15 and Malone has, IMHO prematurely waived the white flag, sending in the bench players + Murray. It's time to start extending Beasley's minutes, particularly with Juancho absent. Malik has been nothing but productive in his limited action.
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Final Thoughts- Good games by Murray, Harris, Beasley and Chandler, but the lack of effort in this one was highly disappointing. Lets all hope that Jamal's injury doesn't have anything to do with his hernia from last season,
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