The infirmed Nuggets would require a healthy dose of Amazing Grace to pull this one out. They did not disappoint!
Open link in a new tab for the definition of TPM™
1st Half- Jokic & Gallo return to the starting lineup in the nick of time. We desperately need the rebounding of Faried, as this team has gone steadily downhill in rebounding without him and Nurkic, but we will have to wait. Denver of to a 5-0 start. Neither Gallo or Jokic are showing any of the rust I was worried about. Battle of the defensive juggernauts between Jameer and IT. Jokic has got to stop fouling when a guy blows buy. Both teams playing well, and are evenly matched through the first 9 minutes. The silver lining of Gallo missing time is that Chandler got going and now we have both of them cooking. Jameer plays nearly the entire 1st against a guy averaging 30 ppg. Makes sense to me. Barton calls for the ball in a final shot situation with Murray on the court. SELFISH! I like Barton, and I hope this is just bad coaching prompting his selfish play lately, cause I don't expect much in game coaching out of our current staff. Nuggets up 35-25 after 1. I have to believe that had we offered Jameer, Nurkic and a 1 to Boston, Smart and Olynyk could have been had. Our second team and theirs are similarly even in tonight's match-up as well. Nuggets maintain 15 point lead at 7 minute mark. They stretch it to 19 at 6 minute mark with hustle all around, and great play by Plumlee and especially Murray. IT picks up his 2nd at 5:30 mark, Joining Boston's Brown and Crowder as the only players with 2. Nuggets d looking as good as it has in some time. Murray is scoring at will against IT, and the Nuggets take a 20 point lead with 3:30 to play. Amir Johnson joins the other Celtics with 2 fouls. Jameer in for Murray, immediately surrenders a 3. Jameer is a -10 in 12 minutes, Murray a +9 in TPM in 9. This is beginning to become more than a trend, but the current & future state of things. Jameer with a steal leading to a layup. Nice of you to finally join us Jameer! Deja vu all over again, this game. Nuggets lead quickly evaporating in the 2 minutes since Jameer checked in for Murray. half ends with the nuggets up 65-54
2nd half- Boston comes out with more intensity to begin 3rd. IT is predictably heating up after scoring just 6 in the first half. Nuggets are stuck in the mud, with their minds still in the locker room. Malone picks up a T. Maybe that'll breathe life into the Nuggets. Game getting chippy, and the Post-Nurkic Nuggets settling for outside jumpers as a result. IT has all ten points for Boston after 5 minutes, but Denver maintains an 8 point lead at 6:30 mark. Looks like another possible 3d for Jokic tonight. Refs starting to tighten things via the whistle. No idea why Jameer is our final starter replaced in both halves tonight as poorly as he's played of late, as well as Murray has, and as good as the rest of our starters are. IT picks up his 4th at 2 minute mark. This could be YUUGE! Harris and Jameer play all but the final 49 seconds of the 3rd. Nuggets up 94-80 after 3. To his credit, selfish or not, Barton's attacking style plays well against this undersized Boston team. Nuggets getting sloppy with the ball, but maintain a 12 point lead at 10 minute mark. Smart is flopping all over the place. Jaylen Brown as the 2nd pick makes almost as much sense as IT at 60. Gallo carrying us through first 3 minutes of 4th. Brown picks up his 4th foul. Barton is NOT a pg Malone! Jokic finally in at 6 minute mark. Jamer is back in for the final 5:30 of suck, with the Nuggets up 13. I do not get Michael Malone, like at all. Also baffling, Gallo heads for the bench. One minute later, Gallo returns. Boston is fortunately cold, 'cause they are getting nothing but wide open jumpers. Smart is the most annoying player in the league, and I wish he was ours. IT picks up his 5th followed by a T at 3 minute mark. These refs are clearly Mass-holes! Boston calls it garbage time at 2 minute mark, and Denver looks to be getting a much needed win. Hibbert comes in. I Like it! He immediately scores and sets a nice screen leading to a Murray bucket. Nuggets win 119-99
Final Thoughts- Great win tonight. Cough end the Janightmere! cough.
3
