Tall order, in the form of King James and the world champs. All games from here on out are must win, with Denver and Portland going down to the wire for the final playoff spot.
Pre-Game Thoughts: Per TJ McBride: Wilson Chandler and Darrell Arthur are officially ACTIVE tonight against the Cavs. Danilo Gallinari is OUT From Hoops Hype. Not much need to expand upon that other than to say that Kenneth Faried is on a 20 minute restriction, and Kevin Love, Deron Williams, Tristan Thompson and Kyle Korver are questionable, and LBJ is still the greatest player on the planet. My administrative assistant April was nice enough to dictate the below musings so that I could better enjoy viewing the game, for a nice change.
Update: Denver is going with a Plumkic/Chandler starting front court. I like it, but Please get Hibbert in for some backup center minutes. Love and Thompson are starting for Cleveland, & Korver/Williams will play. Cleveland has a completely healthy roster, something the Nuggets have yet to enjoy since the season began.
1st Half Qtr1- Ally is one expensive waitress. Very even and intense game from jump street. Plumlee picks up two fouls in a row on awful calls and must sit, at the 7 Minute mark, replaced by Faried. Nice to hear a loud crowd that is rooting for the good guys. 7 assists on seven buckets thus far. Defensive intensity is the best it's been for some time. Kyrie Irving is pwning Jameer, but there is no one to hide him on defensively, with the sharp-shooter Korver in the game. As I type this, Murray checks in at the point for Jameer. 2nd Unit keeps up the intensity and then some, just like the past 2 games. This is playoff quality basketball, win loose or draw. Nuggets have (tied) a season high for a quarter with12 assists, & are up 34-31.
1st Half Qtr2- Slow start to the 2nd for both teams, but not for a lack of effort. Lebron checks in and immediately starts Lebronning, as Cleveland takes a 3 point lead at the 9 minute mark. Cleveland was held to 2 points in the paint in the qtr. The Blue Arrow is starting to launch and the Nuggets take a ten point lead at the 7:40 mark. It's Lebron vs Murray right now. Vicious foul by Jefferson; a face palm to Juancho.They call it a flagrant fowl as it clearly was. Jameer in for Murray for reasons I don't understand at the four minute mark, up 13. Plumlee is the only player on either team with 2 fouls. Nuggets stretch the lead at the 2 minute mark to 20 points. Murray is an impressive +15 TPM. Nuggets are up big, 73-59 at the break.
2nd half Qtr3- Plumkic are really starting to gel in the passing game. Ally looks ravishing in her sleek black dress tonight. Cleveland is getting hot from outside now, and they have cut the lead to 7 at the 6:00 mark. The starters are beginning to fail miserably against Cleveland's. Faried checks in for Plumlee and immediately injects energy, with 7 straight points. Tyron Lue picks up a T after a shoulder check by Jameer, on Irving. Irving pays Jameer back with a shoulder check of his own. Jameer plays the entire 3rd qtr and the Nuggets lead 101-90 after 3. Lombardi is heckling Lebron from the sideline. 7 Nuggets already in double figures at the 7:00 minute mark, up 19.
2nd half Qtr 4- Murray replaces Jameer to start the 4th, and immediately picks up a sweet assist to Faried. The 2nd team once again, is righting the ship, as Denver stretches the lead back to 16, at the 11:00 mark. Not a single player for either team is in genuine foul trouble at the 9 minute mark. Jokic is nearing yet another 3d tonight, as the Nuggets take a 21 point lead at the 4:00 minute mark. Inexplicably, Jameer checks in for Murray at the 3:45 mark. Deja Vu! Cleveland has called off the dogs at the 2:00 minute mark and unbelievably, the Nuggets are going to knock off the world champs tonight.
Final Thoughts- END THE JANIGHTMERE! Solid all around effort by both the starters, and especially the 2nd unit. My thanks go out to my lovely assistant, and good luck charm April for dictating my analysis this evening.
