Blazer Fan Here. Did not come to be a troll. I enjoy the Nuggets and hope they join the Blazers in the Play-Offs next season. I have read many of the Denver Stiffs articles and love to listen to passionate fans anywhere. Here is my post on Blazer's Edge:
The Denver Nuggets saw their faint play-off hopes vanish in a moment of referee chicanery and Westbrook brilliance that would be heartbreaking if it wasn't so completely predictable and expected. With 2 games remaining the Nuggets have a solid 5 game jump over last season's win total. Yet there is a rash of blaming going on to explain why a season in which Denver fully committed to making the play-offs ended up just short again. There are excuses offered for this game in particular, as well as the season as a whole:
NBA refs hate Denver - A late "flagrant" foul and technical on Jokic played a key role in coughing up a winnable game.
Mike Malone can't coach - Despite the improvement in wins, the discovery of a much-needed star in Nikolai Jokic, the development of a historically efficient offense in the 2nd half of the season, and the improvement of 3rd year shooting guard Gary Harris, many fans still remain skeptical about Malone's leadership. They point to the constantly shifting line-ups, the discontent of veterans and, yes, the inability to keep Nurkic happy which culminated in the disastrous fortuitous trade with the Blazers.
The NBA conspires against small market teams, even though the game was won by tine OKC and benefited Portland.
The Nuggets can't close out games and lose all the close ones. This again is blamed on Malone. It may even be true. But they didn't go further and analyze why.
DENVER ULTIMATELY FELL SHORT IN THIS GAME AND FOR THIS SEASON BECAUSE MAKING THE PLAY-OFFS IN THE WESTERN CONFERENCE REQUIRES: (A) VERY GOOD B) UNBELIEVABLE GOOD C) HISTORICALLY GOOD (pick one)) PLAY AT THE POINT GUARD POSITION. DENVER TRYING TO MAKE THE POST-SEASON WITH NELSON, MUDIAY AND MURRAY WAS LIKE BRINGING A POCKET KNIFE TO A GUN FIGHT.
Take a look at the play-off teams in the West and their point guards:
Golden State - Curry - enough said
San Antonio - The league's best ensemble cast doesn't require huge numbers from the point. Parker still shows flashes and Patty Mills crushes threes off the bench.
Houston - Harden - are you kidding?
Clippers - Paul is roundly considered the best all-around point in the game
Utah - The pick-up of Hill was perhaps the best Western Conference move this side of Durant. Jazz are 3 games over .500 in games Hill has missed and 15 over when he plays. His recovery from injury is vital to Uah's hopes in the LAC series. He is averaging a career high 17.0 ppg, and provides good defense.
OKC - Westbrook - are you freakin' kidding?
Memphis - Connelly - With career bests in scoring (20.6), shooting (.459), 3 point shooting (.407) and his usual pesky defense, the Griz floor leader is Chris Paul Lite.
Portland - Lillard - Dame capped his 2nd annual push for All-NBA honors with his 59 point outburst.
______________________________________________________________________________________
Now look at the point guards of the non-play-off Western teams:
Denver - Nelson, Mudiay, Murray - Mudiay started 41 games until he played his way to the darkest corners of the bench. Given a late chance, he has shown some glimpses of improvement. 97 year old Jameer was quietly solid, shooting decently, despite no longer having any lateral quickness. Murray has played point late, and has too good a stroke to repeat his 40% shooting and 33% from deep going forward. While Jokic relieves some of the play-making duties of a Nuggets point guard, putting the ball in the hands of a journeyman veteran or an unproven youngster is a recipe for late game disaster. Remember also, that Jokic is only in his 2nd season, so he is learning how to handle late game situations. Denver's failures down the stretch of the OKC game were unsurprising, given the cast of characters.
New Orleans - After years of injuries, Jrue Holiday finally played most of a season and had solid numbers. He will get paid well this summer if someone believes he can regularly play 60+ games per season.
Dallas - Good for Yogi Farrell. From Brooklyn Nets reject to 10 day wonder to NBA starter. Good for him, but likely a career back-up.
Sacramento - Collison and Lawson produced solid not spectacular numbers in a season of change.
Minnesota - The enigmatic Ricky Rubio. His shooting numbers for the year are again dismal: 40% from the field and 30% from deep. Then he got aggressive and had a dazzling March: 17.8 points on 47% shooting and an astonishing 44% from behind the arc. HALLELUJAH! In 6 games in April, Rubio he is shooting more than ever (12.8 fg/game) and fell to 32% overall and 12% on threes. When does the sexy Spaniard get the blame for this young roster failing to move forward?
Lakers - Russell scores ok, gets a few assists, plays no defense and shoots whenever he wants. No wonder Ball is considered LA's choice to come in and straighten out the mess (IF they keep their pick).
Phoenix - Bledsoe - Eric has had a play-off worthy season on this young turd of a roster totally incapable of winning games. 21.1 ppg and 6.3 apg and his bruising defense in 66 games before the Suns shut him down.
For success in the modern NBA you need production and performance form the point guard position. LeBron James created an exception when he was often the point forward. In the West this year, if you did not have great point guard play you were giving away 5, 10 or 15 points every single night.
Nuggets fans argue that because of Jokic's play-making responsibilities not a lot is required from the point. There is hope that Mudiay or Murray can take over the point guard role full time next season. Given the huge lack of experience and production, that appears to be wishful thinking.
If Denver wants to maximize their play-off hopes next season, there are 2 viable options: It appears that Utah and Hill will not agree on a contract. The Nuggets are well under the cap and bringing in Hill to provide defense and mentoring for their young guards would be a huge step forward. The second choice would be to make a deal for Bledsoe. Phoenix is getting some big late production from Ullis and might be will to move their veteran point.
Closing games needs WAY more than good coaching. It requires a floor general who will maximize the clock and create the proper opportunities to succeed. Until Denver gets the "point" there ceiling will be a 50-50 team swinging wildly inconsistently between good play and bad. The Nuggets made a great run this season with mediocre point guard play. Watch out in the future if they finally get the point.
