I see JR put up 33 tonight. How'd he look out there? Man, ever since he and Kirk Snyder were splitting time with the Hornets I've always felt the two of them had very similar levels of potential and dispositions towards success. One doing well gives me hope for the other.
JR's 33 are a little misleading. Melo, AI, Atkins, Camby, Nene, K-Mart and Kleiza all didn't play, so JR was one of two or three players that actually were on the court for the Nugs that knew how to, you know, shoot the ball. He had flashes where he looked like he could be an all-star, and he had flashes where I thought Karl's head was going to explode. In other words, a typical JR performance. The player who impressed me the most was Bobby Jones. He's not as good of a lock-down defender as Khouba Diawara is (just ask T-Mac), but he's solid on offense. I could see him being our 10th man and getting some decent minutes this year. Not bad for someone who was a throw in on the Steven Hunter deal (who also sat last night).
Nuggets4, I hate to say I told you so, but...I told you so, on several occasions. The final straw for me about JR was his meltdown in Orlando last year. I don't remember why, but I saw that game live. Something about that incident (even more than the Knicks debacle) told me the guy is just too unstable and emotionally fragile to succeed in the NBA. I repeat: Any team that relies on J.R. Smith to be a major contributor will have their heart broken in pieces. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=3071840 Nuggets' Smith suspended three games to start 2007 season Associated Press Updated: October 20, 2007, 5:32 PM ET DENVER -- The Denver Nuggets suspended guard J.R. Smith for the first three games of the regular season "for conduct detrimental to the team," the team said Saturday. Nuggets player personnel director Mark Warkentien declined to specify Smith's transgression. "I take full responsibility for my actions that led to this suspension," Smith said in an apology distributed by the team. "I realize that the organization wants to help me become not only a better player but also the best person I can off the court. "I apologize to my teammates, the coaching staff, my family and Nuggets fans. I promise to learn from this situation and look forward to returning shortly and being the best teammate I possibly can," Smith added. Smith served a 10-game suspension last year for his role in a fight with the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden and was injured in a car crash last summer in New Jersey that killed his friend, Andre Bell, 21. Smith, who drew coach George Karl's ire last year for firing up long jumpshots in the playoffs, will miss Denver's opener Oct. 31 against Seattle along with games at Minnesota on Nov. 2 and at home against New Orleans on Nov. 4. Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press
Hey, can you blame me for hoping he'd pull his head out of his ass? He could have been the answer at the 2 for us, but no. Not really surprised, just disappointed. More importantly, I'm pissed because this makes the "brave prediction" I was going to make look predictable. I think Bobby Jones will be our starting 2 guard by January. Hell, he might be it by opening night now.
http://www.denverpost.com/nuggets/ci_7236923 Nuggets guard J.R. Smith has been suspended by the organization for the first three games of the regular season for conduct detrimental to the team. According to Denver County Court records, Smith has been issued a summons to appear in court to answer to allegations of destruction of private property, disturbing the peace and assault in an incident at DC-10 lounge at 940 Lincoln on Oct. 13. More info in article.
Come on man, it'll get better. The Celtics are looking pretty good so far, after all. From what I've seen, what Denver needs most is for Karl to implement some semblance of an organized offense. Why isn't the first option always to get the ball to Melo in the high post?
You are right. Giving up 64% from the field is an accomplishment. Didn't see the game so tell me: Have the players quit on George Karl already? Which assistant would take over if Karl gets canned?
The Boston game is almost surreal. I honestly expected Denver to win that game, and to be blown out like that... The final score isn't even indicative of how the game went. I mean, 77-38 half time score??? Boston was shooting well over 70% before garbage time.
Too early in the season for that to stick, though. Remember- Dallas started 0-4 last year and Phoenix was like 1-4.
Man, if you think that statement is just because of the Celtics game, you're not watching the Nugs at all. Plain and simple, heading into last night, we should have been 4-0. We played like crap all four games, but because we played Seattle and Minnesota, we started 2-0. Once we played two teams that weren't God-forsaken awful, we lost. The team has no heart. The only two players who are getting regular minutes that don't look like they're half-assing it are AI and Najera. I'm tempted to put K-Mart in that group as well, but I'm still trying not to get my hopes up when it comes to him. I think Karl has been tuned out. It's pretty obvious. He's still trying that move where to show his displeasure he stands with his back to the team during timeouts. The only problem is, these guys don't care. As for who would take over? Tim Grgurich would be my guess. This team would need an ass-kicker to come in. Larry Brown would be perfect, but I can't see that happening. AI is the hardest worker on the team. Hardly a problem.
...and the predictable cycle of George Karl continues. Karl takes over reins, team gets short term (1-2 year boost). Karl begins sniping at players in press because he can't keep his mouth shut. Team tunes Karl outKarl quits and takes truckload of cash with him in search of next job. Repeat
I've been very curious about the Nuggets, and some of the things that Nuggets4 has said in here has been outragious imo (like Camby kinda sucks)...so b/c I have Camby on my fantasy team and have Leauge Pass... Well, I've come to the conclusion that Nuggets4 is more right than wrong. After watching most of the games, the Nuggets really just don't play D. I was trying to stat track, but it's hard b/c there's clearly an effort issue, and you can't properly stat analyze when there's so much laziness on D out there. That New York game was winnable, but the Knicks were just in better shape or trying harder down the stretch b/c they just dominated the boards and loose balls. And AI has been giving the most effort, along with Najera...Nuggets4 is right with that too. Melo tries sometimes on D. It's really an overall lack of Defensive team unity and effort to the battle boards and loose balls, and they just reach a lot instead of moving to position.
Don't get me wrong, I know how bad it's been, but that Celts game was...on another level. If lack of effort and D is the Nugz problem right now, then you need to drop the tuned out Karl and try to get Larry Brown or JVG (bonus is both are pretty familiar with one of your starters).
From a basketball POV, the Nugs need a coach that can get this team to play half-court defense without slowing down the offense. I think that would disqualify JVG. Larry Brown-style offenses are becoming less and less common as teams are becoming more efficient at scoring, actually running plays instead of letting the best scorer destroy the team's rhythm. I think that's why Brown isn't in the same demand he used to be. Karl is a disaster, not so much for his motives as his means. What the Nugs need from their team brass, I think, is: 1) To get rid of the team's lazy malcontents instead of just calling them out in the media. JR Smith is trash who brings no positives whatsoever, for instance-- replace him in the rotation with Bobby Jones. 2) Get Carmelo to buy into the team offense. Show him that teams will swarm him except when he keeps them honest with passing, and surround him with better shooters to make this possible. 3) Get the players to play more than one pace. If the team is always in run mode they'll get blown-out against high-powered offenses frequently. 4) Use minutes as an incentive/disincentive instead of media diatribes and displaying a "you don't care, so I won't either" attitude. The front-court players -- esp. Nene, who is a shoddy rebounder despite all of his physical gifts because, IMO, he's lazy -- most importantly, because they tie up the team's money and their lack of hustle is hurting the team's play most. 5) Pray that K-Mart can become the team MVP he was when he arrived in Denver. Or, showcase him and see if you can pawn him off on Isiah Thomas.
I predict Denver is gonna be overrated this year like they are every year. Offense only teams like phoenix, denver, golden state and washington are gonna do bad this year because i think teams have had time to adjust. Teams that are good at both like Houston, SA, Boston, Dallas and Utah are gonna blow them out of the water.
I love it Since I'm a 'Melo hater and a Screaming A Smith hater Well I wouldn't call it hate I guess, I just can't take'em seriously as professionals....
