Denver Stiffs

Suns vs. Nuggets: A whole lot of Brewer love (7pm MST)

2012-02-14T21:39:34Z

Valentines Day is a great time to show those you care about and love how much they mean to you. Tonight, I hope Corey Brewer gets the start (like he's penciled in to be), is announced last, and gets a huge ovation from the home crowd. Brewer recently lost his father and could use some love from his home crowd.

Game: 29

Records:
Denver: 16-12 (7-7 at home)
Streak: Won 1
Phoenix: 12-16 (7-9 on the road)
Streak: Lost 1

Injuries:
Denver: Timofey Mozgov (left ankle sprain) and Danilo Gallinari (left ankle sprain) are both out. Nene (left calf strain) is questionable.
Phoenix: None.

Television: Altitude

Season Series: First meeting this season.

Opposition's Take: Bright Side of the Sun

Like I noted above, it would be great to see Brewer get some special attention from the home crowd this evening. It should be noted that after missing three games, to be with family, that Brewer came back with a tremendous effort against the Indiana Pacers.

Brew played 34 minutes, was 8-16 shooting (1-3 from deep, 2-4 freebies) for 19 points, 5 rebounds, and 2 steals. The Nuggets got their chaos maker back and he helped the team snap that ugly five game losing skid with a big 113-109 win on the road.

On the road is where the Suns have been. Through 28 games, Phoenix has played just 12 home contests and 16 road games. Their overall 12-16 record could be a little deceiving as they haven't been able to get on their home floor much, but Steve Nash and company are actually pretty good away from home. On the season the Suns are 7-9 away from the bright side of the sun and just 5-7 at home.

The Nuggets are in luck as the Suns just played in Oakland last night and lost to the Golden State Warriors in a close contested game (102-96 Warriors). All of Phoenix's starters played over 32 minutes last night, so the Nuggets need to get their legs churning tonight.

One player to look out for tonight is former George Karl pupil Michael Redd. The former Milwaukee Buck, who had his career stolen away by injuries, is averaging 17.6 minutes per game in February and is averaging 10.7 points per game this month. It's great to see Redd have a little success and what better place to find the right healing powers than with Phoenix's training staff (miracle workers with Shaquille O'Neal, Steve Nash, and Grant Hill so far).

Should be an exciting game as the Suns always give the Nuggets trouble and Denver needs to find a way to get right at home. Go Nuggets.

Nate_Timmons on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Nate_Timmons
ntimmons73@yahoo.com

Denver Nuggets Lineup Changes With Nene And Mozgov Out

2012-02-14T21:30:08Z

(SB Nation Denver, Russ Oates) Denver Nuggets head coach George Karl confirmed on Tuesday that the team will be without Nene and Timofey Mozgov for the night's game against the Phoenix Suns.

Kosta Koufos has been starting in Mozgov's place, on occasion, since the ankle injury while rookie Kenneth Faried has seen increased playing time in February as a result of Nene's injuries -- this time a calf strain. Faried had 8 points and 10 rebounds against the Golden State Warriors a couple of games ago, both career highs.

#Nuggets coach George Karl says Mozgov and Nene won't play tonight. Probable starters: Ty, AAA, Koufos, Faried and Brewer.
— Denver Nuggets (@denvernuggets) February 14, 2012

Danilo Gallinari is out for at least a month with an ankle injury, which means Corey Brewer, who is now back with the team, should pick up starts at small forward. Arron Afflalo, who could play small forward, stays at shooting guard after dealing with his own injuries recently.

Podcast: Denver Stiffs crew joins the Colorado Sports Guys

2012-02-14T04:54:00Z

Finally! Andrew, Jeff, and Nate all make their way into the CSG Studios to record with Ross Martin. The guys go into depth about how the website or websites were created, thoughts on this year's team that range from offensive woes to defensive struggles to coaching challenges to injury concerns, where can Wilson Chandler play, and the three Stiffs face off to find out who has in-house bragging rights on the site during The Blogger Trivia Challenge. To let you in on the fun before you listen ... in the comments section: name players that won an NBA title before or after playing for your Nuggets. Listen to the podcast here (free on iTunes).

Nate_Timmons on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Nate_Timmons
ntimmons73@yahoo.com

WE HAVE A WINNER! Contest No. 1: Mozgov Militia t-shirt

2012-02-13T15:55:55Z

The time has come to give away the first Mozgov Militia t-shirt. You must submit your answer to my email: ntimmons73@yahoo.com to win (comments now open), the first correct answer wins, and best of luck. Click through for the brain busting question or questions ...

We have our first winner! Jeff in Denver submitted the correct answer just minutes after the contest went live. Over 100 responses in the first hour alone! Mozgov Militia is growing! We'll have two more giveaways on DenverStiffs.com and one tonight on the Colorado Sports Guys podcast that will be available to download this evening.

Since entering the NBA with the New York Knicks in the 2010-11, Timofey Mozgov has scored 15+ points three times and has three nights of double-digit rebounding. How many points and rebounds did he record on those nights and against which teams did accomplish those feats?

First person to email me the correct answers to ntimmons73@yahoo.com will be the winner of the first Mozgov Militia t-shirt.

The winner will be determined by Nate Timmons via email. I will need a follow up email with a shipping address and size preference of XL, L, and M. (In the event of a tie, I will ask each contestant a tie breaking question via email.)

Nate_Timmons on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/Nate_Timmons
ntimmons73@yahoo.com

Golden Nuggets: Better on the road ...

2012-02-13T07:29:37Z

Of all the bizarre things I thought might happen during this lockout-shortened 2011-12 NBA season, I never foresaw the Nuggets being substantially better on the road than at home.

Josh Kroenke and the Nuggets marketing team won't want to hear this, but maybe our Nuggets shouldn't play at Pepsi Center anymore. And while they're at it, maybe they shouldn't play in the Mountain or Pacific Time Zone, either.

Wrapping up the weekend, the Nuggets hold the Western Conference's second-best road record (at 9-5) and are yet to lose a game - home or road - to an Eastern Conference team (at 9-0). And even though the Eastern Conference remains the Junior Varsity of the NBA's two conferences, you have to give the Nuggets credit for winning at Indiana, at Philadelphia, at New York, at Milwaukee and at home against Miami in emphatic fashion.

Nuggets Nation certainly didn't see this trend coming when forecasting the 2011-12 season.

Of all the teams best suited for the lockout-stressed season, it should have been the Nuggets at home. With their depth, speed, height and altitude advantage, the Nuggets should have had the NBA's best home record thus far this year by routinely feasting on road-weary teams having to play in Denver during a four-games-in-five-days stretch, or the second of a back-to-back, and so forth. Moreover, since arriving in 2005 head coach George Karl has overseen one dominant Nuggets home team after another. Instead, this season the Nuggets have played at home about as well as the Broncos have played at home since moving to Invesco / Sports Authority / whatever-the-hell-it's-called field. Meaning: mediocre.

Traditionally one of the NBA's best home teams, it's painful to watch the Nuggets drop games at home. Not only is it bad because a loss is a loss (period), but the more home games the Nuggets lose the more the mystique of playing at Pepsi Center begins to wear off. If NBA teams realize that cellar dwellers like the Hornets and Warriors, or three-games-in-a-row-losers like the aging Mavericks, or mediocre teams like the Rockets and Jazz can win in Denver on any given night, whatever psychological advantage the Nuggets once had at home could get negated.

In fairness to the Nuggets collectively, we knew February would be a rough month and the home losses started coming fast and furious as soon as Danilo Gallinari got unexpectedly hurt in that home loss to the Rockets last Monday. Prior to that game, the Nuggets were a disappointing (but not catastrophic) 7-4 at The Can. Now 7-7 in Denver, I think it's obvious to everyone who follows the Nuggets closely that Gallo is more important than we ever thought he might be.

Looking ahead to the remainder of February, the Nuggets have four home games and four road games ... all against tough opponents with the exception being the Suns who play at Denver Tuesday (although historically, Steve Nash's Suns have given the Nuggets fits, at home or on the road). Regrettably, not one of those eight games is against an Eastern Conference team. And two of the Nuggets upcoming home games - Minnesota on the 20th and San Antonio on the 23rd - will be the second of a back-to-back for the Nuggets.

So Gallo or no Gallo, the Nuggets must find a way to win at home (I can't believe I'm actually saying this) while maintaining their solid play on the road if they're to salvage what's been one of the roughest months during Coach Karl's era in Denver.

On to the links ...

Denver Nuggets, in search for a closer, challenge NBA notions - The Denver Post
Chris Dempsey notes that the Nuggets are 5-5 in games decided by less than 5 points, and they're 3-5 in those situations against teams that are plus-.500.

The N.B.A. Is Missing Its Shots in China - NYTimes.com
The New York Times catches up with Wilson Chandler in China.

The Denver Nuggets Won't Win a Championship, But Not Because They Don't Have a Superstar - Yahoo! Sports
Since last year's Carmelo Anthony trade, the Denver Nuggets have been sizzling as one of the hottest teams in the Western Conference and the NBA. The million dollar question is: Can they win an NBA Championship without a superstar?

South Stands Denver Fancast | Denver Sports Podcast - Blog view: It really is good to be a Stiff
There's nothing "stiff" about Denver Stiffs, says our friends from South Stands Denver Fancast.

Mile High Sport s - Beyond Reproach
James Merilatt claims that George Karl gets a free pass in Denver when it comes to criticizing the Nuggets.

NBA -- Denver Nuggets winning with no stars - ESPN
The Nuggets are winning without a star, but even one of their players isn't sure if they're title material, writes J.A. Adande.

Nuggets at Pacers recap: The 500 lb gorilla takes a night off; visits Pacers

2012-02-12T03:36:23Z

After what seemed to be an eternity, the Denver Nuggets finally break their five game losing streak by defeating the Indiana Pacers tonight 113-109. Led by a fantastic effort by Corey Brewer, Ty Lawson and Arron Afflalo the Nuggets are back on the winning track.

There was a moment during the end of the first quarter where I thought the Nuggets run of futility would never end. The Nuggets called a time out and, upset about several non-calls on fouls and out of bounds plays, Guard Andre Miller slammed down the basketball in frustration. Garnering a technical. What happened, however, was the Nuggets proceeded from that moment on to re-ignite their will, their drive and their toughness and find that extra level of fortitude that they haven't possessed since they defeated the Los Angeles Clippers at the beginning of February. Going from 13 down to tied the game at 60 going in to the second half.

Star of the game status could go to many players. Yet, because he provided so much energy and a spark to the Nuggets starting rotation, Corey Brewer deserves that status. Coming off the sad occasion of his fathers death, Brewer seemed to play the best he has since the Nuggets played the Milwaukee Brewers in January. He finished with 19 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals. He also played great defense on Danny Granger . After lighting up the Nuggets for 17 in the first quarter, Granger finished with only 26 total points by the end of the game. Great defense and great energy from Mr. Brewer. Our deepest condolences from Denver Stiffs on the passing of your father.

Second and third stars of the game go to Ty Lawson and Arron Afflalo. AAA is continuing his good play from the Golden State game. He ended the game with 23 points and 5 rebounds. More than that though, he hit a big shot in the closing minutes to expand the Nuggets lead to 4 which effectively ended the game right there. Also, he played respectable defense on Paul George and helped out on Granger. Keep this up AAA and people will start regaining their faith in you. Ty had himself a nice game and ... GASP ... drove the ball to the hoop against a stacked defensive interior. This proves it CAN be done folks!! Eureka! Ty finished the game with 27 points and 2 assists (the poor assist numbers show that Denver was shooting a high percentage on their jumpers tonight). Good for Ty. Keep doing that son, and the Nuggets will be just fine.

A couple sour notes. Nene Hilario left with a calf strain and seems to be out for a week. You get sick and tired of these injuries, and it makes it even more remarkable that the Nuggets managed to pull this one out with three starters injured and not playing. Al Harrington was stone cold for most of the night, and quite frankly looks like he could use a very long rest. He had 10 points (on 4-18 shooting). While he did do respectable work on defense (6 rebounds), at the end David West could get any shot he wanted (22 points on 10 of 11 shooting)...

...that is until David West remembered he was David West and missed a key free throw down the stretch and made the bone-head play of the night by throwing away a pass intended for Darren Collison into the back court. It wasn't even close. That's the David West we know and love from the Hornets. The Pacers have now lost three in a row, and the rigors of the compressed season are starting to catch up with the Eastern Conference' surprise team.

Aside from all that, Kosta Koufos again did good, competent center work and kept his rep up by steppin' up against Roy Hibbert in tough duty with Nene out. K2 had 7 points and 7 rebounds. Hibbert finished with 12 points and 5 rebounds and was virtually a non-factor in this game.

Overall, it is such a relief to be rid of that god awful stench of losing. The Nuggets needed this, and quite frankly a panicky fan base needed this. Now the Nuggets can proceed to the next game, against the Phoenix Suns, with a little bit more swag yo. While it will again be tough with Nene out of the lineup, they key to remember is winning begets winning. The Nuggets needed to "remember" how to win games. Now that they have been reminded, the test is to keep the momentum up with a brutal stretch of basketball games coming up.

Congrats on the win guys! Lets make it two in a row!

Twitter: @jmorton78 https://twitter.com/#!/jmorton78

mortonagency@juno.com

Second half thread: Nuggets at Pacers

2012-02-12T01:20:29Z

Tied 60-60 going in to halftime. Corey Brewer proves to be the spark the Nuggets need against the Pacers after being down by as many as 13.

Put your second half thoughts here

Nuggets at Pacers: For your life (5pm MST)

2012-02-11T16:00:26Z

"In the pits you go no lower, the next stop is underground" - For Your Life, Led Zeppelin

Little did Robert Plant know that 36 years after he wrote that lyric for Led Zeppelin he would be describing a must win game for the Denver Nuggets when they play the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis tonight. It's time to lay the cards on the table and play like it's your last game on earth.

Game: 28

Records:
Denver: 15-12 (8-5 on the road)
Streak: Lost 5
Indiana: 17-9 (7-2 at home)
Streak: Lost 2

Injuries:
Denver: Timofey Mozgov (left ankle sprain) and Danilo Gallinari (left ankle sprain) are both out. Corey Brewer (personal reasons) is a game day decision.
Indiana: George Hill (chip fracture) is out. Jeff Foster (back) is day to day

Television: Altitude

Season Series: 0-0

Opposition's Take: Indy Cornrows

The Indiana Pacers are a good team.

Other than that, I'm not terribly sure what to write about these guys. Honestly. Am I supposed to praise them for their "team" play? Should I point out that they have sharpshooting Danny Granger? Should I mention they have David West ... he of the fade away jumper and permanent scowl? Should I point out that Tyler Hansbrough has been relegated to bench duty, and still has the most angular shoulders in the league? I think I may point out that Darren Collison is a point guard very much in the mold of Ty Lawson. I will also point out that Roy Hibbert is turning himself in to quite a serviceable NBA center.

Truth be told, the Nuggets and Pacers are built in a "team" fashion. I'm not sure it was intentional in either case. Obviously Larry Bird had a vision about how to put a team on the floor, and it involved some mocking (quite memorably by my fellow Stiffs writer Andrew Feinstein). Masai Ujiri has gone about it in a different way, but it obviously is to the same desire. No one above team. I have some quibbles with the notion that a team with "stars" won't play as a team. That seems to be as fallacious a notion as saying no one on either the Pacers or the Nuggets can't "become" a star. However - it is what it is.

Beyond the rundown of the roster, the Pacers are quite good at home (aside from two perplexing losses to the Orlando Magic) and the Nuggets must remember forever the second quarter of last year's game in Indianapolis where the Pacerts hit 22 of 23 shots. Never again Nuggets, never again.

I'll eschew my usual Nuggets of wisdom and go on a rant. I could see the confidence of this team take a hit in the Clippers game at home on Sunday, January 29th when there were some odd plays drawn up at the end of the game featuring Al Harrington. Away from the now injured Danilo Gallinari who was driving to the hoop and drawing fouls up untill the final three minutes. Then the following game the team's confidence took a further hit when, in Memphis while playing the Grizzlies ... the Nuggets lost a 10 point lead in the fourth quarter. Gallo was cold all game (1-10), and was taken out midway through the third quarter never to return. Meanwhile Andre Miller missed a shot at the end of regulation, and the Nuggets failed to execute - again - a final shot for a cold Rudy Fernandez in overtime (who sat all of the fourth quarter by the way).

The next night a rested Nuggets club began their back-to-back-to-back in style by beating the Clippers like a rented mule. Good start right? The very next night against the Lakers, close game, no Gallo ... final shot for big Al (who shot a three when the Nuggets needed two). This, in my opinon, sealed the Nuggets spiral and sent them down the path they are in now. I'm not blaming George Karl for these losses. I am, however, saying that he has inadvertently cut the team off at the knees by building up a player like Gallo who for all intents and purposes is the Nuggets best player and then showing a complete lack of confidence in him at the end of games. It's contradictory and you can't tell me a team doesn't sense that. It kills the confidence of young players when you passively indicate that you want someone to be "the man" and then you only insert your "trust guys" at the end ... and they fail consistently. I'm not saying Gallo will be the be-all and end-all, but I AM saying that the team knows that he is their best player.

There's a pack mentality to team sports. Players will instinctively follow the best player on the team. You can tell this Nuggets team trusts Gallo, and combined with the close game losses and now his own ankle injury (which came while he was torturing the Houston Rockets with aggressive drives to the basket) you get a rudderless team that lacks a certain amount of swagger. A certain swagger they had when they started 14-5. It's gone now. Combine this with Timofey Mozgov going down. Moz, while by no means spectacular, was a presence in the paint in his limited time on the floor. This also was extremely beneficial to the Nuggets' defense.

Solution. Acknowledge that Gallo is your "guy" on the team. Then say, without him each and every player needs to step up and play as if it's their last game ever. There's really no other way to put it, this is a MUST win. You can't hope for Wilson Chandler to come along an save the day. That's a dubious claim at best, and quite frankly if Wilson Chandler is you savior - your season is probably down the drain anyway. Ill Will is a good player, but not a season saving type of player.

Also, the Pacers have been struggling a bit. They lost last night to the Memphis Grizzlies (also, it is their fourth game in five nights). Hopefully the Nuggets can take advantage of this and break out of this horrible slump they are in. In the last game against the Golden State Warriors, Arron Afflalo remembered that he is a part of this team and scored 26 points. This needs to continue. Nene Hilario needs to remind himself that beast mode Nene is better than passive/scared Nene. Ty Lawson needs to drive the lane and draw contact. Stacking the lane only works if you don't drive the ball. Nuggets need to play more Kenneth Faried right now. They NEED his energy. This will eventually pay off down the road.

All in all, as I said, the Nuggets need to play every game that Gallo is out like a one game elimination. Enough of this pseudo-tired passive-defense playing squad we have seen the last four games. Play like every game means it. It will be THAT much better when Gallo returns.

GO NUGGETS!

Twitter: @jmorton78 https://twitter.com/#!/jmorton78

mortonagency@juno.com