With all the coverage the Miami Heat's now 21-game winning streak commands, many people don't know that Denver is on its own 11-game winning streak. Led by an amazing coach and courageous man in George Karl, the Nuggets are 45-22 making them the 5th seed in the Western Conference being only one game in the loss column behind the 4th seeded Memphis Grizzles. The Nuggets are led by point guard Ty Lawson who averages 16.8 points and 7.0 assists per game. Lawson was also named Western Conference Player of the Week two weeks ago.
The highlight of the this week of exceptional play for Denver was the return of said former franchise All-Star Carmelo Anthony, now with the New York Knicks, to Denver to play his former team in their building for the first time since the trade. Would he hear the same boos and feel the same disdain that Dwight Howard did in his return to Orlando last week? Sure he would, though to a significantly lesser degree. Carmelo had been nursing a right knee injury in games prior to Wednesday night's against the Nuggets and it surely impaired his performance finishing with only 9 points on 3-of-12 shooting in 21 and a half minutes. He finally decided the pain, in his knee of course, was too intense to push forward and went back to the locker room during the 3rd quarter for the remainder of the game. When noticing Carmelo had left the game, Denver fans went on to chant "Where is Melo? Where is Melo?". I'm sure they all felt they got what they paid for that night with a 117-94 Nuggets victory.
The Nuggets are tied for the NBA's best home record at 30-3 with none other than their streaking partners, the Miami Heat. They have defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder, Memphis Grizzles, Los Angeles Clippers and Lakers during this streak and are red hot as they prepare to take on the Chicago Bulls on Monday night. One thing is for sure: no Western Conference team should want to see the Nuggets in the playoffs, especially in the first round, as they are a dangerous team that can definitely pull off an upset, if you can even call it that with the way they are rolling. Will they defeat Chicago on Monday and reach 12 consecutive wins and to tie a record for the longest winning streak in franchise history? Check in with me @RealRundown and find out!
Sources: NBA
I agree about the "silent killers" out of Denver, but i personally believe that Javale Mcgee should be starting. Although he does make his, at time, bone-headed mistakes; I still put him at the top of the most athletic big men in the NBA. I think along with maturity and coaching under the great George Karl, ( he is only 25) he will be one of the most prolific big men in the NBA
ReplyDeleteYou know, I agree with you Ray. He's been the epitome of Shaqtin A Fool this season but that can be improve with growth. When I did my background research on this team to confirm some player information I was surprised he wasn't a starter (because I didn't know for sure). However many players need that sixth man role to grow so maybe that's what George is doing. Many players also excel as a sixth man versus a starter i.e Jamal Crawford as a Clipper or James Harden with OKC. Not to say that they wouldn't produce as a starter but when you're a big asset to your team a lot of times it doesn't matter when you come in.
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