Unlike in real life, when the effects of problems and misfortunes can drag on for months or even years, in sports things can turn around quickly. Every new game is a complete fresh start, and all the mistakes made in all prior games have no bearing on the new game. The Nuggets took full advantage of this fact tonight, and made a kind of fresh start. Their attack was the most balanced one since the December 26 home win against the Celtics; the front court defense was much improved from the 5-game losing streak now ended. Kleiza and Reggie Evans backed up the defensive superstar Marcus Camby not only on the boards, but on the scoreboard as well. Kleiza hit key 3's, and Evans climbed out of a scoring slump so deep that you have to wonder whether the man was reborn sometime in the last 48 hours. Or maybe George Karl had a one on one drill with Reggie, daring him to miss layups and short jumpers against a bald 55 year old man. The result of this reawakening of the front court was that Iverson was not double teamed all that much and he and Iverson #2 (Boykins) had alot more space to deliver the goods. And Marcus Camby, who irritated his finger fracture against the Lakers and had to sit out the Jazz game, returned in great form, holding down the paint and not only had another huge game on defense, bu The Nuggets calmed their worried fans down with a well-managed and intelligent win against the Bucks, 104-92. With J.R. Smith returning next game, the suspensions don't seem as damaging and dangerous as they did before the tip of this one. It's time to breathe one huge sigh of relief, not only because of the win itself, but because almost every Nugget who played had a solid game or more. It seems the Nuggets finally know how to play with A.I. and without J.R.-Melo just when, you guessed it, they're coming back. I can imagine worse problems, though, than bringing J.R. and Melo back into the mix. The Bucks were without their scoring leader swingman Michael Redd, who at almost 28 points per game is currently the 5th top scorer in the NBA. Redd is nursing a strained patellar tendon in his left knee and will be sidelined four to six weeks. Milwaukee was also without forward Charlie Villanueva, who has missed each of the last two games with tendinitis in his right shoulder. Villanueva is having a decent year, at 13 ppg and 6 rpg. Ruben Patterson responded to the injuries and to poor shooting by the other Bucks by doubling his average scoring and he had 12 rebounds, 7 assists, and 4 steals. The other Buck starters
I'm releaved that the Nuggets got lucky once more, won this game tonight and used it for themselves to break their losing streak. I'm saying 'lucky' because it could have come worse for them during the last few games as they faced some teams who also had problems on their own. I think the win against the Wizards (without AI) was absolutely great. Then the Celtics came without Pierce, Szczerbiak and some other injuries, plus West injured during the game. Then Seattle was without Ray Allen. Then the Mavs were without Nowitzki, but even without him they are still a great team and pulled out the win in the final minutes despite the Nuggets were very competetive in this game. And now Milwaukee was also depleted, without Redd, Villanueva and Mo Williams who had to leave the game. The Nuggets could use this situation again for a win. And the game against the Suns was rescheduled (very likely a loss). So despite all the suspensions and players who had to miss due to injury during the last games, I think it still could have come much worse than a 4-6 record. Boykins just playing great, keep it up, man!
