<span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%">Mile-High Inconsistency</span>Words - Brandon Curry<div align="center"></div><div align="center">George Karl's expression explains it all.</div>Inconsistency, a word that has described George Karl?s Nuggets play lately. Denver is currently sitting atop a weak Northwest Division with a 42-34 record, obviously giving them the third seed in the Western Conference playoffs. Reasons for the up-and-down play? Injuries you can always use as an ?excuse?. The Nuggets lost Nene Hilario, a 6?11? forward-center early in the season. That left them with problems in the frontcourt, seeing they didn?t have a lot of depth there in the first place. Injuries to Earl Boykins, Kenyon Martin and Eduardo Najera can also be added to the list. Denver put up astonishing numbers in Tuesday night?s contest against the Los Angeles Clippers. The Nuggets managed to put 77 points on the board by halftime, while dishing out 26 assists and shot 82% from the field. Sounds good right? Yes, everything was good until the halftime break was over and The Nuggets went out and scored only 32 points on 28% shooting in the second half. Denver lost to the Clippers by two.Thursday night?s game against Kobe Bryant and his Los Angeles Lakers first half performance was similar, not as remarkable, but it was stellar. Denver?s squad knocked down 17 of 26 shots from the field, leading to an early 18-point lead over the Lakers. Then the superior play came to a holt, making only 21 of 65 shots. The Nuggets came out with a win due to the clutch shot of franchise player, Carmelo Anthony late in overtime. Leaving Melo just about the only thing you could call ?consistent? for Denver.The Nuggets play best when they are up-tempo and able to run in the open court. This was blatant when Denver went on a blazing 16-0 run in the first quarter against the Lakers. They lead the NBA in fast break points per game with 20. The Nuggets also rank third and sixth in steals and blocked shots. When they aren?t playing fast and are forced to operate at a slower pace, Denver falters. They rely too much on Carmelo Anthony in the half-court, he?s an outstanding player, but that doesn?t fit his game. The one-dimensional type play, along with no low-post threat and horrid three-point shooting Denver has difficulties scoring and most importantly winning. If the playoffs were to start today, the Nuggets would open up at Memphis, against Pau Gasol and the Grizzlies. Why are they on the road when they are the higher seed you ask? Well Denver?s decent record is not better than the Grizzlies? 43 wins and 32 losses. The Nuggets play extremely better at the Pepsi Center, it?s easier to run when the opposing team has to make adjustments due to the higher altitude. Not to mention the crowd?s energy is not there to get behind you when you are trying to play at a high pace. Karl?s squad could be bounced out of the playoffs early or they could get healthy and keep climbing deeper into the Western Conference playoffs. You really never know when it comes to the Denver Nuggets, and they are sometimes hard to figure out. Once the playoffs get here, one thing is certain, the Nuggets will show us who they really are, whether it be a ?one-and-done? type team or a championship contender.(Sources: NBA.com, Yahoo.com)
good write up. i think it has to do with them being strictly offensive. When they go cold, they can't win.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BALLAHOLLIC @ Apr 7 2006, 11:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'></div>lmao I was waiting for your opinion...
It is true. We are so inconsistent. I have a feeling you wrote this to make yourself feel better after the Nuggets beat the Lakers.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (UConnHoops22 @ Apr 7 2006, 11:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>It is true. We are so inconsistent. I have a feeling you wrote this to make yourself feel better after the Nuggets beat the Lakers.</div>No not really... did I praise the Lakers in anyway in this article?I wrote it cause I heard what happened Tuesday and then last night.
