Denver Post sports writer Benjamin Hochman posts his Nuggets Mailbag on Wednesdays during the 2008-09 NBA season.
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So, why should we believe in this team? Blown out by Boston, barely beat Atlanta, , and they blow a seven-point lead going into fourth quarter to Indiana (who by the way was 11 games under .500)? Seems like the same ol’ Nuggets to me. Please enlighten.
— Erik, Breckenridge
Erik – Who knows which Nuggets team is going to show up each night. You definitely nailed down the Nuggets of late. This season, they have defeated every 34-plus-win team except Cleveland. And they recently beat the Lakers and Trail Blazers. But during this recent tailspin, there have been innumerable questions suddenly raised about these guys.
For instance, Kenyon Martin’s back is in much pain. He is the Nuggets’ top defensive player, and it was obvious they could have used his smarts and intensity in the Jazz and Kings games, as well as down the stretch against the Rockets on Monday, when Denver lost by two. Back injuries don’t heal like, say, hand injuries. These things can linger — and Denver doesn’t have much big-man depth.
And why is Denver so selfish all of a sudden? The team hasn’t eclipsed the 20-assist mark in any of the past three games. Earlier this season, they often flirted with 30 assists.
And where’s their swagger? It was just a few weeks ago that the team was lauded for its confidence — backing up the talk with the walk, if you will. Now they’re playing not to lose, and no team wins playing not to lose.
Right now, the Nuggets are seventh in the West. But with an easy upcoming schedule, they should do some climbing. I think the big test will be the three-game road trip from March 23-27 at Phoenix, New Orleans and Dallas. These are good teams but not great teams — but the games are on the road. If Denver can win two of these, it will show that there’s still some fight in the Nuggets we all fell for earlier this year. But if they pull a Chicago-Milwaukee-Indiana in these games, then you might have to start asking: When, oh when, are they going to start winning on the road again (because at least three playoff games won’t be in Pepsi Center)?
But as for your question about believing in this team, I’d just say that it’s hard to count out Chauncey Billups in April and May.
Benjamin – Do you think the Nuggets and their fans realize that their run in first place has more to do with injuries to the Utah Jazz than to the arrival of Chauncey Billups? If Utah wasn’t ravaged all season by injuries, they would be leading this division by five games despite Denver’s record. What do you think?
— Josh W., Butte, Mont.
Hi, Josh. Hope things are going well in “The Treasure State,” home of Carroll O’Connor, Patrick Duffy, Phil Jackson, Myrna Loy and Denver Post sports copy desk chief Angela Clemmons.
Well, there’s no question — if the Jazz had been healthy, they likely would have been in the mix earlier this season (note that the team is 15-4 when Carlos Boozer plays). But five games is a pretty hefty prediction.
And when you look at schedules, also note that Denver’s schedule eases up considerably in the coming weeks. The Nuggets’ next five opponents are Oklahoma City, Los Angeles Clippers, New Jersey, Memphis and Washington (Wizards, not Generals, though with all their injuries, there’s not much difference). It’s arguable that Denver could win four of these next five, while Utah is on a crazy five-game road trip and has just seven more home games all season. So, yes, injuries slowed the Jazz for much of the season. But it will be very interesting to see how this thing plays out, with the schedule as it is and everyone now healthy.
Why does Renaldo Balkman play a lot one night (Milwaukee) and then the next (Boston) doesn’t play at all (coach’s decision)? I mean, after all, he had several steals and rebounds against Milwaukee and then zippo minutes against Boston.
— Neil, Fruita
Neil – There are so many people in Nuggets Nation who feel the same way. Just look at what the reserve forward did in the Utah and Sacramento games — a combined 18 points and 24 rebounds (nine offensive!). But in the very next game, against Houston and without Kenyon Martin, he didn’t even take off his warmup suit.
Coach George Karl likes Balkman. By no means is Balkman in any doghouse. But Karl has admitted at times that he’s wary about Balkman’s defense. Even though the dude brings energy, sometimes he lets up layups, and Karl finds that unacceptable. And though Balkman attacks the boards really well on the offensive end, he’s not much of a mid-range shooting threat.
But Martin’s back could be a lingering problem this season. If he continues to miss games, one would think Balkman, over time, would get more minutes. Even so, he seldom gets these minutes in continuous nights, and this unpredictability is tough for the unpredictable forward.
Hey, Benjamin. With a need for another “quality” big man, why didn’t the Nuggets pick up someone like Stromile Swift, Joe Smith or Drew Gooden? Swift, at the least, would have looked good here, and it seems like we are a better playoff contender than Phoenix. What’s the deal?
— Jim, Westminster
Hi, there, Jim. Good question, I’d say. Obviously, the Nuggets furiously inquired about every available waived player, just to see what the asking prices were. But with the big men, notably the ones you named, they’re going to ask for some pretty big money, and Denver worked just so hard at getting under the luxury tax. And really, a third point guard has a better chance of playing a few minutes than a big man that Denver could have afforded. Heck, the aforementioned Balkman doesn’t play too much, and he’s already on the team.
And finally, look at the teams that these guys chose, notably Smith (Cavaliers) and Gooden (Spurs). Yes, the Nuggets are improved from last season, but these guys chose two of the premier teams in basketball.
Why does Carmelo Anthony continue to chalk up suspensions? He always says he’ll mature. Then another suspension comes along. Thanks.
— Mike, Denver
What is up, Mike? Yes, this was definitely a disappointing turn of events. I will give Melo credit — in so many facets, he has matured this season. Early on this season, I wrote about his personal appearance and the way he carries himself. And on the court, he’s played a little better defense, he is rebounding at a high level and is embracing, for the most part, this team-first mentality. But, for better or worse, he’s a really emotional guy. And in the Indiana game, he let his emotions skew his thinking. He wanted to stay on the court — you got to love the passion — but by doing so, he disrespected his coach. And you just can’t do that.
People wonder if the suspension was too harsh. (Melo could have been key in the Detroit game; Karl said it himself.) Maybe Denver could have just made him come off the bench that night. But the fact is, for all his maturing, he’s still a work-in-progress. And this stance had to be taken by the team — .
If anything, I think this suspension is different than the fight or the DUI, but it was still disappointing, yes.
Benjamin Hochman covers the Nuggets for The Denver Post. , or .
