Denver Post sports writer Benjamin Hochman posts his Nuggets Mailbag on Tuesdays during the 2009-10 NBA season. The Mailbag will open again on Feb. 23.
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Do you think the Nuggets are holding something back regarding Carmelo Anthony’s injury? Could it actually be worse than we’ve been told? Seems odd how the whole thing has progressed (or not progressed, I should say). Is there something else going on behind the scenes between Melo and the team?
— Ron Brunk, Nashville
Ron: Glad to hear there are some Nuggets’ mailbag fans in Nashville. I’m a huge country music fan — I’m the Karaoke Kenny Chesney.
As for Melo, you’re not the only one asking that. Gary from Monte Vista wrote in, too, wondering about the ankle’s progress — or lack thereof. I’ll tell you this — it’s not like Melo isn’t working out on the ankle. He’s been participating in practice. And I watched him today during a three-on-three game (and if you wonder if players practice hard, I can tell you that this game was so intense, when one team won, Malik Allen of the losing team was so mad that he punted the ball into the ceiling. Indeed, many of these guys are prideful players).
In regard to Melo, it has been frustrating for all involved that he hasn’t been out there on the court, when he’s felt like there was progress. But hopefully for Nuggets fans, the two days without games will give him just the amount of time to get him on the court for tonight’s huge game against Dallas.
Are the NBA playoffs going to be more unpredictable than people expect, especially after what the Nuggets did to the Lakers on Feb. 5? In the West, Kobe’s injured but won’t take time off, Bynum phantoms every other week, Fisher’s on a walker, and they have the weakest Western-Conference schedule so of course the Lakers win so many games. In the East, the Celtics are old, the Magic don’t have an identity, and the Cavs should be renamed “LeBron and the witnesses”? The path is open for the Nuggets, no?
— Josh, Englewood
Josh: Love your optimism. I think this will be a thrilling playoffs indeed, and the Lakers are suddenly playing like Ivan Drago after Rocky cut him with that punch. and as I wrote in my Nuggets briefs that night, Karl feels Denver has a better grasp on what to do to beat L.A. Now, let’s face it, Denver’s probably not going to have a shooting night again like last Friday in L.A. (afterward, George said something about the moon and stars aligning). But let’s not forget that Melo didn’t play that night.
You mentioned Bynum and he will be such an X-factor, I believe. His low-post prowess could be the difference in a Nuggets-Lakers series. But, yeah, like you said, the playoffs will be unpredictable, I think. Atlanta, realistically, can battle for the East finals. Orlando was looking bad for a while, and then on Sunday Boston’s Doc Rivers is saying his team’s worst than Orlando! And who knows how the West in going to play out? The seedings change every night. That’s why games such as Tuesday’s against Dallas are so important for the Denver Nuggets.
It appears that the Nuggets have found a real keeper in rookie point guard Ty Lawson. Although phenom Brandon Jennings of the Bucks has generated a lot of press, especially resulting from his 50-plus point performance early in the season, do you think Denver would trade Lawson straight-up for Jennings? I don’t!
— Gary Alfred, Denver
Gary: You bring up a really cool what-if. The Nuggets indeed have fallen in love with Ty Lawson, who plays in sixth-gear. The rookie is arguably the fastest player in the conference, and has shown toughness in his layup attempts and his fearlessness in shooting the three ball.
While he struggles sometimes maneuvering around the pick-and-roll, and he’s had some “rookie” games with turnovers and decision-making, the fact is, he’s exceeded everyone’s expectations, lodging himself into Denver’s rotation the first week of the season.
Lawson is one of just a handful of rookies playing big minutes for playoff-bound teams, and for the season, he averages 22.5 minutes, 9.5 points, 3.4 assists and shootings 44.1 percent from 3-point range. Meanwhile, Milwaukee’s Jennings averages 34.1 minutes, 17.1 points, 6.3 assists and shoots 38.3 percent from 3-point range. Of course, the Bucks are lottery-bound, while Denver is arguably one of the two-best in the West.
Would Denver trade Lawson for Jennings straight up in your mythical trade? I can tell you this — there would be a lot of heated discussions. Lawson has such an upside, such a championship pedigree and such a “team-ness” to him (to use a George Karl term), it would be hard to think Denver would give him up for any point guard from that draft (unless you count Tyreke Evans as a true point guard).
After Chauncey replaced Chris Paul in the All-Star game as an injury replacement, was it the first time the Nuggets have had two players AND a coach in the All-Star game?
— Matt, Adelaide, Australia
Matt: Hope things are awesome in Australia! Good question, yes. The answer is no. players Bobby Jones, David Thompson and Dan Issel all started for a West team that was coached by the Nuggets’ Larry Brown.
We have disagreed on many things over the years, but was uncalled for. PS was a classic, starting with the theme song flowing with a positive message. If the Nuggets followed that song, it would lead them to an NBA Championship. I suggest the become the Nuggets’ theme song. Do you agree?
— DK, Broomfield
DK: I must apologize to you, as well as the natives of the island of Mypos. Perfect Strangers indeed had its moments. Who could forget Balki Bartokomus’ “dance of joy?” As for the theme song, I prefer which features the hijinks in the “windy city” as well as in the revolving door. The lyrics, indeed, could be a motivational tool for the Nuggets: “No matter what the odds are this time, nothing’s gonna stand in my way… standing ta-aaaaaaall, on the wings of my dream! Rise and fa-aaaaaaall, on the wings of my dream!”
Sure enough (according to Wikipedia), the “Perfect Strangers” theme song was written by Jesse Frederick and Bennett Salvay (who also wrote the themes for other Miller-Boyett series, including “Full House,” “Step by Step” and the “Perfect Strangers” spin-off “Family Matters”).
Benjamin Hochman is in his third season as the Nuggets and NBA beat writer for The Denver Post. for the Nuggets Mailbag.
