Wednesday night at Pepsi Center, dozens saw the Nuggets force the rambunctious Rockets into overtime … until the Nuggets lost, again.
Close but no cigar — but maybe a cigarette for making it to overtime? (Oh, excuse me, an E-cigarette … to vape).
This game was just the latest example of the valiant Nuggets being exposed for what they are — a group of OK players. All-star James Harden, meanwhile, took over.
This is Denver’s reality. They’re stuck in basketball purgatory. Not good, but not bad enough. I’ve been screaming in these columns this for a year now. They know it, too. Until now, fans have blamed coach Brian Shaw and the key players. But now, with December trades brewing, we’ll see the true mettle and possible creativity of general manager Tim Connelly. I think it’s too early to judge the guy. But in the coming months, we’ll see what direction he takes this team — because right now, their direction is sideways.
I’d be fine with blowing it up — you’re losing anyway, you might as well REALLY lose and get higher picks. Flexibility is imperative. Getting flexibility with picks and money to spend is vital for Denver, going forward. But the idea that Denver is one all-star away from relevance seems unrealistic.
As for the game last night, I was there as Kenneth Faried returned to the starting lineup and did what Faried does best — energy play — and did what Faried does worst — get exposed occasionally on the defensive end, notably in overtime. It was fun, though, to see a confident Faried — smiling, playing passionately and pumping up the crowd, at 92-92, to feed off their energy.
Enjoy it — his days could be numbered, because if the Nuggets are going to make trades, everyone should be trade bait.
Chew on this
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• Big ! Brad Pitt (51), Steven Speilberg (68), Keith Richards (71), Christina Aguilera (34), Ray Liotta (60), Katie Holmes (36), and the late Ty Cobb, Joseph Stalin, Betty Grable and Franz Ferdinand.
Benjamin Hochman: bhochman@denverpost.com or twitter.com/hochman
