Nuggets Need Bigger Effort to Win Series

It seems apparent the Denver Nuggets are in the Western Conference finals for the long haul. But whether or not they can beat the Lakers and advance to the NBA Finals may hinge on a few players who haven't done much yet.

The Nuggets have every right to feel pretty good about Thursday night's 106-103 win that evened the series at one game apiece. But the Nuggets will be long shots if Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups have to keep carrying a disproportionate part of the load.

Specifically, the Nuggets are going to need more out of their front line: Kenyon Martin, Nene and Chris Andersen.

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Coming into this series, that threesome figured to really test the wherewithal of the Lakers' big men.

So far, there hasn't been a lot of confrontation and resistance.

The Lakers were coming off a series in which the Rockets' scrappiness and determination exposed a little bit of a soft Lakers underbelly. You'd think a player such as Martin, in particular, would want to try to take it one step further.

Instead, Martin and his up-front teammates have been reluctant to do the dirty work. Lakers power forward Pau Gasol has been the best big man in the series, and in the process he's displayed an athleticism and talent the Nuggets are having trouble dealing with.

Martin did finish with 16 points in Thursday's win, but 10 of those came in the first quarter. And three rebounds in 35 minutes just isn't going to cut it. Gasol finished with 17 points and 17 rebounds, and his length and skill are issues that won't go away for Denver.

The fact of the matter is that Denver played much better when Linas Kleiza was on the floor and Martin wasn't.

It's not that Denver's front line is being embarrassed or exposed by Gasol, Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum ... they're not. It's just that the Nuggets' big men figured to be a little more productive at both ends of the floor.

The interior was a place that Denver figured it would have an advantage against the Lakers. That has hardly been the case.

Anthony had 39 points in Game 1 and 34 points in Thursday's victory. Billups finished with 27 points in Game 2. Are Anthony and Billups good enough to win this series without getting much help from their teammates -- particularly the front line?

Maybe they are. But the odds are sure better if Martin, Nene and Andersen started playing better. In other words, Denver needs more than an excuse-me rebound by Nene and a look-what-I-found bucket with half-a-minute left by Martin. Not that it wasn't big.

It's just that they're going to have to chip in more consistently on offense and defend the rim better at the other end.

Nene has been in foul trouble in each of the first two games, and he appears to be bothered by the length of Gasol, Odom and Bynum. Andersen is an energy guy and a hell of a story, but he doesn't seem to have many answers when it comes to guarding Gasol.

The Nuggets were outscored 50-32 in the paint, the product of the Lakers getting to the bucket, and also cleaning things up when there was a miss.

Despite this, the Nuggets still won Game 2 and now head back to Denver even in the series. You have to admit, they have a real chance of winning the thing. But they'll have a better chance if their front line comes around.

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LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 21: WWE executive Shane McMahon attends Game Two of the Western Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center on May 21, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Shane McMahon

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LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 21: Actor Tom Cruise attends Game Two of the Western Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs between the Los Angeles Lakers and the Denver Nuggets at Staples Center on May 21, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Tom Cruise

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Los Angeles Lakers fan and actor Jack Nicholson reacts as Denver Nuggets head coach George Karl gestures at his players during the second half of Game 2 of the NBA basketball Western Conference finals Thursday, May 21, 2009, in Los Angeles. The Nuggets beat the Lakers, 106-103(AP Photo/ Mark J. Terrill )

LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 21: Pau Gasol #16 of the Los Angeles Lakers sits down after picking up his fourth foul in the fourth quarter against the Denver Nuggets in Game Two of the Western Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on May 21, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Pau Gasol

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LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 21: Pau Gasol #16 of the Los Angeles Lakers holds the ball as Chauncey Billups #7 and Nene #31 of the Denver Nuggets go after the ball in the fourth quarter of Game Two of the Western Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on May 21, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Pau Gasol;Chauncey Billups;Nene

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LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 21: Chauncey Billups #7 of the Denver Nuggets moves the ball as he is guarded by Derek Fisher #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Two of the Western Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on May 21, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Chauncey Billups;Derek Fisher

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LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 21: Derek Fisher #2 of the Los Angeles Lakers goes up for a shot against Chris Andersen #11 and Nene #31 of the Denver Nuggets in Game Two of the Western Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on May 21, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Derek Fisher;Nene;Chris Andersen

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LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 21: Head coach George Karl of the Denver Nuggets points in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers in Game Two of the Western Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on May 21, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** George Karl

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LOS ANGELES, CA - MAY 21: Trevor Ariza #3 of the Los Angeles Lakers dunks the ball against Dahntay Jones #30 and Nene #31 of the Denver Nuggets in the third quarter of Game Two of the Western Conference Finals during the 2009 NBA Playoffs at Staples Center on May 21, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Trevor Ariza;Nene;Dahntay Jones

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Denver Nuggets guard Chauncey Billups, left, puts up a shot as Los Angeles Lakers forward Lamar Odom defends during the second half of Game 2 in their NBA Western conference final basketball series, Thursday, May 21, 2009, in Los Angeles. The Nuggets won 106-103. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

5-22-2009 @ 11:22AM

niqs13 said...

Nuggets just take a min to wake up sometimes... at least we hang in there with the Lakers and make them work for a win. Just shows my Nuggets can have the most horrible 1st quarter known to man and still come back to beat the Lakers. The Lakers everybody jocks 4whatever reason... Shows the Nuggets didn't get to the finals on luck... they all got skills minus Anthony Carter.. everybody recognize...respect

5-22-2009 @ 11:49AM

jzz3skys said...

When Billups threw the ball off of Gasol's feet it was judged to be a kicking foul. One of the commentators, it might have been Mark Jackson, came up with the rationalization that because Gasol was moving it was a foul - if he had been stationary it wouldn't have been called kicking. That doesn't make sense because it was clearly unintentional on Gasol's part, though not necessarily on Billups's.

I looked up the rule, it's Rule No. 10 - Violations and Penalties:

Section V-Strike the Ball

a. A player shall not kick the ball or strike it with the fist.

b. Kicking the ball or striking it with any part of the leg is a violation when it is an intentional act. The ball accidentally striking the foot, the leg or fist is not a violation.

PENALTY:

(1) If the violation is by the offense, the ball is awarded to the opposing team at the sideline nearest the spot of the violation but no nearer to the base-line than the free throw line extended.

(2) If the violation is by the defense while the ball is in play, the offensive team retains possession of the ball at the sideline nearest the spot of the violation but no nearer the baseline than the foul line extended.

(3) If the violation occurs during a throw-in, the opposing team retains possession at the spot of the original throw-in with all privileges, if any, remaining.

What was the purpose of Billups doing that? Was he just trapped without anyone to pass the ball to and was it assessed as a team foul against the Lakers?

Shouldn't that kind of foul be reviewable by the other officials?

5-22-2009 @ 12:46PM

henryclemente said...

A big reason why there are always "controversies" with basketball officiating is that fans, announcers, players don't even understand the rules of the games.

National TV announcers not even being able to properly interpret a kicking violation?? Pathetic.

5-22-2009 @ 12:45PM

LAdubbz45 said...

we'll take game 3

5-22-2009 @ 12:20PM

bccabling said...

I think Kobe is gonna turn it up in Denver... Billups messed up!

5-22-2009 @ 1:02PM

G said...

Hey Matt, there's one factor you forgot to consider. Anderson, Smith, Nene and Martin all have a tendency of playing much better at the Pepsi Center than on the road. The Nuggets play as a team at home. Now that the Nuggets have home court advantage in the series the Lakers could be in trouble, for more than one reason.