Nuggets Need A Closer and Lawson Needs To Be It

Slides are like winning streaks.  Once they get momentum, they have to lose steam before coming to a halt.

The Nuggets are on the verge of losing steam with this latest slide, which means we see moments of Ty Lawson returning to form, followed by the scared Ty that comes back to life when we least expect it. As Ty goes, so go
the Nuggets.

Tonight's game against the Nawlins Pelicans is the type of game that could end a slide, if we hadn't squeaked out a close win against them a few games back.  Basketball players are like hockey players in some ways.  They do not forget it when you get the best of them and they will bring those memories to bear when they get a chance to exact revenge.

Tonight we confront the story of competing motivations.  Are they more motivated to get the revenge than we are to prove we are a playoff team? The return of Anthony Davis for the Pelicans makes the rebound mission a more difficult won to win, but it will be absolutely necessary if we expect to capture this victory.

The Nuggets will win this game simply because we have taken some painful punches from the NBA upper echelon.  The Pelicans will mimic the shoot 'em out of the gym approach that other teams have used to beat the Nuggets, but will come up short due to the same malady that we suffer from.  No closer.

I expect Lawson to be a closer for us tonight.  Lawson responds well to motivation and his recent failures will motivate his game tonight.  What Nuggets fans should hope for is the day when he is inspired to motivate teammates every night.  A strong contribution from someone else (Foye or Chandler should add some extra shooting) will be needed early to give Lawson a chance to close late.  This is the formula that will get us through to the return of Danilo Gallinari, or a big time trade.  Without one or the other, this team will scratch and claw for an 8th spot in the western conference.

Since we are never going to