The best hope that we appeared to have for a late game closer would have been Danilo Galinari, but he's is not coming back at all this season (ACL surgery). Even without him, Denver has proven themselves capable of beating any team in the league despite having to cross fingers if the game is close late.
Every attempt that Brian Shaw makes to turn Ty Lawson into the all-star he hopes to become, he reverts into timid Ty who doesn't force his game upon late game situations. The Nuggets have won and lost during nationally televised games this season. Someone needs to tell Ty that these are the moments that all-stars are made from. Tonight against Portland, the Nuggets lost a 15 point lead and ultimately the game late in Portland, but they did so as a result of second chance rebounds by the Blazers (sound familiar), and piss poor execution down the stretch themselves.
I hate to pile on with this latest 3 game skid, but Lawson and the Nuggets have another national television audition against the Indiana Pacers this weekend. Indiana is the team where Shaw coached last season, so he should know a thing or two about this team. They play hard and fast, and have the closer we dream about in Paul George. They also have the NBA's best record.
Did I mention that the trade deadline is coming soon and players, especially young players, are afraid to be traded and might be clenching a bit? Teams on the edge of playoff potential like the Nuggets become buyers or sellers at these moments, but no one is clear about which one we will be.
I have called for a trade and may be leaning stronger towards the idea with the up and down trend of this team appearing to be the expected reality. The trade deadline is February 20th and the all-star break will come a week earlier to create a needed break in the action. Until then, we are what our record says we are. A mediocre team with inconsistent focus and energy. Without a closer, inconsistent energy and focus are death nails.
The future is uncertain because this team is way too capable of winning for us to turn our heads in disinterest, but it is hard to continue to watch a team that rarely displays the signs of winning it all. Introducing the fans to the future of this team with Evan Fournier and Quincy Miller is valuable, but only to the extent that someone is still in the Pepsi center stands to care about the future.
Our best play may be to call around and shop Carmelo Anthony to someone for the New York Knicks who we are counting on losing a lot since we have their first round pick next year. I am okay with building for the future, but I am not okay with missing out on a robust trade market. Right now their are impact players who are plentiful and ripe for the picking. Will the Nuggets play or pass is the question. The answer remains close to the vest of Nuggets brass.
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