Much like the slug fest that we witnessed when the Denver Broncos took on the Kansas City Chiefs in the first game of this season, the Nuggets faced the Oklahoma City Thunder for the 3rd time this season after losing the first 2.They finally won one and Kevin Durant was none too happy. By the end of the game, as he sat and watched the blowout without a chance that his coach would put him back in. His temperature rose to the point that he earned a technical foul. From the bench. I am checking the schedule right now to see when these teams play again because I guarantee you that that game will be one to watch.
Last nights game was not, unless of course you are a Nugget fan, and even many of them left the arena in the middle of the 4th quarter. The Nuggets traded a few punches early and took a lead somewhere in the middle of the 1st quarter that they would never relinquish. At some point they increased their lead to 25 points and never looked like they had any concern with losing to this team.
Who are these Nuggets and what did they do with that team that lost 8 straight?
We've seen bits and pieces of these dudes in glimpse and flashes, but we have never seen a consistent version of them until now. Since our game was forced to TNT, we all had to hear former Nugget and permanent Nugget hater, Kenny Smith, declare that you do not have a streak until you win 5 games. He was hating on the Knick's at the time, but he also stated that the Nuggets can't win with their current loose style of play. Shaquille O'Neal came to our defense, but was Kenny correct?
Are the Nuggets officially on a streak? In my heart I tend to agree with Kenny. Lots of teams can luck upon a combination of lucky situations and/or good play that will account for 4 wins in a row during an 82 game season. Luck doesn't usually extend into that 5th game because everyone, including your opponent will pin their ears back to win that 5th game. Thanks to our anatomy, 5 will always be a significant number. Yet, the number that screams out to me is 16.
Correct me if I am wrong, but for the last 16 quarters the Nuggets have played with the kind of effort that it takes to win games? In most of those quarters they even developed a plan of attack and a little swag along the way, but those things are like beauty, fleeting. Exceptional defense will always thwart your plan and your swag. In the end, all you really have is your team.
Ask San Antonio. They were a free throw and a defensive rebound away from being the champions of the league. While many people see visions of the Ray Allen three point shot, I see the Chris Bosh offensive rebound and the patient wait for Ray to set up before he threw him the ball to tie the game. No matter what angle you view that championship moment from, it was the result of team.
That kind of teamwork during the playoffs can get you a title. During the regular season you blow teams out by double digits 3 nights in a row. And that number 16?
The Nuggets have Golden State, Portland and Indiana coming in a schedule that is loaded with teams much worse than these 3. If they can maintain their teamwork, they will not only beat these teams and all of the others, they will take a 16 game win streak (yes, I said it.) into New York for the rematch with Carmelo Anthony and the resurgent Knicks.
That could be a hard game to win just because Madison Square Garden is haunted. SquareBiz.
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