Dirk Nowitzki is a pretty good sport. After preventing a sweep at the hands of the Denver Nuggets, a feat which made confetti fall at the American Airlines Center (seriously?), Nowitzki seemed eager to compliment the Nuggets. When a reporter asked him about the momentum in the series, he immediately said that Denver takes it to another level at home; it was exactly the kind of honest and humble answer we claim we want athletes to give. (Sort of like before Game Two, when he talked about how some of Denver's defenders give him trouble, and when Chris Webber and Charles Barkley tore him to shreds.) Furthermore he's scored at will in this series. I just feel like pointing that out considering how often I've given the man a hard time.
Anyway, the action tonight was another close and tightly-officiated game, though it didn't seem quite so ridiculous as Saturday's contest. Unfortunately the Nuggets couldn't execute the last two minutes. That's basically all it came down to. Carmelo created a decent look out of nothing on a possession that took way too long, but missed the close-range shot. Chauncey Billups lost the ball to Jason Kidd. That's basically it. Oh, that and a bunch of loose-ball fouls that defied imagination.
Still, there were positive signs in the fourth quarter. My favorite was when, with a little over three and half minutes left, Carmelo poked the ball away from Nowitzki while Dirk was posting up. It was notable because Dirk had already picked up some ticky-tack fouls on 'Melo, and I thought, "Carmelo's basically got to let him score, they're going to call him for a foul if he tries anything." And yet he still, somehow, forced the turnover. That's some mental toughness.
But don't forget J.R. Smith and his three long jumpers to beat the shot clock...just incredible shots, the kind you need to fuel a playoff run. (And it's always so nerve-wracking anyway at the start of the fourth when Chauncey is on the bench.) Speaking of Chauncey, he had nice lay-up/three-pointer sequence, but the best was the look he gave Carmelo when Antoine Wright picked up his fifth foul and a technical. It said, "I can't believe these wusses we're playing." And he drove and set up a big dunk by Nene with two minutes left. Later Carmelo had two free throws and that Reggie Miller-like three to cut the lead to one point at the end, but it just barely wasn't enough. I feel like if the game was even a minute longer, the Nuggets, who had suddenly found their rhythm again, might have won it.
The series will resume at the Pepsi Center Wednesday night (7 p.m. Mountain, TNT). I'm sad the Nuggets didn't pick up their first-ever sweep, but I can't complain too much. Carmelo has made huge strides even from game-to-game in these playoffs, and I swear Saturday's three has made him fearless. Chauncey, of course, still can't be stopped by the Mavericks. And with any luck, the Birdman, who missed the game with a stomach problem, will be back. Keep the faith, because Dirk is right: it's a whole new game at home.
Anyway, the action tonight was another close and tightly-officiated game, though it didn't seem quite so ridiculous as Saturday's contest. Unfortunately the Nuggets couldn't execute the last two minutes. That's basically all it came down to. Carmelo created a decent look out of nothing on a possession that took way too long, but missed the close-range shot. Chauncey Billups lost the ball to Jason Kidd. That's basically it. Oh, that and a bunch of loose-ball fouls that defied imagination.
Still, there were positive signs in the fourth quarter. My favorite was when, with a little over three and half minutes left, Carmelo poked the ball away from Nowitzki while Dirk was posting up. It was notable because Dirk had already picked up some ticky-tack fouls on 'Melo, and I thought, "Carmelo's basically got to let him score, they're going to call him for a foul if he tries anything." And yet he still, somehow, forced the turnover. That's some mental toughness.
But don't forget J.R. Smith and his three long jumpers to beat the shot clock...just incredible shots, the kind you need to fuel a playoff run. (And it's always so nerve-wracking anyway at the start of the fourth when Chauncey is on the bench.) Speaking of Chauncey, he had nice lay-up/three-pointer sequence, but the best was the look he gave Carmelo when Antoine Wright picked up his fifth foul and a technical. It said, "I can't believe these wusses we're playing." And he drove and set up a big dunk by Nene with two minutes left. Later Carmelo had two free throws and that Reggie Miller-like three to cut the lead to one point at the end, but it just barely wasn't enough. I feel like if the game was even a minute longer, the Nuggets, who had suddenly found their rhythm again, might have won it.
The series will resume at the Pepsi Center Wednesday night (7 p.m. Mountain, TNT). I'm sad the Nuggets didn't pick up their first-ever sweep, but I can't complain too much. Carmelo has made huge strides even from game-to-game in these playoffs, and I swear Saturday's three has made him fearless. Chauncey, of course, still can't be stopped by the Mavericks. And with any luck, the Birdman, who missed the game with a stomach problem, will be back. Keep the faith, because Dirk is right: it's a whole new game at home.
Comments
Props to TNT for that shot of Billups' face after the Wright flop, that camera shot was the best of the playoffs so far. I thought that was awesome they actually called the foul on Wright for flopping.
I agree that it took a lot of guts for Melo to still play tough D on Dirk after those bogus fouls they had called on him the precious couple of possessions. I think Melo really should have had at least two more steal last night. Actually, I thought Melo played the best D on Dirk all night. His game has really come a long way.
When the game is officiated so tight like last night don't you think it would benefit the Nuggets more to try to work the ball into Nene more in the low post? All night I kept waiting for them to feed Nene and it never really happened.
I was surprised at how much faster Billups is than Kidd. Chauncey blew by Kidd three or four times like he was standing still for easy lay-ups. I guess the old age is really catching up to the 'ol wife beater.
I think the Nuggets will win going away on Wednesday and at least they will get to win another series on their home court in front of their fans.
It's tough to tell with Chauncey...he definitely picks his spots to drive, but when he does he's pretty friggin' effective, especially when isolated against Kidd. The only problem is that since Chauncey gets the ball above the three or brings it up himself, it's not hard for Dallas to collapse on him if he goes in a couple times in a row.
I feel good when Carmelo is guarding Dirk...part because he's effective, partly just because he wants the challenge. In general I think it's wise for us to mix it up the way we have, though, especially when we can add Chris Andersen to the list.
To me the big factor that got us there-i.e., the need to execute in the final 2 minutes in the first place-was the inconsistency of our big men. K-Mart was obviously rattled and outmatched, Nene played decent but not great, and of course Andersen was out. It is no wonder we got a little worn down on the inside.
I continue to be impressed by this team's determination, and expect us to hit on all cylinders on Wednesday night.
When this game was that close in the last minute of the game I knew we were screwed and that every thing would be called on every shot the Mavs took, thanks to the whining from the last game.
I missed the Birdman, the team missed the Birdman, he brings a shot of adrenaline to our team every time he steps on the court. Something I long to see in the playoffs is to watch Kobe get a shot sent back to the stands by this guy. I would love it! Of course I’m still rooting for the rockets right now, I don’t think that’s going to happen.
Mikey, what are they supposed to do with all that confetti? Wait for us to make it back to Dallas?
LT