Bricklayer
Don't Make Me Use The Bat
Peja ( B+ ) -- was aggressive on offense in the first half, and his shot remained dead on. Mixed in a few inside shots as well. But the Nuggets came out in the third determined to pressure him more, and Peja got off to a rough start in the half and then made matters worse by getting into foul trouble trying to guard a very aggressive Carmelo Anthony in the post. Finally got a couple of freebies at the end of the quarter to get things rolling again, but really was never a significant factor after half. Made a nice inbounds pass to Darius in the 4th -- has shown that ability from time to time this season. Predictably got killed in the hustle categories when matched up with Najera at times, and in general this was back to the classic Peja pretty good game of this year -- good scoring night, one dimensional, better early than late.
Thomas ( B- ) -- in the first half helped pull us back after we got off to a staggering start. Continues to be deadly with that 18 footer, especially from the baseline. Started to force shots in the third, and met his hustling match, and more than match, in Eduardo Najera who just dominated action inside in the third. Made several bad turnovers throughout the game that hurt us.
Skinner ( C+ ) -- put up respectable rebounding numbers, and blocked 2 Carmelo shots on one possession in the first quarter, but overall impact was minimal tonight. The inside was wide open tonight, and may have been even moreso during his time on the floor than his time off of it. Just didn't seem to be reacting as well inside as we ahve become accustomed to.
Mobley ( B- ) -- had a poor first half, not only being very very quiet on offense, but repeatedly turning hi shead and losing his man on defense as well. started to matter in the third as he began to use his quickness to attack the Nuggets and get to the foul line. In fact was our most effective offensive player in the second half. But never able to really dominate, and while it was eventually a solid outing for Cat, not one where he could pull it out alone.
Bibby ( D ) -- Just never got anything at all going. Was struggling with the shot from the outset, and wasn't consistently containing his man on defense either. Right about now that long string of superstar-like performances in February seems like it was seasons ago. Shot is just so far off, and there isn't much life in his performances. No spark, no real hint that he's going to get it going.
Songaila ( B ) -- came in in the first half and hit his outside shots. Was reinserted in the third quarter in an attempt to go big to match up with the super-hustle of Eduardo Najera, but results were minimal. Made a couple of nice passes along the way. Pretty decent Dariusesque performance
Ostertag ( B- ) -- see? That wasn't so hard was it Rick? Sky didn't fall or anything. Tag came in early in this one after the Nuggets had run a ridiculous layup drill for the first 8-10 minutes of the game. It was the absolute right substitution, and he had an impact. George Karl really helped us as well by being an idiot with his substitution patterns, but the fact was that after Tag was inserted the free path to the hoop evaporated. Returned in the third, but without the same impact and didn't see action down the stretch.
Evans ( C ) -- mostly first half minutes, and didn't do much. Grabbed a few boards. Lost his second half rotation minutes to Eddie House, who was playing well and matched up better with the 2 PG backcourt the Nuggets were running. Eventually reinserted for a few minutes late to get the athletic matchup with Carmelo, but the game was already spiraling at that point, and he certainyl didn't turn things.
House ( B+ ) -- 3rd straight very effective game with similar numbers. Matched for the most part with the mini-mini Earl Boykins and so had a free look at the hoop whenever he shot. Got Mo's second half minutes
Williamson ( D ) -- outside of overpowering the injured Kenyon Martin on one first half play, just did nothing in his minutes, and started throwing some very shaky passes in the mid 4th, landing him back on the bench for the duration.
Eduardo Najera ( F ) -- bleeping ****ing **** $#@!!!
Adelman ( B+ ) -- we lost this one, but thought that Rick did a pretty good job tongiht. Team came out FLAT, I mean really flat -- on "defense" we were witness to one of the most atrocious layup drills you are ever likely to see with something like 20 of the first 23 Denver points coming on dunks or layups. But Rick called a timeout and apparently chewed the team out, because we came out of the timeout with much better defensive focus. Rick also started mixing in zones to start breaking up the Nuggets' constant postups and backdoor cuts, and even showed a willingness to go to Tag early to help turn things. We again came out int he third and were getting outworked and outhustled, and Rick again made what I thought was a good move (albeit perhaps a bit late) when he tried to switch in Darius and Tag for the ineffectice and foul ridden Peja and Skinner to turn the hustle tide against najera in particular (our career game beneficiary of the night). And down the stretch made several more solid moves, going with House at OG to maychup wiht the Boykins/Miller backcourt, and then later bringing back Mo Evans to try to match up with Carmelo physically. We did not win, and not all of the moves worked out, but felt like Rick was thinking this one through and trying to find answers all night long. Not to be though.
Thomas ( B- ) -- in the first half helped pull us back after we got off to a staggering start. Continues to be deadly with that 18 footer, especially from the baseline. Started to force shots in the third, and met his hustling match, and more than match, in Eduardo Najera who just dominated action inside in the third. Made several bad turnovers throughout the game that hurt us.
Skinner ( C+ ) -- put up respectable rebounding numbers, and blocked 2 Carmelo shots on one possession in the first quarter, but overall impact was minimal tonight. The inside was wide open tonight, and may have been even moreso during his time on the floor than his time off of it. Just didn't seem to be reacting as well inside as we ahve become accustomed to.
Mobley ( B- ) -- had a poor first half, not only being very very quiet on offense, but repeatedly turning hi shead and losing his man on defense as well. started to matter in the third as he began to use his quickness to attack the Nuggets and get to the foul line. In fact was our most effective offensive player in the second half. But never able to really dominate, and while it was eventually a solid outing for Cat, not one where he could pull it out alone.
Bibby ( D ) -- Just never got anything at all going. Was struggling with the shot from the outset, and wasn't consistently containing his man on defense either. Right about now that long string of superstar-like performances in February seems like it was seasons ago. Shot is just so far off, and there isn't much life in his performances. No spark, no real hint that he's going to get it going.
Songaila ( B ) -- came in in the first half and hit his outside shots. Was reinserted in the third quarter in an attempt to go big to match up with the super-hustle of Eduardo Najera, but results were minimal. Made a couple of nice passes along the way. Pretty decent Dariusesque performance
Ostertag ( B- ) -- see? That wasn't so hard was it Rick? Sky didn't fall or anything. Tag came in early in this one after the Nuggets had run a ridiculous layup drill for the first 8-10 minutes of the game. It was the absolute right substitution, and he had an impact. George Karl really helped us as well by being an idiot with his substitution patterns, but the fact was that after Tag was inserted the free path to the hoop evaporated. Returned in the third, but without the same impact and didn't see action down the stretch.
Evans ( C ) -- mostly first half minutes, and didn't do much. Grabbed a few boards. Lost his second half rotation minutes to Eddie House, who was playing well and matched up better with the 2 PG backcourt the Nuggets were running. Eventually reinserted for a few minutes late to get the athletic matchup with Carmelo, but the game was already spiraling at that point, and he certainyl didn't turn things.
House ( B+ ) -- 3rd straight very effective game with similar numbers. Matched for the most part with the mini-mini Earl Boykins and so had a free look at the hoop whenever he shot. Got Mo's second half minutes
Williamson ( D ) -- outside of overpowering the injured Kenyon Martin on one first half play, just did nothing in his minutes, and started throwing some very shaky passes in the mid 4th, landing him back on the bench for the duration.
Eduardo Najera ( F ) -- bleeping ****ing **** $#@!!!
Adelman ( B+ ) -- we lost this one, but thought that Rick did a pretty good job tongiht. Team came out FLAT, I mean really flat -- on "defense" we were witness to one of the most atrocious layup drills you are ever likely to see with something like 20 of the first 23 Denver points coming on dunks or layups. But Rick called a timeout and apparently chewed the team out, because we came out of the timeout with much better defensive focus. Rick also started mixing in zones to start breaking up the Nuggets' constant postups and backdoor cuts, and even showed a willingness to go to Tag early to help turn things. We again came out int he third and were getting outworked and outhustled, and Rick again made what I thought was a good move (albeit perhaps a bit late) when he tried to switch in Darius and Tag for the ineffectice and foul ridden Peja and Skinner to turn the hustle tide against najera in particular (our career game beneficiary of the night). And down the stretch made several more solid moves, going with House at OG to maychup wiht the Boykins/Miller backcourt, and then later bringing back Mo Evans to try to match up with Carmelo physically. We did not win, and not all of the moves worked out, but felt like Rick was thinking this one through and trying to find answers all night long. Not to be though.
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Oh god I am starting sound like Brick
