Game 2: Denver Nuggets (1-0) @ Portland Trailblazers (1-0)

[pickaxe]

And for God knows what reason, I'm now browsing NBA Twitter pages. Didn't even realize Melo had one, but I guess so.

D12
@carmeloanthony boy I jus saw yo dunk omg. Man dat gotta be number one. Yuuuuaaaaa
http://twitter.com/DwightHoward

Melo's whole website has received an upgrade...

The Big Aristotle is the nba twitter pioneer.....he appears to have nothing to say about their 0-2 record.

[berserker]

Great win for us. My thoughts after watching the first two.....

Melo is going to have an MVP year. He may not win it, but he will certainly be in the discussion. He is bringing it every night.

Kmart and Nene have to aggressively attack the boards this year, or we will get killed against the better teams. Birdman needs to stop disappearing. Affalo, while he's a good shot from the wing, is not asserting himself the way that Dahntay did - and we NEED that.

Lawson is a beast but will have trouble being posted by bigger guards. A/C definitely needs to be 3rd string, Balkman needs to GET SOME PT (you listening, George?) - he could very well play some of the bigger two guards and be effective on defense.... Malik Allen is non-existent in the lineup and we need his ability to draw the defender out of the paint, because Kmart doesn't scare anyone from outside.

Hate to say it, but our season depends on JR. If he comes to play with a defensive mindset, we're good.

All in all, however, we're 2 - 0. And like the Broncos, don't matter if it's pretty - I'll take the win. It's really hard to judge how the team will do until we see JR back on the court....

[Nuggetsfanduh98]

played well enogh to win...gutsy win...

[Shady08]

Melo is playing very reminiscent of that right before he got suspended and AI came to town. He was the MVP for those first however many games that season...15?

[britblazerdude]

Man...I was at the game last night. And one thing I noticed about Carmello is that he has to be about the laziest player I have ever seen on the court. He has no problem watching the play from literally the other side of the court. And on offense/defense when the play has nothing to do with him, he's usually standing straight up and watching. I can't believe you guys actually like him. Looked like one of the worst superstar players I've ever seen.

He would be as good as LeBron if he gave a rats ass about playing.

[MHZ]

He was battling physically for position every offensive series just about. His defensive rotations, actually, weren't bad at all last night.

And actually, he asked to guard Roy, which is hardly lazy. Granted, he isn't quick enough to do it, but taking on the challenge when you're carrying the team offensively is anything but lazy. I'm glad if he was able to conserve a little energy on defense. We needed every last point of his on offense.

[corona]

Man...I was at the game last night. And one thing I noticed about Carmello is that he has to be about the laziest player I have ever seen on the court. He has no problem watching the play from literally the other side of the court. And on offense/defense when the play has nothing to do with him, he's usually standing straight up and watching. I can't believe you guys actually like him. Looked like one of the worst superstar players I've ever seen.

well that speaks a lot to melo's talent and how terrible the blazers are....seeing as melo basically beat them by himself last night.

[britblazerdude]

well that speaks a lot to melo's talent and how terrible the blazers are....seeing as melo basically beat them by himself last night.

What a loony thing to say. I forgot why I never post on realgm. People have thin skin and lash out when they're sitting at their computer desk. I also forgot that fanhood usually doesn't translate into any form of reasoning or logic. I'm sorry for trying to bring up a point of discussion on your board. I thought that was the point of a forum but I guess I'm incorrect.

Corona, read MHZ's post and learn. That's called a discussion.

[GuyJones]

well that speaks a lot to melo's talent and how terrible the blazers are....seeing as melo basically beat them by himself last night.

What a loony thing to say. I forgot why I never post on realgm. People have thin skin and lash out when they're sitting at their computer desk. I also forgot that fanhood usually doesn't translate into any form of reasoning or logic. I'm sorry for trying to bring up a point of discussion on your board. I thought that was the point of a forum but I guess I'm incorrect.

Corona, read MHZ's post and learn. That's called a discussion.

This post just seems like a worthless troll post, from a guy who is bitter, sitting at his computer desk cause his team just got beat by pretty much only Melo. My roommate is a serious Blazer fan, and even he was commenting on how well and motivated Melo has played in these last two games. Keep hating though. Go Nugz!!!

Back to the topic, I was really scared at seeing AC defend Roy during the entire game. We were lucky he didn't seem to find his rhythm until the third. We need JR back to have a larger body at the SG position. If JR can pass and contribute offensively like he did in preseason, it will help out a lot with KMart and Nene's impact on the offensive end.

[Tim Lehrbach]

Man...I was at the game last night. And one thing I noticed about Carmello is that he has to be about the laziest player I have ever seen on the court. He has no problem watching the play from literally the other side of the court. And on offense/defense when the play has nothing to do with him, he's usually standing straight up and watching. I can't believe you guys actually like him. Looked like one of the worst superstar players I've ever seen.

He would be as good as LeBron if he gave a rats ass about playing.

Wow, that's complete nonsense. I hate Carmelo more than just about anybody, but you're kidding yourself. Melo worked his ass off and torched our team.

Really awful game, the kind that leaves a bad taste in your mouth when you lose and leaves you feeling relieved or lucky when you win. Teams rarely win in the Rose Garden without really bringing it, but Denver did so last night. Grittier team than I give them credit for being.

[piglet]

I am in Portland on business. I was fortunate to be at the game last night. Not quite sure about Melo watching the game. He seemed to be involved in every play. I was amazed at his focus and determination. Portland is a great city with tremendous fans. I guess every team has its trolls. Go to the Memphis board to see ex nugget trolls...lol

[SnakefromHell]

^True that... I've been a Nugget fan who is probably the most critical on Melo for laziness, but this is the first time I've seen him play a FULL game with such focus and determination. Not for individual stats, but for winning. Actually in the Jazz game, he was just as good.

Take a look at Brandon Roy for example, I thought near the end, the pressure of the team relying on him solely on offensive end wore him out mentally. Melo has taken a step where he is comfortable being the only guy to carry his team offensively in crunch time for long stretches. Wade and LeBron have taken this step long ago, now Melo seems to be on that level too. Roy is not at that level yet.


The determination, the defense, the killer instinct mentality, this is Kobe Bryant stuff. I guess that's a good thing being around Kobe.

It looks promising he can maintain this mentality for a whole season, but still remains to be seen.

[pickaxe]

well that speaks a lot to melo's talent and how terrible the blazers are....seeing as melo basically beat them by himself last night.

What a loony thing to say. I forgot why I never post on realgm. People have thin skin and lash out when they're sitting at their computer desk. I also forgot that fanhood usually doesn't translate into any form of reasoning or logic. I'm sorry for trying to bring up a point of discussion on your board. I thought that was the point of a forum but I guess I'm incorrect.

Corona, read MHZ's post and learn. That's called a discussion.

Which game were you watching? It has to be something from last year, because the game we were watching last night had our entire frontcourt failing to reign in rebounds. When your whole team isn't rebounding it's going to wear you out pretty fast. Whatever Melo did last night to conserve energy worked. Or, like corona said the Blazers are terrible. I'm inclined to think Melo was just being smart about energy.

[corona]

well that speaks a lot to melo's talent and how terrible the blazers are....seeing as melo basically beat them by himself last night.

What a loony thing to say. I forgot why I never post on realgm. People have thin skin and lash out when they're sitting at their computer desk. I also forgot that fanhood usually doesn't translate into any form of reasoning or logic. I'm sorry for trying to bring up a point of discussion on your board. I thought that was the point of a forum but I guess I'm incorrect.

Corona, read MHZ's post and learn. That's called a discussion.

just telling it like it is, with a little sarcasm.

if melo's half assing it around the court, and still drops 41/6/3 on over 50% shooting with 19 fourth quarter points (or whatever it is)....then either his talent is off-the-charts good and he can afford to play lazy in the 2nd game of an 82+ game season, and/or the blazers are bad and incapable of defending a lazy player...which is worrisome if you're a fan.

billups was off all night...5/14, 1/6 from 3....and it was obvious from that shot he had from 18 feet to put the nuggets up 3. if billups is having an average game, that shot goes in 10 times out of 10.
nene & kmart contributed almost nothing offensively (albeit they were very good defensively)
lawson was good for a rookie in his first b2b game in the nba, but thats not saying much.
carter & afflalo did very little.

and melo still willed the team to a victory. you don't do that lolligagging around the court, standing around and scratching your ass. he was fighting for position with webster & roy off the ball for large portions of the game, as well as chasing webster around on defense, and taking a turn on roy despite it not being his position to guard (roys too quick, so it makes it tough for melo 1v1).

and if you think the other stars in the league are in constant motion all game long and don't stop every now and then to get a breather, then you need to keep a closer eye on them. you can't go 100% on every possession all season long. its simply physically not doable. i'd say melo put a lot out there though.

[el loco]

^^^^^it showed in the 3rd that he needed a breather, I give the blazers some credit for that, Melo had to work hard to get to the spots he wanted all night. GK gave his usual rest and he came back in and did his thing, but he expended a lot of energy in this game imo.

[b-lawson]

When J.R is suspended and Balkman out too

Melo gonna need to step up till they get back

[KAVK]

Melo is rolling hot. It reminds me the year he entered the NBA right out of Syracuse with Most Outstanding Player of the Year award and NCAA Championship, He has come back to that form matured and focused!

Im not worried about AA but i am worried about that shooter with the size!!! I want to see more experimenting on Malik after JR comes back just to be safe and sound. Ty will all fine! People sometimes forget he is a still Rookie. I like his toughness, he is like bit smaller and faster Billups.

I WANT BIRD TO BE BIRD AGAIN!!!