Game 4: Denver Nuggets (2-1) vs. Dallas Mavericks (2-1)

[DaFan334]

Being in the building a pretty close, I really got the feeling Melo could give a **** about the team at the moment. Just didn't give nearly the effort I have seen in the past out of him. At this point I kinda think this team might be better without him if they can get some decent parts in return.

[dookieguy]

FAVORS

nuff said

[KAVK]

Sad thing is one bad weed is all it takes to bring it down. In order to move forward, Melo drama must be taken care of sooner the better.

[The Rebel]

Or trade Billups first. He really doesn't seem to fit with the team (and for being the smart vet, he makes a lot of dumb plays)... if the team isn't playing better with the new players (Big and hopefully a backup PG for Lawson) then move Melo.

I have long been a proponent of moving Billups, his game just does not fit with what the Nuggets need to be successful. it seems to him running a faster pace is jogging the ball own the court and throwing up a brick from 3 without setting up an offense. When he 1st came back you could see the tendency to not run, but at least he tried and the Nuggets were a damn good team because they played to their strength. The act is that Nene, Kmart, Andersen, JR, Melo, Balkman, Lawson, Harrington, and even afflalo are all good athletes that play better when we run. You can see it when Lawson is on the court, or if you go back and watch what they did last year before Karl got sick. Once Karl wet out the team started slowing their pace and it was reflected in shooting percentage, and overall scoring per game. This year they are still playing that slower pace, and with our lack of size especially last night, we have to use this teams biggest strength.

Being in the building a pretty close, I really got the feeling Melo could give a **** about the team at the moment. Just didn't give nearly the effort I have seen in the past out of him. At this point I kinda think this team might be better without him if they can get some decent parts in return.

I have not been to a game this year, but even on TV it has been obvious to me since the start of the season Melo's just not into it at all. He has been trying to hide it, but you can tell the difference especially when Melo gets mad and focuses for a few minutes, as compared to most of the game. I would not say that he has quit, but he just does not have that little extra of someone who is willing to do everything he can for the team.

[The Rebel]

One other thing that is really bugging me about last night is the line up we used. I understand it almost worked, but I have to know why in the hell we kept Ely and why we resigned Balkman if we are not going to use them. i understand Karl hates Balkman for whatever reason, but we were getting killed in rebounds, which is the one area that happens to be Balkman's specialty. why not give him a few minutes? Ely I also do not understand, why cut boateng if we were going to pay an extra bigman to sit on the bench for the season? He may have developed into a decent 3rd or 4th big in the next year or two, as opposed to Ely who apparently is not good enough to play any minutes when we have nobody available over the height of 6'9".

[Nutty Nats Fan]

One other thing that is really bugging me about last night is the line up we used. I understand it almost worked, but I have to know why in the hell we kept Ely and why we resigned Balkman if we are not going to use them. i understand Karl hates Balkman for whatever reason, but we were getting killed in rebounds, which is the one area that happens to be Balkman's specialty. why not give him a few minutes? Ely I also do not understand, why cut boateng if we were going to pay an extra bigman to sit on the bench for the season? He may have developed into a decent 3rd or 4th big in the next year or two, as opposed to Ely who apparently is not good enough to play any minutes when we have nobody available over the height of 6'9".

I've got to think, this is one of the reason's why Melo would want out. People hate on him, saying he doesn't want to win, but what has the team and/or GK really done to make Melo think the team is serious about winning? He saw Camby traded for nothing and the TBA gone unused. He sees a team need rebounding with a specialist at it sitting on the bench. He sees the team cut a young big who could develop, while keeping a scrub who won't. He sees GK continue to make dumb moves with the rotation, coaching, and playing favorites. The "vet leader" PG won't play to the team's strengths and takes shots like JR.

He could really have just gotten sick of the way the organization is run and GK's lack of coaching. And the team wants to extend GK. Why would he want to stay? GK's style doesn't win in the playoffs either.

[el loco]

^^^ I agree on Balkman and I thought as much last night. My thoughts were, we need rebounding and defense and that's what this guy does, but GK lets his personal grudges get in the way of what is best for the team. All I could do was shake and scratch my head over the thought.

I thought Melo actually played well enough last night, his shot wasn't falling early and of course his last shot didn't go down, but he was playing against a 7 footer on the other end most of the night and held his own on that end of the floor. I concluded that he had to expend a lot of energy on that end and it took away from his offense a bit.

I also found it disappointing that Forbes didn't get much burn in the second half, and none at all in the 4th quarter.

[The Rebel]

I've got to think, this is one of the reason's why Melo would want out. People hate on him, saying he doesn't want to win, but what has the team and/or GK really done to make Melo think the team is serious about winning? He saw Camby traded for nothing and the TBA gone unused. He sees a team need rebounding with a specialist at it sitting on the bench. He sees the team cut a young big who could develop, while keeping a scrub who won't. He sees GK continue to make dumb moves with the rotation, coaching, and playing favorites. The "vet leader" PG won't play to the team's strengths and takes shots like JR.

I am sure that the Camby trade had something to do with why Melo wants out now, although I still believe that Camby needed to be traded, we should have gotten something back.

As for Balkman, I understand he jacks around in practice, but it is not a new thing, and why extend him last year if he was never going to play?

I am 100% sure that cutting Boateng and keeping Ely was more of a Karl move then the front office, especially since Boateng would have made less money, as an undrafted rookie free agent.

That being said, I still believe Karl is a well above average coach. I would take maybe 3-4 coaches around the league over Karl, and since none of them are available there is not much you can do about him. If you, Melo, or anybody else thinks that D'Antoni is better then Karl they have lost their damn minds. Fact is 'Dantoni has a 32.5% winning percentage, when he is not coaching a stacked team with Nash as his PG. The last 2 years even with D'antoni an having a coach that was fired half way through his 1st season, the suns still have not had a losing season.

He could really have just gotten sick of the way the organization is run and GK's lack of coaching. And the team wants to extend GK. Why would he want to stay? GK's style doesn't win in the playoffs either.

I was one of the ones leading the bitching that the Nuggets needed a better 4th big last year, but I was also one of the ones saying we had to resign Andersen. The fact is that you were not really going to get someone better then Petro for the LLE, which is what we had left, and if Petro would have been used more by AD while Kmart and Andersen were hurt, things may have turned out differently. For that matter if the Nuggets would have held onto some of their draft picks, and picked up a couple of solid young players things may be different.

That being said, the truth is that I do not blame kroenke for not spending much more then he did for so many of those years. We were well under the cap in 03-04 and made the playoffs, each year they spent more to improve, and each year we stayed a 1st round exit team. After 08-09 the Nuggets spent the money they could to resign Andersen, trade for Afflalo, drafted Lawson, and make other moves. Fact is our 09-10 team was better then the 08-09 team, if they would have played Petro more keeping KMart an Andersen healthier, and Karl did not get sick there is no telling how far we could have made it. this year despite the injuries to KMart and Andersen affecting the beginning of the year, they went out and spent the money for Harrington and have a top 5 payroll in the league. The problem is that it is really too late, and now Melo wants out, chauncey still needs moved, and kMart and Andersen are hurt. It is time to blow it up.

[The Rebel]

^^^ I agree on Balkman and I thought as much last night. My thoughts were, we need rebounding and defense and that's what this guy does, but GK lets his personal grudges get in the way of what is best for the team. All I could do was shake and scratch my head over the thought.

I thought Melo actually played well enough last night, his shot wasn't falling early and of course his last shot didn't go down, but he was playing against a 7 footer on the other end most of the night and held his own on that end of the floor. I concluded that he had to expend a lot of energy on that end and it took away from his offense a bit.

I also found it disappointing that Forbes didn't get much burn in the second half, and none at all in the 4th quarter.

Melo is not attacking near as much as he used too, or needs to, let alone playing in the post. He is taking jumpshots but that is not his game. As long as he is not playing his game, we are going to have problems.

As for forbes, I am sure that Karl was trying hard for the win, and Lawson was doing a hell of a job running the offense last night. Given that Karl is not going to disrespect Billups by not letting him back in the game, Afflalo and Harrington were doing so well, and Melo needed to be in there, I don't see where they would have put him. If you ask me I would have left Chauncey on the bench last night, as we went on our runs with him out for the most part last night, an let Forbes play, we may have won.

[CanNugget]

I actually liked Harrington on the defensive end. He played well down the stretch and when he wasn't forced to swith, which happens way too often to us, he gave dirk some trouble.

[devv83]

Melo could go out there and get 25 rebounds and you guys would say Melo aint trying his hardest.

I think I watched a diff game than the rest of you guys. I saw Melo playing good d, rebounding the ball and making the right pass out of the double team, and being a leader on the court telling guys where to go. Numerous times Scott Hasting said great hustle and effort by Melo, but I guess someone has to be the scapegoat might as well be Melo huh.

With that said he should be moved so everybody can get over this ordeal. I still think Chauncey has a horrible shot selection, with about two minutes left Melo scores in the post and then Chauncey comes down and shoots a contested 3 with 20 seconds left on the shot clock. He did finally make some shots today but that was a horrible shot that stopped momentum.

Forbes looked good, he seemed a lil out of control sometimes but he is a rook. I think Jr is done on this team, especially with the emergence of AAA plus Forbes, plus Al off the bench, I think Jr minutes will decrease.

[The Rebel]

Melo could go out there and get 25 rebounds and you guys would say Melo aint trying his hardest.

I think I watched a diff game than the rest of you guys. I saw Melo playing good d, rebounding the ball and making the right pass out of the double team, and being a leader on the court telling guys where to go. Numerous times Scott Hasting said great hustle and effort by Melo, but I guess someone has to be the scapegoat might as well be Melo huh.

With that said he should be moved so everybody can get over this ordeal. I still think Chauncey has a horrible shot selection, with about two minutes left Melo scores in the post and then Chauncey comes down and shoots a contested 3 with 20 seconds left on the shot clock. He did finally make some shots today but that was a horrible shot that stopped momentum.

Forbes looked good, he seemed a lil out of control sometimes but he is a rook. I think Jr is done on this team, especially with the emergence of AAA plus Forbes, plus Al off the bench, I think Jr minutes will decrease.

most of Melo's rebounds were uncontested, and when the Nuggets needed a rebound towards the end of the game, Melo sure as hell did not get in there to get it. AS for defense, he did a solid job, but he was far from great. Now the funny part is saying he was a leader, the only time I seen him tell anybody what to do, was when he did not want to guard someone and instead someone else after the guy, but that is being lazy and something he used to do often. Now if Melo did so well last night, why did he have a -5 in plus minus? Which is 2nd worse on the team.

As for making Melo the scapegoat, that is crap. There is much more complaining about billups in this very thread then there is bitching about melo. You can try to play the victim card for melo if you like, but it just makes you look silly, especially since you seem to care more then Melo does right now.

Forbes also was not as out of control as our two all stars last night, and played very well for a free agent rookie starting his 1st game.

[devv83]

Melo could go out there and get 25 rebounds and you guys would say Melo aint trying his hardest.

I think I watched a diff game than the rest of you guys. I saw Melo playing good d, rebounding the ball and making the right pass out of the double team, and being a leader on the court telling guys where to go. Numerous times Scott Hasting said great hustle and effort by Melo, but I guess someone has to be the scapegoat might as well be Melo huh.

With that said he should be moved so everybody can get over this ordeal. I still think Chauncey has a horrible shot selection, with about two minutes left Melo scores in the post and then Chauncey comes down and shoots a contested 3 with 20 seconds left on the shot clock. He did finally make some shots today but that was a horrible shot that stopped momentum.

Forbes looked good, he seemed a lil out of control sometimes but he is a rook. I think Jr is done on this team, especially with the emergence of AAA plus Forbes, plus Al off the bench, I think Jr minutes will decrease.

most of Melo's rebounds were uncontested, and when the Nuggets needed a rebound towards the end of the game, Melo sure as hell did not get in there to get it. AS for defense, he did a solid job, but he was far from great. Now the funny part is saying he was a leader, the only time I seen him tell anybody what to do, was when he did not want to guard someone and instead someone else after the guy, but that is being lazy and something he used to do often. Now if Melo did so well last night, why did he have a -5 in plus minus? Which is 2nd worse on the team.

As for making Melo the scapegoat, that is crap. There is much more complaining about billups in this very thread then there is bitching about melo. You can try to play the victim card for melo if you like, but it just makes you look silly, especially since you seem to care more then Melo does right now.

Forbes also was not as out of control as our two all stars last night, and played very well for a free agent rookie starting his 1st game.

You going out your way to make it seem as if his rebounds were unimportant he had 6 offensive rebounds, I guess they were all uncontested, what about the putback with a minute left. I guess the nuggets didn't need a rebound there huh? You act as if at the end of the game Melo was standing on the perimeter lost in space not trying to rebound the ball while being boxed out by haywood or chandler. Fact is Melo had a good all around game when his shot wasnt falling, he seemed committed to hitting the glass and playing solid defense and hitting AAA and Al when they were open. Actually your making yourself look silly, saying Melo didnt grab rebounds when we needed one. Who cares about +/- Jr had a + 6 which was a team best, I guess Jr had a outstanding game right?? Do some research first if your gonna use +/-. please. I'm not trying to say he was prime barkely or something last night, I'm just saying I did not see the supposed lack of effort that you some how saw.

[The Rebel]

You going out your way to make it seem as if his rebounds were unimportant he had 6 offensive rebounds, I guess they were all uncontested, what about the putback with a minute left. I guess the nuggets didn't need a rebound there huh? You act as if at the end of the game Melo was standing on the perimeter lost in space not trying to rebound the ball while being boxed out by haywood or chandler. Fact is Melo had a good all around game when his shot wasnt falling, he seemed committed to hitting the glass and playing solid defense and hitting AAA and Al when they were open. Actually your making yourself look silly, saying Melo didnt grab rebounds when we needed one. Who cares about +/- Jr had a + 6 which was a team best, I guess Jr had a outstanding game right?? Do some research first if your gonna use +/-. please. I'm not trying to say he was prime barkely or something last night, I'm just saying I did not see the supposed lack of effort that you some how saw.

funny not only did I see it, but several people I spoke with that actually went to the game saw it clearly. As for a good game, how can someone have a good game, and be the 2 worst for their team for the night? You act like the final stats mean anything, well let me ask you did it mean that AI was a better player in Denver then Melo? Because he sure as hell put up better stats. As for JR's plus minus, is it any wonder he put up the better plus minus last night? he did spend most of his time on the court without Melo or billups, when the ball was moving, and players were more worried about just playing as opposed to what their stat sheet said. Fact is you need to take off the homer glasses and actually watch a game.

[el loco]

The pace was better and the ball moved more at the end of the 3rd and the start of the 4th when Ty and JR were in the game.

[devv83]

You going out your way to make it seem as if his rebounds were unimportant he had 6 offensive rebounds, I guess they were all uncontested, what about the putback with a minute left. I guess the nuggets didn't need a rebound there huh? You act as if at the end of the game Melo was standing on the perimeter lost in space not trying to rebound the ball while being boxed out by haywood or chandler. Fact is Melo had a good all around game when his shot wasnt falling, he seemed committed to hitting the glass and playing solid defense and hitting AAA and Al when they were open. Actually your making yourself look silly, saying Melo didnt grab rebounds when we needed one. Who cares about +/- Jr had a + 6 which was a team best, I guess Jr had a outstanding game right?? Do some research first if your gonna use +/-. please. I'm not trying to say he was prime barkely or something last night, I'm just saying I did not see the supposed lack of effort that you some how saw.

funny not only did I see it, but several people I spoke with that actually went to the game saw it clearly. As for a good game, how can someone have a good game, and be the 2 worst for their team for the night? You act like the final stats mean anything, well let me ask you did it mean that AI was a better player in Denver then Melo? Because he sure as hell put up better stats. As for JR's plus minus, is it any wonder he put up the better plus minus last night? he did spend most of his time on the court without Melo or billups, when the ball was moving, and players were more worried about just playing as opposed to what their stat sheet said. Fact is you need to take off the homer glasses and actually watch a game.

This is my last response to you dude First of all Melo put up better stat's that Al when he was in Denver, Much better efficiency, higher ts, efg and Per rebounding and passing were a wash, just had to get that out of the way. I'm not paying attention to the stats YOU ARE. You bought up +/- not me. Your saying Melo had a bad game and a lack of effort, I disagree, you said Melo's rebounds were non factors I disagree. You said he showed lack of effort I disagree. He played the 4 for the majority of the game and had to box out haywood and Chandler the majority of the game. I just think we watched a diff game, I was actually proud of Melo's effort on the court. I like the way he played on the glass with no NeNe down low. When his shot wasnt falling he didnt keep chucking to get to 30 shot attemps. He actually passed out of the double team and looking for AAA and other players.

That's it, you clearly watched a diff game than me.

[el loco]

^^^^I think you are mixed up with the AI and the AL. I think the rebel was talking about Harrington. edit: I reread it, and it looks like I am the one that is mixed up

[pickaxe]

The only thing that Melo could have done differently would be to drive the ball on the last possession. That last shot was clearly based on believing he's going to make it 100% of the time. There were just too many balls not bouncing Denver's way in the last 2 minutes to risk making that shot. It wasn't the only option until the ball was held onto for 6-7 seconds.

The other 99.8% of the game Melo did a great job in every category.