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We haven't done well against Houston lately - We lost all seven games in the last two years plus the first one this year. Clearly the onus is on our guards against Harden plus our entire team's defense against 3pt shots with focus also on rim protection.

Denver loses all 8 h2h games vs Houston since 2016, and as we all know, we are a much worse team on the road than at home, and Houston is a team in amazing shape now which won 11 out of last 13 games, and last time lose a game at home in November!

But Nuggets are still not without chances today. Denver is with a reason West #1 right now, and Houston playing without two important players, C.Paul and E.Gordon.

THE J0KER wrote:Denver loses all 8 h2h games vs Houston since 2016, and as we all know, we are a much worse team on the road than at home, and Houston is a team in amazing shape now which won 11 out of last 13 games, and last time lose a game at home in November!

But Nuggets are still not without chances today. Denver is with a reason West #1 right now, and Houston playing without two important players, C.Paul and E.Gordon.

...and Harden has played 39.6 minutes for the past 10 games

27 vs 11 in free throws, 5-7 Tucker for 3pt, Jokic 7 turnovers... and we are -10 on halftime.

Our defense doesn't work. When Jokic is used to double-team Harden, Capela scores, when no double-team, Harden scores. 70 points in one half are way too much.

Capella always seems to play well against us.

We couldn't make a 3-pt to save our game....while HOU showed why they're one of the best 3-pt shooting teams.

Tucker and Green 13-21 for 3pt, Capela career high, while in Denver only Morris has a remarkable game with career-high 21pt and great efficiency. Beasley deserves also some credit, but that was not enough for such an opponent. Harden outplayed Jokic in this direct MVP-contenders battle but playing 40 minutes while Jokic played 28 is a bold advantage. Let's hope Harris injury is nothing serious.

I hope we never have to face Houston in a 7 game series. My head may explode.

RRFB wrote:I hope we never have to face Houston in a 7 game series. My head may explode.

We can beat them, at least in Pepsi Center games. Denver is one of best defending 3pt teams this season, but it not worked today, and also no way in Denver refs will make so many ridiculous calls like today during the 1st half.

THE J0KER wrote:

RRFB wrote:I hope we never have to face Houston in a 7 game series. My head may explode.

We can beat them, at least in Pepsi Center games. Denver is one of best defending 3pt teams this season, but it not worked today, and also no way in Denver refs will make so many ridiculous calls like today during the 1st half.

I'd love to think you're right, but Harden gets the superstar treatment like nobody has seen by the refs. And even in the CAN, we haven't had a lot of success against the Rockets. I am hoping the Warriors get home court advantage against the Rockets in the playoffs, at least one will be knocked out for us.

In a year of emphasis on "Freedom of Movement"; the Nuggets are doing great imitations of statues.

Oh yeah, Harden didn't score 40!

Jokic 1 (one) FT, and even that one came deep in the 3rd iirc, what the actual ****, otoh Rockets please sir can I have some more free throws. Yuck.

I knew it was a loss as soon as I saw Craig starting with Millsap, Malone is never going to learn that it kills our offensive flow when he does that as neither are respected outside of 15 feet and neither move well without the ball.

Murray needs to learn to play at a higher level on the road, I do not remember it being this bad last season but it is glaringly obvious now.

The treatment that the Rockets get from the refs is the most ridiculous thing I have seen in my life. It is like they are last years Cavs and Warriors combined with the calls they get. We had 60 points in the paint late in the 3rd quarter yet James Harden himself shot almost as many free throws as our whole roster while we had guys going out after being elbowed in the balls and eye gouged. I turned the game off half way through the 4th as I could not stomach it anymore. Of course I do not see any comments from Malone or the front office, guess they like being treated like 2nd class citizens by the refs, which will affect the long term standings and the prospects of this team.

The Rebel wrote:I knew it was a loss as soon as I saw Craig starting with Millsap, Malone is never going to learn that it kills our offensive flow when he does that as neither are respected outside of 15 feet and neither move well without the ball.

Murray needs to learn to play at a higher level on the road, I do not remember it being this bad last season but it is glaringly obvious now.

The treatment that the Rockets get from the refs is the most ridiculous thing I have seen in my life. It is like they are last years Cavs and Warriors combined with the calls they get. We had 60 points in the paint late in the 3rd quarter yet James Harden himself shot almost as many free throws as our whole roster while we had guys going out after being elbowed in the balls and eye gouged. I turned the game off half way through the 4th as I could not stomach it anymore. Of course I do not see any comments from Malone or the front office, guess they like being treated like 2nd class citizens by the refs, which will affect the long term standings and the prospects of this team.

Agreed on Craig/millsap starting together. Once Barton is back, this team will be unlocked. Juancho would be a better option than Craig, but he’s a poor defender, and Malone is a defensive coach.

The calls were just bad this game, and sadly, it’s a theme when playing the rockets. No consistency. Phantom fouls on jump shots for Houston would be fine if Denver got those same calls. No-calls in the paint would be fine if both teams were getting that treatment.

The calls were ridiculous. Hastings was right that D'Antoni might be the best lobbying coach in the league.

I don't enjoy throwing it all on the Grays - but Harden's highlight of the night was a push-off on Jamal Murray... and he got the and 1?