Game 15: Denver Nuggets (11-3) vs. Phoenix Suns (8-7) - 8:00 PM ET

ducler · Post #1 » by **ducler** » Sun Nov 24, 2019 5:58 pm

TunaFish · Post #2 » by **TunaFish** » Sun Nov 24, 2019 7:19 pm

The Suns are no pushover. This should be a good game but the concern for me is whether the Nuggets will show the type of intensity that they have shown against winning teams.

The bench playing Porter and Hernangomez together is an interesting departure from what has been expected. Malone has had some interesting bench combinations.

Post #3 » by **NuggetsWY** » Sun Nov 24, 2019 7:58 pm

Suns have been very effective at 3pt shooting and they get to the free throw line a lot. So we need to keep our focus on the 3pt line and try to avoid unnecessary fouls (I sure hope Jokic is reading this ;-)

).

Suns opponents seem to do well at getting to the free throw line, so heading to the bucket would be a wise game plan. They are not good rebounders so we can hope to win that battle, if we work at it.

BTW - the Suns are a good passing team overall. So our defense will need to hustle.

Post #4 » by **THE J0KER** » Mon Nov 25, 2019 2:22 am

Another low energy 1st half this season, but we already won bunch of such games this season, so no reason for panic on halftime.

Post #5 » by **THE J0KER** » Mon Nov 25, 2019 3:30 am

Double-digit win after 1st half deficit. Business as usual for the Nuggets this season.

Post #6 » by **NuggetsWY** » Mon Nov 25, 2019 2:33 pm

It sure seemed like the Nuggets weren't interested in the first half and only the third quarter showed any serious effort from the starters and only the fourth quarter showed serious effort from the bench. They just can't keep playing like that all the time. They need to be engaged in every quarter - then bad quarters won't cost so much.

Allowing a player like Diallo to come off the bench for 22 points & 6 rebounds is not good, not good at all. In fact, the Phoenix bench scored 50 points to 35 for the Nuggets' bench.

Barton played another game with a hot streak and a cold streak but he is definitely more engaged on defense and is trying to fit in the offensive scheme. Fortunately for him, the team needs him to score :lol:

and when he heads to the basket, that's the only thing he can see.

Jokic didn't really look to score but he did get 13 rebounds. Not a great game for him and that's sad, considering Phoenix was missing the 1st & 2nd string centers.

Millsap has been impressive this year and had another solid all-around game.

Harris is still struggling. He had 6 points and 1 rebound. He had primary coverage of Booker and did a fine job but he still needs to score.

Murray added 7 boards to his 22 points - nice!

Grant didn't have a great stat-line but I love his effort at both ends of the floor.

Plumlee had a solid all-around game.

Morris was great - better even than his nice stat-line.

When he was playing, I focused on Beasley, especially on the defensive end. He kept his head on a swivel and looked to help and switch. If Malone has kept in on the bench because of his defense, it seems the message got through.

TunaFish · Post #7 » by **TunaFish** » Tue Nov 26, 2019 4:23 am

This game seems like the Nuggets were just playing just hard enough to stay with the Suns and then destroyed them in the 4th.

Post #8 » by **The Rebel** » Tue Nov 26, 2019 9:05 pm

TunaFish wrote:This game seems like the Nuggets were just playing just hard enough to stay with the Suns and then destroyed them in the 4th.

It seems that they have played that way the entire season. So far it is working but I would like to see the entire team put in full effort the entire game instead of coasting half of it, we will start getting caught when we are playing better talent.