Denver Nuggets vs Detroit Pistons - Game 38

[almost famous]

JR needs to do a step back fade from the free throw from now on.

We shouldn't have lost that game. Billups didn't really get the team involved like he normally does, and LK was just horrible. I love how Karl puts up with so much more from LK than he does with JR.

[b-lawson]

Did Balkman play

[corona]

no.

its too bad lk missed 3 layups
its too bad kmart lost the ball out of bounds on a guaranteed dunk
its too bad birdman dribbled the ball off his foot on an easy drive
its too bad birdman missed that lefty dunk
its too bad jr missed that free throw
its too bad the refs didn't call a foul two plays earlier on a jr drive

so many opportunities to win this game and it didn't happen. :|

[Shady08]

Kleiza sucks.
Billups rocks.
Iverson rocks.

We gave them the game.

[Shady08]

Did Balkman play

Why would Balkman play? He doesn't know the offense....

[Nutty Nats Fan]

Did Balkman play

Why would Balkman play? He doesn't know the offense....

Did anyone tonight?

[Gogo Babaroga]

Balkman on Prince=Win!

[TheBigEnglish]

Such a frustrating loss. I am so angry with Karls rotations he puts out there. I mean when we have the bench on the court through the early 2nd/ late 3rd quarters, we have too many players on the court that don't want to shoot the ball. AC is hurting, and is always looking to pass first. Dahntay is just never involved on the offensive side of the ball, and when he is, he's not looking to shoot. Birdman is worthless offensively unless he's alone underneath the rim. So for 10-15 mins a game it's practically like we're playing 2 on 5. I know JR has talent, but he's not able to take over the entire game all by himself every time. Who in the hell does Karl expect to score out there. Maybe if he actually decided to make plays for his team they wouldn't look so pathetic.

Kleiza with 34 minutes? I'm sorry but when someone is having such an off night, wouldn't you try exhausting other options? I would rather have seen Sonny out there cause at least he wouldn't have been scared to shoot the ball.

I'm probably just extra pissed cause of these Detroit fans that were sitting behind us. Completely classless. Not a fun night.

[pickaxe]

Such a frustrating loss. I am so angry with Karls rotations he puts out there. I mean when we have the bench on the court through the early 2nd/ late 3rd quarters, we have too many players on the court that don't want to shoot the ball. AC is hurting, and is always looking to pass first. Dahntay is just never involved on the offensive side of the ball, and when he is, he's not looking to shoot. Birdman is worthless offensively unless he's alone underneath the rim. So for 10-15 mins a game it's practically like we're playing 2 on 5. I know JR has talent, but he's not able to take over the entire game all by himself every time. Who in the hell does Karl expect to score out there. Maybe if he actually decided to make plays for his team they wouldn't look so pathetic.

Kleiza with 34 minutes? I'm sorry but when someone is having such an off night, wouldn't you try exhausting other options? I would rather have seen Sonny out there cause at least he wouldn't have been scared to shoot the ball.

I'm probably just extra pissed cause of these Detroit fans that were sitting behind us. Completely classless. Not a fun night.

Yeah I mean out biggest weakness is still the inability to make smart moves when the game starts changing. The game plan always seems to be.....oh this team we're playing will play exactly the same in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th quarters like they did in the 1st. Allen Iverson is having a terrible night so he won't be a threat in the 4th quarter.

I mean, didn't Karl learn anything from putting DerMarr Johnson on Iverson? We have Balkman with his length and quick feet......jeez it's just so easy to see 5 minutes of balkman on Iverson in the 4th might have cooled him down. Plus the energy Balkman brings.

But the overall thing is just.....we lose because of stupid reasons, not because 2 teams fought hard and fought smart and one came out the victor. We lose because of stupid reasons.

[pickaxe]

I called the 2 out of 3 on JR's FT's. How does a dude shoot lights out on the 3's and has a damn 67% on his FT's. Kleiza was pathetic today - 3 blown lay-ups, Martin was non-alive on offense. So now Melo's injury is starting to show its colors, one example was tonight and how nobody besides Billups was able to step up and win this one.

Quite simply a combination of overconfidence and lack of focus when things are not going his way. He assumes because he is the best player in the world for 8 out of 10 games that the 9th and 10th game he doesn't have to focus to do it again.

And he is one of the best when it comes to in motion shots and lay ins, which still needs a ton of work.

He shot over 80% in the past when the free throw line was his only way to hit the spotlight.

So, now that the free throw line is no longer the premier spot, not as much is thrown into it.

That's a wild guess but it may very well be true. JR just needs to remember the free throw line is coming back down to earth for a moment and he needs to remember what to do when he's landed.

[beemaster]

I called the 2 out of 3 on JR's FT's. How does a dude shoot lights out on the 3's and has a damn 67% on his FT's.

The Denver Post article says he spends more time practicing half-court shots than free throws.
http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_11421258

[pickaxe]

Well, if that's what he wants to practice as an extra effort, hey that makes him a better last second shot guy. Practice makes perfect.

But.....his priorities need to be FTs first, then work on half court shots if he has time, but then finish with FTs again so it registers in his sports memory.