If You Can’t Shoot, You Can’t Win

(Boulder-CO) The Denver Nuggets are hurting for a victory in the worst kind of way. Tonight they shot a dismal 34% from the field and lost to the Rockets 90-86 making them losers of six of their last seven games. They now stand dead even at 17-17 on the year and until Carmelo returns on the 22nd, I am not sure that they will win any other game than their match-up with Portland on Sunday night. The only bright spot I have to mention is Marcus Camby recording a career-high 24 rebounds on more or less a lack luster night.

Plain and simply stated; the Nuggets had trouble putting the ball in the basket. Just listen to some of these totals. The Yak couldn’t stop yakking up clangors and finished 5-14. Eduardo Najera finished with two points on 1-7 shooting in 22 minutes. J.R. Smith kept jacking up misses and finished 4-17 including 2-7 from downtown. Linas Kleiza was 0-5 in 25 minutes of playing time and finished the game with zero points and five fouls. Do I need to go any further or do you get my point?

Steve Blake did show signs that he can be a valuable contributor to this team by being an effective back-up point guard that gets other people involved and takes only smart shots. He came off the bench tonight to a small cheer and played 29 minutes scoring 13 points and dishing six assists. And he could have had quite a few more if the Nuggets could have thrown a fish back in the ocean.

The Nuggets had no answer for the sharp shooting of Shane Battier. Down the stretch Shane hit two three pointers that put the Rockets back in the lead and sealed the deal for Houston. Battier scored 25 points, grabbed seven boards, dimed three teammates, and swiped two steals in as well balanced game as I have seen all year. I don’t have to like it because he was too much for the Nuggets to handle, but I do have to admit that he is nice. He plays great D, makes the open three, crashes the glass, and can bother any player one through five. Yea, Shane Battier is nice.

Three more games is how many more times we have to endure watching this basketball team while thinking about what is waiting to happen when the league’s leading scorer comes back from what seems like has been an eternity of exile. Somebody tell me when it’s over.