(AP Photo/Matt York)(Boulder-CO) This one was over about two minutes after it started. The Phoenix Suns came out like starving lions when the sheepish Nuggets took the floor and pasted Denver with a 46-point first quarter effort on their way to handing ‘Melo and the boys a, 137-115, loss.
I think George Karl kept his tie on through the first half, but don’t quote me on that!
The Phoenix Suns shot a torrid 53.8% from the field, made 20-31 bombs from long range, connected on 17-18 from the free-throw line, out blocked the Nuggets 13-4, and out passed Denver 32-17 in the assist column. About the only statistical category the Nuggets managed to win was the rebounding battle, but hey, Phoenix was busy putting the ball though the net to worry about who finished with the most boards!
Shawn Marion paced the Suns with his putrid set-shot, 27 points, a team-high 14 rebounds, and six blocked shots. Allen Iverson was his equalizer offensively by scoring a game-high 32 points, but it was an all too individual effort from the Answer who only dished out three assists. Carmelo Anthony grabbed a team-high 14 boards, but finished a disappointing 9-21 from the field good for only 20 points.
I’ll spare you the rest of the Nuggets box score. Trust me, the input is baffling.
I’m not sure why the Nuggets seem to look so good on some nights, but then still show us that they are not above completely mailing a game like this one in. Let’s be honest for a second, there was no way the Nuggets were going to win this game and the first five minutes were all I needed to see to know that to be a fact. 46 points in twelve minutes of basketball is inexcusable. Some teams, that will remain unmentioned at present time, would love to score that many points in a half, but somehow the Nuggets couldn’t button down the Phoenix goal in the first quarter to prevent them from practically ripping the net from the iron.
Could it be that the Suns were just so hot shooting the ball that any opponent would have been scalded by their first quarter effort? Perhaps, but maybe Denver was just exposed for the defensive weaknesses that have been camouflaged up to this point? I’m not sure how to interpret a scorching like this. Somebody help me out!
Go Nuggets!
3 comments:
I agree you could tell we were going to lose right away. The worst part about the Suns fast start was, a majority of their shots were WIDE OPEN. Marions 3-pointers were unchallenged. Teams shoot high percentages against us because we simply do not defend. How many times this year have teams set records for % or points in a quarter/half.
What really had me yelling at the screen was again a George Karl decision. Iverson had 17 in the first quarter and was the only reason we were in the game. So what does Karl due in the 2nd quarter? Takes Iverson out for what I counted was 7 minutes of game time. I understand you wanna rest him but he was the only one doing ANYTHING. And you know AI didn't want a minutes rest. I just don't understand it. We better lock in a top 4 playoff spot or get our ish together or 1st round goodbyes will come knocking.
Also, anyone who watched it on League Pass. Does the Phoenix broadcast do enough advertising? Every time a point is scored, advertisement. Every time the Suns hit a 3, advertisement. Even the store that provided D'Antoni's suit got a plug!! Enough already.
The Suns straight up shot the lights out, there was nothing we could do except watch altitude's bush league presentation. No HD, No score, No game clock. Last night was rough!
As usual, I was not able to watch the game since the networks decide which games they want to televise and they usually want to show Kobe or Lebron more than any team.
At any rate, 20 for 31 = 60 points = win against any team, unless there are any teams out there that are averaging 150 pts a game that I am unaware of.
Bottomline is the Nuggets do not know how to defend the 3s. That is how the Spurs beat us last year in the playoffs. When a team makes their 3s against us, more often then not they will win.
I wonder if Karl even knows that or is even doing anything to fix it.
NEED TO LEARN TO DEFEND THE 3s, PERIOD.
Till then,.. we'll win against those who try to go in and lose against those who make their 3s.
That's just my opinion, based on what I see, which is very limited.
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