Dilip Vishwanat/NBAE/Getty Images
Maybe hearing the “94 percent of teams down 0-2 end up losing” stat last night shook the Nuggets a bit. Who knows. But they definitely have taken a pretty big blow to their confidence. A team that had bonded together and rode some serious us-against-everyone swagger post-Melo seems to be losing some steam.
Last night’s whipping dealt to them by the Thunder certainly doesn’t help, but postgame, there was a clear change in the way the team spoke and acted, starting at the top with George Karl. In his postgame comments, Karl was very quiet and let out a statement I found interesting.
“For me, it’s Saturday night. We’ve got to worry about Saturday night. Win that game. Thinking about other stuff is goofy. Two days is good enough time to regroup and re-energize and get our confidence back in to a better place.”
It’s really just that last phrase that stuck out. Karl seemed to admit the team’s confidence has been rattled. It’s a little hard to blame them tough. In the past 20 days, his team has dropped four games to the Thunder by an average margin of 10.7 points. Plus one of them coming in their building.
Add to that J.R. Smith today via Ben Hochman of the Denver Post:
The Nuggets had a team meeting on Thursday and Smith said the team didn’t have “a pulse” as they regrouped at Pepsi Center.
“Just frustration, just really didn’t have any life in there,” Smith said. “No one was really into it.”
Now I realize you can’t necessarily take things J.R. Smith says to heart, because he’s J.R. Smith but his comments today really kind of followed up the feeling I got last night. Momentum and confidence are about two of the most important things there are when it comes to postseason basketball. A belief in yourself, your team, your gameplan and your ability to win in any circumstance is vital. It’s the lifeblood to winning in the playoffs.
And a lot of that seemed to change when Kendrick Perkins was gifted two points in Game 1. Karl admitted he should’ve called a timeout because his team was rattled by the no call. Since that moment, the Nuggets haven’t looked like themselves. There’s probably being more made about this than is actually real, but the Nuggets have some of their players beat up and two of their best scorers dropped duds in Game 2 (Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari were a combined 3-14 for 11 points).
Perk talked last night about taking it to an opponent when it’s down. He was referring to the 26-point lead, but I think it applies just as much to OKC’s 2-0 one.
“That’s the time you’re supposed to just start smelling blood and keep going. I think when you’re up by that many points that’s the time you’re supposed to step on their throats and not give them a chance and go up ’bout 40 or 50. I ain’t been there before and I know what team’s are capable of doing. It just takes one 10-0 run or one 15-0 run and they’re right back in the game.”
Give the Nuggets a game and you’re going to find a team that’s re-discovered its confidence. You’re going to find a team ready to fight again and one that has a pulse. The Thunder has the enemy down right now. As Perk said, time to stomp on their face, or something.
Looks as if the Nuggets might be self-destructing:
After playing only six minutes in Game 2, J.R. Smith isn't thrilled with the way he's being used by George Karl. [Smith] said there's a "strong possibility" he won't sign with the Nuggets this summer as a free agent, expressing frustration Thursday after the Nuggets went down 0-2 against Oklahoma City in the playoffs. "There's a strong possibility as of right now," Smith said. "It's not going the way I planned it to go. It's a tough situation. I want to be here, I love the fans and everything about the city. It's just maybe not my fit." The Nuggets had a team meeting on Thursday and Smith said the team didn't have "a pulse" as they regrouped at Pepsi Center. "Just frustration, just really didn't have any life in there," Smith said. "No one was really into it."
Read more: http://www.fannation.com/truth_and_rumors/nba#ixzz1KGXVGABL
@Lefty
I am seriously going through withdrawls, at least theres only one day between our next 2 games
Playoffs are cool, but there's so much time in between games! And the coverage is scarce when it's not the day right after one of your games! AAAHHH
Why are we not playing tonight? I am sullen
@justin
Championship
@Smokey
Westbrook just doesn't give a crap, he's so nasty, ew he's eating a black mamba!!
Imagine Orlando with Nenad Krstic instead of Dwight Howard. Oh God...
cdub00 :
justin :That Thunder Insider. James Harden… Improved. Hah.
“Sefolofsha……coachable”.
I was SO hoping he'd say "Westbrook..... Honey Badger"
@DJ 7
Raiden > sub zero + scorpion..ha! Scorpion just had the best fatality move, IMO.
justin :
That Thunder Insider. James Harden… Improved. Hah.
"Sefolofsha......coachable". :)
@Gunni Thor
Sooooo glad that didn't come to fruition. It would have sucked rooting for that lineup. No way it wins a championship.
@DJ 7
According to the official storyline of the games, they are in fact 1-1 against each other. Sub-Zero killed Scorpion before the first tournament, and Scorpion (who was actually a ghost at this point?) killed Sub-Zero during the tournament.
And then Sub-Zero came back to life as Noob Saibot and his younger brother become the new Sub-Zero and Scorpion refused to kill him for the sins of his brother and Noob and Scorpion seem to have never crossed paths again. *shrug*
/nerd
@Gunni Thor
If Ray and Lewis didn't leave,KD would be another Harden.He cannot get enough chance to develop because he is too humble to ask the ball from two all star players.
And your lineup cannot play as great as Magic because the center is Nenad.He cannot be core of a great defense team like KG or Howard.
Saw this in one of the old comment sections in the Scott brooks videos
Why can’t the draft be tomorrow!!??!!??
Imagine the lineup of:
Bayless
Ray Allen
Kevin Durant
Rashard Lewis
Nenad Kristic
I think that the lineup there would have been great. Playoff material. The way we got Bayless is after Durant’s rookie year we would have gotten a worse pick like Bayless instead of Westbrook.
We could have definatley played like the magic with 4 people who could hit 3 pointers…….
Men that lineup would be sweet today would it not?
justin :
Dallas just got screwed out of a point.
this bothered me too.
That Thunder Insider. James Harden... Improved. Hah.
Ok how can we at home get different angles to see that from but the refs can't? That's ridiculous. Should be like football review, what you see on tv is what they're looking at on replay.
Dallas just got screwed out of a point.
Gotta give rip city this, they know how to cheer and they're loud. Stupid clapper things, thunder sticks, or anything that takes away from actually clapping and cheering sucks though.
JJ Barea has had a decent career as a back up.
justin :
JJ Barea minus the athleticism seems right. Barea can dunk, doubt Brooks could…
I KNOW Brooks couldn't.
JJ Barea minus the athleticism seems right. Barea can dunk, doubt Brooks could...
@Royce Young
Thanks!
@Skeletor
Here's a couple:
http://www.dailythunder.com/2010/01/saturday-morning-cartoons-rudy-tomjanovich-attacks-scott-brooks/
http://www.dailythunder.com/2009/06/saturday-morning-cartoons-scott-brooks-goes-coast-to-coast/
Not much out there. He was very J.J. Barea-ish, I'd say. Probably not as good an athlete though. That's the best comparison I can really think of.
I keep searching the internet in vain for a video of Scott Brooks as a player. I want to see what he looked like playing PG, if he ever had a big game or a special play, etc. I hear that people in Houston love Scott Brooks and that he was a big spark for them in the playoffs in their championship run, but I can't find any video of it. From basketball player reference, it looks like he shot perfect from 3pt range for them in the playoffs that year. Perhaps he taught our 3 pt shooters a thing or two and that's why we're shooting better from three
Just watched the latest Thunder Insider. I highly recommend this one. The interview with Scott Brooks is great
@cdub00
Sub Zero > Scorpion
@Daniel Plainview
your very welcome Mr. Daniel Plainview, I feel very good helping a fellow Thunderhead out. Now lets sweep the McNuggets, and then we head to an Irish Pub and Sing Ol Dany Boy, I can't drink though, Im underage.
Got em ready for the Fatality Move...just gotta shoot that harpoon and yell "GET OVER HERE!" :)
Thunder Up! Sluggets Down!
@Ozarkhick
he'll end up being those people who call your house asking if you would like to try a product for a special deal at this very moment.
@DJ 7
Thanks, Mr DJ!
With regard to Hollinger's emphasis on point diff on predicting post-season performance :
1. Certainly been wrong before, last year was supposed to be an Orlando/Phoenix finals.
2. I don't believe it's pace adjusted - therefore high tempo teams like the Knuggets are inflated
3. Point differential doesn't measure teams that have styrofoam packing peanuts between their ears. It should be adjusted for aggressive neck tattooing.
I certainly hope Birdman is saving his money. I don't know what gainful employment he expects to get when he gets too old to jump...
@DJ 7
*don't go in there.
@Daniel Plainview
umm push SAP on your the menu on your TV!! Or Cable/Dish provider next time you watch the game on TNT/ESPN.
@walrusmuse
Warning though, do go in there expecting the peaps down there to know right away, Mexico is very futbol dominated, and most of the basketball fans are Laker/Celtic fans. Especially in DF.
I hope you have fun though, Mexico can be a real fun and beautiful place to visit, and since your that close to the federal district, you should go visit the pyramids. Theres a few in a town around there.
I personally think Fernandez makes Portland Worse when hes on the court. An average ball handler, average shooter, STREAKY shooter, berly plays average defense by NBA standars, flops, and doesn't make the right pass. Either he just doesn't fit in with Portland's system, or he just can't play. With all of that, the guys can't keep healthy for a full season.
barea flopped!!
@DJ 7
?
Ha, nice. Where can I get the coverage in Michigan
@walrusmuse
Im not sure, everyone thought Denver was our biggest test, save LA and SA. I wouldnt mind playing Dallas. I think their tomato cans
I do have to say, I'm glad at this point we didn't play Portland. I think we would have still been able to win it out, but not in less than 6 or 7 games.
only thing, Portland looks like Denver game 1 quarter 1 right now. Dallas just needs to keep its head. Not that I'm rooting for them. Def. not.
yeah Matthews just wailed on Dallas. Portland looks like a fun arena.
Wow, Wesley Matthews, a one man wrecking crew, schooled Kidd twice and 4 straight 3's, oops, 3, but hes 4 for 4
@DJ 7
oh I love it! I'm not hatin. I speak non-fluent but communcative spanish so i'm all in. I'll actually be playing music in Mexico DF (well, Pachuga De Soto) next weekend. Vamonos El Trueno!
@DJ 7
Weak. All that effort and no buzzer beater? I kid, I'll take a win over the Heat any way we can get it.
@walrusmuse
aw come on don't make fun of it lol, Spanish Media is covers and gives nicknames in the oddest of ways in sports. It makes since though, and i think its "El Rifle" then a very small pause, then the commentator says very loud and dramatically KEVIN DURANT!!!! Somehow they'll fit GOOAAL GOOAL in there somewhere.
Greg :@Thomas
Both? Chicago has been incredibly underwhelming. I’m not sure who I feel worse about, Chicago or Boston.
Thunder vs. Heat in the Finals. Book it.
Game 7 of the NBA Finals. 36 seconds left in the game. Timeout Heat, Wade gets the ball, drains 17 before driving in, passes out to Lebron, who pump fakes but Durant doesn't bite, instead Lebron muscles his way to the rim and gets fouled. Makes both free throws, Thunder down 96-94 Out of timeouts Thunder inbounds the ball, Westbrook gets to the key, now theres 15 seconds left, Russel Calls in a Screen By Perk, 9 Seconds left, He drives in and kicks it out to KD who found a way to get through a Collison screen 7 Seconds left, KD Pumps fake on Lebron, then drives in only to kick it out to James Harden open for 3, Harden takes the 3 with D-Wade running at him with full force, and drains it with only 4 seconds left on the clock. Heat calls a 20 second timeout, Ibaka checks in for Collison, and Thabo for Harden. Wade inbounds the ball, Heavily contest by Thabo and Ibaka who went all the way out to trap Wade he shoots a desperation 3 that misses badly. Thunder Win The NBA Championship with an unselfish play and defense.
walrusmuse :
lol LBJ just tried a KD El Rifle 3 from midway to halfcourt and airballed.
He had a regular 3 airball earlier
Greg :@Thomas
Both? Chicago has been incredibly underwhelming. I’m not sure who I feel worse about, Chicago or Boston.
Thunder vs. Heat in the Finals. Book it.
Agreed, and I think that would be Ideal, especially if we beat them in 6, last secind three by KD, or HArden, or Ibaka
lol LBJ just tried a KD El Rifle 3 from midway to halfcourt and airballed.
f5alcon :@DJ
7
i think el rifle was pretty clear as to what it meant and i do not speak any Spanish. lol
yeah i guess Rifle makes sense, fast shooting, long ranged, consistent baller.