Recap: Nuggets 127, Cavs 99 (Or, of fast breaks and slow, painful suffering)
2011-01-15
Overview: The Denver Nuggets scored 80 points in the first half of a 127-99 destruction of the helpless Cleveland Cavaliers. A hip flexor strain caused Mo Williams to leave the game after only five minutes of play.
Whoever said “that’s why they play the games” was not talking about this game bullets:
I mean, it is what it is. When a team on an epic road losing streak and missing almost half its players comes to play a great home team on a back-to-back, this is what happens. Throw in the altitude factor and the pace of the game, and it really wasn’t fair. I’d like to have seen the Cavs at least pretend they had a chance, but alas.
The Nuggets were getting anything they wanted in the half-court, but the game really got ugly when they started to run. This is what a running team looks like, everybody — the Nuggets looked to run every time they secured the ball, got it to their guards, and filled the lane with cutter after cutter if the man with the ball’s angle was cut off. It was beautiful, it was terrifying, it was brutal. The Nuggets really didn’t even need Carmelo to whip the Cavs’ collective asses tonight — it was Nene filling the lanes, Lawson pushing the break, and the three-point shooters keeping the floor spaced that destroyed the Cavs on Saturday.
Contrasting what the Nuggets did with Jamario Moon firing jumpers, Manny Harris and Alonzo Gee trying to work of the dribble, and Mo and Antawn forcing jumpers, and Hickson doing what he does was a depressing exercise — in retrospect, it’s unbelievable that anyone thought a team with this little talent was ever going to successfully beat anybody by outscoring them, ever. Next season, defense needs to be the first, second, and third point of emphasis in roster-building, practice, and training camp. As for this season, I don’t know what happens. I honestly can’t imagine how this team wins another game without something truly ridiculous happening. Maybe things will get better when the team gets a bit healthier, but this is truly miserable to watch right now. Until later.
No worries. Wasn’t trying to be patronizing, but since I root for LAL, I can see why it looked that way. Will be interested to see what CLE tries to do at the deadline.
The guy actually comes in here and tries to send a positive message instead of trolling like so many others, and he’s met with negativity? Come on, man…
The picture John choose for this post is amazing.
How long has a Lakers’ fan had to wait for their “time to come”…5 years. Get out if here with that crap, this is Cleveland!
I am not at all surprised by this, and I know a lot of people have said that, but honestly who took a look at this roadtrip and saw a single game where we wouldn’t get killed? Without Andy we are dead on d, and don’t have a hope. I am a big fan of the Gerald Wallace trade idea for that reason, he gets points, but he is a defensive asset. Keep JJ @ center for a bit so he cam develop a healthy appetite for the paint and some rebounds, and bring in Wallace. Also @robinred are you… Read more »
Whats scary is the margins by which the cavs are losing, I dont have the numbers (if any one could find em it’ll be great) but I’ll go on a limb and say that the cavs have one of the worst point differential in the last few seasons, I dont even remember the nets getting abused this much last year (granted its not like I care about the nets)
I don’t think we should look into this game too much everybody. We had 7 guys for pretty much the entire game and with only that many players it could be a blowout for any team. Of course they were going to get tired…
I thought the Lakers game was rock bottom, no? And yet, the Cavs keep falling. I really start to wonder how many more games they will win.
This is where it is depressing. The guys actually ARE trying. They just don’t have enough talent, intelligence, and skill to turn some of that effort into effective basketball. Let’s be real. We are playing with a D league team at the moment. Mo is not a D leaguer when healthy, but everyone else, (including Jamison with his defense) would be better suited in another league. Yes, perhaps I am exaggerating. Some of the guys have the potential to be DNPs in the NBA. My heart hurts.
At least the Cavs are conistent….they scored 99 points in both games….this is so bad to even allow 80 points in a half…its like the guys arent even trying….there’s no way theyre trying and giving up that many points…80 points in a half is so rare if it happens its because the other team just gives up…its one thing to suck but giving up is a big factor too…
Laker fan here. This is a great blog with a lot of good commenters. Hang in there Cleveland fans. Your time will come–be it the Browns, Indians or Cavs.
Wow, these posts be depressing lately, but what else is there to say?
One thing I found very spot on was the description of Manny and his jumpshot about 6 or so posts back. Very videogame-ish, and maybe not surprising but at Michigan it was even more odd, but not similar to holding down the shoot button too long, more like he was pitching the ball to the basket while fading away, if that even makes any sense.
Oh well, at least you know Manny has some potential and seems to be a find.
80 points in the first half for the Nuggets. Can anyone guard the perimeter? I believe Denver hit 65% of their 3’s. This team makes it too easy. I realize they only had 8 players tonight – but this whole 25 game stretch has been marred by some of the worst defense I have seen in a very long time, and maybe some of the weakest defensive effort I’ve ever seen from a pro team.