The Denver Nuggets are – can I say finally? – playing like they should: with the energy we know the possess, being mentally prepared, playing defense, and hitting key shots. They did what they were supposed to and killed a struggling Dallas Mavericks squad, 106-85.
However, what makes this win so fantastic is the fact fans haven’t seen this high-octane, speedy, defensive-minded crew too much this season; truly the only thing stopping the Nuggets, are well, the Nuggets.
The Ugly…
The Nuggets didn’t have any ugly performances, but the same thing can’t be said for Dallas, who were just horrid on rebounding.
The Bad…
Kosta Koufos had a mediocre game, couldn’t really get anything going outside of rebounding. After Corey Brewer’s spectacular performance against the Lakers, he looked flat and scored zero points in 22 minutes.
The Good…
Kenneth Faried went all-out Manimal on Dallas; he out-rebounded, 11-8, Dallas in the first quarter alone. His infectious energy and his hustle are what make him remarkable. As much as fans complain Andre Miller, you’d think when he’s having a beautiful facilitating night, they’d be rejoicing. Nope. Just crickets. When Miller is dishing, that’s when he’s at his best.
How about perimeter shooting? For a team that’s ranked 27th in 3P%, they sure have been hitting those outside shots; 12-for-22 vs. L.A. Lakers and 12-for-28 this game. The drive-and-kick system looks better when those treys are falling.
The Fantastic…
I LOVE PIZZA (GALLINARI) AND BICEPS (IGUODALA) AGAIN.
Both were pivotal and powerhouses in this game.
Danilo Gallinari is a versatile player, that’s been apparent since Day 1 with Denver, but he’s most helpful when he’s attacking and finding his three-ball. He did all of that this game with an accumulation of 39 points on 23 shots, 8 boards, and a few assists. Andre Iguodala was beautiful during his 34 minutes hitting from downtown, passing, and grabbing boards. He was aggressive and hungry; this was the Iguodala fans were thirsty over during the off-season.
It was fantastic to see Denver’s key pieces come together and get the job done with efficiency and energy. There is no reason for Denver NOT to exude this type of performance consistently.
Consistency is the goal for the Denver Nuggets.
