The Nuggets said “no thanks” to tanking and are reaping the rewards
“The Nuggets aren’t in contention to make the post-season and few contests left on their schedule hold the appeal of a tilt with LA. Still, fans have a reason to attend. The Nuggets remain willing to win – even if in some circles winning is controversial.”
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The powers that be must have been pretty pleased with the turnout last night at Pepsi Center. The lower sections were all but filled with fans, many cheering on the Nuggets and many cheering on Blake Griffin, Chris Paul and the Clippers. There were even scattered souls up in the third-level cheap seats. At half time the hallways teemed with humanity. The line for Dippin’ Dots ran twelve-deep and no doubt the Tuaca shots were flowing like the sweat off Kenneth Faried’s forehead.
It was a nifty night at “the Can”. The Nuggets honored the 1993/1994 8th-seeded playoff team that shocked the world by overcoming a three-game deficit to knock off George Karl’s Super Sonics in the first round that year. Mutombo was in attendance Monday, along with Phonz and Dan Issel and a host of other characters who helped make that season so memorable. The bond between the City of Denver and the team seemed as solid as it’s been since the Shaw era started.
It’s doubtful that the arena will see a crowd as large again this season. The Nuggets aren’t in contention to make the post-season and few contests left on their schedule hold the appeal of a tilt with LA. Still, fans have a reason to attend. The Nuggets remain willing to win – even if in some circles winning is controversial.
Just a few nights ago Denver went into Miami and toppled Lebron the champion Heat. They then gave the Hawks all they could handle. The Nuggets are undefeated at home to the Clippers this season and, since Ty Lawson’s return, are not a team anybody can sleep on. In other words, the Nuggets are not tanking. For that the team has earned respect and admiration and avoided calamity at the turn styles.
Since Andre Miller left town the Nuggets have gradually begun to mold into Brian Shaw’s team. The development of Kenneth Faried in the month of March is alone a reason to feel good about Denver’s prospects in the future. The kid has been dominant of late and has held his own with some of the NBA’s best power forwards. Faried is sweeping the glass on both ends of the floor and forcing his will in the paint. Wilson Chandler has picked his game up, too, since Ty healed up and Lawson himself has seemed rejuvenated.
After a dismal February filled with horrific blowouts the Nuggets have returned to respectability and are fun to watch again. Suddenly it seems conceivable that, with a few more healthy bodies on the floor, the team could make it to the playoffs next season.
This hopefulness is not felt in Philadelphia now, nor in Milwaukee or Orlando or Utah where success seems several years off. The Nuggets are giving their fans a reason to feel good today – right now – not just to hope for a magic ping-pong ball to change their fortunes.
Many people believe that Denver should be losing games intentionally, scrapping this lost season in the hopes that some 19 year-old knight in shining armor will ride in on his white horse via the draft and rescue the Nuggets from mediocrity. Maybe for some teams that philosophy works. What it doesn’t do is sell Dippin’ Dots.
