A familiar problem continues to vex the Nuggets
“Karl has to identify a giant slayer. His squad plays the finest team basketball in the NBA, but there’s a time and a place for selfishness in basketball.”
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The Nuggets battled admirably in San Antonio last night. If not for a familiar problem they might have handed the Spurs their fifth home loss of the season.
Down by one point with enough ticks left on the clock to run a final play and escape with a narrow victory, Denver failed to construct a strategy. Instead, the ball was tossed about until Danilo Gallinari was forced to hand off to Andre Miller behind the three-point line. Miller attempted to penetrate San Antonio’s defense, but instead forced up an ugly off-balance runner that doinked off the rim as time expired.
Once again, the lack of a confident shooter (a “closer”) led to a Denver Nuggets loss.
Coach Karl’s sketching of plays in pressure situations is often the subject of criticism. His hands are tied, though. As “deep” as the Nuggets’ talent runs, they continue to pay the price for not employing a “me first” guy with ice running through his veins to take the final shot.
It’s such a common refrain that it’s almost a cliché. It will cost them in the playoffs.
Karl has to identify a giant slayer. His squad plays the finest team basketball in the NBA, but there’s a time and a place for selfishness in basketball. With only one chance left to make basket, somebody has to possess a “my ball” mentality. Based on what what’s unfolded over the past few weeks, I believe that guy is Wilson Chandler.
Chandler’s grandiosity has caused the Nuggets problems in the past, but it’s a characteristic he has that could prove valuable. Of the players on the current team, Chandler is the most Carmelo-like in terms of his mystical ability to create a lane. He is less likely to pull up for an awkward shot than anybody else on the team besides Ty Lawson, who lacks the size and toughness to enforce his will.
It’s frustrating to see an effort like the Nuggets put forth last night squandered. In the post-season they will have to win close games. They won’t always have a four or five point “pad” to work with. Sometimes they will have to win with a clutch shot.
The Nuggets lack very little. They are an excellent and very exciting team. The endings of games like the one last night remain a concern, however. Their inability to close games continues to vex them.
