Denver at San Antonio: Game 5 Recap
The Spurs advance as always.
By Cub Buenning
You know you’re victorious if……
You hold your opponent under 80 points.
That opponent averaged over 105 per game during the year.
You hold your opponent to under 38% from the field.
That opponent shot 47% from the field during the year.
You hold your opponent’s superstars to a combined 41 points.
Those superstars averaged 56 a night during the season.
Those two are able to be guarded (at different times) by the same guy.
Your 4th scoring option hits 8 of 9 3-pointers.
Your core group of players has been together for more than five years.
Your opponent’s star guard shoots just 36% for the series from the field.
Everything on the offensive-end comes easily.
Your opponent has to work very hard for every shot attempt.
Your opponent’s offensive bench production comes from someone who played all year in Italy.
That guy on the other team that you cannot stop doesn’t seem to get the ball very much.
That very same guy barely gets ten shots a game while averaging over 15 per contest.
Your opponent cannot make shots around the hoop, as well as the subsequent tip-in attempt.
Jacque Vaughn can’t miss a shot.
You win four games before your opponent does.
Yes, the Spurs have advanced after last night’s 93-78 victory over the Nuggets.
Yes, the series went just five games, exactly like their first-round series did from two years ago.
Yes, the Nuggets were proven to be “not ready for primetime.”
AND, YES, I think the Spurs must now be considered one of the favorites for the LOB trophy.
Before the postseason started, I had thrown my “eggs” into the Phoenix basket, but I may have to share and hedge my bets on this upcoming series between them and the Spurs.
For the record: The Big Papi/Urlacher Vitamin Water commercial, I liked; the Tracy McGrady one, not so much. It made me a little uneasy watching Mac toss a CGI-ed sheep across a worn-out pitch. Is PETA gonna cause a stink?
This season, Carmelo Anthony has really made some huge strides. While he was no more brilliant than he was all season long for the Nuggets, the fourth-year forward finally made a name for himself in the postseason. In Melo’s three previous trips to the playoffs, he contributed 18 ppg and just over 6 boards a night. This postseason, Melo was the Nuggets’ most consistent player dropping 27 and 9, while shooting just slightly under 50% from the field. What’s maybe the most impressive is the fact that not only did he have Bruce Bowen in his jock, but there was also often one or two other Spurs helping out. If you watched the games in this series, you know what I am talking about. Another sign of his growth has been his development from behind-the-arc. In his three previous postseason runs, Melo had hit just 13% of his long-range attempts (2-15). In this Spurs series, not only did Melo hit exactly 50% of his 3’s, but he made at least one each game and put up 18 for the series. He also averaged over 3 offensive rebounds a night, too. This kid is still just scratching the surface, believe that.
I will have plenty to say about the Spurs in this space in the upcoming month, so I spare you the analysis. I will, however, conclude by looking ahead to the Nuggets’ future, one the league’s brightest. This year, this squad, was simply outclassed by a better TEAM. The Nuggets aren’t there, yet. I do expect great things from this squad next year, even if one of their bigs (ie Camby) is no longer on the roster. Yes, the luxury tax is going to hit this team like a “Pretty Boy” combo. With AI, Melo, Camby, Nene, and oh yes, Kenyon Martin’s monstrous contracts increasingly rising, Nuggets’ owner Stan Kroenke will be faced with the “Dolan Dilemma.” Cough up the jack, or got off the pot—not that kind, although I think Jimmy D. has had those types of issues, as well.
The Nuggets obviously need long-range assistance (ie someone like Michael Finley) but I hope they stick with JR Smith. The youngster got into some hot water towards the end of Game 4 when he defied the team’s time-out plan by jacking up a couple unwarranted 3’s. I like the kid, though. His (sorry for using this team) “upside” is gargantuan, and the Nuggets might ultimately regret unloading him. Similarly, earlier in the season, everyone around Denver was more than ready to dump Nene and that “beastly” contract he penned last summer. Still want that Nuggets’ fans? The Baby Blue and Gold have to be considered the early favorites in the Northwest, as well as one of the West’s true heavyweights.
I will return later next week as we look ahead to the second round match-ups. I will be more than curious to see if the Spurs can do to the Suns what they did to the Nuggets.
21 Responses to “Denver at San Antonio: Game 5 Recap”
May.3 at 12:41 pm
Dblizzy! says:
Cub I gotta disagree with you about Smith. I think he has skills but his attitude sucks and I don’t see it changing. I really despise the Spurs. Their style of play is boring and KG is my favorite player and I feel like his career is always compared to Duncan. Anyway, I’m picking them to win it all. They just have that veteran-ness about them that gets them thru any series. They don’t panic when they’re down and they don’t go into “hold the lead” mode when they’re ahead. They just run they’re offense and get stops.
May.3 at 12:43 pm
Max Airington says:
Spurs in six. Maybe five.
May.3 at 12:44 pm
Redrum says:
I think TD will pick up his 4th ring (he should have a couple more, had it not been for injuries and that bodus Fisher .5secs shot…)and will be considered among the greatest of all time,only behind the two MJs (Yes.. better than Bird, better than kobe, better than Wilt, better than Jabbar, etc…)
May.3 at 12:59 pm
whooo! says:
redrum, td’s considered the best pf of all time, but not 3rd all time! shaq was duncan’s true nemesis, not kg, cuz kg couldn’t get past the 1st round while duncan n shaq kept meeting throughout. shaq’s ahead of duncan though in terms of greatness all time. and i’m a huge duncan fan. spurs last year wanted jr smith for barry. that still sounds like a decent deal for both teams, but would tehy want to help each other out? jr smith got humiliated this series though. first, by his inability to guard anyone (manu had him running around a pick while he still had the ball, only to eventually drop a 2, which was pretty funny looking play). moreso, he was humiliated nationally by his own coach of all people, who shat all over the kid in front of the media.
May.3 at 1:06 pm
solly what says:
HOW can you possibly say that shaq has the one up on timmy…. Timmy has 100 TIMES the athleticism that Shaq has– and coordination, and talent, and fundamentals. Shaq is HUGE. That is it. Also, when is the last time you saw Timmy sit out bc of a “bruised thigh” or “stubbed toe”? Timmy is a better TEAM player AND more consistent.
May.3 at 1:11 pm
Emry DowningHall says:
I think the Nuggets should trade Nene while his value is so high
May.3 at 1:11 pm
DDC says:
George Karl shouldn’t have called JR out like that. As usual he was looking for a scapegoat, and the Spurs will beat the Suns in 6, book it!!!
May.3 at 1:16 pm
Emry DowningHall says:
He is an injury prone bol and I guess I sound like a hater but I just don’t believe him…
May.3 at 1:22 pm
dez says:
Whose Bowen going to guard against the Suns? Matrix doesn’t even get any plays called for him. There’s no way he’s going to stick with Nash around all those screens.
Also, Amare better go wild on Duncan
May.3 at 1:23 pm
Cub Buenning says:
Emry, Nene’s history of injuries is an issue. However, I just can’t see giving up on a 6-11, 250 lb. 24-year-old with his skill set. He is also the only one on the current roster who can mix it up down low while starting to become a defensive force. He’s rebounding, too!
May.3 at 1:54 pm
Nothin_personal says:
If Nene could hand it to Timmy on the regular cause of his athleticism, thenimagine what STAT is gonna do. Nobody can slow the Suns down. If they can cripple their psychology and momentum with poise and clutch, maybe, but I am picking Duns in 5.
May.3 at 1:59 pm
Sparker says:
i’m not sure what beating the nuggets proves, ultimately. the raps manhandled them towards the end of the season, and this is when denver still needed wins in the playoff race. i know toronto was playing well, but “manhandled”? denver has individual talent, but they seem undisciplined at both ends of the floor, even when they’re clicking. the spurs eat that stuff for lunch. they won’t be as lucky with the suns. their true weakness- their age- will be exposed. and who gets to guard barbosa? bruce bowen, lace up your track shoes. suns in 7.
May.3 at 1:59 pm
Nothin_personal says:
Plus, I remembered why I hated Iverson so much when Philly still mattered: If his game isn’t on, you can bet that he makes sure his tim sinks with him. Find another way to get it done dude. If they can upgrade Blake and Diawara with similar-players-only-better, though, Isee Melo getting crowned before the KIng does!!
May.3 at 2:25 pm
whooo! says:
parker’s 25, manu’s 29, duncan’s 31. amare’s 24, marion’s 29, nash is 33. that’s the core guys, so how much older are the spurs? oh, their bench. well, they’re deeper and get more rest, while the spurs have 2 guys off the bench. ppl thought iverson got fatiuged playing san an, and the nuggets have a young team in great shape, but w/ a 7 man rotation. youth is above all, the worst excuse i can think of for this series. solly, as for the duncan/shaq comparison, obviously tim’s more skilled, but shaq is the most dominant of his generation. look at the stats if you want, look at the type of dominance in the 3peat, or look at the way he dominated that can only be compared to wilt. obviously shaq looks terrible now, but i’m talkin prime and his long career. td is the best pf of all time, but i’m arguing that 3rd all time is ridiculous. i guess shaq/td is arguable, but i still think shaq gets the edge over the span of their careers, and i still like duncan better.
May.3 at 2:26 pm
whooo! says:
i guess it’s impossible to have paragraphs on these posts. prolly to limit our responses i suppose…
May.3 at 2:32 pm
whooo! says:
and what exactly did the knicks get for trading away nene? mcdyess?!
May.3 at 3:03 pm
TONIO says:
SUNS HAVE NO CHANCE AGAINST THE SPURS.. DOESNT ANYONE REMEMBER 2 YEARS AGO WHEN THE SPURS BEAT DENVER IN 5 AND BEFORE THE SERIES STARTED AGAINST THE SUNS PPL WERE SAYIN HOW THE SPURS COULDN’T STOP AMARE NASH AND MARION.. AND WHAT HAPPENED? SPURS WON IN 5.. AND THE SUNS WERE LUCKY IT WASNT 4.. AND THIS YEAR.. DENVER MATCHES UP BETTER AGAINST THE SPURS THAN PHX DOES.. I’LL BE SURPRISED IF PHX WINS MORE THAN ONE GAME.. I SAY SPURS IN 4.. 5 MAX.. BELIEVE THAT..
May.3 at 3:26 pm
Emry DowningHall says:
Word on that Cub … and he does seem to be getting grittier down low… if they don’t move him this summer though, they need to ride or die with him. It’s just the whole K-Mart situation as well … where do they play him (since trading him is futile) with a healthy Nene and Camby and Najera?
May.3 at 3:58 pm
Sparker says:
nice comparison on the ages, whoo, but… horry is 37, finley’s 34, bowen and barry are 36. compare that to barbosa 25, bell 31, diaw 25 and jones 27. and who looks like they have lost a step over the past few? not nash or marion, but timmy and manu sure have. and though it’s close, i’ll still take amare over parker for energy when it comes to the mid-20s guys. i don’t even agree that denver is in great shape. they have some bodies, but i doubt that carmelo and the boys were running too many wind sprints after practice. as for the 2 years ago thing, tonio, i think the suns have improved in both personnel and in play. i think the spurs are great but they’re older and they aren’t playing quite as well as they were back then. i could easily be wrong. i’m cool with it one way or the other.
May.4 at 10:07 am
Redrum says:
since I started the conversation on TD 3rd all time, I have to admit that I am willing to put Shaq in the equation. I think that between them, it is hard to tell… I love both, so diverse styles, but so great both of them. if I HAD to choose one of them, it would probably be TD, because of the aura of competitiveness, attitude, defense, clutch (remember that 1sec shot from the highpost, with Shaq on him). Remember, it was either Fisher or Kobe to take the last shot, not Shaq… As for the argument that Shaq had a 3 peat.. well… TD was never lucky to play with a guard as gifted as kobe is. Is there anyone here to argue that if you teamed kobe and TD, they would not had a similar dynaste (if not bigger since their styles are more compatible) than then Lakers? I still think that Kidd not signing with the Spurs was the biggest mistake of his life…
May.5 at 9:59 am
D-11 says:
Denver sould of won those games that San Antonio won. If they where looking at the tapes they would see what’s wrong. See look at the Spurs the first game they lost in the Playoffs they looked at the tape and said we need to change are defence it sucks! But Denver they didn’t change the defence one single bit. THAT”S sume dumb coach