Jazz Deal Nuggets Setback

Last night the Nuggets lost 115-104 to the Utah Jazz. It was a disturbing loss based on how easily Utah scored with Marcus Camby on the bench in street-clothes. The Nuggets had no problem putting up points on the offensive end, but they simply couldn't stop Utah at any point in the game. At one point in the second half Utah made three lay-ups in three straight possessions. K-Mart couldn't stop Utah from scoring inside; Reggie Evans couldn't stop them; Fransisco Elson couldn't stop them; neither could Eduardo Najera in his short stint on the court. The problem is that Utah has no dominant inside player. Carlos Boozer and Mehmet Okur are solid players. Up-and-comer Jarron Collins had a solid night (one friend hopes we pick up Collins as a free-agent this summer and after watching him last night I have to agree). But with Camby out, those three guys looked like potential all-stars.

Where have you gone K-Mart? The Nuggets defense turn their lonely eyes to you. (As well as their check-book.) Didn't the Nuggets pick up K-Mart to compliment Camby in the front-court? He played a mediocre game on both sides of the ball precisely when he should have stepped up to shoulder the load with Camby's absence. And when K-Mart failed to step up (big surprise) someone else should have. After all, that's what champions do when a key player goes down. The Spurs, for example, have been playing through injuries all year yet they rarely get as poor a defensive permormance as the Nuggets turned in last night.

It's always frustrating when a marginal team like Utah comes in and ends a solid streak in dramatic fashion. The Nuggets were hoping to gain some ground on Utah in the division, yet they came out playing horrendous defense and lost because of it. They also had a chance to gain a game in home-court advantage on Memphis - likely first-round opponent - who lost last night. The loss to Utah turned out to to be a double burn for a team looking to turn the corner. The Nuggets are hoping Carmelo Anthony and a stellar defense will take them past the first-round of the playoffs. Right now, though, playoff success looks to be squarely on Melo's offensive shoulders and Camby's oft-injured defensive ones.