I'm pretty sure that the Nuggets know how to rebound. Melo seems to have a grasp of the basic concept. Camby is an expert. And Reggie Evans is like the Zen Master of rebounding, to the extend that he can't really do anything else (ahh, but does he need to do anything else?). So what, I'm asking myself at Monday night's game, at which I had brilliantly fantastic seats, is the problem with the Nuggets on defense?

And I think I've found the answer.

The Nuggets do well when other teams give them open shots. With guys like Melo and A.I., it's easy for the role players and even the stars occasionally to get wide open jumpers and layups. Even in the pre-A.I. days, Andre Miller was adept at getting the other players lobs and open looks. And the Nuggets took this to heart. Open shots are great, they began to think to themselves, and they help us score lots of points. But then those silly men in the sky blue took their sugar sweet logic a step too far. Maybe, they continued secretly to themselves daring not to voice their magic secret aloud to Coach Karl, if we give other teams open shots then they will give us open shots in return. The Nuggets keyed in on the essence of egotistical altruism. Unfortunately, they failed to realize that they're playing in the Machiavellian NBA where the ego is supreme and altruism is a babe's bedtime story.

There were so many uncontested shots against Golden State that the slow white jump shooter in me could've dropped 20 on the Nuggets. In the first half. It was absurd. How hard is it to put a hand in the shooter's face? Poke him in the ribs for Christ's sake. Do something. The Nuggets' defensive woes lie in their fairy-tale belief that games should look and feel like a shootaround. Good luck with that one boys. See you on the beach come May.