F#%k Paul Westhead

It's fitting that the Nuggets exploded for a massive 168 point effort against a team that features run-n-gun guru Paul Westhead as an assistant coach. Westhead is the man for whom the motto "You don't need defense if you can score 120 every night" was all but tattood on his chest until his early-1990's Nuggets averaged close to 120 only to give up 130 on a nightly basis. But it appears as if the ghost of old Westhead has reared his slicked back head once again in D-Town, Doug Moe withstanding, as the Nuggets have reeled off a string of absurdly high scoring victories against mediocre opponents.

Like most things in the world that appear joyous and funtastical, I have a problem with this spate of overzealous - three-pointer Mr. Martin, coming right up - shootfests. It masks the true dilemma that this team faces as it fights for a playoff spot against likeminded Golden State, the two-faced Phoenix Suns, and the suddenly geriatric Mavs: No Defense.

Yes, I will readily admit that having Marcus Camby on your roster gives you some defensive credibility, and the addition of a healthy and vivacious Kenyon Martin only adds to that credibility, but the Nuggets really don't have to play defense if they can out-Westhead teams like Seattle who are coached, in part, by Westhead himself. There's no need for defense in such situations. In fact, there's very little need to even send 5 players to play defense. Unfortunately for all of us in D-Town, plus Mike D'Antoni and Don Nelson, this style of ball just doesn't work in the playoffs, which is where the Nuggets would like showcase their talented if dysfunctional roster full of huggedy-thuggedy misfits.

I have no problem if the Nuggets score 120, 138, or even 168 points on nightly basis. All the better I say, especially with the ghost of Patrick Ewing's New York Knicks defensive teams still fresh in my young memory. But you absolutely cannot think you're a great team if you give up 105, 110, or 120 either. 'Cause the playoffs will take such an erroneous philosophical mindset and digest it with bacon and then shit out something horrific that resembles much of what the Nuggets have had to consume as first round losers the last 4 years.

But it sure is nice to see Chucky Atkins hitting those 3's. Thanks, you've been great, I'm here all week.