No More Two-Face

One of the things that we teach at my school is that you can't be successful when you live a double-life. This of course makes sense for young people trying to navigate the rigors of drugs, gangs, pregnancy, and school. But strangely, it also makes sense for the lowly, yet loved Denver Nuggets. Against Dallas, in a must-win game, the Nuggets gave up 70 points in the first half but only 35 in the second half. What the hell?

Such a boxscore indicates the double-life being lived, rather dangerously at the moment, by the Denver Nuggets. We further teach that those who live a double-life end up being consumed by the negative life. And the aforementioned is my fear for the despicably talented men from Mile-Hi.

Caveat: The Nuggets are the only team in the league capable of out-run-and-gunning the Golden State Warriors, who they are beating at the very moment I'm typing these words. So keep it up boys, at least for tonight.

Return to Truth: The Nuggets must give up their double living ways if they hope to achieve success: as this season ends, during the playoffs, and in the future. George Karl made his reputation by beating up thugs in bars (ask about the scar some day) and also by coaching brilliantly defensive teams. This reputation has not followed him to the land of Kroenke, and I think Doug Moe is partly to blame here folks. Nonetheless, the playoffs are always about defense. And the Nuggets are certainly capable of playing defense.

More elaborate analysis: By playing tough defense, the Nuggets tend to fall into horrific offensive duldrums, which also presents major problems in the regular and post seasons. So the key is this: watch more videotape of John Stockton running a half-court offense & watch video of Magic and Lakers who had a reasonable defense paired effectively with an up-tempo offense. Or they could just get some reasonable coaching from their coach who is smart enough to solve this dilemma for $5 million a season. I could figure it out for 10% of that figure, but no one's asking. Yodavice: figure it out they must or suffer the same fate as Porkins they will. (Porkins got blown up trying to destroy the Death Star, poor bastard.)