The big story coming out of this one is the last second, almost-comeback, led by JR’s multiple desperation makes. This should not be the story, but give the media a break. They’re old and they don’t know much anymore. Their world has gone to hell.
Unfortunately for Nuggets fans, our squad, as well, is adrift in a lake of fire. Forget the ‘comeback.’ That was silliness. Lots of games end like that. That wasn’t basketball, it was a cute little game of Truth or Dare.
Last night’s game was the single worst effort of the season. No one* was running hard, no one was guarding anyone, everyone was settling for long jumpers. These fat fucks don’t deserve a breakdown. Everyone sucked.
Well, Kleiza played alright. He remains an idiot, but looks more and more comfortable every game. His hard won skills are showing, and he’s developing a nice bag of tricks: jump hooks, midrange jumpers, finger rolls, and plenty of hard dunks. LK’s never been afraid to dunk: a rarity in a Modern White.
Melo—starting to seem like a genuine dick—froze Kleiza out for a bit in this game. He seems to want to ghettoize Kleiza into the ‘three-point-shooter’ role, even when LK was the only one finishing around the bucket. A team source mentioned that LK is the player most asked about by opposing GMs. Don’t tell him, he might just try to jump. Wouldn’t you?
Melo played no defense, made some jumpers, didn’t even pass well. As Sim mentioned earlier, he’s decided to go out Vince Carter style. You heard me. With AI, the spirit is willing, but the flesh can no longer finish around the rim. Nobody gives him calls anymore, perhaps vengeance by dorky referees who were never the cool kids. This team is worrisome. Lakers on Thursday.
*A Word On Anthony Carter
The only conclusion I come to is this: AC reads HyTop. Respect to AC. He was flat out balling last night. It's called standing tall.
Here stands a man, stooped over, as if his head and shoulders are too big, flecks of grey in his gnarled goatee, acting as both font of wisdom and young legs at once. Attempting to force feed an identity to a resentful band of assholes. An old man** with far too many tattoos and a contract for the minimum.
It was a special performance. AC’s the only one who doesn’t deserve the loss. I knew he could guard people, and he did that. His aforementioned top heaviness lets him battle with much bigger players, bump other point guards off their lines, and muscle away steals at an astounding clip. His feet are just quick enough to let him gamble. This early in his season, the spindly legs are still fresh.
What I did not know was this: AC can pass the ball. Like any journeyman point guard with a “can’t-shoot” letter pinned to his sleeve, AC concentrates really hard and sticks a lot of his midrange jumpers. This game, he’s feeling it and he pops a three. But the passing was something special. These weren’t Marbury style drive-and-dishes, or Steve Nash style pick-and-roll wizardry. These were fundamental, old school passes.
A headfake here, a laser into the paint there. Leading people with bounce passes on the break. AC seemed to find a kindred spirit in Kleiza, and set him up like 5 times in a row for a stretch in the 2nd quarter.
This gets Mike Wilks cut. A shame, I liked Mike: he played with scrappiness, athleticism, and stuck his midrange jumpers. But he can’t really handle or pass, so he’s doomed to be a journeyman, a simulacrum of a point guard lacking that fire in his belly. Good luck, Mike. You hardly made me cringe.
Now they’re fixing to sign a veteran big man: PJ Brown? Dare I say it: C-Webb? Sim just got a boner.
**I realize he is only 32, but doesn't AC seem old? Maybe it's just my memories of his glory days with Miami. Remember that ridiculous game winner?
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