It’s Do-or-Die Time for the Denver Nuggets

Tyler Lashbrook — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 20:23:31 +0000

Apr 26, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) celebrates after the Warriors defeated the Denver Nuggets 110-108 in game three of the first round of the 2013 NBA playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

The Nuggets can’t afford to lose tonight. Though tonight’s game in Oakland isn’t an elimination game, the chances of winning three straight after losing three straight are slim-to-none. A win tonight evens the series and brings home court advantage back to Denver, giving the Nuggets a chance in Game 5 to take a 3-2 lead heading back to Oakland and ensuring at least a Game 7 in Denver. A loss tonight? Well, that may as well wrap things up. Denver would be faced with the task of winning three straight against one of the hottest teams in the playoffs, against one of the hottest 3-point shooters in NBA history in Stephen Curry.

Quick hits:

Golden State shot 64.6 percent in Game 2 and 52.5 percent in Game 3. When they’re hitting shots and Draymond Green is converting full speed fastbreak reverse layups, then the Nuggets are as good as dead.

The basics?

Where? Oracle Arena — Oakland, California
When? 9:30 ET on TNT

Probable starters:

PG – Ty Lawson
SG – Evan Fournier
SF – Andre Iguodala
PF – Wilson Chandler
C – Kenneth Faried

Probable starters:

PG – Jarrett Jack
SG – Stephen Curry
SF – Klay Thompson
PF – Harrison Barnes
C – Andrew Bogut

Golden State is shooting 44.8 percent from range through three games in this series. If that sustains tonight, you can count the Nuggets good as dead. Ironically one of the Nuggets strengths through the regular season — rebounding — has been a huge weakness in their first round match up. The Warriors are averaging 44.3 rebounds to the Nuggets 35 a game. That’s probably skewed a bit due to Golden State’s hot shooting: there’s more defensive rebounds available for the Warriors than there is for the Nuggets.

A hot topic amongst fans has been the playing time of Andre Miller, particularly late in games. Since his heroic performance in Game 1, he’s been dreadful. He looks — for a lack of better terms — old. He’s getting burnt by whoever guards him and he’s been shot happy and turnover prone in the half court offense, which takes away from Ty Lawson’s (whose been dealing the last two games) opportunities. George Karl told the Denver Post that it’s highly unlikely that he changes his late game rotations and plans on keeping Miller in because of the #VETERANLEADERSHIP he brings.

Prediction: I thought Golden State’s Game 2 hot shooting performance was a bit of a fluke, thus predicting that the Nuggets would steal Game 3. I’m not so sure anymore. Literally EVERYONE in a Warriors uniform is lighting up the box score — aside from Klay Thompson in Game 3 — and I’m not sure that changes tonight. If Ty Lawson plays like he did in Game 3, then the Nuggets have a chance. But it’s tough to bet against Steph Curry right now. And if #OldManMiller flips into senile mode then it’s really tough to go with the Nuggets. Warriors 104, Nuggets 100.

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Thanks for reading and follow me on Twitter @lashy.

Denver Nuggets – Golden State Warriors Game 3 Preview

Tyler Lashbrook — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 20:27:51 +0000

Apr 20, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried on the bench during the second half of game one of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs against the Golden State Warriors at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 97-95. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Coming off the first home loss since mid-January, the Nuggets will look to regain momentum Friday night in Oakland against the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors dissected the Nuggets perimeter defense with a flurry of jump shots: GSW hit 64.6 percent of their shots in Game 2.

Quick hits:

George Karl hinted Friday morning at the possibility of starting Wilson Chandler at the 4 and Faried at center, but nothing is imminent. UPDATED* — Chandler to start at Center with Faried at the 4.
Stephen Curry is a game-time decision, per the DenverPost, but I’d be shocked if he didn’t play.

The basics:

Where? Oracle Arena — Oakland, California
When? 10:30 ET — ESPN2

Probable starters:

PG – Ty Lawson
SG – Evan Fournier
SF – Andre Iguodala
PF – Kenneth Faried
C – Wilson Chandler

*UPDATED @ 8:24 CT: According to Aaron J Lopez of NBA.com, Wilson Chandler could start Friday nights Game 3 as the center for the Denver Nuggets.

Don’t be surprised if this is completely wrong. There’s been rumblings that Andre Miller could start at the 2 and George Karl could pull the plug on any lineup changes he hinted at, like Mark Jackson did in Game 2.

Probable starters:

PG – Jarrett Jack
SG – Steph Curry [despite reports, I find it hard to believe that Curry won't start and play 38+ minutes in Game 3]
SF – Klay Thompson
PF – Harrison Barnes
C – Andrew Bogut

The Denver Nuggets need to make adjustments if they want to win Game 3 and swing the momentum back in their favor.

Prediction:

The Warriors won’t shoot nearly as well as they did in Game 2. There’s absolutely no way that Karl allows the Nuggets’ pick-and-roll defense to be half as bad as it was last time out. But if the Nuggets fall on their face, they could be in a world of trouble. The Warriors’ confidence is at an all-time high with how well they played last game and they really feel like this is now their series to lose. I think the Nuggets rotation is going to shorten up: Koufos and McGee struggled on the boards and in defending the pick-and-roll and I can’t see them getting many minutes against Golden State’s small-ball lineup. I’ve got a feeling Karl has some tricks up his sleeves: maybe we’ll see Jordan Hamilton get some minutes at the 4 to match up with Harrison Barnes? I don’t know. But I do know the Nuggets won’t play nearly as poorly and Golden State won’t shoot the lights out like they did in Game 2. Nuggets steal Game 3 105-103.

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Thanks for reading and follow me on Twitter @lashy.

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It’s Do-or-Die Time for the Denver Nuggets

Denver Nuggets – Golden State Warriors Game 3 Preview