The Denver Nuggets are Imploding Right Before Our Eyes

Jan 17, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets head coach Brian Shaw talks with forward Kenneth Faried (35) during the first half against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

If you’re a long-time fan of the Denver Nuggets, you know better than to ever think things can’t get worse with this team. Because things can always get worse. And today is the perfect reminder of that fact.

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The Denver Post‘s Nick Groke released a midday report today titled “Nuggets’ Brian Shaw suspects players may be trying to lose.” Groke paints a pretty bleak picture of things, including Shaw’s open suspicions that players sandbagged it in the team’s most recent loss to the Charlotte Hornets:

"Last week, after putting up just 69 points at Memphis in a 30-point loss, Shaw ripped his players. “I’d have more respect if guys just told me they didn’t feel like playing tonight from the start,” he said. So Nuggets players, in response, were no-shows the next game. They sent a message back to their coach. They scored just 15 points in the first quarter against a Charlotte team missing its leading scorer, Kemba Walker. They scored just 15 points in the second quarter and trailed by 32 at halftime. It was a rout before all of the 13,302 fans even sat down."

Groke goes on to quote Shaw as saying it takes more effort to try to lose the way the Nuggets are losing than to just go out and compete:

"“I think it’s hard to try to lose, try to tank, try to go out there with guys who are competing with you and not compete back,” he said. ” It’s harder to do that than to just put forth the effort in the first place.” Shaw said he suspects his players may be trying to lose. “It just looks like you almost have to try to lose as bad, and in the way we’ve been losing,” he said. “At that point, something gives. The decision-makers at some point are going to make a decision. And everybody is going to have to live with it. Then it’s out of our control."

Newly acquired veteran point guard Jameer Nelson is also quoted in the article saying that any problems the team has should be worked on behind closed doors. He seems to imply that Shaw’s willingness to air the team’s dirty laundry in public is at least partially to blame for the team turning on him.

It’s hard to pick a right side in this mess. On one hand, you can argue that Shaw is being too open with the media, but I actually find it refreshing that he isn’t afraid to put the spotlight on the players who obviously aren’t giving 100% on the court. Regardless of what you think of Shaw, he has accepted responsibility and blame for this disappointing Nuggets season the entire way. As he’s quick to point out, he can’t get out there and play for the active players; they have to be professionals and take pride in their performance. As far as the players are concerned, I guess there’s something to be said for finally coming together as a unit to combat a perceived slight, I just wish the battle they chose to fight wasn’t against their own coaching staff. And, if players truly are holding back and losing on purpose to send a message to Shaw or put his job in jeopardy, that’s something I simply can’t respect. That shows a definitive lack of leadership, and if true, guys like Ty Lawson and Kenneth Faried — the “leaders” of this team and the ones whose likenesses are promoted as the faces of the franchise — should take a long, hard look in the mirror and figure out if they are willing to tank simply to exert some sort of control over the situation.

The bottom line is there really aren’t any winners in this situation. And the worst part is there is only one set of losers, and that’s the fans that continue to support this team. General Manager Tim Connelly needs to right this ship ASAP, even if that means getting rid of the holdovers on the roster from the George Karl era, bringing in a new coach, and starting from scratch. The fans of Denver deserve better.

Next: Are the Nuggets in Hot Pursuit of Brook Lopez?

The Denver Nuggets are Imploding Right Before Our Eyes

By S.E. Shepherd | Feb 3, 2015

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