Q&A with the Nugg Doctor

The Suns visit the Nuggets Thursday night at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado.  As everyone is aware, the Nuggets have been playing great basketball of late; they’re currently 26-13 and in 1st place in the Northwest division.  The last time these two teams met on December 20th, the Suns captains led them to a victory in Phoenix. 

For a preview of the game, I welcome the “Nugg Doctor“- an awesome blog covering all things “Nuggets”.  Now, I used to live in Colorado for a number of years (and proudly remained a die-hard Suns fan) and know for a fact there hasn’t been this much excitement about the Nuggets in a long while.  They held off Dallas on Tuesday night despite not having Carmelo Anthony in the lineup.  Trust me, the Nuggets are good.  But…so are the Suns.

Below, you’ll find answers to my questions for the Nugg Doctor.  For my responses to his questions, click here.  Oh, we’re both Colorado State Rams baby - love it.

Ben:  First of all - talk about Carmelo’s injury and how his absence will affect the Nuggets during the next couple weeks.

Nugg Doctor:  Hopefully, it will provide players like Linas Kleiza, J.R. Smith, and Dahntay Jones an opportunity to step up to the plate and pick up ‘Melo’s slack. LK and J.R. have been struggling in the last two outings of which the Nuggets split, but the one thing I have to admit about Dahntay Jones is he rarely ever hurts the team. LK and J.R. have the unfortunate trait of being streaky players. Both LK and J.R. scored over 40 points in a game last year, and are capable of doing so again on any given night, but their individual games, while individually unique, are alike in their inconsistencies.

Ben:  I lived in Colorado for a number of years and know how much Coloradans love hometown favorite, Chauncey Billups.  You guys have been on a tear since acquiring him - what does he bring to the team that Allen Iverson didn’t?

Nugg Doctor:  Chauncey brings a championship pedigree, cool head, and steady hand. The Nuggets have always been a little bit helter skelter on offense in the past, especially in the waning moments of close games, but with Billups back in Denver there is an undeniable calm that sets in when he takes control. As a result, the Nuggets have lost only one game this season when entering the fourth quarter with the lead and are emerging as a top-tier team in the Western Conference.
 
Ben:  J.R. Smith always seems to torch the Suns when they play the Nuggets.  However, we also know that he’s had an up and down career.  What do Nuggets fans really think of J.R. Smith?

Nugg Doctor:  For the most part, J.R. is fan favorite in the Mile High. There are some who think his game is more flash than substance, but around my parts of the internets things are pretty optimistic concerning the one they call “The Prodigy.” Patience is the sand of J.R.’s hour glass and I just hope that George Karl has enough left in his for Nuggets fans to see J.R.’s maturation process completed. His shot selection, understanding of game situations, and tendency to turn the ball over trying to do too much are his greatest weakness, but when his upside and potential are weighed in J.R. is worth all the work the franchise has been willing to put into him.

Ben:  Nene is having a career year.  Talk about his importance to the team.

Nugg Doctor:  Nene’s story is truly an inspirational one. Sometimes people forget that before Nene’s battle with testicular cancer he lost what was essentially the entire NBA season prior with an ACL injury. With that kind of background providing you insight to just how far Nene has had to come to this point in his career you can’t help but admire his success this season as he is averaging career-high marks in points, rebounds, blocks, free-throw %, and field goal % at an NB A best mark of 62%. He is important to this team because he’s our best inside scoring option and he puts a lot of fouls on the opposition’s top low post defender with his quick spins and superb footwork around the goal.
 
Ben:  Finally, the Suns and Nuggets have been fighting critics all season.  What is your response and thoughts to the so-called experts that are writing the Nuggets off?

Nugg Doctor:  Don’t let history dictate what your eyes tell you. This is a more team-oriented Denver Nuggets franchise this season and with the basketball culture change Chauncey has brought to ‘Melo and the gang Denver could have an extended run come the post season. There is a reason why Denver is 26-13 and it’s not an easy first half schedule. More than half of the first 40 games the Nuggets have played have been against teams that are currently in playoff contention and Denver has risen to the challenge with the results having been favorable.

Go Nuggets!

Ben’s Note:  Go Suns.

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