Game of the Week

(This game was from Dec 9...uhh, little late getting this up.  Did the work, just forgot write it up)

Nuggets at Raptors (-10)

The Nuggets (9-11. 11th in the West) have a great and unique home court advantage that gives them a reason to compete.  But in a tough Western Conference they look pretty mediocre.  They've got a lot of 'nice' players but lack that one guy that makes it all work.  Occasionally a rotation like that sneaks wins but usually it gets bested in the 4th quarter and this Nuggets team falls squarely in the latter group.  There's enough intriguing talents to go with the home court advantage to assume they'll be okay but probably not playoff-worthy (indeed, that combo probably makes them trade bait-worthy).  In the West good is not good enough so you gotta figure a nice East Coast road trip is exactly what the Nuggets need to get some easy W's, right?  Nope: @Hawks, @ Wizards, @Raptors in 4 days--doh!  Good luck with that.  Man, even the easy part of their schedule is letting them down this season.  Mediocre teams need all the extra luck they can get...and this ain't it.

The Raptors (15-5, 1st in the East) hit the ground running this year, just like I thought they would.  They've got good starting talent, a nice looking bench and they rounded into shape right at the end of the year, going down in the playoffs to the Paul Pierce-led Nets (words you won't read ever again, I bet).  I believe we haven't seen the best of the Raptors, even though DeRozan is out til the All-Star break apparently, they should have the depth to survive in the East.  I predicted they'd finish 1st in the East and I think I'll stick with that.

The Nuggets may look mediocre but West-mediocre is East-not bad. But I think the Raps (-10) will handle their business tonight on their home floor.

1st -- Raptors 35-30
2nd -- Raptors 27-22

Lot of minutes for Mozgov, especially considering he's expected to pick up the rebounding slack in the absence of Faried; Valanciunas over and over again got the better of Mozgov.  (Why isn't Faried working out in Denver this year?  Thought he was ready to have his blow-up year.  And where's Nurkic?)  Ty Lawson with 8 assists at half, he's balling.  Gallinari not getting a lot of minutes even though this is Denver's 3rd road game in 4 nights; he doesn't looks like he's gonna score out there tonight but shouldn't he be getting minutes just to fill space?  Wilson Chandler (trade bait d'jour!) was hot early on but disappeared by halftime; I know he's everybody's favorite swing man to be out on the trade market but I don't see much in his game outside of occasional hot shooting that contributes much.

Vazquez gets the start with DeRozan out, noticed Lou Williams subbed for Lowry, then Lowry came back after a break for Vazquez; seems like a lot of early minutes for a guy used to coming off the bench.  Raptors slowed down toward the end of the first half, the Nuggets cut into the lead with a late spurt.  The Raptors were by far the better team in the first but only up 10 at half.

3rd -- Nuggets 29-20
4th -- Nuggets 21-20
OT -- Raptors 10-5

The Raptors give up way too many offensive rebounds to the Nuggets, Nuggets finally get over their turnover problems and start knocking down some shots.  Patrick Patterson is one of the most under appreciated players in the league these days, off the bench he does a lot for this team, he can speed them up or slow them down, decent outside shooter, makes timely plays, good defender, etc.  James Johnson, too, is balling off the bench, he's got legit offensive moves, effortless with his back to the basket.  Lowry is the one that runs this team but Lou off the bench keeps it going; the combo of Lou Williams and Grievus Vazquez is what will keep the Raptors afloat while DeRozan convalesces.
The Nuggets made a game of it but the Raptors handled their business in OT like a veteran club should.  But kudos to the Nuggets for covering the spread.

Box Score Notes
Man, a ton of minutes for Nuggets starters: Mozgov and Lawson barely got off the floor--in at OT game?  On the 2nd night of a back-to-back?  3rd road game in 4 days?  Jeez, these guys are gonna be in shape (if they don't die).  And I thought the Nuggets problem was too many guys wanting too few minutes; not tonight.  Without Faried, McGee and Robinson (or Nurkic) that lineup is paper thin.  Mozgov went 7-14 from the floor, better than I noticed while watching; he hustles, big body, but he looked gassed by halftime.  Afflalo went 9-14 but had strangely little impact on the game, looks smooth when he's rolling but disappears for long stretches.  Lawson's a smart player, used the high screen to his advantage over and over.

Yowza!  All the 3-point shooting for the Raptors came from the bench: Patterson and Williams went 8-17, the starters went 1-16.  The fact that the Raptors are getting scoring and defense off the bench is what keeps them dangerous into the 4th quarter night after night.  13 assists for Lowry, 26/12 Valanciunas, Williams with 26 off the bench, Patterson chipping 19/8, good balance on this squad.