With just 12 games to go in the NBA season, and my beloved Nuggets in a tighter-than-David-Wells'-belt-buckle race for positioning in the Western Conference playoffs, I think it's safe to say that we've reached the point of the season where there really is no such thing as a "good" loss, that the only thing that matters is the W or L.
Well, I think the Nuggs got something close to a "good" loss last night at Phoenix, dropping a 118-115 decision to the Suns (which, somehow, won cash for those who took the under...weird). Consider the following:
-Denver had been 1-6 in its last seven road games. They haven't exactly been lighting it up away from the Pepsi Center.
-The Suns led by 14 at one point, but really led by double digits the entire second half. Denver showed character in eventually erasing the deficit and actually leading by 11 in the third quarter.
-Does it suck that Denver, in turn, gave up an 11-point lead? Yes, but the way Phoenix can score, it's not inexcusable.
-Phoenix, based on what their homer announcers said about 241 times during the second half, needed that game. Can't argue with losing on the road to a desperate team.
-Denver can still get the next two tough roadies, and honestly, need those more. New Orleans and Dallas are close to the Nuggets in the standings, so those would be two-way wins (get a win, hand a loss to a top competitor) as opposed to beating Phoenix, which only helps in one way.
-K-Mart played both halves for a change, despite rolling his ankle in the first half. The guy's healthy again, finally.
-Let's face it, even if Phoenix has struggled this year, Denver's never played well in the desert. Ever.
-Oh, and Portland lost. To Philly. In overtime. At home.
So the Nuggets play their hearts out and lose a close one to a really good team in their building, while the Blazers dropped a very winnable game at home? I'll take it. Still like the Nuggets to finish up as division winners by a game or two, but not much more than that.
Well, I think the Nuggs got something close to a "good" loss last night at Phoenix, dropping a 118-115 decision to the Suns (which, somehow, won cash for those who took the under...weird). Consider the following:
-Denver had been 1-6 in its last seven road games. They haven't exactly been lighting it up away from the Pepsi Center.
-The Suns led by 14 at one point, but really led by double digits the entire second half. Denver showed character in eventually erasing the deficit and actually leading by 11 in the third quarter.
-Does it suck that Denver, in turn, gave up an 11-point lead? Yes, but the way Phoenix can score, it's not inexcusable.
-Phoenix, based on what their homer announcers said about 241 times during the second half, needed that game. Can't argue with losing on the road to a desperate team.
-Denver can still get the next two tough roadies, and honestly, need those more. New Orleans and Dallas are close to the Nuggets in the standings, so those would be two-way wins (get a win, hand a loss to a top competitor) as opposed to beating Phoenix, which only helps in one way.
-K-Mart played both halves for a change, despite rolling his ankle in the first half. The guy's healthy again, finally.
-Let's face it, even if Phoenix has struggled this year, Denver's never played well in the desert. Ever.
-Oh, and Portland lost. To Philly. In overtime. At home.
So the Nuggets play their hearts out and lose a close one to a really good team in their building, while the Blazers dropped a very winnable game at home? I'll take it. Still like the Nuggets to finish up as division winners by a game or two, but not much more than that.
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