So here we are in the middle of May, waiting for what most NBA fans figured was a guaranteed Finals showdown between LeBron and Kobe. As much as it seemed like destiny, there are still a few bumps in the road, especially with the way the Los Angeles Lacklusters, scratch that, Lakers have been playing.
If you would have asked most people which Western conference team would have coasted to the Conf. finals with a nearly flawless record behind a dynamic perimeter player and great production from its frontline, I highly doubt anyone would have envisioned someone other than the Lakers. Just look at the criteria: Kobe – great perimeter scorer, Pau Gasol, Andrew Bynum, Trevor Ariza and Lamar Odom – great frontcourt.
There’s no doubt as to who would be the easy Western champion right?
Unfortunately for fans of the purple and gold, the answer to that question hasn’t been LA. Not by a long shot. Instead, much to the enjoyment of those in the mile high city, it’s been the Denver Nuggets.
Nene, K-Mart, JR Smith and Chauncey celebrate their run into the Western finals.
Yes, those Denver Nuggets. You know them. I’m sure you’ve heard of their selfish players, their underachieving coach, their “thug” image and their immaturity and lack of defense. If you’ve followed the league at all in the last five years, most likely all you’ve heard about the Denver Nuggets has been bad.
Carmelo Anthony and his coach, fighting or DUI troubles, JR Smith’s me-first attitude, Chris “Birdman” Andersen’s drug troubles, K-Mart’s history of tough hits, and the five consecutive first-round playoff exits all did a number on the Nuggets image. They are also probably the easy winners of Most Tattooed team, with a roster full of guys covered almost head to toe in ink.
In spite of all that criticism and poor reputation, the 2009 Nuggets have bonded around each other, accepted their roles and seemed to thrive in their underdog position. The first-round losing streak? Over.
They’re tough, they’re physical and they love to run. They’re amazing at home and not that far off on the road so far. If they get a chance to step on an opponent’s neck they don’t hesitate to do it. So far they are 8-2 in these playoffs, with both losses coming by only two points each. Only the Cavaliers have been as consistent or better than Denver.
Most importantly, this team looks like it loves to play with each other, the coach seems like he actually cares about his team’s fate (take note Phil Jackson) and it turns out that so far in these playoffs, Mr.Clutch doesn’t rock a 24 jersey, but rather a 15 or 7 instead.
‘Melo calmly stuck a dagger in the Mavs’ playoff hopes with this game-winning 3.
In what was once again supposed to be “the” year Kobe silenced critics of his leadership abilities and championship mettle, the self-proclaimed Black Mamba has seemed to be slinking away into a corner rather than ferociously disposing of his prey.
In his place we’ve seen ‘Melo light up the Hornets and Mavericks with game-winners and a ton of points night after night and watched Chauncey Billups further polish his “Mr. Big Shot” persona with extremely solid overall play.
Some people have called the Nuggets contending for the championship David Stern’s worst nightmare, and it many ways it is. Not only are they not the Lakers, which ruins the immensely marketable match up with LeBron, but these guys aren’t some soft Hollywood socialites either.
The Dallas series made that clear, with an ugly exchange initiated by Mavs owner Mark Cuban’s lack of class and anger boiling over to the point that he personally insulted Kenyon Martin’s mother. It’s a well-known fact around the NBA that Martin isn’t someone you really want to mess with, much less his mother, and the whole situation grabbed big headlines and didn’t end well at all. From K-Mart unleashing a barrage of insults at Cuban after game 4 in Dallas to several members of the Nuggets family having things thrown at them and being forced to leave, it’s obvious that Denver isn’t afraid of getting itself dirty.
K-Mart is one of many Nuggets who are not afraid of physical play.
To put it simply, they don’t exactly look like a team you want visiting the White House, and like it or not, that matters to the suits up in the NBA offices. Sadly, it also matters to many of the fans, as seen by the constant mention of the word “thugs” to describe the primarily black team full of tattoos and mean mugs. It might not be the easiest subject to talk about, but the very loose manner in which the word is thrown around has a not-so-subtle racist context to it. I’m not the only one that sees it either.
As we’ve seen through the first two rounds though, a bad reputation or checkered past doesn’t always mean you can’t succeed, and that’s something that the NBA should be eager to exploit. These Nuggets are the ultimate success story waiting to happen. A tale of a scrappy group of guys who had an endless supply of heart and a desire to win so strong that they overcame poverty, drugs, alcohol and so much more to being only four wins away from reaching the NBA’s highest stage.
Sure they’ve had their bad moments, both in and out of the public eye. But they’re also an example of maturity and growth, of shedding previous stereotypes and becoming better players, teammates and citizens. From K-Mart’s charity work to Chris Andersen’s great story of redemption and J.R. Smith’s evolution into a reliable sixth man, these Nuggets are worth rooting for.
The team’s resurgence has included a bevy of awards, with Billups winning the 2009 NBA Sportsmanship award and making 3rd-team all-NBA with ‘Melo, plus team VP of basketball operations Mark Warkentien was named the 2009 executive of the year, after trading away Marcus Camby. Let’s not forget they finished with the 2nd best record in the West either. Talk about a turnaround.
So even if they keep getting hated on, underestimated or ignored, I’ll take joy in watching the Nuggets push along their path toward a ring. Tattoos, scowls, Mohawks and all.
And if Kobe is lucky enough to get past Houston in game 7, he’ll yet again have a nightmare awaiting him in Colorado with his entire reputation on the line.
- Will.
