In 2007 the Colorado Rockies made an improbable run through the end of the regular season and swept the first two rounds of the playoffs. It was a miracle! Until they were destroyed by the Boston Red Sox in a world series sweep. Like Sports Illustrated, I called the run a sign of the Apocalypse that a team as historically bad as the Rockies could sweep two playoff series and make it to the world series.Apparently they must have changed something major in the Denver Matrix because the same Deja-vu thing appears to be happening with our other historically bad franchise, the Denver Nuggets. Hot run to end the season, strong performance in two playoff rounds, now likely to face a serious title contender in the L.A. Lakers. Are the boys from Auraria Parkway headed for the same fate as the Blake Street bunch? I say no. Here are some reasons why this Nuggets team is different from the Cinderella Rockies.
- Captain Obvious says: "Its a different sport!" To say the downfall of the Rockies is guaranteed for the Nugz is merely supported by superstition or bad sports pop-psychology. But I'll start rubbing my lucky blue rabbit foot from the 3rd grade just in case. If you are still not convinced, I'll provide 5 more reasons.
- Playoff experience. The Nugz have been to the playoffs and dismissed for 5 years in a row. Yes, that stinks, but they were consistently making it to the big dance and competing with the best at the next level. The last time the Rocks were in the playoffs prior to 2007? 1995.
- Regular Season. The Nugz just completed back-to-back 50 win seasons for the first time in franchise history. That is not a fluke. It reflects consistently good management, coaching and play during the season and off-season. The Rockies had to win 14 games in a row to make it to the post season, with a dramatic a dramatic 1 game wild card playoff win over the Padres to enter the post season. The Nugz had the 4th best record in the NBA and earned a 2nd seed in the very competitive Western Conference for the playoffs. Not exactly the stuff of miracles, just consistently good work.
- Star Power. Matt Holiday. Good, but is he really at the same level in his sport as Carmelo?
Todd Helton. Good, but at the end of his career. Did the Rocks have any playoff seasoned player like Chauncy Billups? The man has now been to the conference finals 7 years in a row. The only people in the history of the NBA to do more are guys like Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul Jabar from the Showtime Lakers. That's it. The man flat-out knows playoff basketball and earned the nick-name "Mr. Big Shot." By the way, he also was a Finals MVP on an under-dog team. I think our hometown hero offers significant leadership and credibility the Rocks were seriously lacking for a championship team. - Losses. Part of the Jinx for the Rocks was the "streak." Baseball is a mental game where stuff like that gets carried away. The Nugz have lost once in each series, bounced back and have no streak issues.
- Margin of victory. In 7 playoff wins in 2007, the Rockies average margin of victory was 2.5 runs. Not bad, but they weren't killing anyone. In the Nugz eight playoff wins, their average margin of victory is 15.1 points. Wow. But guess what? That excludes the ridiculous blow-out of the Hornets on the road 121-63, a 58 point margin of victory. Include that win and the average margin of victory is 20.5 points per game. Astonishing. Effectively blowing out teams in two playoff series is a mighty feat indeed, and certainly no fluke. By the way, the two Nuggets losses? 2 points each.
Clearly, the Nuggets have significant advantages and have proven themselves worthy and capable of the moment. They didn't sneak into the dance, they were at the top of the guest list. They won't be running home at midnight, because they intend to own the palace when the dance is through. And for the first time in my life life, I think the Nugz have a chance to win it all. Getting past both Kobe and LeBron will be extremely difficult. But as the league loves to say: "This is where Amazing Happens."
The NBA Playoff song is "Every Day" on the left if you care to listen, or the Bulls Warm-up music if you need to get pysched. "Can you feel it?" Yes. I finally can. For a few good laughs on the Nugz playoff run, check out this link:
2 comments:
Wow. That was some very tight and precise analysis. You keep pumping out takes like this and you might just find yourself on the BS report.
Heck, I don't know if Malcom Gladwell could have said it better himself.
Well done, Harry, well done.
GO NUGGETS!!
Agreed that the analysis is tight and well thought through. It was a post more worthy that a mere blog. Perhaps the Denver Post is hiring? Honestly, I thoroughly enjoyed it and am savoring the fact that the Thuggets are for REAL!
Post a Comment