Cold Shooting Stings the Nuggets

The Nuggs have not started a season 3 -0 since 1985- 86, and that mark will continue to stand after the Nuggets lost an ugly game tonight at the Pepsi Center. Denver finished the game shooting 36 % with Carmelo and AI shooting a nasty 16 - 49 from the field. There were numerous times that Melo' took the ball into the paint and appeared to get mauled, yet he went to the free throw line only 6 times. Not only that, but a ticky tack call on Nene at the end of the 4th quarter when the game was on the line, put Chris Paul to the line with the Hornets up 2. Paul hit both free throws and the game was essentially sealed for the Hornets. I don't care how the referees call the game, but I just ask that they are consistent from the 1st quarter to the 4th. That being said, the Nuggets didn't play their best game offensivly or defensivly and that was the main reason they lost.

The Nuggets came out very strong leading by 7 after the end of the 1st quarter. They were playing with energy on defense and finishing the plays on offense. They seemed to let up as the game wore on and couldn't get the ball in the basket, especially from deep, shooting only 22%. The Hornets did a good job of sending an extra defender at Carmelo as soon as he touched the ball and the Nuggets couldn't seem to find the open man all night. When the Nuggets sent extra defenders at either Chris Paul or David West, the Hornets always seemed to make the extra pass and found the open guy. It was usually in the form of Rasual Butler or Bobby Jackson who hit 6 of 10 from downtown, with most of those coming in the 2nd half. The Nuggets tried to clamp down in the 4th quarter, but fell short after Paul hit the two free throws. Obviously it's still early but Denver really needs to work on it's defensive rotations.

It's important to note that Mike Wilks left late in the first half with an apparent hamstring injury, leaving the Nuggets with only AI as the only ballhandler. I was really pleased with how great Kenyon Martin looked. He was running the court and played with a ton of energy. I am excited to see him play as the season progresses, he brings a lot to our team when he plays like that.

The Nuggets next game is Tuesday as the revisit the Garden for the first time since the brawl, it should be interesting. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)