Kobe Bryant helped give away what appeared to be a near-certain victory for the Lakers.
After the Los Angeles Lakers' near defeat in their opening playoff series against the Denver Nuggets, the Lakers got dismantled by the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 1 of the Western Conference Semifinals. This sparked a lot of chatter in the forums ...
Denver Nuggets forward Al Harrington, who battled through the first round of the NBA playoffs despite an injury, underwent successful right knee surgery on Wednesday, the team announced.
Source: Yahoo! Sports
(Reuters) - Denver Nuggets forward Al Harrington had knee surgery on Wednesday and is expected to be fit for training camp in October, the National Basketball Association team said.Source: Yahoo! Sports
DENVER (AP) Denver Nuggets forward Al Harrington underwent surgery to fix a torn meniscus in his right knee on Wednesday.
Source: Thoughts of a Wierdo by Nate Timmons
The NBA playoffs are rolling along ... the Lakers got blown out in Game 1 by the Thunder. The Spurs had their way, with 13 three-pointers, the Clippers in Game 1 and the Pacers tied up their series with the Miami Heat 1-1 with a three point last night.
Source: Nugg Love by madness
The Nuggets Should Trade Wilson Chandler - Nugg Love - Nugg Love - A Denver Nuggets Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More
Source: Yahoo! Sports
There's nothing like reading the morning paper on a Monday and enjoying a nice warm cup of coffee before you begin your weekly grind. That is of course until you come across something in the paper that strikes fear in your heart - or thoroughly upsets you. Oh who am I kidding, I don't get the paper because it's too expensive and I don't drink coffee because it makes me want to bounce off of walls. However, during my morning internet sports perusing, I came across something that definitely caught my attention.Source: Yahoo! Sports
Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose could miss the two months of next season while recovering from knee surgery.Source: Roundball Mining Company by Kalen
In Roundball Mining Company’s first postseason reflection piece we’ll be taking a look at the evolution of the Denver Nuggets over the last year and examine what we’ve learned about the team throughout the process. Though the Nuggets have laid the foundation for the future through savvy front-office dealings there’s still quite a bit of uncertainty surrounding the roster. Therefore, our most recent 3-on-3 aims to analyze certain aspects of the present, past and future. As always, feel free to hand out your answers to these questions in the comments section below.
1. What aspect of the Denver Nuggets has changed the most since the start of the season?
Kalen: The progression and similar decline between Arron Afflalo and Danilo Gallinari. While neither of these guys had their best showings in the playoffs, there’s no denying that as a whole, they shifted positions between the start of the regular season and its conclusion in April. Remember, through the first month of the season Gallinari was averaging close to 19 points per game while shooting roughly .47 percent from the field and .88 percent from the line. In addition, he set a new career high with 37 points in what was, at the time, the biggest win of the year against the Knicks. It was by far the best month of his career.
Meanwhile Afflalo was a borderline pariah amongst fans and frequent victim of hypothetical trade machine deals after he got off to a slow start averaging only 10 points per game on .415 shooting from the field and .692 from the line over the first month of the season. Fastforward to April (the last month of the regular season) and Afflalo was carrying the team on his back through the midst of a playoff hunt, averaging about 19 points, four rebounds and 3.4 assists per game on .521 percent shooting from the field, .45 percent from downtown and .84 percent from the line.
While many will point to Gallinari’s injuries as the downfall of his season — and rightfully so — you still have to acknowledge the fact that he had close to a month to get back to his original form from the beginning of the year, yet he only averaged 12.6 points per game on .37 percent from the field during this span. Seeing how much these players changed over the course of the season should pose as a harsh reminder to fans that judgement is meal best served with a side of patience.
Jeremy: Expectations. When the Nuggets started off 14-5 there was a good portion of Nuggets Nation that believed the boys in blue were a contender. As the season wore on and injuries took their toll, the focus shifted from winning the West to just making the playoffs. By the end of the season, despite having a full complement of players (sure Wilson Chandler missed the playoffs, but he was never a factor in the season including the 14-5 opening) fans were no longer hoping for a shot at the finals, but rather a couple of wins before being eliminated.
The front office showed they knew the Nuggets were not contenders with the Nene trade, and when Denver forced Game 7, fans who were talking about a deep playoff run were now content to enjoy the second most successful playoff “run” in 18 years. I think heading into the offseason everyone is on the same page, Denver is a very good young team, but they are a player or two away from being a true contender. Some may believe that those players are on the roster and just need to mature, but I doubt anyone will be proclaiming Denver a preseason favorite to make the finals next year.
Charlie: The Nuggets identity. I think this shortened season was the first true test of whether the post-Carmelo model had any prospects for sustained, long-term success. Last summer there was the idea that trading Melo for an ensemble cast of role players was all the rebuilding the Nuggets needed to do in order to start competing for a championship.
Despite the temptations to use injury and inexperience as an excuse, Nuggets management did a great job of realizing they had built a mediocre team and needed to commit to player development in order to move forward. I do not mean to disparage George Karl for his overall coaching performance this season, but early in the year there was a serious disconnect between the way this team was constructed and the way it was being coached. The Nene trade ultimately got everyone on the same page and moving towards the common goal of developing a young core capable of lifting the Nuggets to new heights. 2. What is the most valuable lesson the Nuggets learned in the Lakers series?Kalen: Never back down; always have confidence in your abilities. I know it sounds cheesy, but it’s so true. For whatever reason the Nuggets have always been intimidated by the Lakers. As a result, they’ve never played their best basketball against them. I honestly believe that if you changed the Lakers uniform, looks and names of the players and put the Nuggets up against them, it would be a totally different series. The Nuggets played nervous and insecure in the first two games, which ended up costing them in the long run. The good thing is, they finally seemed to understand that they too are professional basketball players and on any given night can compete with anybody in the world. This will be invaluable moving forward, especially a year from now when they’re back in the playoffs once again.
Jeremy: While it was good to see Denver make the shift from regular season intensity to playoff intensity between Game 1 and Game 7, I think the biggest lesson is seeds matter and thus every game in the regular season matters. Denver lost plenty of games they should have won this season, even though they were shorthanded on many nights with the attitude that making the playoffs would suffice. If the Nuggets want to be taken seriously in the playoffs, they cannot be content to blow regular season games as they did in Toronto, against New Orleans (twice) and Cleveland. If Denver wants to be more than a one-and-done playoff participant, they must put more of an emphasis on winning every game possible to ear the highest seed possible. It’s no coincidence that the one time this millennium Denver made it out of the first round of the playoffs they were a two seed.
Charlie: Hopefully it will teach the Nuggets to never be satisfied with themselves. After being out of the playoff picture at the All-Star break, Denver finished strong to move up to the sixth seed and definitely entered the postseason too complacent with what they had achieved. The result was a Game 1 in which the scared Nuggets didn’t look ready to play and basically laid down while putting the Lakers in the drivers seat for a series win. Even as the Nuggets toughened up and perhaps were the better team in the latter part of the series, they did themselves in by getting behind the 8-ball early. In the regular season, the Nuggets can settle for winning one out of two on the road or having their deep bench make up for some lackluster performances by their best players; in the playoffs, that just doesn’t fly. This team isn’t going anywhere past the first round until the coaches and players take that to heart.
3. What’s must the Nugget do to ensure they improve even more next season?
Kalen: Say the course. Since the Melo trade the Nuggets front office has spent the last year and a half constructing a team with the exact DNA this current Nuggets squad possesses. Now that it’s finally arrived it’s important to see where this roster can go. Obviously the Nuggets will continue to make moves in order to put them in a position to win more games, but outside of moving Chandler and a few other small pieces, I think it’s crucial that the Nuggets keep the starting five in tact and run with this youth movement. Let Jordan Hamilton, Julyan Stone and hopefully another talented rookie (similar to Faried) become vital parts of the rotation in addition to the veteran presence of Al Harrington and a possible stabilizing free agent. Although young, there’s an enormous amount of talent on this roster and it would be disingenuous to break it up before we really get a chance to see how it can play as a cohesive unit.
Jeremy: There are plenty of areas where Denver can improve from their recent campaign. My No. 1 suggestion would be to commit to playing defense. While the Nuggets have had a reputation as a poor defensive team over the years due to their high points per game average, for much of the Carmelo era the Nuggets were a staple in the top ten of defensive efficiency. That changed in 2009-10 when the Nuggets sank to 16th. This season Denver finished a pathetic 19th in defensive efficiency, the lowest they have finished in that category in a decade. Denver has size, athleticism and young legs plus George Karl has proven he can coach defense. The Nuggets should be a fantastic defensive team and if they want to be successful in the future, they better make playing defense a priority.
Charlie: The Nuggets just need to keep doing what they’ve been doing — namely building a strong foundation around youth and athleticism. Denver has a good thing going as the kind of farm system where developing players can see their raw talent realized in the form of on-court success. It’s amazing to me how an often ridiculed player like JaVale McGee was able to make huge strides in such a short time and become legit in the basketball community’s eyes with a change of scenery. Beyond that, I just think the Nuggets need to continue adapting their style of play to the personnel and cutting ties with what they were traditionally known for during the Carmelo Anthony era. Even in the span of this one shortened season the Nuggets have gone from a fairly average rebounding team to one of the league’s elite. With a good locker room free of any troublesome egos, this team has the ability to be even more fundamentally sound and assuming they are able to develop their size a little more, the next step might be playing a little bit slower and perhaps even becoming a more defensive-minded team.
Source: Yahoo! Sports
One of the top stories of the playoffs so far, beyond that many games have been unwatchable, is that Denver Nuggets center JaVale McGee played like a capable and effective pro. There's a chance that, for as many silly plays as … Continue reading →Source: Yahoo! Sports
Chris Paul joins a list of players who turned struggling franchises around.Source: Roundball Mining Company by Kalen
It’s not often that Roundball Mining Company covers anything outside of the Denver Nuggets. This however, is an exception and one we’re proud to be a part of.
Our fellow TrueHoop cohorts over at Cowbell Kingdom have notified the network of a movie titled Small Market, Big Heart. It is an feature-length amateur film produced by Kings fans and bloggers which documents Sacramento’s attempt to keep the Kings stationed in the capitol of California for the foreseeable future. It was made on a budget of close to $10,000 which came from a kickstart campaign and will not gross a profit of any kind. This is nothing more than a all-out, last-ditch attempt by the city and its fans to keep the Kings in Sacramento and it’s done so in a poignant, passionate and artistic manner.
If you have the time, I strongly recommend you watch Small Market, Big Heart. Remember, many of the issues covered in this movie are ones Nuggets fans could potentially see down the road as part of a small market NBA franchise. It’s free to stream on YouTube. You can watch it at Cowbell Kingdom or at the movie’s website. We’d also encourage you to share this through social media, word of mouth or any other way you can think of, as the only way this movie is going to bring awareness to the rest of the world is through thoughtful people like you!
If you have anymore questions or comments, feel free to post them and we’ll try and get back to you in a timely fashion.
Source: Nugg Love by madness
It will be an … [visit site to read more]
Breaking Down The Nuggets Free Agents - Nugg Love - Nugg Love - A Denver Nuggets Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More
Source: Bleacher Report
Kyrie Irving won Rookie of the Year today, but he really won it before the All-Star break, then lapped the field a couple times. This is a pro forma award, and award's are funny that way: The better the winner, the less interesting his coronation.
But there is one rookie—and only one—who can touch Irving's production on a per-minute basis. The fact that Kenneth "the Manimal" Faried could pull this off is a miracle.
He's a 6'6" power forward who can't shoot, hailing from Morehead State—a place I'd never heard of until hearing about him.
With the way the 22nd pick in the draft has produced (18.2 points, 13.6 rebounds per 40 per minutes), I wonder if the Cavs regret not pairing Faried with Irving. Tristan Thompson has shown potential, but the Manimal can control the game for stretches with his tireless rebounding.
Like a pogo stick, the subsequent jumps are often higher than the first. He simply won't give up on a rebound and has the tactile sense to tap the ball from the fray. He is the portrait of controlled chaos: Dreads flying, arms splayed, yet doing the refined work necessary to pry loose the ball from scrum.
So yes, Kyrie Irving is the clear ROY and an emerging point guard superstar.
But here's the most incredible question raised by the 2011 NBA draft: "Is Kenneth Faried its second-best player?"
Read more Denver Nuggets news on BleacherReport.com
Source: Yahoo! Sports
It's something of an understatement to say that Danilo Gallinari did not come up big for the Denver Nuggets in their Game 7 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday night, a defeat that sent George Karl's upstart squad … Continue reading →Source: Yahoo! Sports
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving drove past defenders with ease all season.Source: Yahoo! Sports
LeBron who?Source: Thoughts of a Wierdo by Nate Timmons
Last night Jeff joined the Colorado Sports Guys podcast to discuss all things Nuggets. He was asked specifically about Arron Afflalo, Danilo Gallinari, Kenneth Faried, JaVale McGee, and Ty Lawson. Also some talk about
Source: Yahoo! Sports
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio (AP) Cavaliers guard Kyrie Irving is the NBA's Rookie of the Year, winning the award with the same ease as he dribbled past defenders this season.Source: Yahoo! Sports
All the rest in the world couldn't have prevented the beating Oklahoma City gave L.A.Source: Yahoo! Sports
The Nuggets might have fewer changes than any NBA team this offseason.Source: Bleacher Report
JaVale McGee is the kind of talent the NBA sees once in a generation. It's not a Michael Jordan type of talent, or even a LeBron James type of talent. No, JaVale McGee's talent is being unequivocally interesting no matter what he's doing.
The 2012 NBA season will be remembered for a lot of things. It was the second lockout year in just over a decade, it was the year the San Antonio Spurs showed that age means nothing, and depending on who wins the NBA Championship, it could be remembered for something completely different.
However, I'm here to argue that 2012 isn't the year of the Spurs, LeBron, David Stern, Chris Paul or anyone else. No, this year should forever be known as The Year of JaVale.
It may seem that I'm coming out to directly make fun of JaVale McGee, but that's not the case. The story of McGee wouldn't be nearly as compelling if he were constantly a joke, it's compelling that he is such a violent roller-coaster ride.
So, in honor of The Year of JaVale, I've decided to go back and really examine the season that was, starting from day one.
Source: Yahoo! Sports
The more that's said about Ron Artest, also known as Metta World Peace, the more that he appears childish, disrespectful and trapped in his own crazy reality. But get ready for more MWP. He's coming.Source: Yahoo! Sports
Russell Westbrook scored a game-high 27 points and Kevin Durant had 25 points as Oklahoma City embarrassed the Los Angeles Lakers 119-90 in their NBA Western Conference second-round playoff series opener.Source: Yahoo! Sports
Oklahoma City Thunder 119, Los Angeles Lakers 90 (Thunder lead series, 1-0) It's a typical maneuver to overreact to a game like this. To go back on your initial guess that Oklahoma City would take the series in six games, … Continue reading →Source: Yahoo! Sports
COMMENTARY | JaVale McGee wasn't exactly a well-known NBA player prior to joining the Denver Nuggets about midway through the 2011-12 season. For most NBA followers, he was simply the Washington Wizards' big man who came up with a creative slam during the 2011 NBA Slam Dunk contest.Source: Yahoo! Sports
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Russell Westbrook had 27 points and nine assists, Kevin Durant added 25 points and the Oklahoma City Thunder blasted the weary Los Angeles Lakers 119-90 on Monday night in the opening game of the Western Conference semifinals.Source: Yahoo! Sports
The first round of the Western Conference playoffs are finally over and the second round begins tonight. I correctly predicted all of the winners in the opening round and I'm hoping to continue this trend with my picks in the Conference Semifinals. While the Spurs-Clippers series will be a one-sdied affair, the Thunder-Lakers series has the potential of a seven-game thriller. With that being said, here is my opinion on which teams will continue their march towards the title.Source: Yahoo! Sports
NEW YORK (AP) Phoenix All-Star Steve Nash and Boston coach Doc Rivers have won awards from the Professional Basketball Writers Association for excellence in their field combined with cooperation with media and fans.
Source: All Things Nuggets by Benjamin Hochman
Things are getting exciting with the Nuggets. Check out this quick video blog (“vlog,” if you will):
Previous HochCasts:
- Sleepless in Denver
- Game 2 preview, exclusive Gallo footage
- Taxi!
- Benjamin interviews Chris Paul!
- Opening Day, big night
- For Bulls game, Benjamin phones a friend
- Dallas (Dirk Nowitzki) and Dallas (J.R. Ewing)
- Benjamin talks trade, reenacts the movie “Hoosiers”
- I work out!
- Live from The Alamo, Benjamin breaks down Spurs-Nuggets
- A Dr. Seuss tribute to Wilt Chamberlain
- Oscar night! An homage to the best picture
- Andre Miller is cold, Benjamin has a cold
- Nuggets are like Wu-Tang, family of Rutherford B. Hayes “celebrates”
Contact Benjamin Hochman:
* Twitter: @nuggetsnews
* E-mail: bhochman@denverpost.com
* And please “like” Benjamin Hochman on Facebook … even if the like needs those quotation marks.
Source: Yahoo! Sports
After years of turnover, the Denver Nuggets you saw in 2011-12 might closely resemble the ones you'll see in 2012-13. We'll determine whether or not this is a good thing in the fall, when it comes time to dissect the … Continue reading →Source: Roundball Mining Company by Kalen
With the season now over, Roundball Mining Company will do quite a bit of reflecting on the 2011-12 campaign. But before we get in depth with our analysis we’d like to stop and say thanks. I know Jeremy touched on it in the Game 7 Rapid Reaction but I’d like to expand a bit more on his sincere gratitude to all those who have frequented this blog over the years.
About a year ago I was approached by Charlie and Jeremy asking if I wanted to join RMC as a writer. Being a journalism student and a Nuggets enthusiast, I had been looking for some sort of opening to write about the sports, or the Nuggets, for quite some time. Needless to say, I was ecstatic to hear about their proposal and accepted without thinking twice.
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous at first. I’d never written for a website or had my work published for a large group of people to see. But knowing the Nuggets inside and out, and being able to discuss my passion with those who felt the same way as I put me at ease. After only a few posts I already felt at home because I was speaking the same language as all of you — Nuggets Nation language.
Over the last year I feel like I’ve made monumental steps forward with my writing. I’m sure Charlie feels the same way. The crazy thing is that you’ve all been there to witness it right by our side. I don’t necessarily know what the experience has been like from the outside looking in, but I do know that from my point of view, this has been an unforgettable 15 months.
So, thanks. Thank you all, whomever you may be, no matter how many times you’ve made RMC a part of your day — we just want to say thanks. We greatly appreciate it. Without you, this thing isn’t possible. We could write all day long but without anybody to share our experience with, it just doesn’t mean anything. The community that’s migrated to our site since its inception, and especially over the last year and a half, means the world to us. You guys are Roundball Mining Company and we hope you’ll continue to mold the site with your excellent insight and candid storytelling that you can’t find anywhere else.
Over the next several weeks we’ll have all sorts of analysis coming your way. From 3-on-3s to final grades to season recaps — it’s all going to be here. And as always, RMC is your No. 1 site to visit for draft analysis which should get underway sometime later this month.
In the meantime, we hope you enjoy the rest. It’s been a long, roller coaster-ride of a season and though it ended prematurely in the eyes of Nuggets fans everywhere, it was still one of the more enjoyable seasons I can remember being a part of.
We look forward to hearing from all of you in the future and once again, thanks for everything!
Sincerely,
Source: Yahoo! Sports
The Los Angeles Lakers escaped elimination - and possibly humiliation - after being able to take down the Denver Nuggets in Game 7 of their opening round playoff series. Once the Lakers surrendered their 3-1 series lead and lost only their second playoff series-clinching game at home since 1983-1984, I have to admit things looked dim. However, with the help of Metta World Peace the Lakers were able to come through and win Game 7 in convincing fashion.Source: Yahoo! Sports
For every postseason matchup, Ball Don't Lie's resident dummy will offer a topically appropriate entry from the best-selling series of "Deep Thoughts" books written by legendary humorist Jack Handey, plus some of his own original thoughts on the playoff series. … Continue reading →Source: Nugg Love by madness
The Denver Nuggets (38-28) … [visit site to read more]
Denver Nuggets: Players Exit Evaluation - Nugg Love - Nugg Love - A Denver Nuggets Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More
Source: Yahoo! Sports
COMMENTARY | It has been quite some time since the Los Angeles Lakers have been clear-cut underdogs in a playoff series.Source: Thoughts of a Wierdo by Jeffrey Morton
After a disappointing (but not altogether unpredictable) loss in Game 7 to the Lakers, it's time to look forward to what proves to be an interesting off-season for the Nuggets. There may be changes to this roster, but is that the right thing for this club?
Let's find out ...
In the postmortem of the Nuggets heartbreaking Game 7 loss to the Lakers, there was emotion, there was anger, and there was people throwing kittens against a wall of porcupines. People weeping in the streets and flogging themselves on the corner. The thing is, however, this needs to stop.
NOW
This Nuggets team has a bright future regardless of what people
Source: Thoughts of a Wierdo by Jeffrey Morton
After a disappointing (but not altogether unpredictable) loss in Game 7 to the Lakers, it's time to look forward to what proves to be an interesting off-season for the Nuggets. There may be changes to this roster, but is that the right thing for this club?
Lets find out.
In the postmortem of the Nuggets heartbreaking Game 7 loss to the Lakers, there was emotion, there was anger, there was people throwing kittens against a wall of porcupines. People weeping in the streets and flogging themselves on the corner. The thing is, however, this needs to stop.
NOW
This Nuggets team has a bright future regardless of what people or
Source: Yahoo! Sports
After sweeping the defending champion Dallas Mavericks in the opening round of the 2012 NBA playoffs, it seems only fitting that, in their quest to win their first NBA title since relocating from Seattle, the Oklahoma City Thunder will have to get past yet another Western Conference powerhouse, the Los Angeles Lakers.Source: Yahoo! Sports
Metta World Peace is his name but making peace is not his game.Source: Nugg Love by madness
Lawson In Line To Get Extension - Nugg Love - Nugg Love - A Denver Nuggets Fan Site - News, Blogs, Opinion and More
Source: Yahoo! Sports
The Los Angeles Lakers vs. Oklahoma City Thunder playoff schedule begins on Monday night (May 14). This second round match-up of the 2012 NBA Playoffs could turn into an instant classic, with the Thunder looking to supplant the Lakers as the team to beat in the Western Conference.Source: All Things Nuggets by Benjamin Hochman
Things are getting exciting with the Nuggets. Check out this quick video blog (“vlog,” if you will):
Previous HochCasts:
- Sleepless in Denver
- Game 2 preview, exclusive Gallo footage
- Taxi!
- Benjamin interviews Chris Paul!
- Opening Day, big night
- For Bulls game, Benjamin phones a friend
- Dallas (Dirk Nowitzki) and Dallas (J.R. Ewing)
- Benjamin talks trade, reenacts the movie “Hoosiers”
- I work out!
- Live from The Alamo, Benjamin breaks down Spurs-Nuggets
- A Dr. Seuss tribute to Wilt Chamberlain
- Oscar night! An homage to the best picture
- Andre Miller is cold, Benjamin has a cold
- Nuggets are like Wu-Tang, family of Rutherford B. Hayes “celebrates”
Contact Benjamin Hochman:
* Twitter: @nuggetsnews
* E-mail: bhochman@denverpost.com
* And please “like” Benjamin Hochman on Facebook … even if the like needs those quotation marks.
Source: Bleacher Report
Chris Andersen, a player for the Denver Nuggets known around the league as “Birdman,” was first reported to have had his home searched on Thursday as part of an investigation by the sheriff’s department.
It is now Monday and nothing has publicly progressed since the seizures and statements on Thursday and Friday. This has the look of a long and drawn-out process that will be much more complicated than anyone initially would have guessed.
The case involves a unit from the Internet Crimes Against Children department and electronic items were seized from Andersen’s home in Larkspur, Colo.
“(The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office) has recovered property from Mr. Andersen’s residence that we believe is connected to this case,” public information officer Sgt. Ron Hanavan said Friday. “Some of the property which includes electronic devices is being sent to the Rocky Mountain Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory (RMRCFL) for forensic examination.”
Hanavan went on to say that the Nuggets backup big man is not being charged with a crime yet and nothing is imminent.
“We want to reiterate that a search warrant was executed and no arrests have been made and no individual(s) are being identified as the focus of this investigation.”
Things got a bit stranger when The Denver Post got a statement from Andersen’s lawyers, claiming their client was a victim of extortion from a woman of legal age.
Birdman had apparently met the woman after she visited from California. She reportedly asked for finances and goods and threatened to retaliate after Andersen no longer showed interest.
With the Nuggets (Andersen’s team) eliminated from the playoffs, the only basketball news coming out of Denver will be concerning this strange and bizarre story.
It does not look like any end is in sight, as the weekend has come and gone without any new details on the case.
We’ll keep you updated right here at Bleacher Report if and when anything new breaks on the story.
Read more Denver Nuggets news on BleacherReport.com
Source: Bleacher Report
It was a back-and-forth swing for the majority of last night's epic Game 7 between the Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Lakers.
When Kobe Bryant was struggling from the field, the other Lakers finally woke up and delivered the knock-out blow to the young, up-and-coming Nuggets who battled their way back from a 3-1 deficit to force the final game.
But in the midst of L.A.'s victory, at least one thing was certain involving the Nuggets: Ty Lawson proved to the world that he is an All-Star in the making, and that Denver is his franchise.
When the Nuggets were trailing by 16 points halfway through the third quarter, Lawson single-handedly brought Denver back from the grave by putting up a 13-point quarter, silencing the Lakers crowd with his blazing speed and scoring ability. But without having a chance to rest for the fourth quarter with their season on the line, Lawson went cold in the final period and missed every shot he took.
But that cold fourth quarter shouldn't take away from the impact that Lawson had on both sides of the ball in this series.
When people look back on this series and think of the impact that the former University of North Carolina star had, they'll think back on Game 6, when he erupted for 32 points on 13-for-18 shooting and 5-for-6 from the three-point line. And they'll also look back at Game 3, when he had 25 points and dished out seven assists.
And it's not like this was the first time in his career that Lawson has shown flashes of brilliance. Just refer back to the 2009 NCAA National Championship game against Michigan State, when Lawson set a record of eight steals. He knows how to get the job done.
Say what you will on the age of the Lakers and how slow they are. But on the big stage that is the NBA playoffs, Lawson proved that he's more than just a fast point guard who can drive to the basket and score easy points.
On a team without a true No. 1 scoring option, Lawson showed that he has the ability to carry a team on his back and bring them wins. With Danilo Gallinari expected to be that scoring option—and only scoring 13 points a game on 36 percent shooting for the series—Lawson upped his scoring average by almost three points and averaged 19 points during the seven-game series.
Lawson may not have the big-time playoff experience he can rub off on his teammates, but with the point guards he's played behind since his career began in Denver—Chauncey Billups and Andre Miller—he's learned a lot in his short time and can only continue to get better.
The Nuggets organization has a lot of young talent around them, but it's time for Lawson to step up and become the guy. He's proven he can do it, now he has to take the keys and drive the car for this team that's only been out of the first round one time in the last nine years.
With guys like Kenneth Faried, Arron Afflalo and JaVale McGee being the key components for this young team—if McGee comes back to Denver next season—the foundation is set for years to come for the Nuggets.
At only 24 years old, Lawson is about to hit the prime of his career, and there's no better time to let him take over the team than right now. After this series, he's earned the right to be the leader of Denver for the future.
It looks like George Karl has himself another great point guard in the making.
Read more Denver Nuggets news on BleacherReport.com
Source: Yahoo! Sports
Every New York Knick fan dreams of calling a player such as Kobe Bryant his own. Imagine the comfort, the confidence, knowing when each game is on the line, there's a player on your team that is virtually unstoppable. Carmelo Anthony is the latest attempt on their part to replicate that luxury. He's not the answer.Source: Bleacher Report
Watching the remainder of the NBA Playoffs without their hometown team still alive after the first round is nothing new to Denver Nuggets fans. The 2012 playoffs are no different, as the Nuggets suffered another first-round loss to a team that has made a habit of ending Denver's season, the LA Lakers. The Nuggets made it interesting by fighting back from a 3-1 deficit, generating excitement amongst fans, but no matter how exciting or hard-fought the series was, the end result is still the same.
The Nuggets have made the playoffs nine straight seasons, which puts them in an elite class with the San Antonio Spurs (15 straight playoff appearances) and the Dallas Mavericks (12 straight playoff appearances). But the difference with the Nuggets, compared to the Mavericks and Spurs during the streak, is championships. San Antonio has four and Dallas has two. The Nuggets, of course, have zero.
The question then becomes, is that a success? The short answer, yes. However, just being successful is not bringing any championships to Denver. What good are nine straight playoff appearances with eight first-round exits and no hardware?
After last night's loss, George Karl said he is proud of the team and content with the way the season turned out. Very encouraging words for members of the Nuggets, but not necessarily for the fanbase. Those comments can be taken as George Karl is OK with just making the playoffs, but not getting past the first round. Could he be content because the front office isn't sending much pressure his way?
Nuggets GM Masai Ujiri said after trading NeNe to Washington, the move was about the big picture, so looking at the big picture, where do the Nuggets go from here?
A lot of emphasis was put on whether or not the Nuggets had a potential star on the roster. While many games this season featured big games from a number of Nuggets players at different times, no player stepped up to consistently carry the team.
The potential is there for Ty Lawson to be the star the Nuggets need, but will he be able to step up next season to the role full-time? It's no secret that when Lawson is aggressive and drives to the hoop, the game favors the Nuggets. Lawson took a huge step in the final eight games of the regular season, which carried over to the series against the Lakers. In order for the Nuggets to advance in the playoffs in the future, Lawson must pick up right where he left off in Game 7.
JaVale McGee showed how dangerous he could be, but like so many others on this team, he was very inconsistent. McGee battled issues with his offense in the post game during his time at Washington, but since arriving in Denver, he managed to find a much better role in the offense. He has shown his value, and the Nuggets have the upper hand in contract negotiations since McGee will be a restricted free agent. However, if the price to keep McGee around becomes too high, the Nuggets may decide to part ways with McGee so they don't fall into a similar situation that they had with NeNe.
Andre Miller told the Denver Post that he is keeping his options open. Miller wants to be on a championship contending team, so the Nuggets may need to find a replacement for Miller if he decides to sign with another team.
Rudy Fernandez is another restricted free agent the Nuggets will need to decide on. Fernandez has expressed interest to be in Denver, but depending on the offers from other teams, will he be worth keeping around?
The Nuggets have solid ground to build on, but is the core they have enough to contend for a championship next season?
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Source: Yahoo! Sports
Kobe Bryant hit his only shot that really mattered, then celebrated by slapping hands with Justin Timberlake. In the closing seconds of a Game 7 playoff win, the stars were aligning in Los Angeles once again, just like old times.Source: Bleacher Report
The past week has been a roller-coaster ride for Denver Nuggets forward Chris "Birdman" Andersen, to put it lightly.
On Thursday, it was reported that Andersen had his home searched by sheriff's deputies in an investigation run by the department's Internet Crimes Against Children unit, which deals with crimes such as child pornography or child luring.
It sounded bad, though Andersen cooperated with the authorities, he wasn't arrested and an arrest warrant wasn't issued. Several items were seized by his home, including electronic devices.
On Friday, Benjamin Hochman and Jessica Fender of The Denver Post reported that Andersen's attorney, Colin Bresse, maintained that Andersen was actually a victim of an extortion case.
Documents reviewed by The Denver Post confirm that she repeatedly represented herself to be of legal age and that her family later demanded payment from Andersen.
"I want him to pay for everything on her Amazon wishlist and 5k for her bedding stuff and her victoria secret wishlist," wrote a person purporting to be the young woman's mother.
That article went on to add the following:
In 2010, Andersen began receiving letters and photos showing the young woman "scantily clad," Bresee said. In 2011, she flew to Colorado for a visit. She later became upset when Andersen no longer showed interest in her, according to the statement.
"In 2012, she then threatened to retaliate if he did not provide financial remuneration," Bresee wrote. "Professional athletes are routinely targeted by these types of individuals. The media has been speculating that he is a suspect, and not a victim, in a criminal investigation."
As of now, neither Andersen nor the girl in question have been charged with any crimes. Andersen has already paid a price, however—he was excused indefinitely from the Nuggets after this news broke, and he missed the team's Game 7 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday.
Obviously, we'll reserve judgement until more details emerge or formal charges are filed against either Andersen or the young woman. This certainly seems to be heading down a troubling path one way or another, however.
Hit me up on Twitter—my tweets never give up in stoppage time.
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