@MarkKnudson41
Strike One: Pretty much the ONLY good thing, sports-wise, that happened around here in 2020? Easy: The Denver Nuggets amazing run to the NBA Western Conference Finals during last summer’s NBA bubble play-offs. Twice down 3-1 in seven game series, they rallied both times to win series against Utah and the Los Angeles Clippers before falling to the eventual champion LA Lakers in the WCF. It was arguably the best post-season run in franchise history (so far.)
Those play-offs ended just over three months ago. Why does it feel like years?
Because those (almost) same Nuggets have resumed playing and haven’t resembled the same team.
The (very) short off season was/is bound to have a significant impact on the new, slightly shortened season. Different players and different teams will be impacted in different ways. And the Nuggets do have a few new faces on the roster that will take time to integrate into the system. But after two disheartening home losses to start the season, it’s fair to be concerned. Too early to panic? Perhaps…but maybe not.
The worst thing about losing to below-average Sacramento in the opener and the powerful Clippers on Christmas night was the lack of “want to” displayed by Nuggets players, old and new. They’ve slogged through two games. No sense of urgency or even excitement to play. After coming so close a few months ago, you’d think the returning core of players would be itching for another chance to get back on the court and attempt to finish the job. Hasn’t looked that way thus far.
Of course Nikola Jokic has been the same Nikola Jokic we’ve come to expect and take for granted. Including a triple-double in the opener, he’s been excellent. And Michael Porter Jr. has played…okay – averaging 17 points per in two games.
The reason for so much concern? Jamal Murray – so amazing and uplifting in the bubble last summer – has been dreadful for seven out of the eight quarters the team has played thus far. In general, the Nuggets guard play has been way below expectations, with Gary Harris struggling too. Monte Morris had a good half against LAC, but overall, Denver’s been badly outplayed in the back court. Murray was -9 in the telltale “plus/minus” statistic against the Clippers, while Harris was a -12. Morris was a -11 and PJ Dozier a -5. Newcomer Facundo Campazzo has (predictably) been a non-factor thus far, playing just 11 minutes in the first two games.
But far more important than the stats is the eye test. Denver has failed that miserably so far. Jokic aside, they don’t look like they are itching for anything. Just going through the motions.
The best indicator of “want to” in basketball is rebounding. Again, Jokic has been his old self in that area too, grabbing 24 in the first two games. But MPJ, who looked like he could get 10+ rebounds every night with not much trouble, has tallied just eight boards in two games. As a team, Denver has been out-efforted on the glass. Sacramento had 18 offensive rebounds in their overtime win at Ball Arena. And at halftime of the Christmas night contest, the Nuggets trailed by 18 points having grabbed just nine rebounds total.
Rebounding is about effort, plain and simple. The effort hasn’t been there.
The Nuggets defense has also been rotten, giving up 124 and 121 points in the first two games.
Perhaps these Nuggets, confident in their ability to “flip the switch” come the post season aren’t worried. But as we’ve seen in the recent past, when it comes to play-off seeding and what will likely be a true home court advantage (with fans, maybe?) come play-off time in 2021, there’s a very fine line – maybe just two games – that separates the two or three seed from the sixth or seventh. And there are a lot of very hungry teams in the west this season.
The time to turn it on might already have arrived.
Strike Two: The sport of college football is a mess. And not just this year, not just because of the pandemic.
COVID-19 has made this CFB season a farce. That’s nobody’s fault of course. There was no playbook to turn to when the pandemic hit and schools were forced to figure things like rosters (minus a significant number of opt-outs) schedules, make up games – and more importantly finances – on the fly. It was bound to end up like it has, with some teams playing 10+ games, others playing six. Dabo Sweeney is right. It’s not fair or equitable in any way, shape or form.
But neither is the nearly automatic qualifying status of Sweeney’s Clemson Tigers, Alabama and Ohio State for the College Football Play-off every single season. It’s almost like it’s pre-ordained. If Oklahoma (8-2) had somehow snuck in this season, it would have marked been the fifth time for the Sooners to be involved in seven seasons. LSU swiped Alabama’s spot last year and actually won it, temporarily breaking up the previously (almost) scheduled Crimson Tide v Clemson title game match up we will likely get again this season. Both Clemson and Alabama have been involved in six of the seven CFP seasons.
It’s become less of a play-off and more of an “Invitational.”
So is it any wonder that those on the outside looking in are getting restless? Could there be something of a revolution on the horizon?
You’re probably hearing rumblings. We weren’t supposed to have any more conference realignment until 2025, but we could see a major shake up before then. The former Commissioner of the Big Eight conference and well known college football expert Chuck Neinas and others have recently speculated out loud about the prospect of the Power Five schools breaking off from the NCAA and forming their own super conference – a different level of “college” football.
That may the reason Boise State – currently looking for a new head coach after Bryan Harsin bolted for Auburn – is rumored to also be looking at a possible move to the American Athletic Conference. It would be nothing more than a lateral move in terms of Group of Five v Power Five status. In fact, the Broncos current home, the Mountain West, has been better overall in football during the past decade than the AAC. But…with the AAC teams mostly located in the eastern and central time zones, it would presumably improve BSU’s visibility should that new super conference/upper division be looking to add on.
Depending on how much – if any – the new super conference is willing to share the wealth, there could be a feeding frenzy of schools clawing at the door to get piece of the bigger/biggest pie.
The advent of a new level: Call it “D-4” of “college” football, wouldn’t even really be college football anymore. Semi-professional would be a more accurate term. And if the biggest schools and programs were the only one’s invited, it might actually make the game that is left behind – which would be the one played by the remaining 250+ member schools – true college football once again. Geographically coordinated conferences and rivalries, players that are students first, football players second…and who stay and play for four years…you know, the way it was originally designed for everyone. That college football.
A split like that would likely mean more Clemson – Alabama title games for “D-4” but would give schools like Colorado State, Wyoming and plenty of others a legitimate chance to win a championship at the “D 1” level they’re currently in.
Now that would be a significant change. Is that what’s in the making?
Who knows. But this much we do know: The “same ol same ol” isn’t good for anyone outside of Clemson, Alabama and Ohio State fans anymore.
Strike Three: Baseball announces it’s next Hall of Fame class in about a month, and Rockies fans are eagerly awaiting the fate of Todd Helton – does he join former teammate Larry Walker in Cooperstown, or does the wait continue? It’s anyone’s guess right now.
But what about another local sports icon? How much longer do we need to wait for Chauncey Billups to be enshrined in the Basketball Hall of Fame?
Last week it was announced that Billups – who was back in town recently as a newly minted assistant coach for the Los Angeles Clippers – is among those who will be voted on for induction with the 2021 class. He’s considered by most a future Hall of Fame selection, but will this finally be the year?
Billups has a story that’s well known: Local kid, high school and college star here, two different stints with the Denver Nuggets. Helped lead Denver to the 2009 Western Conference Finals. During his 17-year career, Chauncey helped lead his team to the conference finals seven straight seasons, including winning the 2004 NBA title with Detroit. “Mr. Big Shot,” was a five-time All-Star, three-time All-NBA selection, and the 2004 Finals MVP. He was twice All-NBA defensive team and has two FIBA Gold Medals to boot.
Those are Basketball Hall of Fame credentials.
Baseball is known for it’s stringent voting standards. Just ask Walker, who had to wait 10 years to get in. Local icon Goose Gossage – one of the best relief pitchers in MLB history – had to wait nine years to be enshrined. But basketball is very different. Those who vote on for the hoops Hall are much more…lenient. Consider the credentials of another local icon, Dikembe Mutumbo, who was chosen for the Basketball Hall in 2015.
Also a three-time All-NBA selection, Mutumbo averaged less than 10 points per game during his career, and barely 10 rebounds per. He was a standout defensive player to be sure, earning Defensive Player of the Year four times and retiring as one of the game’s premier shot blockers.
But if we’re being honest, Dikembe was very much a one-dimensional player, and during his 18-year career, his teams never made the conference finals, much less won a title.
Basketball is and always will be a team game. How much you help your team win should count…a lot.
So…who would you rather have on your team, Chauncey or Dikembe? Even if a vote on that only included folks in Denver, Billups would likely be an overwhelming choice.
The 2020 Hall class included Kobe Bryant, Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett. Three superstars to be sure. But when you already have Mutumbo – and several others whose credentials aren’t better than Billups – voted in, it’s fair to ask why Chauncey isn’t already enshrined.
Hopefully this wrong gets corrected in 2021. Perhaps Rockies fans and Nuggets fans will both get to celebrate.