The Nuggets face Charlotte tonight. Here is what you need to know. The Bobcats are 4-19 on the road, lost last night in Golden State by 31 and this is the first game since Melo rolled his ankle in L.A. that he has been listed as a probable starter. Melo even reportedly fully participate in yesterday’s practice.
Once again we are faced with a game where the Nuggets should roll their opponent rather easily. However, the Nuggets currently have an inexplicable two game loosing streak to the Bobcats as they have already lost to Charlotte this season and they dropped their home game against the Bobcats last season. A two game losing streak to Charlotte is only slightly less objectionable than your daughter riding the pole at the local gentleman’s club.
In the loss at Charlotte this season the Nuggets were outscored 13-6 down the stretch in their loss in Charlotte earlier this season. Denver’s offense was completely stymied by the Bobcats two three zone and their last second play was poorly planned, but the execution was even worse.
Hopefully tonight’s game will not go down to the wire. I want to see the Nuggets get an easy home win against an inferior team. The Nuggets last two home games saw them jump out to big first half leads against poor road teams (Atlanta and New Jersey) only to watch those teams comeback to make things far too interesting.
The other thing to keep in mind is with Melo back, the Nuggets are as healthy as they are going to be for a while. This is their team and they had better make a move to get back safely in the playoffs. They are currently only a half game ahead of Portland for the eighth and final playoff spot. I have said it over and over this season, even though George Karl would disagree, games like tonight are must win.
On a side note tonight is Earl Boykins’ return to Denver. He played his typical Boykins game last night in his first stint as a Bobcat chucking up eleven shots in 23 minutes and making two of them. Hopefully tonight is not one of the four or five hot games he throws up this season.
