Comments on: The Sticky Fingers Study http://bornanuggetsfan.wordpress.com/2007/11/08/the-sticky-fingers-study/ My Mom's Fourth Favorite Denver Nuggets Blog Fri, 01 Feb 2008 07:46:37 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: Reconsidering the Celtics Game « Born A Nuggets Fan http://bornanuggetsfan.wordpress.com/2007/11/08/the-sticky-fingers-study/#comment-422 Reconsidering the Celtics Game « Born A Nuggets Fan Fri, 09 Nov 2007 09:00:18 +0000 http://bornanuggetsfan.wordpress.com/2007/11/08/the-sticky-fingers-study/#comment-422 [...] Following up on my Sticky Fingers article I compiled the passing numbers in the first quarter of the game to complete my analysis of [...] [...] Following up on my Sticky Fingers article I compiled the passing numbers in the first quarter of the game to complete my analysis of [...]

]]> By: disco http://bornanuggetsfan.wordpress.com/2007/11/08/the-sticky-fingers-study/#comment-420 disco Fri, 09 Nov 2007 00:41:33 +0000 http://bornanuggetsfan.wordpress.com/2007/11/08/the-sticky-fingers-study/#comment-420 Well, I think its a bit of a stretch to conclude "the nuggets have no offense" based on a poor sample size, and really no data to compare your findings too. May be more fair to say 'on this night...the nuggets didn't move the ball well in a half court set...'. Which is no surprise...they have struggled badly with that for years. I have seen some positive things this year to make me believe they are working on it. Still...its hard to say much when they don't have their full team. I totally agree with you about Blake/Atkins. Our offense, to me...was much more effecient with him in the game last year, and he wasn't a horrible defender. Atkins...I hope GK has a plan for him...if not its a bad signing. No D- and now that we see he is injury prone. Hollinger agrees with you as well in his 'biggest busts' story today. Anyway, I expect a big win in Washington tomorrow. Arenus just had he knee drained again...and that team overall looks pretty bad. Not to mention the fact our Nuggs just got embarrassed and have pride to play for. Well, I think its a bit of a stretch to conclude “the nuggets have no offense” based on a poor sample size, and really no data to compare your findings too. May be more fair to say ‘on this night…the nuggets didn’t move the ball well in a half court set…’. Which is no surprise…they have struggled badly with that for years. I have seen some positive things this year to make me believe they are working on it. Still…its hard to say much when they don’t have their full team.

I totally agree with you about Blake/Atkins. Our offense, to me…was much more effecient with him in the game last year, and he wasn’t a horrible defender. Atkins…I hope GK has a plan for him…if not its a bad signing. No D- and now that we see he is injury prone. Hollinger agrees with you as well in his ‘biggest busts’ story today.

Anyway, I expect a big win in Washington tomorrow. Arenus just had he knee drained again…and that team overall looks pretty bad. Not to mention the fact our Nuggs just got embarrassed and have pride to play for.

]]> By: bornanuggetsfan http://bornanuggetsfan.wordpress.com/2007/11/08/the-sticky-fingers-study/#comment-419 bornanuggetsfan Thu, 08 Nov 2007 23:45:57 +0000 http://bornanuggetsfan.wordpress.com/2007/11/08/the-sticky-fingers-study/#comment-419 Hi Disco, I taped the game so I could watch it from the start to get a better idea of how the first quarter went instead of starting when the Nuggets were already down 18. Even if I include the first quarter, it is definitely a small sample size. I will probably not log passes to this extent again, but it is something I will keep my eye on. You are correct that it is not necessarily bad to shoot after only one pass, but the question is did that one pass get you a better shot? The Celtics were either shooting layups or open threes when they only threw one pass. The Nuggets were taking contested 20 footers after one pass. That is the primary difference. Speaking of Blake, <a href="http://bornanuggetsfan.wordpress.com/2007/07/13/chucky-atkins/" rel="nofollow">I have previously lamented is departure</a>. Hi Disco, I taped the game so I could watch it from the start to get a better idea of how the first quarter went instead of starting when the Nuggets were already down 18. Even if I include the first quarter, it is definitely a small sample size. I will probably not log passes to this extent again, but it is something I will keep my eye on.

You are correct that it is not necessarily bad to shoot after only one pass, but the question is did that one pass get you a better shot? The Celtics were either shooting layups or open threes when they only threw one pass. The Nuggets were taking contested 20 footers after one pass. That is the primary difference.

Speaking of Blake, I have previously lamented is departure.

]]> By: disco http://bornanuggetsfan.wordpress.com/2007/11/08/the-sticky-fingers-study/#comment-418 disco Thu, 08 Nov 2007 23:09:51 +0000 http://bornanuggetsfan.wordpress.com/2007/11/08/the-sticky-fingers-study/#comment-418 I like the idea of this breakdown...but not sure how applicible it is. I would like to see a larger sample of Nuggs games, and of other teams in order to put any real significance in these findings. Is it really that out of the ordinary to not pass more than once? Do teams tend to have a higher shooting %age that do this? This also might not be the best game to test...after being down 40 I would guess most teams would give up focus. Its got potential though. I do recall a big focus last year in training camp to share the ball. I have not heard that this year. I suspect that was mostly for Melo's benefit. A lack of a point guard hurts. Steve Blake...while not the greatest shooter or athlete was definitly a calming influence to our offense. I can't put my finger on why...but it seems with AI running the show our offense really boggs down. I like the idea of this breakdown…but not sure how applicible it is. I would like to see a larger sample of Nuggs games, and of other teams in order to put any real significance in these findings. Is it really that out of the ordinary to not pass more than once? Do teams tend to have a higher shooting %age that do this? This also might not be the best game to test…after being down 40 I would guess most teams would give up focus. Its got potential though.

I do recall a big focus last year in training camp to share the ball. I have not heard that this year. I suspect that was mostly for Melo’s benefit.

A lack of a point guard hurts. Steve Blake…while not the greatest shooter or athlete was definitly a calming influence to our offense. I can’t put my finger on why…but it seems with AI running the show our offense really boggs down.

]]> By: bornanuggetsfan http://bornanuggetsfan.wordpress.com/2007/11/08/the-sticky-fingers-study/#comment-415 bornanuggetsfan Thu, 08 Nov 2007 19:54:02 +0000 http://bornanuggetsfan.wordpress.com/2007/11/08/the-sticky-fingers-study/#comment-415 You are right JM, they are extremely inconsistent. How often after the game dose Karl say something along the lines of, "I thought we played really good defense in the third quarter." It takes more than playing quality basketball in spurts to beat good teams. I think you are also correct in comparing this game to the Toronto game last season. Both times the opponent was red hot and blew the Nuggets away immediately and both were after disappointing losses. Thanks for reading and keep leaving your comments! You are right JM, they are extremely inconsistent. How often after the game dose Karl say something along the lines of, “I thought we played really good defense in the third quarter.” It takes more than playing quality basketball in spurts to beat good teams.

I think you are also correct in comparing this game to the Toronto game last season. Both times the opponent was red hot and blew the Nuggets away immediately and both were after disappointing losses.

Thanks for reading and keep leaving your comments!

]]> By: JM http://bornanuggetsfan.wordpress.com/2007/11/08/the-sticky-fingers-study/#comment-414 JM Thu, 08 Nov 2007 19:11:15 +0000 http://bornanuggetsfan.wordpress.com/2007/11/08/the-sticky-fingers-study/#comment-414 A very insightful viewpoint of last night's game. I don't have cable but I listened to the first half on the internet. A mark of a poor team is inconsistency. The Nuggets during their lean years were mired in poor efforts and inconsistent play. Fast forward 5 years to the team that features Carmelo (2nd leading scorer last season), Allen Iverson (The Answer, 3rd highest PPG in NBA history), and Marcus Camby (DPOY 06-07), and you still deal with the same problems that plagued them when they were an annual lottery team. One thing to take into consideration with the lack of passing was the lack of a true point guard. AI does well when he's at the point, but he's not a true point guard. At one point in the second period while AI was on the bench (and all three point guards on our team injured), they had Carmelo and JR Smith running the ball up the court. These are shoot first pass second type of players. Not a good combination. This makes me think of the game against Toronto last year right after they lost in OT to Detroit. Lastly, how on earth does a team shoot over 70% in one half? Insane. A very insightful viewpoint of last night’s game. I don’t have cable but I listened to the first half on the internet. A mark of a poor team is inconsistency. The Nuggets during their lean years were mired in poor efforts and inconsistent play. Fast forward 5 years to the team that features Carmelo (2nd leading scorer last season), Allen Iverson (The Answer, 3rd highest PPG in NBA history), and Marcus Camby (DPOY 06-07), and you still deal with the same problems that plagued them when they were an annual lottery team.

One thing to take into consideration with the lack of passing was the lack of a true point guard. AI does well when he’s at the point, but he’s not a true point guard. At one point in the second period while AI was on the bench (and all three point guards on our team injured), they had Carmelo and JR Smith running the ball up the court. These are shoot first pass second type of players. Not a good combination.

This makes me think of the game against Toronto last year right after they lost in OT to Detroit.

Lastly, how on earth does a team shoot over 70% in one half? Insane.

]]>