Nuggets Go For The Sweep!

I've been trying to keep quiet on this year's NBA playoffs as things have gone particularly well for my favorite NBA teams (the Denver Nuggets and Houston Rockets, in that order), but with Denver on the verge of their first ever playoff sweep, I had to jump in. Thus, I will be writing this blog as I watch the game and you will get to join me in the emotion as the Nuggets try to close out the Mavericks.

1st Quarter

- Glad to see TNT has sent the C-team to do the play-by-play for this one. Matt Devlin, Steve Smith and some guy named Marty are our commentators. Clearly, the network feels pretty sure this won't be the featured game of the night. Then again, it's not like the Cavs-Hawks game was the height of drama; everyone and their dog knew what was going to happen in that one.

- Mavs strike first with some third chance points, and the Nugs follow it up with a turnover. Billups chucks one on next possession, but the game looks like it's playing at the Nuggets pace early.

- Melo and Dirk on the board quickly, no surprise there.

- A nice bonus as Dahntay Jones hits a "three" (looked like his foot was on the line to me) and the Nuggets get on an early run. Mavs need to be very careful. My prediction coming in was that this would be a big win for Denver. The way I see it, the Mavs will get down 8-10 points at some point in the game and will give up on the game. I give Jason Kidd credit for leading this team, but guys like Howard and Terry seem the type that might hang their head with a deficit.

- Nugs run up to 10-0 (12-6 lead)...

- Both teams having early turnover problems. Psychologically, this is much more dangerous for the Mavs.

- Dahntay Jones with the steal/slam! Wow, not the kind of thing you want to see if you're the Mavs/their fans. If Denver gets confident early, they can steamroll you. As I've heard multiple times this postseason, the Nuggets are tremendous frontrunners as they really step on the gas with a lead.

- First commercial break and the Nugs hold a nice 14-8 lead. Looking good so far.

- Let me just say this about the non-foul in game 3: I completely agree that a foul probably should have been called, but for anyone to say that this cost the Mavs the game is simply preposterous. Even if they get the foul call, the Nuggets still have the ball with 2.5 seconds left, plenty of time to get a good look or even draw a foul. So don't tell me that the Mavs lost because of the non-call. By the way, if Wright wanted the foul call, he shouldn't have put his arms up will committing it in the universal "I'm not fouling" motion! Okay, I'll get off my soapbox now.

- What's up with this "team role" thing TNT has been using this postseason? How many casual fans watching will know what they mean when they say Chauncey Billups is the Nuggets' "Commander-In-Chief" if they didn't already know what he does? Honestly, does this help anyone?

- Dirk is coming out aggressive and looking for his shot, a good sign for the Mavs. The problem is, Dirk's been amazing all series long and he's gotten no help. It's a shame that Josh Howard has been hurt this series and really prevented the Mavs from competing.

- Chauncey Billups is absolutely amazing. I rooted for him with Detroit when the faced the Lakers back in 2004, but as the Pistons kept dominating the East, I started to get tired of him. Now that he's a Nugget, I can't get enough of this guy. He has been exactly what the Nuggets needed. He's practically a second head coach, and when the players get sick of listening to George Karl, Chauncey can help keep things together. His scoring this postseason has been a breath of fresh air, taking a lot of the pressure off of Carmelo to score tons.

- Question: Anyone else think Carmelo is trying to prove something and win a title before his buddy LeBron?

- JR Smith is 1-for-1 from three. Uh-oh.

- Mavs with a missed three, Nugs get the fast break and the fans are already out of the game. Timeout Mavs as Kleiza nails the three and the Nugs are already up by 13. Maybe they won't win by 58, but I sense this game turning out very similar to the Nuggets' game 4 rout in New Orleans in the first round. Oh, did I mention it's still the first quarter?

- 34-23 Denver, end of 1. Pressure is squarely on the Mavericks.

2nd Quarter

- First play of the quarter, JR nails his second three. I don't care who you are, if Smith gets hot, the Nuggets are very, very tough to beat.

- No, Melo! NOOOO! Carmelo takes a swing at Antoine Wright, trying to get his arm untangled from Wright after a rebound. The last thing the Nuggets need is for Melo to get tossed or, much much worse, suspended for a game (especially a game in the next round). Hopefully the league will agree that it was fairly harmless. Steve Javy, one of the better officials I've seen this postseason, reviews the play and... Technical foul on Melo, but he stays in the game. Now it's in the league's hands.

- Quick whistle on the next play as Melo drive to the hoop. I agree with color man Smith that it was a smart play by Melo to attack the hoop and make the officials make a call.

- Dallas gets energized by a play by JJ Berea, and the Nuggets need to sense this and try to calm down a little, not let the Mavs get on a run.

- Nice pull-up by Melo, but Berea strikes again and the Nuggets still up 12. Meanwhile, Nene is playing very well and making the Mavs big men work hard on defense. Unfortunately, he misses two free throws and wastes his hard work.

- The refs are calling everything right now, and both teams are attack the rim to try to get calls. We'll see if we get another foul-fest like game 3. This would seem to favor the home team as the refs tend to call more fouls on the visitors, plus the Nuggets aren't nearly as deep in the frontcourt as they are in the backcourt, particularly with Chris Andersen m.i.a.

- Mavs crawl back within 9, 40-31, as we head to the under 9:00 break.

- Nuggets are playing a little sloppily this quarter, and with the Mavs within 7, things are getting tighter. Then again... next thing I know, Anthony "I'm not a three point shooter but I chuck 'em up anyway" Carter drains a 3, Kidd air balls one on the other end, and the Mavs momentum is fading again.

- The Mavs can't buy a 3, and as I said before, the pace of this game continues to favor Denver. Suddenly, that little Mavs run has turned around and Carlisle has to burn a timeout down 49-35.

- Brandon Bass has been huge for Dallas so far. He is playing with much more energy and intensity than the rest of his team. Meanwhile, the Nuggets are getting sloppy on offense again. 6-0 run out of the timeout for Dallas.

- Ridiculous foul called on Billups as Howard creates contact, gets the call and the bucket for a big three-point play.

- Four quick, BIG points from Melo and he gets Denver back up by 10. Teams are trading baskets right now. Nene continues to do his work down low, getting to the line yet again for free throws 9 and 10.

- Big final 3 minutes here as the Mavs need to stay in single digits going to the half.

- Nuggets get another technical as Billups whines to the refs. I agree the Nuggets haven't gotten (m)any calls in Dallas these two games, but you need to be careful not to give the Mavs free points by complaining.

- Flagrant foul on Howard. Hmmm, maybe Chauncey made an impact after all? Forget what I just said, Nuggets, whine away!

- Each team misses some golden opportunities and the game is still rather sloppy for both teams. Nugget's lead is down to 5... Big slap by Dirk on Kleiza, but Linas misses both, wasting the call. Mavs turn around and give it back with a turnover, though. Nuggets holding for the last shot.

- Another aggressive drive by Kleiza and he returns to the line with 3.8 to play, and Terry is actually called for a flagrant on a play that Smith claims he didn't even see the foul. Really, Steve? Terry basically threw himself into Kleiza, not exactly going for the ball. Nuggets make 2 of 3 free throws (Terry also got a tech) and get the ball again for the last shot.

- Amazing put-back by Carmelo as time expires and the Nuggets manage a little run to take a 10 point lead to the half.

- 63-53 Nuggets at the break. Mavs are still fighting, for now.

Halftime

3rd Quarter

- The Mavs had 9 turnovers and 20 points allowed off those. 20! That's more than 2 per turnover! That's almost impossible. To say that's the difference in the game is an understatement.

- 15 seconds in and we have our first foul. Yay.

- Foul #2 14 seconds later. This is going to be a long half.

- Another quick start for Dirk. The Nuggets really can't guard him much better, but he's just making some incredible shots.

- Jones has been much more active offensively tonight than I recall him being this postseason. He's contributing well.

- 3 by Terry, deuce by Dirk and the Mavs cut the deficit to 1. Nuggets need a timeout as they have been discombobulated on offense and the Mavs are clicking on offense themselves.

- Nuggets get 6 quick points from Melo and pull back up by 5 until Terry knocks down a pair of free throws. The Nuggets are just refusing to let the Mavs take a lead, but credit the Mavs for not going away.

- Melo adds another pair, but then he gets beat on defense by a guy with two bad ankles and Howard gets the Mavs back within 1.

- As has been the case throughout this series and the playoffs in general, the refs are making their presence felt with many close calls. So far, it doesn't seem to be favoring either team, which I suppose is all we can ask for.

- With 5:13 to go in the third, the Mavs have been called for 20 fouls and the Nuggets 15. As you might imagine, Denver leads by 7, 80-73.

- Dallas has gone cold and the Nuggets are rebuilding their lead. Dallas needs to get Terry back on the floor as the deficit grows back to 9.

- Kleiza cannot guard Dirk, and he compounds his mistake with a technical foul giving the Mavs a four-point play as Dirk hits a shot and both freebies.

- Big bucket by JR to stem a little Dallas run and Smith has a chance at the three point play (only to miss another free throw). JR has got work work on his free throw shooting.

- Again, the game is within 1 and the last 2:00 of the quarter loom large. Once again, the Mavs cannot get out of their own way with Dirk turning the ball over with a chance to take the lead.

- Bad jumper by Carter, followed by a bad 3 by Kidd. Neither team wants to score it seems. Under 1:00 to go, Melo heads to the line and gives Denver a 2 point lead (29 on the game already for Melo).

- JJ Berea strikes yet again, tying it up at 85. Nuggets get a pair of freebies from Smith to retake the lead and, after a missed trey by Howard, Melo makes a circus shot plus one to put Denver back up 5. Quick action to end the period; now it's Berea to the line. He misses both.

- 90-85, Denver. Twelve minutes to the WESTERN CONFERENCE FINALS for the Nugs. Wow, didn't think I'd be writing that this year.

4th Quarter

- Denver: Win the quarter, win the game. Simple.

- Holy moly. Erick Dampier gets whistled for a technical 28 seconds into the quarter, and already Dallas has a foul and a turnover in the period. Rather inauspicious start, I would say. Nuggets up 3-0.

- Nice hometown call as Dirk flops when Melo strips him, and Dirk gets a questionable foul call, leading to another Berea score. 3-2.

- And we have foul #3 of the quarter, just 1:29 in. Insanity. Dampier is done with 10:31 to go.

- Foul #4! Wright does a good job of drawing a foul and will head to the line. Nails them both, 3-4.

- Beautiful runner by Kleiza. 5-4.

- Foul #5, third on Denver (4th on Melo) with 9:33 to play. Dirk nails 2, 5-6.

- Kleiza 3 rims out, then Terry does the same. Every possession counts.

- Denver turnover then Dirk swishes a 2, 2 point game. 5-8.

- Smith goes to the bank! 7-8.

- Bass misses from point blank, Bass then fouls out of frustration and picks up a T. Big blow-up from Bass, and this could be very costly for the Mavs. 97-93 as we go to the under 9:00 break at 7:59.

- Melo drains the T, 8-8.

- Bucket for Wright, 8-10.

- Melo drains another huge J. 10-10. Melo with a career playoff high of 36.

- Dirk wastes no time, throwing in a circus shot with an and-1, cutting the deficit to 2. 10-13. Dirk has 32.

- JR with another cold-blooded deuce. 12-13.

- Wright back to the bucket, 12-15. Non-stop action and the crowd is really getting into this one.

- Wright with a foul on the other end, and suddenly we have ANOTHER technical foul. Unbelievable. The call on Wright certainly looked a bit questionable, but if anything the foul might have been that he flopped. Regardless, the Mavs' mental errors are keeping them from closing the gap indefinitely.

- Seven. Seven! Seven technicals in this game. Incredible. Billups hits the T, 13-15.

- On the technical possession, Smith hits another ridiculous jumper. 15-15 (105-100).

- 5:39 to go and Dirk is back at the line, swishing 2. 15-17.

- Late call on Nene for a push off after a bad jumper by Melo. Dirk back to the line as Denver has long since been in the bonus. 15-19.

- Nuggets up just 1, huge possession and Mr. Big Shot drives for 2. 17-19.

- Nice little jumper from Howard, 17-21. Billups quickly answers with a 3, 20-21.

- Fast and furious, Kidd to the line makes 2, 20-23.

- Melo with another great steal off Dirk, but the Nugs can't cash in.

- Howard air ball on a three and the Nuggets have the ball, still up 2. 110-108 with just over 3 to play.

- Dirk ties it with 2:43 to go. 110-110. 20-25 in the quarter. The series comes down to just under 3 minutes. I am mentally exhausted and extremely anxious. I do NOT want a game 5.

- Here we go. Melo is rejected by Bass, then Howard misses a J. Still tied.

- Billups to the rack, misses but Nene cleans it up, Nugs back on top. 22-25.

- Dirk goes to the rack and draws yet another foul. Not surprisingly, the German makes them both. 22-27.

- Melo misses a close shot, and the Mavs get it back with a chance to take the lead.

- Unreal jumper by Dirk, Mavs take the lead, 22-29.

- Under 1:00 to play. Dirk again. Dirk finally misses one, and Melo is ridiculously called for a loose-ball foul on the rebound, Howard to the line. He of course drills them both. Mavs up 4. 22-31. The Nuggets have not played well this quarter and it's looking like they'll pay for it by having to play another game. 31.4 seconds to play.

- Awful foul by Josh Howard, and Melo heads to the line. 2 huge free throws here. First is good. Second... swish. Nugs within 2. This is looking eerily like game 3...

- Timeout. Denver must guard Dirk on this next possession. If someone else beats you, so be it.

- Great D by Martin, and a HORRIBLE touch foul is called on him. Dirk goes to the line yet again. Very weak call. Argh. He makes them both (obviously). 118-114.

- Just reviewed the replay, and it is confirmed: awful call on that last play. Should cost Denver the game. There you go, Mavs fans. No more bitching.

- Amazing 3 by Melo, and Denver is back within 1. This has been an incredible dual between Melo and Dirk, both making insane shot after insane shot. Great game. 3.1 to play.

- Terry to the line. 1.1 to go. He drains the first. Mavs up 2. Terry intentionally misses the second, and Melo can't even get a shot off before the buzzer. The Mavs improbably force a game 5 that they really had no business winning. Damn shame, but a damn good showing by Dallas. The refs made a big impact, but I'd be reluctant to say that they were the difference in this one. Certainly some calls went against Denver, but some also went against the Mavs, so it is what it is. Denver had better win game 5, because Dallas won't give up and the last thing the Nuggets can afford is for this to go 7.

Hope you enjoyed, because this was nerve-wracking and frankly, extremely disappointing. No live blog for game 5, because clrealy it was bad luck for Denver.

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