When we took breaks, Matthew and Walter would tell me stories of great players, and one that stuck out was David Thompson, who played for NC State. The stories they told were incredible; the video highlights of Thompson's play backed it up.
The next year, Thompson signed with the Denver Nuggets...and I became a fan for life.
I was spoiled by the early success of the Nuggets, and it was easy to believe they would eventually reach the NBA Finals after the merger in 1976 and win a title. They won their division in 1977 and 1978, but early success was quickly overtaken by the idea that the Nuggets were a FUN team to watch, more interested in scoring tons and playing no defense. Alex English, Kiki Vandeweghe were symbols of this offense-first orientation.
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Then...the trade. Kiki was sent to Portland for three players: Wayne Cooper, Calvin Natt and Fat Lever. The Nuggets were transformed, and won the most games since joining the NBA. Could they break the Lakers' hold on the Western Conference? Unfortunately, no - Fat Lever, the 6'3" Engine that Could was injured during the semifinals series against the Jazz, and without him they lost 4 games to 1.
When the Nuggets weren't horrible (hello, Orlando Woolridge!), that became a running theme. The year after they netted Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari and Timofey Mozgov in the Carmelo Anthony trade, the Nuggets went on a 15 game winning streak late in the year and won 57 games...but Gallinari injured his ACL on April 4th, and the team lost their closer. They lost to the Warriors in the first round. Murray's ACL cost him two seasons, as did Porter's back. In the last five years, I've fully expected Jokic to break down as well, even though he jumps about as well as I do.
Last night, the Nuggets won Game 3 on the Lakers home court, and now lead the series 3-0
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*No NBA team has ever lost a series they led 3-0
*The Nuggets have never beaten the LA Lakers in a playoff series.
*The Nuggets are one win away from their first NBA Finals, and the last ABA team to do it (unless the Kentucky Colonels are resurrected)
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I still feel some trepidation, like I felt during the 1995 NJ Devils season...which ended with a Stanley Cup. Is that a good sign?
One final point I want to share about the NBA:
A friend and I went to watch some Premier League soccer a few weeks ago, I knew I'd bring up the current state of the NBA - he's one of those "get off my lawn" guys who always claim the NBA product of 30 and 40 years ago was better, and I had the statistics to prove him wrong.
Unfortunately, he first comment swatted away my argument...yet somehow validated my belief.
The players in today's NBA have broken the game. They've discovered the cheat code. Why can a guy shoot 40% from outside 30 feet? They've become too good for the court size and rules. Analytics have destroyed the game I used to love, and I don't enjoy watching the game as a result.I can't argue that. The average shot in the NBA today is over 3 feet further from the basket than 25 years ago, yet they're making them as the same rate. The defenses today are more intricate than they ever were; the physical demands harder...it's no wonder "time management" has become the rage. . Listen, if someone wants to argue they enjoy guys grabbing each other and calling it defense, go right ahead. If someone likes watching a 7 footer play with obvious limitations, feel free. But don't tell me the game was better for it. Victor Wembanyama might hear you.
