Denver Implosion?

It sounds like there is some real problems brewing in the Denver locker room. No doubt you've read that many of the nuggets players have turned against Chauncey Billups of late. ESPN, SI and other national NBA news sources have written that Nugget players almost take offense to Billups trying to be their "leader". Billups seems to have lost the respect of his teammates. Certainly, last night didn't help. Besides the fact that Billups missed three 3-point shots in the final minute, and split a crucial pair of free throws despite being a career 90% FT shooter, the final play of the game that Dantley drew up was for Lawson to get the ball and push as fast as he could, then kick to a teammate. Billups' response? "There's no way I wasn't going to get the ball in my hands that last play. In that situation, you put the ball in the hands of your best player and let him go." The result was a running high arcing jumper that bounced off the rim and really never had a chance. Later, Billups' tone changed a bit when he claimed that he didn't know the play was drawn up to go to Lawson. Maybe he wasn't listening. In any case, all scenarios point to more trouble inside the Nuggets lockerroom than the general public is seeing.

I like our chances in game 3. My only concern is the stink Denver is making over Miles and Matthews "grabbing, pulling and pushing" Carmelo Anthony as soon as he crosses half court. If those guys get in foul trouble, it could be precarious. Nonetheless, I like our chances.