The Denver Nuggets and the North Korean government have exactly two things in common. The first is that they are both lorded over by shortish, slightly chubby control freaks who exhibit male pattern baldness. The second is that both are about to test exciting new launch technologies after years of disappointing mishaps and embarrassing failures.
For the North Koreans, a successful launch of their perannially mis-firing Taepodong-2 rocket into outerspace could mean anything from an orbiting satellite (official rational) to the ability to send a rickety but dangerous explosive as far as Alaska or Hawaii (alarming possibility).
For the Denver Nuggets, a successful launch of their perennially mis-firing offense could mean anything from a choice playoff seed (wildly plausible) to a Western Conference showdown against a heavily-favored opponent (look out LA, we gots ya numba.) The Nuggets just finished proving that the third quarter of a season is a much more exciting time to implode than the third quarter of a single game. That being the case, they are definitely primed for a spirited and chaotic dash towards the end of regulation.
After an atrocious run of seven losses in eleven games, the Nuggets dusted off the street styley for Wednesday night’s game versus the Oklahoma City Thunder. The result was the young, athletic Renaldo Balkman getting a rare start at power forward and throwing down 14 points, 14 assists and a baker’s dozen impressive hustle plays that kept the rest of the team playing inspired ball even after opening sizeable leads. The starting combination of Nene, Balkman, Anthony, Smith and Billups proved to be a high-energy experiment in smooth ball-movement and aggressive defense. The on-again, off-again Linas Kleiza logged 20 points, and Chris Andersen buried ten points and kept pace with the top shot-blockers in the league with four big swats. (One ricocheted off the backboard and into the waiting hands of Chauncey Billups moving into transition upcourt.)
By battering a lesser opponent, the Nuggets took a big step towards dominating a remaining schedule that ranks among the weakest in the NBA over the final month of the season. Carmello Anthony is pitching in his share, but it is the high-energy play of Balkman, Andersen and Nene coupled with the wisdom and experience of Chauncey Billups that has this team looking very dangerous going into the playoffs. With the return of Kenyon Martin from a string of minor injuries, Denver could complete the seasons-long transition from a running team with a solid defense to a physical, tough, aggressive team with eight players that can contribute in a variety of ways.
It will take keeping pace with and then hopefully passing two hot teams in the Trailblazers and the Jazz (both lost Wednesday night,) but these Nuggets may just be built for the long-haul. The next month will be very telling for a team that always goes into the playoffs cold and seemingly confused. Build a solid rythm, and the Nuggets will be a very tough out in late April. Languish as a seventh or eigth seed after holding the second seed for much of the first half of the season, and the ’08-’09 season will likely be just another mis-fire from a promising squad.
For the North Koreans, a successfull launch could usher in a new era of either gross overspending on crappy satelites while civilians starve, or increased sanctions from the international community while civilians starve.
The moral? George Karl rocks pretty hard compared to Kim Jong-il. He’s practically competent compared to Michael Cooper, Jeff Bzdelik and Mike Evans.  And he outperforms the likes of Mike D’Antoni and the US Congress just by showing up to work every day. Get ready for Nugget-mania 2009! Place one foot cautiously on the George Karl bandwagon.
