The last stand

C'mon Nuggs, what's going on?

Three games, three lackluster performances. When the opposing team is averaging 117 ppg and you're only putting up 102, there's no way you can win games.

The 30.7-to-18 assists per game difference doesn't help either.

I wouldn't mind the 3-0 deficit as much if Denver actually kept their minds in the game past the first 24 minutes of the game. It's not that they give up, it's that they stop playing team ball.

I watched games one and two, and they simply abandon their run-and-gun offense in the second half, Everyone starts playing one-on-one basketball and the Lakers know that. It's hard to win a one-on-one when four other guys back him up.

Then they have to get back on defense and actually defend. The Lakers have far too many weapons to be lackluster.

Here's what my plan would be:

• Start A.I. and Melo in the backcourt with Camby, K-Mart and Linas Kleiza in the front.
• Put Melo on Kobe. Melo's defense isn't that great, but he's our superstar and it's time he takes the responsibility to guard theirs.
• J.R. gives us a good fire burst off the bench.
• Play Steven Hunter. The Lakers have size and lots of it. Hunter will give us a good sized body on the court.
• Pray that Nene is OK. His size would help immensely and give Camby and Martin much needed rest.
• Pass the ball. Passing the ball opens up the court. It's fundamental basketball.

Call me an eternal optimist, but the Nuggets were on the brink of elimination when they last advanced to round two. They were also the eighth seed back then, too.