Moving On Up

It's been twenty-two long hard years of still strugglin

Survival got me buggin, but I'm alive on arrival...

The Nuggets are moving on to the 2nd round of the playoffs for the first time since 1994 after another big win versus the Hornets:

-The Hornets came out trying anything and everything to try to change the series. Chris Paul wasn't bringing the ball up. Perhaps to keep him fresher? When he did, there were picks in the back court. They doubled Melo alot harder than ever before in the series. All of the tweaks and turns seemed to have an effect early in the game.

-Birdman simply scared the Hornets on more than one instance. By the 2nd half, Hornets' players would get deep into the lane only to see Bird and simply peel off out of lane. His rejection and dunk when the team was down by 9 in the first half saved teh team from getting into too much of a hole.

-Hilton Armstrong? Sitcom character or NBA center?

-Is there an exciting a player as JR Smith? Instant offense; hitting threes within 10 seconds of coming off the bench. On the other hand, he's passing into the third row, turning the ball over on drives versus the whole team. Is there a frustrting player as JR?

-The Hornets realistically had no chance in this series, and now how will there team shake out? Chris Paul could be th eonly one left by next fall. Tyson Chandler was already dealt once, Peja seems more suited to be an off-the-bench spot up player, and the rest of the team sans David West are just NBA "guys" available every off-season.

-First series win in 15 years. 1994 versus 2009: who you got? Dikembe versus Nene: the global battle, call it a push. LaPhonso Ellis versus K-Mart: Martin would eat the smaller Ellis whole. Reggie Williams versus Melo: Williams would give up 10 points before the tipoff. Bryant Stith versus Dahntay Jones: Stith was a surpirsing scorer and good defender, very much in the same mold as Jones, call it a puch. Mahmoud/Robert Pack versus Chauncey: Mahmoud could get his shot against Chauncey, but Chauncey's leadership and court presence wins out. Brian Williams versus Birdman: that would be awesome, a freaking battle, call it even. Rodney Rogers versus JR Smith: both could shoot the rock, but JR way too quick. George Karl versus Dan Issel: hmmm, we know who won that battle.

RELATED 1994: Nas - "Halftime"; Erick Sermon f/Keith Murray - "Hostile"; Smif N Wesson - "Bucktown"