Following an impressive season-opening win over the Houston Rockets, the Nuggets left their fans wondering just what kind of team they have on their hands after an equally disappointing loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the home opener two nights later.
It was a difficult matchup for a young Nuggets team that is still establishing chemistry, but it was effort that was the real problem according to Adam Mares of Denver Stiffs.
Mares joined Gil Whiteley on Mile High Sports AM 1340 on Wednesday to reflect on much better news about the Nuggets, however. On Tuesday, Emmanuel Mudiay and the Nuggets picked up their second win on the season and evened their record to 2-2 with a 120-109 win over the Lakers in Los Angeles.
It was a win Whiteley says was a necessary one for a team “still trying to establish a winning culture.” The Nuggets can’t afford to give away games, he says, especially against teams of equal or lesser talent and certainly not against those teams at home.
What has made Peyton Manning so great through the years, Whiteley observes, is that he rarely falters in games that he’s supposed to win. Yes, the occasional St. Louis Rams game will rear its ugly head, but for the most part, Manning has won double-digit games each year because he doesn’t let winnable games slip away.
Both Whiteley and Mares think Mudiay has the constitution to be of that same mind.
Mares has so-far been extremely impressed with the 19-year-old’s physical strength, but believes his mental toughness will be his greatest asset down the road. Mares likes Mudiay’s fearlessness and self-motivation. If those can mature into confidence and poise, losses like those to the Timberwolves will soon be a thing of the past.
Peyton Manning was 3-13 in his rookie season. He threw more interceptions than touchdowns that year. There will be a learning curve. But if his performances against Houston and the Lakers are any indication of what’s to come, it won’t be long before Mudiay is consistently quarterbacking the Nuggets to routine wins against teams they’re supposed to beat.
Listen to the full conversation, including observations about new head coach Michael Malone’s fiery attitude, in the podcast below…
Catch Gil Whiteley every weekday from 11a-1p on Mile High Sports AM 1340 or stream live any time for the best local coverage of what’s new and what’s next in Colorado sports.
