Nuggets Losing at Their Own Explosive Game

The Denver Nuggets are doing great offensively under new Coach Paul Westhead’s fast-break strategy. The opposition, however, is doing even better.

The Nuggets dropped their opener against Phoenix 186-123, then fell to Houston 156-126 before being blown out by Atlanta 194-166.

Westhead, whose Loyola Marymount teams set NCAA scoring records, brought his frenetic style to the Nuggets last month when Doug Moe was fired. He remains unruffled and says the initial results were predictable.

The Suns’ victory matched the NBA record for points in a regular-season game, set by the Detroit Pistons in a 186-184, three-overtime victory over Denver in 1983. And the 63-point losing deficit was the largest in Denver history.

The Nuggets made only marginal strides in their second preseason game. Then came Wednesday night’s loss to the Hawks in Pueblo, Colo.

Although detailed records aren’t kept for exhibition games, the 194-point explosion is believed to be the highest ever in an NBA game. It was an all-time team scoring record for the Hawks, whose previous high was 155. And it also marked the first time any NBA team had scored more than 100 points in a half; the Hawks had 116 in the second half, including 64 in the final quarter.

Nevertheless, Westhead says he’s not worried about the outlandish point totals.

In fact, says Westhead, his team is on schedule in trying to master his relentless fast-break offense and full-court defense.

“What you’re seeing is very predictable,” Westhead insisted. “I know that the system I put in is very, very difficult. Our guys are going so hard at both ends, and all of a sudden they crack. But before they crack, they produce a lot of good stuff. They’re just not able to sustain it at this time.”