Dahntay Jones -- NBA

[BD80]

"He plays every possession like it's a playoff possession," said Nuggets coach George Karl, who happily welcomed a defensive-minded player to his squad. "And there's not many guys who have that commitment. . . . He's searching for a new identity, and we might be the guys who get benefits of his recommitment to stay in the league."

http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_10612766

[RainingThrees]

The nuggets caring about defense? what!!!!!

[I_am_a_Blue_Devil]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dce2aRi3v0s&feature=related

[Billy Dat]

I may have missed a thread on this topic, but Dahntay has been starting for the Nuggets for the past few weeks. I know that NBA fandom is not a given among the denizens of this community, so I'll add a little context. Joe Dumars, in an effort to be a player in the most significant free agent summer in NBA history (2010) traded Chauncy Billups to Denver for Allen Iverson about a month ago. Denver has gone on a tear since - Carmelo Anthony has re-emerged as an All NBA type player, and the chemistry has been fantastic. An under-reported aspect of this team transformation is that George Karl is starting Dahntay for his defensive intensity and bringing JR Smith off the bench for his potentially explosive scoring. Dahntay is playing 20-25 minutes per game and earning high praise from his coach. He deserves some serious praise as he figured out what he needed to do to stay in the league and is now one of the 150 people in the world that can call themselves an NBA starter - pretty cool.

[davekay1971]

Thanks for the post. I don't follow the NBA, but like to know how the Dukies are doing. Dahntay was a great player for us...and unique as a transfer coming in. Glad to see he's doing well.

[rockymtn devil]

The Nuggets are indeed playing great basketball and the shift to actually playing defense is at the heart of it. Billups and Dahntay are leading that charge. I'll also add that Melo has shown a new intensity in his defense and rebounding which, IMO, can be attributed to his time on the Olympic team and working with K. Denver could always score the past few seasons. Now that it can get stops, it could be a force in the West.

[Indoor66]

The Nuggets are indeed playing great basketball and the shift to actually playing defense is at the heart of it. Billups and Dahntay are leading that charge. I'll also add that Melo has shown a new intensity in his defense and rebounding which, IMO, can be attributed to his time on the Olympic team and working with K. Denver could always score the past few seasons. Now that it can get stops, it could be a force in the West.

I would also credit the fact that 5 guys are playing with the ball now. IMO they excised a cancer with the trade.

[A-Tex Devil]

I loved Dahntay's game at Duke and glad to se he's caught on with a team that is playing well. 'Melo's 33 points in a quarter were something else last week, huh?

[rockymtn devil]

I would also credit the fact that 5 guys are playing with the ball now. IMO they excised a cancer with the trade.

Absolutely. The Billups-Iverson distinction is the embodiment of the old Nuggets vs. the new Nuggets. Glad to see Billups get to come back home and succeed.

[KandG]

Dahntay is definitely a defensive specialist on the Nuggets, but he has done a great job of sticking around the league and working hard, and his efforts have paid off. If you haven't done so, you should type his name in Youtube and check out some of the NBA highlights -- talk about freakish athleticism.

Unfortunately, one of his hlghlights recently -- an absolutely insane block of Brad Miller of the Sacramento Kings where he leaped straight up in the air, as if he were propelled by a jetpack -- doesn't seem to be on video anywhere. Not really a fundamental play, since he swatted the ball out of the gym instead of keeping it in play, but it made for one hell of a highlight. :) The Kings announcers couldn't stop talking about it (understandably, since the Kings themselves are one of the very worst teams in basketball).