Jazz/Nuggets 1994 Western Semifinal Game 7 pregame

Let this be a reminder to all young teams hoping to take the next step (*cough Chicago Bulls cough*). Just being young and full of potential guarantees you nothing.

This is the NBA on NBC Intro to Game 7 of the Western Conference Semifinal series between the Nuggets and the Jazz. You might remember this Nuggets team as the one that became the first 8 seed to upset a 1 seed when they beat the mighty Seattle Supersonics 3-2 in the first round. What you might forget is that they were on the verge of pulling an even greater upset. After losing the first three games of the series to the fifth-seeded Jazz, the Nuggets stormed back, winning three in a row, including a Game 5 double-overtime win on the Jazz's home court. One more win, and they would become the first (and still only) team to win a series after losing the first three games. They had all the momentum, and Jazz fans were even turning on their own team.

What you also might forget is that the Nuggets were an incredibly young team. Not a single member of that squad was over 30 years old. The Nuggets started the 24-year old Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, 23-year old Bryant Stith, 29-year old Reggie Williams (the senior statesman), 23-year old LaPhonso Ellis, and 27-year old Dikembe Mutumbo. Their top reserves were 24-year old Robert Pack, 24-year old Bison Dele (then Brian Williams), and 22-year old rookie Rodney Rogers. In this game, they showed their youth, coming out tight and losing 91-81 in a game that really wasn't that close.

That was the end of the honeymoon period for the Nuggets. Instead of improving, they stayed the same next year, finishing 41-41 before a three-game wipeout to the Spurs. Pack and Abdul-Rauf feuded all year as the point guards before Pack's injury. Veteran Dale Ellis was brought in to provide firepower on the wing, but he instead had his worst season, with a career low in points and PER. Rookie Jalen Rose struggled to fit in, while LaPhonso Ellis missed nearly the entire season with injuries. Coach Dan Issel was fired after a slow start, and only a 20-12 record under GM Bernie Bickerstaff allowed them to make the playoffs.

The next year, Pack was traded for Don MacLean, Dele left as a free agent, Williams completely disappeared off the face of the earth, and Abdul-Rauf and LaPhonso Ellis struggled with injuries. Without Pack, the Nuggets sputtered without Abdul-Rauf, and they missed the playoffs. Mutumbo then forced a trade to Atlanta in the offseason, and the Nuggets won 21 games the next year.

Let this be a lesson to teams like the Bulls and Hawks. Having too many young players, none of which are necessarily transcendant players, isn't always a good thing.

Announcers: Dick Enberg and Steve Jones.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• NBA
• on
• NBC
• Denver
• Nuggets
• Utah
• Jazz
• 1994
• Playoffs
• Dick
• Enberg
• Steve
• Jones
• Dikembe
• Mutumbo
• John
• Stockton
• Karl
• Malone
• basketball

[campsports]

what bout the knicks bulls game 7 in 1994 as well? im a huge knick on the days of starks ewing and co.

[Pradamaster]

No dude, you already asked me this and I said no.

[cahen30]

I forgot all about Steve Snapper Jones he could help improve ABCs poor broadcasts

[Galastin]

@Pradamaster They don't hold the record right now of consecutive, but they've missed the playoffs twice (yes twice, not three) in the last 25 or so years. Don't have the specific number on me, but its astounding. And the two years they didnt make it, the first year they went 41-41 and were 1 game away, and the next year they only won 26 games, still a franchise low. That was right after Stockton and Malone left.

[showstoppa01]

Wow werent da Nuggets down 3-0 i nthis series??? Taken it to a Game 7??  Right after they were down 2-0 to Sonics (best team in NBA that Season) and beat them. Da 94 Nuggets were a special team

[cbaldwinjr]

Good call on that one

[FMEGAIIIOI]

the nuggets was my favorite team back than!

[liweiwu007]

he got murdered by his brother

[liweiwu007]

the nuggets will upset the gaykers dickhead!

[kinfolk441]

Dallas will get swept by Denver.

[blizzard908]

Yo you just hatin on the nuggets

they are going to beat dallas

[seejaydeja]

LOL, your kidding?

[seejaydeja]

Denver still sucks, you dumb asshole