On Thursday night in Denver, what normally happens didn’t happen.

Normally, the Los Angeles Lakers cruise into the fourth quarter with a lead.  They did that last night, leading the Denver Nuggets by a score of 93-85. 

In the fourth quarter, the Lakers allow Kobe Bryant to freely shoot – figuring that he provides L.A. with its best chance at exiting the stadium victorious.  They did that last night.

Bryant traditionally makes all of the big shots down the stretch.  He didn’t do that last night.

The player universally regarded as the NBA’s best clutch player stepper out of his role for one night.  He tossed up six misses in the game’s final six minutes as the Lakers dropped their first game of the year to Denver, 118-112.  But this aberration isn’t as meaningful to the Lakers as it is to the Nuggets.

Denver is a team in turmoil.  It is currently being held hostage by superstar Carmelo Anthony, and his refusal to handle his desire to play elsewhere in a more discrete fashion.  Anthony wants to play somewhere else.  On Tuesday night in Indiana, it was like he was playing somewhere else.  Visiting one of the worst defensive teams in the league, Anthony threw up this stinker:

• 5-15 FG, 13 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists in 28 minutes
• Denver had a -26 point differential when he was in the game

Fast forward to Thursday night.  ‘Melo put up 32 (14-25 FG shooting), and he did it much more efficiently than did Bryant (11-32 FG).  Anthony has long been regarded as one of the game’s most versatile scorers…he can get 20-25 points just by going through the motions on the hardwood.  But in removing L.A. from the ranks of the unbeaten, Anthony did his best impersonation of Bryant.  He scored three baskets and two free throws in the final four and a half minutes of the contest to put the game on ice in the Pepsi Center.

A win like this is usually a sign of promise – a signal of what could happen if the team continues to work together to a common goal.  The fact is that Denver was able to come up with this win without two major pieces to their puzzle – big man Chris Andersen and versatile defender Kenyon Martin.  The roster is talented, and contains just enough toughness to cause some headaches for the Lakers.  Just two years ago, the Nuggets were able to push the Lakers to a six-game Western Conference Finals series.  After being eliminated in the first round last season by the Utah Jazz, there was lots of disappointment.  But Denver is returning the majority of the cast that made the deep playoff run two seasons ago.

This is a year in which we have yet to witness any Western Conference team that is guaranteed to challenge for that #2 spot out west.  New Orleans is currently playing above its head, but no one expects them to maintain their current level of play.  Same goes for the Golden State Warriors at 6-3.  The Spurs will somehow make it into the playoffs, but their old legs will prevent them from truly challenging L.A.  Dallas has done nothing for the past few years, except for under-exceed their expectations.  All in all, it sums up to an NBA campaign that could be very special for the Denver Nuggets and their fans.

But toss in nights like the aforementioned one in Indiana.  Being guarded by the likes of Danny Granger would hardly intimidate Anthony.  And ‘Melo let Granger eat him up on the offensive end and have an efficient 8-10 night from the field, including 3-4 from deep, for 19 points.   

'Melo is one of the few offensive forces that can make Kobe break a sweat on defense.

This makes us wonder…does Anthony care? 

That’s the question that sits soundly in his lap.  Does he care that he has the potential to outshine Alex English, the franchise’s biggest star?  Does he care that any title that he could manage to bring to Denver would be the first in franchise history?  Does he care that getting traded will mean that he will have to establish chemistry with new teammates?  Does he care that he will not be any closer to a championship if he moves to the Eastern Conference?

Anthony is something special.  Of all the other mega-stars in the league, only one player other than ‘Melo can boast that his team has made the playoffs each year he has been in the league (Dwyane Wade).  But Anthony’s desire to play elsewhere really doesn’t make much sense – from any perspective.  He’ll be less likely to average as many points per game as he has the potential to in the up-tempo style adopted by Denver.  He’ll also be a part of an organization that will have fewer wins than he would have had with the Nuggets.  So, from an individual and team-based standpoint, it’s a lose-lose situation for ‘Melo.

That’s what makes this whole situation so perplexing.  The former Syracuse star is leaving tons of money and success on the table…and all for what?

Who knows how Anthony will feel a week from now.  Or two weeks from now.  Or four months from now.

But he owes it to his team to continue to play as if he’ll be there in the end.  Even if he knows that he won’t.

T Lamont is the owner, administrator and author of all content for Ball or Nuthin\'. Feel free to contact T Lamont with a question or comment at ballornuthin@gmail.com.  All created Ball or Nuthin' content is the sole property of T Lamont. Read more from this author