The Nuggets are (statistically speaking) on to the Western Conference Finals. You see, they now have a three games to NONE advantage. Denver only has to win one of the remaining four games to advance.
Game three was quite a show. Dallas lead for oh, about 47 minutes and 59 seconds. With a two point lead, Denver inbounding the ball AND a foul to give, all they had to do was to commit a foul and force the Nuggets to run two plays in less time than one could have been successfully run in one.
Only, that no foul was committed, or at least called. The ball inbounded to Carmelo Anthony who was being guarded by Antoine Wright along the the three point line. Anthony ducked to avoid the foul. Everyone in the building knew the foul was coming. Everyone but the referee who swallowed his whistle. Wright merely "bumped" Anthony and then inexplicably stopped. In that respect I will give the ref the benefit of the doubt. However, a few hours later the NBA announced that the referee erred in not calling a foul.
Now, does everyone know what constitutes a foul? Any physical contact that interferes with the offensive (or sometimes) defensive play.
Whatever Antoine Wright did, it did not interfere with the play; because Anthony got two more steps and a clean open shot right in front of the bench. Which he promptly nailed to give Denver a one point lead. Dallas had one last shot which turned out to be a half-hearted heave by Dirk Nowitzki. If you asked me, the Mavericks put more effort into complaining and whining than in winning the game.
So the moral of the story kids is, when you foul, foul them good and hard!
