Doomed In The Third Again: Nuggets 111, Nets 87 (GAME GRADES)

Mason Plumlee

Mason Plumlee CENTER

He was awful in the way you’d expect a late first-round rookie to be awful, except you’d expect a rookie to be a little more energetic doing it.

Shaun Livingston POINT GUARD

Came off the bench for the second straight game as Kidd elected to start Tyshawn Taylor, and though he did a lot of little things well, the Nets needed big things and no one — including Livingston — delivered.

Kevin Garnett POWER FORWARD

HE DUNKED!? No, really, he dunked. Had some good moments against Faried defensively but there were possessions when Faried just outran him down the court. You can’t expect Garnett to keep up with him.

Alan Anderson SHOOTING GUARD

Started in place of the injured Paul Pierce, and as far as Nets players went today, he wasn’t all too bad. Played oddly in control for his standards, perhaps because he had to play off the starters. But like Livingston, the little things he did well weren’t nearly enough to overcome the big things the team needed. Give him credit for playing with passion when few other Nets did.

Joe Johnson SHOOTING GUARD

HE DUNKED!? Yes, I know this game was a futuristic hellscape sent from afar to let Nate Robinson, but a Joe Johnson dunk is rarer than an emphatic Nets victory these days. Scored well in his usual Joe Johnson fashion, and you can’t put this loss on him, but it’s not like he could change the tide with Denver’s athletes running all over Brooklyn.

Brook Lopez CENTER

Got excellent position on a couple of easy buckets but that’s where the positives end: struggled with double-teams in the post, didn’t finish a lot of close shots, and didn’t defend the paint nearly as well as he has most of the season.

Andray Blatche POWER FORWARD

Standard Blatche on offense, Bad Blatche on defense.

Tornike Shengelia SMALL FORWARD

The Eurostep is now the Tokostep. Liked his defensive aggressiveness and at times seemed like the only Nets player who gave a damn, but his limitations as a player are as much on display.

Tyshawn Taylor POINT GUARD

Aggressive but struggled to contain Ty Lawson & Nate Robinson and got burned on multiple defensive possessions. Tried to match Denver’s athleticism but he can’t do it alone.

Mirza Teletovic POWER FORWARD

Didn’t look like he had a role here.