(Photo Credit: Bleacher Report)
There’s not much going wrong when the Denver Nuggets are in the midst of a 14-game winning streak, but one question that has had fans wondering all season long, is the question of who’s the leader on this team. Corey Brewer might be that guy.
When a team like the Nuggets play as good as they’re playing without a bonafide super-star on their roster, the role of “leader” might be similar to a game of ring around the rosie through-out the season, but the one guy that has always been that spiritual and emotional leader for this young, yet experienced team is ironically enough, their young but experienced small forward, Corey Brewer.
On numerous occasions, his teammates have been quoted saying that Brewer is the heart and soul of this team. Brewer has come off the bench for the Nuggets since the trade between Denver and Dallas on December 11th, 2011, and the Nuggets are 86-50 since that trade not including the playoffs.
Not only is Brewer a force to reckon with coming off the bench, but he has proven to be that “it factor” kind of guy. Especially as of late in this 2012-13 season. Corey Brewer is averaging 14.4 PPG during the Nuggets 14-game winning streak, and the streak would be finished if it wasn’t for him. On Thursday night, Brewer scored a late three against the 76ers to draw the Nuggets within two after being down 8 with 1:52 remaining. And after two missed free throws from Philly, Brewer sank three straight free throws to secure the 101-100 victory for the second-hottest team in the league behind Miami. Brewer finished with a career-high 29 points in the win.
If it wasn’t for the Heat’s 24-game winning streak, the Nuggets would be the talk of the league. You can’t go on such a long winning streak by just being an average team. And to go on a 14-game win streak in the NBA, you must have either a bonafide super star or two, or have some legit leadership.
Many Denver Nuggets players have taken on that role once or twice during this streak, but none more so than Corey Brewer in my mind. And he’s had that role really all season long, heck, you could even stretch that back to last season. But when you think of a leader, you not only think of a top scorer or defender, but you think of an emotional, KG-esque kind of guy. And Brewer has proven to be that guy for this team. He won a ring with Dirk and the Mavs in 2011, and is now trying to do the very same with his “Brew-Crew” in 2013.
According to many major news outlets, these Denver Nuggets that Corey Brewer is leading to success, have been recently seen on many short lists to contend for an NBA title this season. It’s a legit possibility, people.
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Anthony Rodriguez
Anthony is the Founder, Administrator, Editor and Publisher of Lightning Rod Sports. Originally from California, Anthony has been raised in the Rocky Mountains and Denver area for most of his life. Anthony works with the Emmy-winning student-run T.V. newscast at MSU Denver, The Met Report, as the Assistant General Manager, formerly the Sports Producer, as well as Lead Anchor and Production Assistant. He is currently the Play-by-Play Announcer, Color Commentator, and Production Assistant for the Metro State Broadcast Network, and calls games for Metro State soccer, basketball, volleyball, baseball, and softball as a “Voice of the Roadrunners.” In addition to that work with the Metro State Broadcast Network, Anthony also hosts the monthly 30-minute magazine show called "The Roadrunner Review" which airs on Altitude Sports and Entertainment. He hosts the bi-weekly "KMet Sports Show" on KMET Radio at MyMetMedia.com/KMETSportsShow. He is also the Founder, Administrator, Editor, and Columnist for his own Denver Sports website, LightningRodSports.com. Anthony is also part of the Social Media team at Examiner.com, and has worked with the Altitude Radio Network for the Avalanche and Nuggets. Anthony is a former Producer for Mile High Sports Radio, as well as a former Sports-Talk show host on the LightningRod Radio Network.
