NBA Blog Previews the Northwest

(Boulder-CO) This thing is like a runaway train! The NBA Blog Previews keep on keeping on and today's offering is the Northwest Division. Enjoy!

Northwest Previews:

Utah Jazz

Daily Basketball

Taking it to the Rack

Basketball John



Seattle Supersonics

Sonics Central



Portland Trail Blazers

TrueHoop

The Inferno



Timberwolves

TWolves Blog



Denver Nuggets

Nugg Doctor



Blog Previews Archives

CelticsBlog NBA Section

Welcome to the J.R. Smith Circus

(Boulder-CO)The Denver Post is finally reporting why J.R. Smith has been suspended for three games and it is not at all what I first suspected. The real reason why J.R. is going to serve a three game suspension is, “Smith allegedly tore up a club and caused someone injuries which required an ambulance,” at the popular DC-10 lounge in Denver on Saturday, October 13.

And while I was initially upset that a suspension had been handed down by Nuggets brass because I assumed it was a late consequence for his first flare up, I could really care less at this point knowing that J.R. himself is 100% to blame for this one.

So, my feelings are if he wants to be out and doing his thing during the twilight of the night where nothing but malarkey goes down so be it, but then don’t issue a statement saying you don’t want to be a, “team cancer”, if that’s where you want to be the night before traveling to Michigan to play the Pistons the same day. And although it was a measly, meaningless preseason game don’t be surprised when the box score reads 4-14 from the field, (including 0-4 with the long ball), with a game-high four turnovers.

Tom Ziller of the AOL Fanhouse thinks J.R. is on thin ice, but I think a more accurate metaphor would be J.R. has broken through the ice and is now treading the icy water of the Denver Nuggets and their patience.

Let Me Count the Ways

(Boulder-CO) I am so tired of hearing about J.R. Smith for all the wrong reasons! Car accidents, spats with the team and coaching staff, trade rumors, and now a suspension (and this time it isn't even for body slamming Nate Robinson)! I could go on and on about all the reasons, and players, that should make this problem go away, but I would rather hear what you all have to say. Get at me!

Nuggets Sign Another Small Point Guard

(Boulder-CO)The Denver Nuggets official home page has announced that the Nuggets have signed yet another small point guard in Mike Wilks. Wilks is a five-year NBA veteran who has played with six different teams.

Why they would sign another man under six feet tall is totally beyond me. We already have Chucky Atkins who is all of 5'11", Allen Iverson at maybe an inch taller than that, and both Anthony Roberson and Anthony Carter who are 6'2" each.

Furthermore, I don't expect Wilks to do much than give the other guys a break in the last three preseason games.

Nuggets Downed Again by Pistons

(AP Photo/Adam Bird)

(Boulder-CO) "Sloppy" is the only way that I can describe what I just watched on NBATV. It's a good thing the Nuggets didn’t play any of their presumed starting five because if ‘Melo, AI, Camby, Nene, or Martin played in this game I might have to just reevaluate everything I've been thinking as of late! Ok, I may be overacting a little bit, but honestly, this was about as ugly a basketball game as I have seen played in a really long time. Not to mention the Nuggets lost to the Pistons, 119-110, for the second time this preseason.

As if typed bright gecko green, the box score illustrates that the Nuggets were abused on the offensive glass. Detroit hit the O-boards to the tune of 22 offensive rebounds because Jelani McCoy was the only Nugget of any size to enter the game. Plus, Denver didn’t do too good of a job rebounding on the other end either as the Pistons finished with 55 total boards-18 more than Denver overall.

About the only bright spots for the Nuggets were J.R. Smith and Eduardo “The Grout“ Najera. Smith finished with a game-high 33 points on 10-19 from the field, three rebounds, two steals, and an assist. It was the first good shooting night of the season for J.R., but he started slow and only began heating up after a few good takes to the hole. The Grout had another great game by giving the Nuggets a double-double of 12 points, eleven rebounds, and six assists.

I do have to say one thing about Detroit’s Jason Maxiel and it’s that J-Max played like an absolute animal. Maxiel finished with tonight’s most impressive stat line of 25 points, 12 rebounds, four assists, three blocks, and a steal. More than that was how he made countless hustle plays like tapping out loose balls, bodying up Denver’s post players, and altering nearly ever shot from about five feet from the basket all night long. ‘Sheed may be the starting big man for the Pistons, but Detroit should be counting their blessings that they have a guy like Maxiel coming off their bench.

The Nuggets now have a five day break until their next preseason rematch with the Bucks in the friendly confines of the Pepsi Center. This duration should be good for the banged up Nuggets to rest and for the healthy Nuggets to regroup and refocus. These five days should also give the Nuggets coaching staff a few more practices to make some roster decisions and work on the team’s chemistry. Five days is a long time to wait after a game like this, but it just may be what I need to forget that this one ever happened.

Go Nuggets!

Nuggets vs. Pistons Preseason Preview II

(Boulder-CO) Last week these two teams met and Coach George Karl decided to rest his starters. That game ended up being the Nuggets first loss. This week, I don’t think the Pistons are going to be as lucky. The probable starters for tonight’s game, via the Denver Nuggets media notes available at www.nuggets.com, are Carmelo Anthony, Allen Iverson, Yakhouba Diawara, Jelani McCoy, and Eduardo Najera. And I believe the addition of the Nuggets All-Star duo is going to be enough to deliver the win this time around at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

With preseason minutes being monitored closely by the Nuggets coaching staff, Carmelo Anthony is averaging a team-high 18.3 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 4.3 assists. AI is also having a fine preseason with averages of 16.7 points, 5.7 assists, and 2.3 rebounds. Both men didn’t play in the first meeting against the Pistons.

The injury report on tonight’s game lists Linas Kleiza, Chucky Atkins, and Kenyon Martin all as questionable, but I would be very surprised to see Kenyon make an appearance in tonight’s contest simply because the Nuggets training staff will probably give him a day off to rest his knees after such a great performance last night. However, I would be surprised if Chucky Atkins doesn’t see some burn tonight as he has not played now in almost a week after re-tweaking his groin against the Pistons the first time around. Nene is also listed as “out” for tonight’s game and there is no definitive word right now as to when Big Brazil will make his preseason debut.

The Nuggets are 22-6 during the preseason since 2004 and have won 15 of their last 19 preseason contests. Including the 2003 preseason, the Nuggets have an impressive .750 winning percentage (27-9) over the last four-plus years.

I’m putting the line at five tonight and am predicting a Nuggets “revenge” victory. In whatever minutes the Nuggets big guns do play, expect a spirited effort as the preseason is now officially halfway finished.

The game is on NBATV and starts five o’clock MST. Be sure to check out these fine Detroit Pistons sites for more on tonight’s opponent.

www.need4sheed.com
www.detroitbadboys.com
www.pistonsnationblog.com

Go Nuggets!

Denver Bags the Bucks

(AP Photo/Patrick Ferron)

(Boulder-CO) Tonight’s efforts in Green Bay featured some of the most positive signs the Nuggets could have hoped to see thus far in the preseason. Kenyon Martin made his return and played great. Eduardo Najera also made his preseason debut and looked as if in mid-season form. Plus, Allen Iverson is finding the open man and the bottom of the net, and Carmelo Anthony continues to improve on the glass and defensively. Simply stated, the Nuggets couldn’t have asked for much more from their individuals as they collectively blew the Bucks out of the gym, 104-78.

The first half ended with the Nuggets up by six, 49-43, but it was the third quarter when the Nuggets really started to pull away. With a combination of defensive intensity and offensive explosion the Nuggets limited the Bucks to a measly 15 points and notched 33 of their own. What I really liked about this stretch of the game was Denver totally dictated the speed of the game in the third and from that point on coasted to the easy victory.

Right off the bat you have to love the way that Kenyon Martin gets the nod from George Karl to start in his first game back from microfracture surgery almost a year ago. Martin only played 15 minutes in the game, but when he was in he was effective. Sporting his familiar college number "4", Kenyon scored eleven points, cleared five boards, dished out an assists, and stole a ball. K-Mart also played some solid defense on Yi Jianlian in the first half and disrupted the rookie’s low post attempts by out muscling him.

And if you love the way Kenyon made his debut, you have to be elated to see the hustle play of Eduardo Najera available to the Nuggets now too!

He isn’t going to make the highlight reel very much, but Eduardo Najera’s overall effort is second to none. Tonight, Najera gave the Nuggets a game-high nine rebounds (four on the offensive glass), six points, four assists, three steals, and a block in a very utilitarian effort. I could go on and on about how much I love the game of Eduardo Najera, but instead I think I’ll just give him a new nickname. From here on out, I’m going to refer to Eduardo as, “The Grout”, because the guy just fills in all the cracks!

Then you add in the one-two punch of Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson and you can start to see how the Nuggets beat the Bucks by 26 points. AI finished tonight’s contest with a game-high 22 points, six assists, two rebounds, and a steal while absolutely giving the Bucks fits on defense. And his Western Conference All-Star counterpart was just as deadly. ‘Melo gave the Nuggets 16 points, eight big boards, three steals, two assists, and a block in a mere 26 minutes of game time.

Up next for the Nuggets is a preseason rematch with the Pistons tomorrow night. The game is on NBATV and starts five o’clock MST. A game preview chalked full of links and insight will be up tomorrow in the AM. The Nuggets now rest at 3-1 with just 14 days until Halloween’s opening night. You with me, Nuggets Nation?

Go Nuggets!

Protrade.com Opens NBA Team IPO's

(Boulder-CO) At four o'clock MST www.protrade.com opened up the NBA Team IPO's for the 2007-08 season. The Nuggets opened at just a shade under $120, and will without a doubt earn far more than that! Email me at scallywg31@aol.com to request an invite to my Protrade community and enjoy the sports stock market madness all season long!

Nuggets vs. Bucks Preseason Preview

(Boulder-CO) Tonight the Nuggets travel to Green Bay, Wisconsin to face the Bucks. Milwaukee is solid team with some new faces, but if the Nuggets play their stars for any substantial minutes they should be able to earn their third W of the preseason.

The NBA Draft’s sixth overall pick, Yi Jianlian, is the newest Buck and is showing some good things to the Milwaukee faithful. Just last game he scored 13 points and grabbed three rebounds, but didn’t do too good handling the ball. Yi turned it over a team-high eight times and also finished with five fouls. Marcus Camby, if active, should have a field day with the similarly sized Yi down in the blocks and on the boards.

The Bucks are usually led offensively by Michael Redd. Last year, Redd finished with a career-high scoring average of 26.7 points, but has been struggling a bit this preseason to come back to his old form after a season-ending injury sidelined him in early April of last season. His scoring average so far in the 2007-08 preseason is 11.3 points in 26.3 minutes per game.

All in all though this is the type of game that the Nuggets must win come regular season and I would really like to see them finish strong in the fourth quarter. My final line is Nuggets by six. Tip off is set for six o’clock MST.

Go Nuggets!

NBA Blog Previews: Central Division

(Boulder-CO) The NBA Blog Previews continue to roll on and today's offering is the Central Division. Do your homework, Nuggets Nation.

Chicago Bulls

Cobra Brigade

Bull Riding

Cleveland Cavaliers

YAYSports!

The POJO Dojo

Cavalier Attitude

Truth in a Bullet Fedora

Detroit Pistons

PistonsNationBlog

Empty The Bench

Need4Sheed

Motoring

Indiana Pacers

Indy Cornrows

Pacers Pulse

Milwaukee Bucks

Bango's Bunch

Archives

CelticsBlog NBA Page

Also see: Southwest Previews Atlantic Previews

Denver Nuggets NBA Blog Preview

Team Name: Denver Nuggets

Last Year's Record: 45-37

Key Losses: Steve Blake and Reggie Evans

Key Additions: Von Wafer, Chucky Atkins, Steven Hunter, and the return of Kenyon Martin

1. What significant moves were made during the off-season? The Nuggets decided to not resign Steve Blake in a move that I agreed 100% with. He was not the kind of point guard that could take this team any further in the post season than he did and he was looking to make way more than the Nuggets should have considered paying him. Denver needed a shooter and speedier fast break general and I think that Chucky gives them that.

Denver also traded Reggie Evans to the Philadelphia 76ers and in return received center Steven Hunter and guard Bobby Jones. The Nuggets had a log jam at the four spot with Nene, the return of Kenyon Martin, and Eduardo Najera, so it was good for both Reggie and the Nuggets to make the move. Steven Hunter serves as a good, inexpensive back up for Marcus Camby in the middle and Bobby Jones is definitely competing for a roster spot.

But the best move the Nuggets made this off-season was signing Von Wafer from the NBDL Colorado 14ers. Von is a shooting guard that I believe is going to really surprise some people this year because he has proven to be an offensive force at every stop on his way to the NBA. Don’t know much about Wafer? Here’s a crash course! “Nilla”, as he likes to be called, averaged 32 points, 10 rebounds and 7 assists his junior season while in Lisbon, La playing for Pineview High School. His senior year, he transferred to Heritage Christian Academy in Cleveland, Texas where he averaged 26 points, 8 rebounds, 4 steals, and 4 blocks per game. And for his achievements on the basketball court, Wafer earned All-America third-team honors from USA Today Newspaper following his senior season. Von also was named a McDonalds All-American and scored 29 points on 13 of 20 shooting from the field while clearing 8 rebounds. He matched up well with King James for much of the game and finished second to James in the slam dunk contest.

He then played two years of college hoop at Florida State University before becoming an early entry in the 2005 NBA Draft. His freshman year at FSU Wafer averaged 7.9 points in 17.5 minutes a game. He ranked third among all ACC freshmen with 43 three-point field goals made and scored in double figures 12 times. As a sophomore, he led the team in scoring with an average of 12.5 points per game and made 65 bombs from long range. He made more than one three-point field goal in 14 games and surpassed the 20-point mark on six occasions.

Many people at this point in Wafer’s career thought it was a mistake for him to enter the draft early and some experts didn’t expect him to be drafted at all. In fact, during one of the only pre-draft workouts he could arrange with the Phoenix Suns, Wafer reportedly was frustrated by the physical play from Jan Jagla and responded by swinging an intentional elbow to Jagla’s nose, walked off the court, and ended the workout at that point. Things at this point were not looking good for Wafer’s NBA chances.

However, Von proved all the pessimists wrong by becoming the 39th overall pick of the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2005 NBA Draft. He was later waived, but then did some serious work in the NBDL while playing for the Colorado 14ers. Wafer finished last season as the D-League’s second highest overall scorer at a pitch of 21 points a game while grabbing 2.9 rebounds and dishing 3.3 assists.

Fast forward to this summer’s Las Vegas NBA Summer League.

Von “Nilla” Wafer led the Nuggets in scoring with an average of 24.2 points, plus three assists, and 1.9 rebounds while coming in third overall in the mid-summer classic's scoring race. Not to mention he capped off his summer showcase with a record-tying 42 points against the New York Knicks in only a mere 26 minutes of playing time.

There, now you have no excuse for not knowing about Von Wafer!

2. What are the team's biggest strengths? Obviously, the Nuggets are an offensive juggernaut. ‘Melo, AI, and the rest of the fast-breaking Nuggets are going to put up major numbers on most teams. I’m also looking for ’Melo to once again be among the league’s leading scorers.

3. What are the team's biggest weaknesses? Defense and chemistry are going to be equally challenging for the Nuggets. Even with the reigning Defensive Player of the Year in Marcus Camby, the Nuggets biggest area to improve is defense. They gave up way too many points to teams that struggled offensively last year and lost too many games because of it. Chemistry is also going to be an obstacle to overcome in Denver. AI and Carmelo need to learn how to bring out the best in each other. Plus, the return of Kenyon Martin is going to provide another wrinkle in the roster that George Karl is going to have to manage. Who plays well with who is going to be just as important as who steps up and plays well this year for the Nuggets, and George Karl is going to have his hands full shuffling the full deck of talented players the Nuggets have on their roster.

4. What are the goals for this team? The Nuggets first goal should be to finish in the top four seeds in the Western Conference Playoff picture. This is going to take at least 50 wins in the regular season and would prevent them from running into a buzz saw like San Antonio in the first round. This should also help them in accomplishing what I feel is their second goal of getting out of the first round of the playoffs. From there I feel like the sky is the limit for this year’s Denver Nuggets.

5. Any wild predictions for this upcoming season? Actually, I’m glad you asked that! I think that Kenyon Martin is going to have a big year and win Comeback Player of the Year. He is attempting to be one of the only players ever to come back from microfracture surgery on both knees and he is really refocused on returning to the level formerly expected out of him.

Predicted Record: 53-29 and the Nuggets will march all the way to the Western Conference Finals!

Go Nuggets!

Mainstream Reports on Smith’s Incident

(Boulder-CO) Rocky Mountain News reporter Chris Tomasson writes in his article today, “Smith apologized to his teammates after practice Thursday. He told them, ‘I’m not trying to be a team cancer.’ Smith declined comment after the game Friday but said after the morning shootaround he disagrees with there being, ‘a lot of speculation and stuff going around about me being an individual player.’ Regarding his apology, Smith said, ‘something between me and the team happened Thursday’, but he wouldn’t elaborate. ‘I just want to let my teammates know I’m here to win,’ he said. ‘It’s not necessarily about me. It’s about the team.’”

Tomasson also gets Coach George Karl’s take on the incident. Chris writes, “Asked if Smith not playing had anything to do with the week’s events, Karl said, ‘I don’t think so, but you can write whatever you want.’”

Sure, George… We all believe you, but at least you’re not going to talk about it in the media after two preseason games! But just to reassure you that George Karl isn’t a completely changed man he goes on to elaborate on J.R.’s performance in the Nuggets loss to the Pistons and said, "I don't remember (the points) as much as I remember his mistakes."

So what can we take from all this convoluted mixed messaging? I think that while George Karl isn’t going to make a mountain out of a mole hill, J.R. Smith is really toeing a thin line with Karl. It is clear to see in the box scores of the first three games that J.R. has some serious heat on him from Wafer and Linas Kleiza. There has even been more and more serious talk about “finding” a position to utilize Linas in because of the high number of minutes ‘Melo is set to most likely play at the small forward position. And if any one is keeping track of Wafer’s performances in a head-to-head capacity with J.R. Smith. Wafer’s averages for the first three preseason games are 14 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.3 assists, and less than one turnover a game. J.R.’s averages for both games that he has appeared in are 14 points, two rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 3.5 turnovers a game. Oh, and are you wondering how George feels about Wafer’s defense? In the same article, George comments, “I thought Von was awful defensively in the first half and pretty damn good in the second half.”

Right Spread-Wrong Team

(AP Photo/Gary Malerba)

(Boulder-CO) It was disappointing to watch the Nuggets not execute like I mentioned in my preview because this one was there for the taking. Like I predicted, the game was extremely tight down the stretch, but due to poor decision making, lack of execution, and too many fouls led to the Nuggets losing tonight by three, 109-106.

Both teams played well in spurts and equaled each other’s output in the first three quarters. In the first, Denver came out lethargic and only managed to score 20 points as the Pistons put 29 on them in return. George Karl started an unorthodox line-up of Yakhouba Diawara, Linas Kleiza, Marcus Camby, and Stacey Augmon with point guard Chucky Atkins seeing his first preseason action and the Nuggets looked out of sync. On the other hand, the Pistons started their usual five of Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton, Antonio McDyess, Tayshaun Prince, and Rasheed Wallace and had no trouble getting into a rhythm early. However, Denver did managed to put together a better second quarter, matching the Piston’s 34 points in the period, and in doing so kept things reasonable going into the second half.

In the third, Denver managed to make up the nine points they fell behind by in the first quarter by outscoring the Pistons, 25-16, largely in part to a tremendous turnaround on the defensive end. Marcus Camby’s impact on the boards,(he had ten huge rebounds alone in the quarter), started it all and the rest of the Nuggets really turned the heat up on the Pistons to tie things at 79 going into the final quarter of play.

The final minutes in the fourth were where the game was decided and it was a lack of execution and poor decisions that resulted in the Nuggets taking the L. For instance, with 90 seconds remaining and the Pistons leading, 103-102, J.R. Smith had a lay-up swatted by Jason Maxiel, an offensive foul resulting in a turnover, and a loose ball frustration foul all in the matter of about 30 seconds. Now J.R. isn’t solely to blame for the Nuggets loss, but this terrible stretch was the straw that broke the camel’s back and it allowed the Pistons to take control of the game because it gave them two free-throws, (which they made good on), and put the Nuggets in an immediate foul situation. And credit has to be given to the Pistons for stepping up to the line and knocking down their final four free-throws to ice the game in the final 20 seconds.

Offensive leaders for the Nuggets were Anthony Roberson with 22 points, Bobby Jones with 17 points, and Von Wafer with 16 points, respectively. Both Roberson and Jones also each passed out four assists and Marcus Camby grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds. It should also be noted that J.R. Smith, while finishing with 13 points, missed all four of his three-point attempts and in doing so has missed the last 23 threes he has attempted carrying over to last season’s playoffs.

The DNP list for the Nuggets was long with Carmelo, Kenyon, Eduardo, Nene, and AI all not entering the game. Denver is now 2-1 in preseason play and faces the Bucks in Milwaukee on Tuesday night.

Go Nuggets!

Nuggets vs. Pistons Preseason Preview

(Boulder-CO) The 2-0 Nuggets will face the 1-2 Pistons tonight at the Palace in Auburn Hills. The big stories tonight will be if J.R. Smith plays or if the feud between he and George Karl continues, Von Wafer’s play both offensively and defensively, and how many assists Allen Iverson finishes with.

The J.R. situation intrigues me in so many ways. First, you would think that after the kind of off-season that J.R. had he would want to just focus on basketball and nothing else, but somehow he has found a way to lock horns with Karl again. Only this time, the Nuggets have far more mature options as far as who they can play at the reserve shooting guard position and because of so J.R. could easily find himself sitting at the end of the bench if he is not careful.

Related to this is the pleasantly surprising play of Von Wafer. Von scored 17 in the Nuggets first outing and followed that up with a ten-point showing against the Trailblazers. While neither game was statistically monstrous, Von showed that he can help this team quite nicely in a reserve role and if his defense can continue to improve he will almost certainly lock himself into the good graces of Karl and the coaching staff. A tremendous opportunity is in front of Wafer and I hope he can seize it.

Another bright spot for the Nuggets has been the unselfish play of Allen Iverson. His first showing was a seven assist, eleven point outing and in his second showing he went for 17 points, four rebounds, and four assists. AI is getting the Nuggets started early in the shot clock and his penetration is leading to a lot of buckets both on the dish and the drive. I’m loving the way Iverson is meshing with ’Melo, Camby, and Linas Kleiza because he isn’t trying to individually force things, but instead is allowing his teammates to get involved and they are rising to the occasion. Major kudos are due to AI so far in this preseason.

As far as a prediction on tonight’s game, I’m thinking that the Nuggets probably have not forgotten about Rasheed Wallace’s 60-foot heave that forced overtime the last time the Nuggets were in Motown. And while I think the game will be close, (which the Nuggets need at this point to work on their fourth quarter execution), I’m calling a victory by three over the Pistons.

Be sure to check out these fantastic Pistons sites for an in-depth look at tonight’s opposition.

Need4Sheed
Detroit Bad Boys

Go Nuggets!

More on the J.R. Smith Situation

(Boulder-CO) According to one of my inside sources, there was indeed a, “difference of opinions” between Coach George Karl and guard J.R. Smith during a Nuggets practice and said incident led to J.R. being benched for Friday’s game against the Trail Blazers.

Now, I’m sure that there will soon be more to this story from the mainstream media, but the main question that I have is how long will J.R. and Coach George Karl continue to be at odds? Other less important inquiries are will J.R. play against the Pistons on Sunday and will George Karl speak through the media on the matter in the next few days to come?

Only time will tell, but I have a feeling this story is just in its infancy.

Nuggets Roll Portland in Boulder

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

(Boulder-CO) The Denver Nuggets start their preseason off 2-0 after tonight’s, 118-102, victory over the Portland Trailblazers. In a game that I knew the Blazers were offensively outmatched in, at one point in the fourth quarter Denver led by as many as 27 points after the starters had long been put away. Important to also keep in mind was how Denver was without the services of forwards Nene, Martin, and Najera or guards Chucky Atkins and Anthony Carter.

The big story though is how J.R. Smith did not log a single minute of play in tonight’s game. I talked with a few Nuggets insiders this morning and not a single one of them mentioned any kind of injury J.R. might have sustained in practice or in the last contest, so I’m wondering if there may be something else going on behind the scenes, but more on that later…

The big offensive story from my area of emphasis tonight was the play of Linas Kleiza. LK scored 19 points on 6-11 shooting including 6 of 7 from the free-throw line, passed out three assists, and grabbed two boards in 26 minutes of action. Linas also played some pretty solid defense both on and off the ball. His counter part, Von Wafer, while not playing as effectively as Kleiza or scoring as much played as good if not better than on Tuesday night against the Clippers. ‘Nila started tonight’s game and finished with ten points, two assists, two rebounds, and no turnovers in 22 total minutes played. I think that this game was just as solid as Wafer’s first game because his defense was much better despite still committing four fouls. And in his defense he did pick up a couple of those fouls helping out teammates on penetration and did so in a fashion that prevented easy Portland scores.

Another area that I really like for the Nuggets so far is the high percentage they are shooting from the free-throw line. Denver has started this preseason shooting 80.4% from the charity stripe, including tonight’s collective, 35-42, including no player missing more than two attempts. This is just another area in which the Nuggets can improve on from last season because in many cases this is an area that can also translate into a few more regular season wins from tight games here and there that are won and lost at the line.

And as with no effort at all, Carmelo once again led the Nuggets in scoring with 22 points to go along nicely with his seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Sometimes it seems like ‘Melo is pretty much unstoppable offensively, but it is his passing and willingness to hit the boards that proves there is a continued maturation process still going on with the Nuggets fifth year star. More and more, even ranging back to this past summer’s FIBA games, ‘Melo has been rebounding with an increased regularity.

The next Nuggets preseason game is on Sunday in Detroit against the Pistons, but until then I’ll be keeping my ear to the streets and talking to some people who might be able to shed some light on the situation as to why J.R. didn’t play tonight.

Go Nuggets!

Nuggets vs. Blazers Preseason Preview

(Boulder-CO) The game will be a little bit different due to being in the smaller confines of the Coors Event center in Boulder, but I do not expect the Nuggets to have any problems with the Trailblazers. Even though they will be without Nene, Martin, Carter, and Najera, I feel that the core of AI, Anthony, Marcus, Wafer, and Smith are too much offense for the young Blazers to handle.

But, the Blazers are a team in rebuilding (put on a 12 month hold by the injury to Greg Oden). They have talent at all their positions. LaMarcus Aldridge is an athletic big man with promise, Portland recently acquired Channing Frye from New York in the Z-Ran trade, reigning Rookie of the Year Brandon Roy is set to have another great year, and the ex-Nugget Steve Blake should feel right at home in his second stint with Portland. And, they too beat the injury depleted Clippers on Wednesday, 111-102.

My players to watch in tonight’s game are Von Wafer, Chucky Atkins (if he plays), Linas Kleiza, and J.R. Smith. We all know that the big three, (that’s right Boston- we have a big three too- and they are just as potent), are going to do their work, but there is a crazy little situation developing at the reserve shooting guard spot between J.R., LK, and ‘Nila. ‘Melo is going to play so many minutes this year that I’m now throwing LK into the shuffle for who is going to be the first guard off the bench for George Karl because he is too valuable of a player to collect cobwebs as he waits for Anthony to need a breather.

And the good thing about playing the Blazers tonight is we will be able to evaluate how all three players defend on Roy. Brandon was the Blazers leading scorer last year at a clip of 16.8 points per game and he is equally capable of shooting the lights out of the gym or challenging defenders at the rack. I suspect he will try to drive on Linas and J.R., but will try to test Wafer’s closing speed with his jumper. Remember, George Karl wants to stress defense this year and I think how each one of these three illustrates their commitment to stopping their delegated match-up is going to play a huge role in how the reserve minutes get divided.

My final prediction is Denver by six.

Go Nuggets.

Six Weeks for Carter's Return

(Boulder-CO) The AP is reporting that it will take Anthony Carter six weeks to recover from surgery that put three screws in his broken right hand. I had originally only heard reports that it would be one screw, but the end result of the surgery was three.

Chucky Atkins can not get healthy soon enough.

Karl Not Taking Any Crap

(Boulder-CO) When it comes to J.R. Smith, sometimes you have to understand that he just doesn’t have that fundamental of a game. He didn’t go to college. He is the product of a streetball culture. He is often times more style than substance. But does that make him a bad player? Certainly not. Does that mean that George Karl is going to put up with less than intelligent play and allow any of the aforementioned excuses to glaze over bad play? Don’t bet on it.

In today’s Rocky Mountain News Nuggets report George Karl says in regards to Smith‘s often times less than cerebral approach to the game, “Last year, we tolerated it. This year, it probably won't be tolerated.”

And why should he?

J.R. is now 0-19 from the three-point line dating back to last season’s playoffs, and if it weren’t for all of his aggressive drives to the basket late in the Nuggets first preseason game against the Clippers- plus foul shooting- his box score would have been even uglier than the 4-15 shooting night he finished with.

And let me also tell you that J.R. has some damn stiff competition in Von Wafer. ‘Nila may be entering his first full year of NBA basketball, but he has proven to be a solid ball player at every level of competition up to this point. Furthermore, I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: the one thing that remains constant when the opposition gets bigger, more skilled, cagier, and smarter is the goal’s height, size, and the ability to shoot the basketball. It doesn’t matter if it is the Harlem Globetrotters in different color jerseys just as long as you can put the ball in the basket. The rest of a player’s game may have to change due to the level of competition, but if you can shoot in one league, you can shoot in any.

With all that being said, I do not want to diminish what J.R. Smith could mean to the Denver Nuggets. If he can play headier basketball, make the right pass at the right time, and still incorporate all that flashy streetball stuff into the game than I am all for it. He is a player that can put people in the seats because they know that on any given night at the arena J.R. Smith may blow their mind with an incredible play. And it is sometimes those incredible plays that really boost a team’s morale and sway momentum in the favor of the Nuggets, but the key for J.R. is to learn when and where that kind of play is prudent and when it is not. Because this year if he doesn’t… The Nuggets have far better options than last year and he will find his way back into the dog house of one furious George Karl.

NBA 2K8 is Here!

(Boulder-CO) I just received a copy of NBA 2K8 for the PS3 in the mail and let's just say that it was a long night last night. First let me say that the graphics are hot! The PS3 is known for having the best graphics in the biz right now, and NBA 2K8 does not disappoint in this regard. Furthermore, the new foot planting technology makes old games feel like, well, old games. In this new edition to the 2KSports line the players actually move, dribble, and jump much more realistically than before creating a feeling as close to actually playing basketball as I have ever experienced in a video game.

The other aspects of the game that I really liked are all of the subtle details that have been absent in previous releases. From the way coaches get in the way on the sidelines to all the ways different players, in reality and in the game, translate to the game play really add to the excitement. For instance, if you are playing with Carmelo, (And I don't understand why you wouldn't be), try working that jab step from the wing and letting the jumper fly. Just like in real life, the defender usually gets shook back just enough for you to raise up over their outstretched hand and put the rock in the bottom of the net. Then try playing with AI and slashing into the lane before fading back and dropping that little jumper that we have all become so familiar with. The move is so real and the feel is so fluid that I have to hand it to NBA 2K8 in this regard for being very realistic.

And overall there are some typical type bugs that all video games usually have, but they are not annoying enough to detract from the game. For instance, the shorts on the players sometimes look like they are inside out, but the new Slam Dunk mode, the always popular Association mode, graphics, and the online capabilities of this new release are more than enough for me endorse NBA 2k8 with The Nugg Doctor seal of approval. Now if you don't mind, I have a match up with the Jazz that I need to get back to.

Go Nuggets!

NBA Blog Previews of the Southwest

(Boulder-CO) Get your knowledge here! The NBA Blog Previews are the premiere source for all the inside analysis of your favorite team or most hated opponent. Today's offering is the entire Southwest Division. Enjoy!

San Antonio Spurs
Spur of the Moment

Pounding the Rock

New Orleans
Hornets 24/7

The New Orleans Hornets Fan

Memphis
Shades of Blue

Houston
HoopsBlogging

Dallas
Showboating

Archives
CelticsBlog NBA Page

Nuggets Start with a Preseason Gem

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

(Boulder-CO) Hot damn, here we go again! It sure feels good to be writing up the first game recap of the year and it makes things even sweeter that it is in a winning capacity for the Denver Nuggets. Tonight, at the Pepsi Center the Nuggets beat the Clippers, 119-107, without even playing Nene, Kenyon Martin, Eduardo Najera, Chucky Atkins, or Anthony Carter.

Offensively, the Nuggets were led by ‘Melo who managed to score 17 points, dish six assists, and grab two rebounds in a limited 25 minutes of action. The good news for Nuggets fans is Anthony didn’t look as if he has skipped a beat after leading Team USA Basketball to the gold medal in the FIBA Americas Games. Especially considering recent mention in the local papers that he was, “a little tired”, from the continuous basketball he’s been playing. Overall, ‘Melo continues to abuse defenders at will , both inside and out, and just watching him for a few minutes gave me goose bumps.

Now, speaking of not skipping a beat, or a rebound for that matter, I have to go off the handle for a second about the performance Marcus Camby put on. Camby grabbed 23 humungous boards in 24 minutes, swatted three shots, dimed four assists, and pitched in 13 points. For the last two seasons Marcus Camby has been the defensive backbone of the Denver Nuggets, and if George Karl wants to improve defensively, it shouldn’t be too long before the rest of the Nuggets become inspired by nights like this by the Cambyman. Marcus was crazy good tonight and while his box score is impressive in its own right, his impact on this game went so much deeper. The man flat out owns the area around the goal and I would even go as far as to say the Clippers, at times, looked intimidated when driving the lane knowing that Camby was lurking somewhere on the week side. And if tonight was any kind of a teaser for the season to come for Camby… Let’s just say defending his Defensive Player of the Year title should be no problem.

Other offensive bright spots for the Nuggets were Von Wafer, J.R. Smith, and Linas Kleiza. The big three off the bench all played well in one capacity or another, but I do not feel that any of them had that great of a showing for differing reasons. Von Wafer matched the 17-point team-high set by ‘Melo and grabbed six boards, but fouled a lot on defense and gave up numerous drives to the cup. J.R. Smith started the game and managed to finish with 15 points, but did so on a dreadful 5-14 shooting night which included a 0-7 showing from long range. Linas Kleiza, who probably played the most well rounded game, finished with 12 points on 5-10 from the field while nabbing three rebounds. Linas didn’t really get a chance to do much attacking of the rim and I feel that for him to establish an early confidence that can carry over the entire length of the season. He has to get things going to the basket so defenders have to respect his drive; thus opening up his outside shooting.

Oh, and I almost forgot… Allen Iverson also plays for this team!

The Answer finished tonight’s game with eleven points, seven assists, and a rebound. AI looked very assertive driving the ball into the Clipper defense, willing to dish to the open man, and still capable of finishing at the rim. The Nuggets will benefit tremendously, (not to mention the kind of flexibility Denver will have substituting for different line-ups), if Allen Iverson is concentrating on getting others involved as a point guard instead of a score-first shooting guard. And it is no secret that Denver is light at the point, but if they would be as fortunate as to have a guy like Allen Iverson transform his game into one that serves the situation around him. I truly believe that there are great things in store for the Nuggets Nation this year.

Up next for the Mile High crew is the Portland Trailblazers on Friday night. I slacked off big time today and didn’t post a game preview article, but swear to you that there will be one for Friday’s game.

Go Nuggets!

Welcome Back Better Basketball

(Boulder-CO) After an extended break from the headline spot, Better Basketball is back on The Nugg Doctor! Broken jumper? Weak crossover? No clue how to support your teammate defending the pick and roll? Better get Better Basketball quick!

‘Melo Loves Cameo Appearances

(Boulder-CO) We all remember Carmelo Anthony’s first cameo role in the underground DVD, Stop Snitchin, but did you know that ‘Melo may also be making an appearance in the new Eddie Murphy movie, Nowhereland ? Whether or not Carmelo, AI, and George Karl actually make the final cut is still up in the air, but while Nowhereland is being shot in downtown Denver the film crew made a point to stop by the Pepsi Center.

But for all of you who forgot about ‘Melo’s legendary screen presence, here is a short snippet from the infamous Stop Snitchin video. I wonder how Larry Brown feels about the “big penny” comment?

A Five-Piece of Nuggets to Sit Tonight

(Boulder-CO) It is being reported by the Rocky Mountain News that at least five Nuggets will not see any playing time in tonight’s preseason game against the Clippers. Nene will not play due to a calf strain that has been bothering him since the FIBA Americas Games, Kenyon Martin will not play due to a groin strain suffered in practice in addition to precautionary measures stemming from his second microfracture surgery, Chucky Atkins will also sit due to a tender groin, Eduardo Najera will not play due to a strained back, and Anthony Carter will undergo surgery in his right hand to put in a stabilizing screw that will sideline him for at least another four weeks.

I would also be surprised to see much of Carmelo Anthony, Marcus Camby, or Allen Iverson once the second half kicks off.

Nuggets fans should pay special attention to the shooting guard position because Von Wafer, J.R. Smith, and Linas Kleiza are all competing for minutes coming off of George Karl’s bench. All three players should see considerable amounts of opportunity throughout preseason, but it will be the more defensive minded between J.R. and Von that ends up getting the lion’s share of the minutes at shooting guard.

McNeill Talks to Nuggets Legend Alex English

(Boulder-CO) Ryan McNeill of www.hoopsaddict.com has conducted an interview with Nuggets legend Alex English. If you consider yourself a Nuggets fan, I shouldn't have to tell you that Alex English was THE MAN who actually led the NBA in scoring for the entirety of the 1980's (Don't believe me, go do your homework!). So, bang the link and check out the entire interview without delay.

The Nuggets Have 2 in the Top 25

(Boulder-CO) According to D-Wil of www.hoopsaddict.com the Nuggets have two players in the overall top 25 players in the NBA. Check out the entire list right here and come back and tell me if you believe that Carmelo is not deserving of a higher ranking than Manu "The Flopper" Ginobili or Paul Pierce.

Carter Breaks Hand

(Boulder-CO) The latest report out of Nuggets training camp is guard Anthony Carter has broken his hand. While not a tremendous blow to the Nuggets, it is not known as of right now how long Carter will be sidelined or if it will have a more serious effect on Anthony’s chances of making the final roster.

About.com's Northwest Divisional Preview

(Boulder-CO) I have recently worked with Dennis Velasco of www.probasketball.about.com in putting together a Northwest Divisional Preview. Here's my contribution. Big Thanks to Dennis Velasco for asking me to once again participate with www.about.com.

NBA Blog Previews: Atlantic Division

(Boulder-CO) The NBA Blog Previews are back and to get things started here is the entire Atlantic Division broken down by some of the best hoops bloggin' maniacs in the business!

Boston Celtics

Celtics Blog

LOY's Place

Celtics 17

Red's Army

Celtics 24/7

Green Bandwagon

New Jersey Nets

Hooplah Nation NetsDaily

New York Knicks

Straight Bangin'

Posting and Toasting

Philadelphia 76ers

Passion and Pride

Toronto Raptors

HoopsAddict/RaptorsHQ

HoopsAddict

NBA Blog Previews Official Archives

CelticsBlog NBA Page

SLAM has a Nuggets Preview

(Boulder-CO) Nothing more than a link to bang here. Cub Buenning does a nice job previewing the Nuggets and I have to give props for predicting Denver makes it all the way to the conference finals. However, I definitely do not agree with him that Iverson and J.R. Smith are the probable starters for the Nugget backcourt.

Welcome Back Doc's Sports Service

(Boulder-CO) I am very happy to announce that Doc's Sports Service is once again a headline advertiser on The Nugg Doctor. From who's hot to who's not, you can always rely on Doc's to give you the best handicapping advice in the biz. Thinking about laying a bet? Better get over to Doc's first before putting your hard earned money to work!

We Are All To Blame

(Boulder-CO) I happen to stumble on an article late last night that I just have to share with the rest of you. Apparently, Le Anne Schreiber, "The latest integrity filled journalist to take a crack at being ESPN’s ombudsman", is seemingly blaming blogs for ESPN’s inaccurate reporting.

Quoted as saying, "Since undertaking this job I have become familiar with the world of the sports blog. Ninety percent of them have no compunction about putting out any kind of rumor. Doesn’t matter the source or how reliable it is. They just toss it out there because they are not journalists. They are not responsible and don’t claim to be. They are just tossing out what might be of interest to the water cooler group.”

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Not journalist?

Well, in my book, bloggers are a group of talented, entertaining, informed, and intelligent sports fans/writers who are are just as capable of connecting the imaginary dots as those affiliated with the World Wide Leader (not to mention sometimes even MORE perceptive than the WWL).

But what is important in all of this is how blogs like mine and others covering all different kinds of sports are having an impact on the mainstream. Sure, there are those sites out there that are scoped in the good natured humor that sometimes sports have to be taken with, but others are serious sports columns that stay up late after the games to deliver a perspective way before the print hits the page for the local daily paper. And it is with these serious and credible- source citing- sites that often times the writing on the wall gets put out into the blogosphere way before there is anything actually brewing in the team's front office.

Furthermore, Schreiber goes on to say, "People will return to ESPN dot com to see what they have to say about those rumors. That is what pressures ESPN to make sometimes premature claims. The idea that you do not trade in rumors has virtually gone by the wayside in this form of journalism.”

Then my only question for Schreiber is if we (bloggers) are not journalists than why do you read us? You must pay attention to what is written on blogs for a reason, right? And if that reason is to stay close to what the water cooler group is talking about then either:

A) The WWL has lost its connection with the sports fans it was originally geared towards.

or...

B) You're not giving bloggers (i.e. sports writers who have taken it upon themselves to publish their own thoughts via their own formats) the due credit for either entertaining, informing, and/or discussing possible outcomes for the future of their respective teams.

But either way, to blame bloggers for ESPN's inaccurate reports is just a way to sidestep the blame for their own mistakes, or should I say, lack of prudent and comprehensive journalism.

Iverson Not a “Good” Guy for Long

(Boulder-CO) Even after being commended for acting as a good samaritan, Allen Iverson is right back into the familair position of court defendant due to not showing up to an Omaha high school for a speaking engagement. The Rocky Mountain News is reporting that Iverson left about 2,000 fans waiting about three hours before the no-show citing a “family emergency” as the cause of his absence.

The entertainment group is seeking their $10,000 deposit, plus $33,000 in special damages, including the cost of renting a plane and sending it to pick up the star point guard in Virginia.

Looks like it is just one step forward and two steps back for Iverson when it comes to keeping his name out of the headlines with negative connotations.

The Nuggets Have Business Options

(Boulder-CO) Two of the Nuggets substantial role-players this year actually have more on the line than just making the team during training camp. The Rocky Mountain News refreshes all of our memories in regards to J.R. Smith being up for a contract extension and Linas Kleiza being up for a contract option by Halloween’s opening night game with the Sonics.

In the case of J.R., the article states, “Indications are the Nuggets and Smith’s agent, Arn Tellem, are not close in negotiations.” And why should they be? If J.R. Smith doesn’t prove to George Karl and the Nuggets management that he is willing to put in the work to improve on the defensive end, while also showing that he can be more coachable, then I would be very surprised if he makes it back in Denver next season. Sure, he is a electrifying talent when he gets his three-point shot heated up and when he can get some highlight time out on the break, but his continued displays of basketball immaturity are the main drawback of his game.

If the Nuggets do not sign Smith’s contract extension by the deadline of October 31st then he will become a restricted free-agent, meaning the Nuggets would have first crack at matching another team's contract offer, next off-season.

But as far as Linas Kleiza is concerned, I would be very surprised if the Nuggets wasted much more time before signing the Lithuanian’s contract option. He might not have had the best showing in the San Antonio series last April, but Linas has continued to show improvement in all aspects of his game last season. His option is for the 2008-09 season and would cost the Nuggets $1.82 million.

Nuggets Sign Augmon…To Training Camp

(Boulder-CO) In a move that can only be interpreted as Coach George Karl and management trying to stress defense throughout training camp, the Denver Nuggets have signed 15-year veteran ballhawk Stacey Augmon.

While I wouldn’t expect Stacey to make the final roster cut, (Augmon was out of the NBA last season after playing for the Orlando Magic in 2005-06), if he can come into camp and show J.R. Smith how to move his feet on defense that would make his training camp checks money well spent for the Nuggets.

The rest of this not-so-groundbreaking news can be found right here.

New ESPN Power Rankings

(Boulder-CO) And in the most over-hyped anticipation ever… Boston is ranked the second most powerful team in the league! Will someone please tell Marc Stein that there are FIVE players on the floor at one time in the game of basketball and that the Celtics have a long way to go before they should even be considered one of the best teams in the league. I mean, I can’t even name four other players currently on the Celtics without probably naming a Minnesota Timberwolf.

As I digress, the Nuggets are currently ranked the 11th best team in the league with Stein’s remarks being, “We didn't remember this at first, either, but the Iverson-and-Melo Nuggets were 10-1 in April. So maybe they were right to tweak minimally in the offseason, saving the spotlight for K-Mart's mountain of a comeback.”

So, my question is how probable is a, “Mountain of a comeback” for Kenyon Martin? On the one hand, everything I’m reading and hearing from inside sources is Kenyon Martin is on a warpath to prove he can be everything that he was before, but only this time in a different capacity and with a different style. The flip side to all the positive speculation about Kenyon is my memory of how self-promoting, volatile, and athletically explosive Kenyon Martin was prior to all the knee surgeries and I have to wonder if he can be the same player without what used to be physically nuclear explosiveness.

Thoughts?

The entire ESPN power rankings can be viewed by banging this link.

Finally! Media Highlights AI as "Good" Guy

(Boulder-CO) Usually, the mainstream media is only interested in highlighting the bad side of professional athletes, (like this, this, and this), but today my hat goes off to Aaron Lopez of the Rocky Mountain News for giving AI the “good” press he is due.

The Nuggs are Thinking “60”

(Boulder-CO) The Denver Nuggets haven’t even suited up for a preseason game yet, but the report from today’s Rocky Mountain News is that the players feel they can crush the current franchise win mark of 54 wins with a mark of 60 victories. A lofty goal indeed, but I must say that there are too many questions to be answered right now to be talking about winning 60 games. Especially when Denver isn’t even sure who is going to start at shooting guard or power forward.

Now, let’s say that ten games into the year the Nuggets are 8-2, or even better, with Kenyon Martin showing glimpses of yesteryear, Carmelo leading the league in scoring, AI averaging ten assists a game, Marcus Camby returning to his DPOY form, and Chucky Atkins shooting 40% from downtown. Then I might be more inclined to agree with the Nuggets optimism. But for now, the Nuggets are still a team that once again got bounced from the first round of last year’s playoffs. This kind of sobering thinking is reality, and until that reality changes, we would all be well advised- Nuggets included- to stay within the realm of reality.

The NBA Blog Previews Are Back!

(Boulder-CO) Right here you will find the schedule for the NBA Blog Previews as hosted by Jeff at www.celticsblog.com. Naturally, your boy will be handling the Nuggets on the 16th of October, but that is no reason to slack on your NBA knowledge in the meantime. Go checkout what the other great NBA minds think about Denver's competition when the boss isn't looking!

Last Minute Points Before Camp

(Boulder-CO) Here is a short list of items that pertain to the Nuggets on the eve of the start of training camp. It has been a long wait for this season to kick off and the dawn is finally upon us.

The Denver Post is reporting that Kenyon Martin is down to 4% body fat. The tremendous physical shape he is in is sure to assist in his reemergence as a force for the Nuggets.

The Denver Post is also reporting in the same article that Nene will most likely not be 100% for the start of training camp. What else is new?

Fox Sports has an incredible story, (one that I have left alone all summer because of ethical reasons), on Marcus Camby’s newest addition to the family. Congratulations, Marcus, and may the new blessing carry over into this season.

And finally, my homie Marcel Mutoni reports for the AOL FanHouse via The Rocky Mountain News that Bobby Jones is no stranger to how Allen Iverson likes to be taken care of. Maybe there is another similar position opening for him this year with the Nuggets?

I have previews to write all this week, (and hopefully an insider interview), so be sure to check back with The Nugg Doctor all week long for the goods.

Go Nuggets!

The Disarray of Others

(Boulder-CO) I would never, ever, say I was happy to hear about an injury of a player from the Nuggets, (or any other team for that matter), or the disgruntled sentiments from personnel on an opposing team. But the current situation shaping up in the Northwest Division is looking quite good for the NBA’s Mile High franchise.

Unfortunately, Greg Oden is going to be sidelined with knee problems for the entirety of the 2007-08 season. I say unfortunately because I really did want to see what the Portland Trailblazers, with the ancient looking big man and the rest of their young team, could really do this season. However, the one thing that Greg does have going for him in his favor is youth (presumably). Just look at Amare Stoudemire. He took his time, and a whole NBA season, to recover from a similar surgery and he was able to return to an All-NBA status. So here’s to hoping that Oden can do the same because not being able to enjoy such a promising NBA career would not only be a tragedy for Oden, but also for the rest of us who enjoy watching quality lowpost play. But on the other hand, the Nuggets shouldn’t have to worry about the Blazers too much because I am pretty sure that any noise out of the great northwest is going to be nothing more than static out of the basement of the division.

And as for the Nuggets biggest competition out of the great state of Utah…

The reports of discontent from Andrei Kirilenko are certainly enough to shake any Jazz fan to the core. He is reportedly willing to give up a full-size pick-up truck worth of Benjamins just to get the hell out of the great state of Utah. And I know what you’re about to say, “But AK-47 didn’t even have that great of a season last year, Doc”, and in these sentiments you would be partially correct, but what you are overlooking is AK’s impact that doesn’t make it into the box score. Kirilenko is a player that does all the little things both offensively and defensively that annoys, disrupts, and destroys continuity of the Jazz opponent. So, in any event, if the reports of Andrei not willing to play for the Jazz for any compensation due end up being true it is a good thing for the Nuggets.

And what about that situation up in Washington?

All the most current reports are leaning towards Seattle not having a basketball team in the next couple of years. The team’s ownership is still trying to bail on the final two years of their lease at Key Arena and nothing makes a team move faster than it’s ownership wanting out. Period. Now, they do have the most obvious favorite for NBA Rookie of the Year in Kevin Durant. But, what they do not have is anyone on the roster to compensate for Durant’s offensive skills on the defensive end, and trust me; they’re going to need it. The youngster may be the next best thing to George Gervin the NBA has seen since basketballs had three colors, but on defense, well, Wes Unseld he is not. And there is no way that he is going to make up for the Sonics management trading both Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis in just his first year in the NBA.

And who can forget the Timberwolves?

Sure they have a completely new team. Sure Al Jefferson is a beast. And sure they have little to no clearly defined player roles, but what is Kevin McHale going to do when the T-Wolves drop 10 out of their first 15 games and the finger pointing starts? Because the way that I see it is all the problems that all those former Celtics tried to leave in Boston are almost certainly going to follow the same cast of characters to the frigid lands of Minnesota. And without Kevin Garnett’s wide shoulders to carry the load...

Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf?

Probably not the Nuggets or anyone else in the NBA.

So, the Northwest Division could arguably be the most twisted division in the entire NBA. Injuries, malcontented players, owners wanting change in scenery, and the departure of two All-Star caliber players from Seattle all seemingly mean good things for the Nuggets. But in keeping things honest, the Nuggets have their own problems to figure out. Fortunately, we seemingly have all the answers, (pun intended), in one shape or form.

But how, when, and where they all come about is another story.

'Melo's Shoes Help Win Games

(Boulder-CO) In a bit of a surprise to me, 'Melo's Jordan Brand kicks have been cited as the difference in a Womens college basketball game. Crazy? Here's the proof...

CARMELO ANTHONY LA M3 INTERVIEW - PT1
CARMELO ANTHONY LA M3 INTERVIEW - PT2


Now I know this is just another shameless 'Melo post, but pretty much everything I'm working on right now is for the upcoming preview season set to start in about a week. I'm working with good outlets this year, and trust me, good things are to come.

LK's Top Ten Plays

(Boulder-CO) Not much introduction is needed for Linas Kleiza's top ten plays. Enjoy!

Honestly Evaluating the Nuggets Roster

(Boulder-CO) The NBA roster rules state that a team can have 15 players on its roster, but only 12 can be active at any one time. The Nuggets currently do have 15 players listed on their official roster at their home page, but understanding what is immanent with these 15 is where I come in.

Right off the bat it is clear the Nuggets starting five is going to be tremendously strong this year. Obviously, AI and Chucky Atkins are going to make up the Nuggets backcourt. Chucky is going to start at point with AI playing the two (where he NEEDS to be!). This is going to be the best positional breakdown in the backcourt because when AI runs the show he has a tendency to dribble the ball way to much around the perimeter while not getting the play going early. Chucky is going to be able to bring the ball down and get the offense started. Other than that… Atkins needs to spot up by entering the ball into the post for Camby, Nene, Kenyon, and Carmelo and then relocate for open threes as his man becomes preoccupied with helping the post defender.

In the frontcourt the only two obvious starters are Carmelo Anthony and Marcus Camby. Anthony should have another real good chance of leading the league in scoring this season and I’d venture to say that his average minutes per game is going to be above 40 for certain. Somewhere in the realm of 40-42 is where I think Carmelo’s minutes will tally with about a three to four minute breather at the start of the second quarter and another similar break as the third period is concluding.

On the other hand, the Nuggets coaching staff would be wise to limit Marcus Camby’s average playing time to around 30-32 minutes a game. This reasoning is two-fold: first off, Marcus Camby is getting up there in age, and as we all know, has been injury-prone. Playing him anymore than this is just asking for trouble with a player as, “high-mileage”, as Camby. Secondly, I think Marcus can only play at the top of his game when he doesn’t have to worry about foul trouble and this is equally one part freshness off of routine and frequent substitutions and one part oppositional match-ups. With oppositional match-ups meaning that if the opponent’s big man is a strong lowpost presence, (say for instance Shaq or the bruising Dwight Howard), I believe the Nuggets are better personnel wise with Nene defending them with Camby playing some power forward.

And now that I have mentioned “Big Brazil” we have finally come to the only question mark the Nugget have in their starting five.

It is murky as to who is going to be ready to start for the Nuggets at the four spot. Kenyon Martin is returning off of season-ending surgery and Nene is once again out of shape and coming off of a calf strain suffered while playing for Brazil in the FIBA Americas games. So, before training camp even starts, I would have to give the starting nod to Nene only because of the severity of Kenyon’s injury and the recent action Nene saw playing for Brazil. But what is important to keep in mind, Nuggets Nation, is how Nene needed to play himself back into the player we all saw him to be last year and it is in this realm that I see he and Kenyon Martin essentially sharing time early in the season before one man is clearly identified himself as the fulltime starter. And the good news for whoever doesn’t end up starting is they will almost surely be the first man up off the bench in George Karl’s rotation.

And if you’re keeping track… that is the first six players covered on the Denver Nugget roster. Six down and nine to go!

The next four players to round out the second tier for the Nuggets are pretty obvious. Linas Kleiza is going to probably be the next man off the bench. LK can play small forward and some shooting guard, but it is his energy and rebounding spark that makes him the Nuggets seventh man. LK showed in the latter half of last year that he can run the floor with explosive finishing capability and if his three ball can continue to consistently improve, (remember the last home Laker game?), he will see a lot more time at shooting guard than the Carmelo Anthony dominated three spot.

Now, at the back-up point guard position we have a problem and the most likely solution is to move Allen Iverson over to the point when Chucky Atkins exits to the bench. I wish the Nuggets had a more proven reserve at the one spot, but AI is going to play nearly 40 minutes a game, so it only makes sense that he would slide over and run the show. And with AI running the point, this is where I see J.R. Smith or Von Wafer coming into the game. I’m including the rookie Von Wafer in the competition for the eight spot because I’m sure we all have not forgotten how J.R. ended last season with “Furious” George Karl criticizing his professionalism in the media and then consequently benching him for the rest of the playoffs.

So, with that being refreshed in our memory, I expect Von Wafer to really give J.R. a run for his money as the “Shooter’s” shooting guard. ’Nilla has proven to be a scorer at every level thus far in his career, and if he can prove to Karl that he is also somewhat of a defender, then I think he might have the upper hand over the doghouse renting J.R. Smith.

Don’t get me wrong here, I like J.R. Smith’s explosiveness and his ability to catch fire, but his continued uncoachability and poor shot selection is going to be his defining fulcrum in the NBA. He has already bounced around the league for a young player and the report from every coach that has tried to work with him has been that J.R. just doesn’t want to improve the areas of this game that need the most work.

But most importantly to keep in mind when trying to clear up the reserve shooting guard position for the Nuggets is that it is a position that boils down to who puts the ball in the basket. Whoever decides that they can score the ball coming off the bench is going to instantly solidify their position in George Karl’s rotation. So, either way, J.R. Smith and Von Wafer are going to round out the eighth and ninth spot for the Nuggets.

And in the tenth, and final second string spot, I see Eduardo Najera stepping in. Eddie slips to the tenth spot this season because I see his role being a situational one with Marcus, Nene, and Kenyon seemingly dominating the four and five spots. However I will say this: Najera’s role may be bigger than the tenth spot may seem because if/when Kenyon Martin, Nene, or Marcus Camby become injured he is the man that has to step up. The same is true of Eduardo if the Nuggets decide to put a big line-up on the floor with Carmelo actually playing some shooting guard and Najera plus a combination of the aforementioned two rounding out the frontcourt. Plus, Najera is a “glue guy” meaning that he is not only capable, but more often than not is willing to do whatever the Nuggets need to him to do night-in and night-out. On more than a few occasions last year, Eduardo Najera did all the small things that tied together the loose ends for the Nuggets in games which his contributions ultimately resulted in wins. Plus, he is a consummate professional. Najera will have no problem coming off the bench and giving the Nuggets everything he has without complaining, pouting, or loafing in however many minutes he does end up playing. Bottom line is you gotta love Eduardo Najera!

Only two more active roster spots left. Are you ready for who rounds out your Denver Nuggets this year?

The eleventh man in the rotation is probably going to be Steven Hunter. The seven-foot journeyman is on a very crowded Denver Nugget roster and with Nene being equally adept to playing center or power forward makes things that much tougher on Hunter. Steven is essentially a cheap insurance policy in the event that the Nuggets become very banged-up up front and I would be very surprised if he even averages eight minutes a game by season’s end.

And last but not least, (O.K., maybe least in this case), is Yakhouba Diawara. While I think Yak has what it takes to be a consistent active roster player, I do not think he will see much time this year unless it is in a special defensive capacity. The best way I can sum up ‘Khouba’s game is that he is offensively a CBA player while being NBA defense-ready. Not a bad thing to be on a team that struggles, at times, defensively because Diawara will definitely see his fair share of time this season marking up with the likes of Kobe, McGrady, and the Vince Carters of the league.

And there you have it, Nuggets Nation! The breakdown of how the active twelve shakes out just about two weeks before training camp starts.

The three inactive players that will most likely stay on Denver’s payroll are point guard Anthony Carter, free agent center Jamal Sampson, and small forward/shooting guard Bobby Jones. Carter and Jones may see some active status if any of the Nugget guards become injured and same goes for Samspon in the event that a front court player goes down for any reason. But don’t get your hopes up that any of these three play more than a handful of minutes this season.

Go Nuggets!

LaPhonso Ellis per Request

(Boulder-CO) Longtime reader JM asked me to dig up some old school Laphonso Ellis footage for him and this is what I came up with. Sorry the highlight reel is in Spanish, but the clip of LaPhonso is well worth the wait to see what number in the countdown he comes in at. Enjoy!

Rasheed Wallace... Billboard for Catholicism?

(Boulder-CO) Usually I keep all my posts religion free, but this next story is just too weird to not publish, (especially when remembering Rasheed's Hail Mary that was answered against the Nuggets). Earlier today I was wandering the Internet looking for obscure news on the good folks that make up the NBA and found that Rasheed Wallace has what some devout believers believe to be a visage of the Virgin Mary in his white spot on the back of his head!

The whole mind-blowing story be read by clicking this link.

I was reluctant to post anything on this earlier because it didn’t have anything to do with the Nuggets, but now that my friend Jim over at www.questtoberemembered.blogspot.com has it up on his site. I can send you over to there for a local Michigan reaction.

It is a strange world out there, folks! Do you believe?