Today's Date in NBA History

(Boulder-CO) Today's date is October 20th, on on this day:

'62- John Havlicek made his debut for the Boston Celtics at home against the New York Knicks. The Celtics won 149-116.

'72- The Buffalo Braves scored an NBA-record 58 points in the fourth quarter, but still dropped a 126-118 decision to the Celtics at Boston Garden.

'73- Boston pulled down an NBA record 39 offensive rebounds in a game against the Capital Bullets at the Capital Centre, but the Celtics ended up losing the game, 96-87.

'76- The Philadelphia 76ers acquired Julius Erving from the New York Nets in exchange for $3 million.

Enjoy your day!

NBA Blog Previews: Central Division

(Boulder-CO) Time to sharpen your skills for all the NBA fantasy leagues getting started. I present to you the Central Division.

Chicago Bulls

Nels: Give Me The Rock


Matt: Blog-a-Bull

Cleveland Cavaliers

Rock: Waiting For Next Year

FTS: Fear The Sword

David Friedman: 20 Second Timeout

Amar Panchmatia: Cavalier Attitude

Detroit Pistons

Brian Spencer: Empty the Bench

Natalie Sitto: Need4Sheed.com


Matt Watson: Detroit Bad Boys

Indiana Pacers

Tom: Indy Cornrows

Milwaukee Bucks

Jeramey Jannene: The Bratwurst

Frank Madden: BrewHoop

Thanks again to Jeff at www.celticsblog.com for putting these all together for us.

Today's Date in NBA History

(Boulder-CO) Today's date is October 16th, and on this day:

'62- Dave DeBusschere made his debut for the Detroit Pistons against Los Angeles during a neutral site contest in New York. The Lakers won 122-106.

'63- Jerry Lucas made his debut for the Cincinnati Royals at the St. Louis Hawks. The Royals won 112-93.

'65- Billy Cunningham made his debut for the Philadelphia 76ers at the Baltimore Bullets. The 76ers won 133-101.

'68- The Milwaukee Bucks made their debut with a 89-84 loss to the Chicago Bulls before a Milwaukee Arena crowd of 8,467.

'68- Wes Unseld made his debut for the Baltimore Bullets at home against the Detroit Pistons. The Bullets won 124-116.

'70- The Portland Trail Blazers defeated fellow expansion club Cleveland 115-112 to pick up their first victory in the NBA.

'71- Artis Gilmore made his debut for the Kentucky Colonels of the ABA at home against the New York Nets. The Colonels won 107-98.

'99- After a scare in the opening game the previous day, the San Antonio Spurs flexed their muscles in Milan, Italy and continued the NBA's domination of the McDonald's Championship. With Tim Duncan leading the way, the Spurs rolled to a 103-68 rout of Vasco da Gama of Brazil in the final of the biennial international tournament at the FilaForum. Duncan earned the Drazen Petrovic Trophy as the tournament MVP with a 32-point, 18-rebound performance. Duncan had 20 of his points in the first half when the Spurs built a 56-36 lead. After seeing its lead cut to 79-66, San Antonio outscored the Brazilian team, 24-2 in the fourth quarter. David Robinson had 16 points and Avery Johnson added 14 for the Spurs.

Enjoy your day!

Previewing Your 2008-09 Denver Nuggets

(Boulder-CO) At last I give you my submission to the NBA Blog Previews!

Last Year's Record: 50-32

Key Losses: Marcus Camby, Eduardo Najera

Key Additions: Nene, Chris Andersen, Renaldo Balkman

1. What significant moves were made during the off-season?

The most significant moves made (or not made) by Nuggets management were the re-signing of J.R. Smith, trading Marcus Camby to the Clippers in a move that was essentially financial, the free agent signing of Chris “The Birdman” Andersen, losing free-agent Eduardo Najera to the New Jersey Nets, and acquiring Renaldo Balkman from the Knicks. The acquisitions of Chris Andersen and Renaldo Balkman bring two high-energy hustle players who should resonate as fan favorites. At 6‘11”, “The Birdman” provides depth at center while the 6’9” Balkman is capable of guarding all three front court positions with his combination of length, athleticism, and determination. And with Denver brass’ decision to trade Marcus Camby to the Clippers for a 10 million dollar trade exception it’s important to talk about Nene. “Big Brazil” is going to play an intricate role this season as he is catapulted into the starting role of center after missing the almost the entire 2007-08 season while undergoing treatment for testicular cancer. Nene has all the tools to be an All-Star caliber performer, but needs to shake the injury bug to prove he is indeed the big man for years to come in the Mile High City.

However, the biggest move of the Nuggets’ off-season was the resigning of J.R. Smith for $16.5 over the next three years. “The Prodigy” is flat-out an electric talent with seemingly limitless potential and could very well find his way into the starting line-up of Coach George Karl.

2. What are the team’s biggest strengths?

Obviously, the Denver Nuggets are one of the most potent offenses in the NBA. They boast the highest scoring tandem in the NBA with Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson averaging over 50 points combined from last season, one of the fastest game tempos, and were the only team in the league last year to have four separate players record a 40+ point game. With those three things combined Denver has a trident of offense of which to rely on and they have only added a low post scorer in Nene.

3. What are the team’s biggest weaknesses?

Team defense and leadership are the two biggest question marks for the Nuggets. With the loss of the league’s leading shot blocker two years running and second best rebound collector from last season there is a lot of slack to be picked up on the defensive end. This could either prove to be just what the Nuggets needed to have happen in the sense that a perceived safety net which Marcus Camby provided no longer exists and everyone is held individually accountable for their defensive assignment or a task too tall to be completed and the Nuggets will once again allow one of the highest opposing ppg in the league.

A clearly designated leader of this team is also an area that needs to be cemented for the Denver Nuggets to improve. The guessing game of, “Who’s team is this?”, needs to answered. Carmelo Anthony could certainly assume the role by becoming more vocal and leading by example on the defensive end or “The Answer” could be Allen Iverson and his style of play. It’s been proven that when AI records a double-double of assists and points the Nuggets are nearly unbeatable and by sacrificing some of his own scoring he makes the rest of this team’s gold glisten.

4. What are the goals for this team?

The goal for this team is to not be content just making the playoffs, but to finally advance in the postseason. For five straight seasons the Nuggets have been one of only four teams in the league to make the playoffs in said consecutive years and are the only team to have not made it to the conference semis.

Predicted Record: 44-38

Go Nuggets!

Beating Utah is Always Tough

(Boulder-CO) Tonight's untelevised contest between the Nuggets of Denver and the Jazz of Utah was nothing short of fantastic; especially the, 120-119, overtime victory! This game scratched the Nuggets right where they itch and hopefully sent a message to the Jazz. That message: Don't get to comfortable at the top of the division."

As I said, the game wasn't televised and rather than bore you with an attempt to recreate the play-by-play. I'll just breakdown the boxscore and remind you of my prediction.

-J.R. Smith is showing signs of a breakthrough so far this preseason. He led the Nuggets in scoring tonight with 19 points (to be fair, Linas also scored 19 points), and is leading the Nuggets in ppg through three games with an average of 16.5 points.

-Four out of the five starters tonight scored in double figures. Carmelo finished with 16 points, five rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Kenyon Martin also added 16 points, a team-high eight rebounds, and three steals. Linas Kleiza posted the aforementioned 19 points and Anthony Carter was good for ten points and three assists. Dahntay Jones rounded out the starters, but just missed double-digits with nine points while playing an otherwise well-rounded game consisting of six rebounds, three assists, and three steals.

-Although Smush Parker didn't score any points he still gave the Nuggets a much needed shot in the arm with his passing in what was otherwise a poor offensive second quarter. Parker only played 14 minutes in total, but handed out four of his team-high five assists in the first twelve minutes of the period.

-Chris Andersen, Nene, and Allen Iverson did not play. Iverson missed action tonight to rest the sore left knee, Birdman was caged with a sore calf, and Nene reportedly is suffering from a banged elbow sustained in practice Tuesday.

-The Nuggets won the turnover battle and as I predicted won the game. Denver forced 26 Jazz turnovers resulting in 33 Nugget points while only returning the favor with 19 miscues of their own of which Utah could only capitalize 25 points from.

-The game was decided in the final ten seconds of overtime after Dahntay Jones stole the ball from C.J. Miles. J.R. Smith missed two free-throws the possession before Jones came up with the steal that gave Linas Kleiza the opportunity to put the Nuggets up by four points with two free-throws after being fouled by Kevin Lyde. LK made both and the Nuggets ended up needed them after Kosta Koufos hit a 30-foot three-point heave with only one second remaining.

With the win, Denver stays a perfect 3-0 in preseason play with their remaining four preseason games on the road. Next up is rematch with the Phoenix Suns in a homecoming for Carmelo Anthony. Friday night's game will be played in Syracuse, New York at the Carrier Dome.

Go Nuggets!

Preseason Preview #3: Jazz @ Nuggets

(Boulder-CO) Tonight, the 2-0 Denver Nuggets host the division rival Utah Jazz in their third preseason game and finally we should see a Denver roster with both Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony active. 'Melo, who is listed as probable, missed each of the Nuggets first two preseason games in 2008 due to a 4th metacarpal contusion on his left hand while Iverson, who did not travel with the team to Indian Wells as a precautionary measure for a left knee contusion, are both listed as starters.

But with all kidding aside, and I'm looking in the direction of the guys over at True Blue Jazz, I do envy a few things about the Utah Jazz. They are the things that have separated the two team over the last few seasons and a lot of them trickle down from the man at the helm, Jerry Sloan.

For starters, I have to respect the discipline Utah plays with. A hot-dog play that doesn't connect for a team which Jerry Sloan is coaching almost surely means someone is getting a seat next the the coach for a good ear chewing. And as a result, the Jazz (with the tremendously heady and coachable play of their point guard, Deron Williams) are routinely in the green when it comes to turnovers created over those given away. Now, think about the Denver Nuggets... Sure, they connect on, and we have a funny way of remembering, an awful lot of jaw-dropping plays, but try and watch for all the instances where the fundamental play is missed in exchange for a potential highlight and how George Karl reacts. Typically, it's not with the same distaste as that of Jerry Sloan in similar situations and thus creates the difference in the two teams' demeanors.

My other main source of envy of the Utah Jazz is their fierce commitment to the defensive end first and foremost. The Nuggets play with a mentality of, "We'll just get another bucket on the other end to make up for the one we just gave up", whereas the Jazz seem to take the exact opposite approach. Utah seems to play with the mentality of, "We better stop them this possession because it's not a guarantee that we score on the next possession", and much of that is transcended from the way Jerry Sloan approached the game when he was a player. See, Sloan was never the most gifted athlete on the court in his day so he had to do all the little things to earn his playing time, stats, and respect from other players and it's with that same yeoman mentality that his teams approach the game.

So, with those two differences in tonight's game fresh in your mind. I would like to make a prediction about who wins. If the Nuggets' number of created turnovers outweighs the number they surrender Denver walks away with the W. Simple as that. Win the turnover battle, win the game.

And prove to me that there has indeed been a change made in the approach to the game of this year's team.

Go Nuggets!

Today's Date in NBA History

(Boulder-CO) Today's date is October 15th, and on this day:

'65- Rick Barry made his debut game for the San Francisco Warriors at home against the Los Angeles Lakers. The Warriors won 122-115.

'66- Bill Russell became the NBA’s first black head coach when he was designated as player-coach of the Boston Celtics. In his coaching debut he led the Celtics to a 121-113 win over the San Francisco Warriors at Boston Garden. Russell, who coached Boston for three seasons, led the Celtics to a pair of NBA titles in 1968 and 1969.

'66- Dave Bing made his debut for the Detroit Pistons at Cincinnati. The Royals won 103-99.

'66- Matt Guokas Jr. played in his first game for the Philadelphia 76ers, marking the first time a father-son combination had competed in the NBA. Matt Sr. played with Philadelphia in the 1940s, and at the time of his son’s debut, was a sportscaster for the 76ers.

'70- Dan Issel made his debut for the Kentucky Colonels of the ABA at Indiana. The Pacers won 127-95.

'71- Julius Erving made his debut for the Virginia Squires of the ABA at the Carolina Cougars. The Squires won 118-114.

Enjoy your day!

NBA's Kings of Tattoo

(Boulder-CO) I'm un-officially naming this year's Denver Nuggets as the NBA's Kings of Tattoo. In fact, I dare any other blogs or fan alike to even try and make a case against the Nuggets when it comes to the amount of body art being displayed in those tank tops! Here are the most inked on this year's roster:

Exhibit A: Allen Iverson

The Answer may not have the most surface area when it comes to NBA players, but he's not going to let that stop him from getting the most out of his time in the chair. He is easily one of the most tattooed on the team.

Exhibit B: Carmelo Anthony

'Melo is also heavily tatted with words like "Honesty" on his arms and the Warner Brothers logo on his shoulder that pays homage to "West Baltimore". One of the more unique tattoos 'Melo has is a Puerto Rican flag on his hand.

Exhibit C: Kenyon Martin

K-Mart is another of the most heavily tattooed Nuggets with a menagerie of ink. He has the face of a baby on his right bicep, the name "Cierra" on his neck along with a new pair of pink lips, my personal favorite Grim Reaper on the left shoulder, and tons of other script on the back of both arms and forearms.

Exhibit D: J.R. Smith

Can anyone say, "Full-Sleeves"? J.R. Smith is the most tattooed Nugget! Neck, hands, back, J.R. has it all! He has the words, "Death Before Dishonor" on his calf, both of his parents' names on either arm, and a detailed depiction of New Jersey on his left bicep with the message, "King of NJ". One things for sure... He is certainly the King of Tattoos!

Exhibit E: Anthony Carter


Much like the man himself, Anthony Carter's ink doesn't command a whole lot of attention, but it's there and you can't deny it. Both arms are nearly covered, but shhhhhhh..... Don't make a big deal out of it.

Exhibit F: Chris Anderson

From the chain around his neck to the self-explanatory wings underneath the Birdman's arms, Chris Andersen fits right in with this team. Welcome home, Birdman. Welcome home!

Exhibit G: Chucky Atkins

Chucky is no slouch either when it comes to having both arm in full mural. He rounds out our expose of skin art on this year's Denver Nuggets.




After all that photographic evidence is there anyone out there who can argue that the Nuggets do not have the most ink in the NBA?

Like what you've read? Go to the new Nugg Doctor for more Nuggets coverage.

Go Nuggets!

Today's Date in NBA History

(Boulder-CO) Today's date is October 14th, and on this day:

'70- Bob Lanier made his debut for the Detroit Pistons at the Seattle SuperSonics. The Pistons won 123-117.

'70- Nate Archibald made his debut for the Cincinnati Royals at home against New York. The Knicks won 128-104.

Enjoy your day!

DKY: Chucky Atkins

(Boulder-CO) Howdy Folks, here is one of the remaining DYK's for your Denver Nuggets that I haven't touched yet. Chucky needs a good nickname, so leave your ideas in the comments section.

-Chucky's given name is Kenneth Lavon Atkins.

-He finished as a four-year letterman at South Florida and the school's third all-time leading scorer.

-Atkins is a fan of the Dallas Cowboys.

-He received a basketball from his father for his first birthday and could dribble by age three.

-Chucky also played football in high school as a freshman, seeing some time at quarterback that same year.

Go Nuggets!

Today's Date in NBA History

(Boulder-CO) Today's date is October 13th, and on this day:

'67- The Seattle SuperSonics dropped a 144-116 decision to the San Francisco Warriors in their first NBA game.

'67- The first ABA game was played with the Oakland Oaks beating the Anaheim Amigos, 132-129. The game introduced the red, white and blue ball and used the 3-point field goal.

'70- Calvin Murphy made his debut for the San Diego Rockets at Chicago. The Bulls won 111-96.

'70- Dave Cowens made his debut for the Boston Celtics at New York. The Knicks won 114-107.

'79- Golden State lost a 102-96 overtime decision to Chicago. The Warriors went on to lose their next nine overtime games as well, setting the NBA record for consecutive overtime losses with 10.

'98- The NBA announced that it has canceled the first two weeks of the 1998-99 season because of the stalled collective bargaining negotiations with the National Basketball Players Association. The cancellation included all games originally scheduled to be played through November 16.

'00- Isiah Thomas, Bob McAdoo and 24-second shot clock innovator Danny Biasone are enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.

Enjoy your day!

2-0: I'll Take It!

(Boulder-CO) Despite the fact that it was the ugliest game possibly ever, I'm still happy the Nuggets were able to beat the Suns, 77-72, outside at Indian Wells. The game was windy with both teams missing a star player or two and the result was a terribly low shooting percentage by all who braved the elements.

In fact, the game was so hard to watch I would like to just mention one player who stood out. Robin Lopez of the Phoenix Suns absolutely played fantastic! He swatted Nene, The Birdman, Linas Kleiza, Mateen Cleaves, and assorted other Nuggets on his way to an eight point - seven rejection evening that fit nicely with his five rebounds.

Go Nuggets!

Today's Date in NBA History

(Boulder-CO) Today's date is October 12th, and on this day:

'79- Chris Ford of the Boston Celtics scored the first three-point basket in NBA history with 3:48 left in the first quarter of a 114-106 victory over Houston at Boston Garden. This game also marked the debut of Boston rookie Larry Bird.

'79- Magic Johnson made his debut for the Los Angeles Lakers at the San Diego Clippers. The Lakers won 103-102.

'89- The NBA joined USA Basketball, the national governing body for the sport in the United States.

'99- NBA legend Wilt Chamberlain passed away at his home in Bel-Air, California at the age of 63. A 13-time NBA All-Star, first-ballot Hall of Famer and holder of numerous records, many of which will never be broken, Chamberlain arrived in the NBA in 1959 out of the University of Kansas (1955-58), after a one-year stint with the Harlem Globetrotters (1958-59). In his first season with the Philadelphia Warriors, Chamberlain astonished the professional basketball world by averaging an NBA rookie record 37.6 points and 27.0 rebounds on his way to capturing the NBA MVP and NBA Rookie of the Year Awards following the 1959-60 season.

Enjoy your day!

NBA Blog Previews: Southwest Division

(Boulder-CO) These teams hit a little closer to home in the Western Conference and have added some talented players over the offseason. Don't sleep on the Southwest!

Dallas Mavericks

Jake Kerr: Mavs Moneyball

Houston Rockets

grungedave and UofTOrange: The Dream Shake

Memphis Grizzlies

Joshua Coleman: 3 Shades of Blue

New Orleans Hornets

Rohan: At the Hive

ticktock6 & mW: Hornets Hype

Ryan Schwan & Ron Hitley: Hornets247.com

San Antonio Spurs

Graydon Gordian: 48 Minutes of Hell

Also see links to all the previews at CelticsBlog.com

Preseason Preview #2: Nuggets @ Suns

(Boulder-CO) Tonight's game is a psuedo-home game for the Suns, but it is hard to say either team will have a homecourt advantage seeing how the game will be played under the stars of the California sky in the NBA's first outdoor game since the Suns beat the Bucks in a preseason contest on Sept. 24, 1972, at a baseball stadium in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

Which reminds me of a certain part in a certain movie that details just how playing hoops outdoors can affect one's game...



However, there's some bad news for Nuggets fans. As I outlined in last night's game recap, Carmelo Anthony has an injured finger and according to one of my sources who talked to Coach Karl he's doubtful for tonight's game as is Allen Iverson. The Answer is going to stay behind to receive treatment on his swollen left knee, according to ESPN.

But one man's misfortune can be another's opportunity and Iverson's absence may be the perfect opportunity to see which reserve guard (i.e. Smush Parker, Matten Cleaves, or Dahntay Jones) steps up to seize such a chance to impress the Nuggets' coaching staff. The same goes for all the small forwards on this team. With Anthony sidelined, Linas Kleiza, Ruben Patterson, Juwan Howard, and Renaldo Balkman will have extended minutes to prove what they can bring to this team against the very talented front line of Phoenix Suns.

Tonight's game tips off at 8pm MST and is nationally televised on TNT.

"I do detect the smell of...CASH...in the air."

Go Nuggets!

Today's Date in NBA History

(Boulder-CO) Today's date is October 11th, and on this day:

'80- The Dallas Mavericks opened their first season in the NBA with a 103-92 victory at home against interstate rival San Antonio.

'02- The Miami Heat and the Minnesota Timberwolves played the first preseason game in the Dominican Republic at the Palacio de los Deportes in Santo Domingo. It marked the 19th time the NBA held a game in Latin America.

Enjoy your day!

No 'Melo - No Problem

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

(Boulder-CO) The Denver Nuggets kicked off their season on the right foot last night by dominating the Timberwolves, 118-95, despite not having Carmelo Anthony available for action. 'Melo did not play due to a finger bruise suffered in practice on Thursday; an injury that was sustained and viewable during NBATV's "Real Training Camp" that day.

Sans 'Melo, the Nuggets looked really solid on both offense and defense. Denver held Minnesota to under 25 points in three of the first four quarters of play and kept the Timberwolves under 45% shooting from both long distance and the field. Offensively, the Nuggets had five players reach double-digit scoring led by J.R. Smith's 21 points, four steals, two rebounds, and two assists and Chris "Birdman" Andersen's double-double of twelve points, eleven rebounds, and two rejections.

When looking at the boxscore three things that jump out at me. First was the large disparity the Nuggets enjoyed on the boards. Denver out rebounded the Timberwolves 56-45, which included 14 offensive caroms. Anytime a team can win the battle on the glass by ten or more rebounds it usually signifies that said team flat-out wanted the game more than their opponent. Second is the significant advantage the Nuggets' built in the assist column led by Allen Iverson's nine dimes. Denver out passed Minnesota 31-21 in the assist column proving once again that when the Nuggets share the ball to the tune of 30+ assists a win is almost eminent. And finally, in a trend that I hope can carry over from last year, the Nuggets forced Minnesota into 21 turnovers resulting in 31 Denver points to offset their own 14 miscues that they were able to limit the Timberwolves' capitalization of to just 14 points.

And with those three facets of the game being dominated by the Nuggets, it should come as no surprise that Denver was leading by as many as 25 points in the third quarter before easing back off the throttle momentarily only to once again explode offensively tacking on a 40-point fourth quarter and dismissing the Timberwolves, 118-95.

Now, the Nuggets are off to Indian Wells, California to play the Phoenix Suns tonight in the NBA's first outdoor basketball game in more than 35 years! Preseason Preview #2 is coming right up, so be sure to refresh your page.

Go Nuggets!

Preseason Preview #1: Wolves @ Nuggets

(Boulder-CO) Tonight, the Nuggets Nation can rejoice as Denver officially kicks off their preseason campaign against the Timberwolves tonight at Pepsi Center. Unfortunately, there isn't much to preview considering there is no way to hear or see the action unless you are planning on attending the game.

With that being said, there are still a lot of things to watch out for in the boxscore concerning this game. Regardless of how many minutes the likes of 'Melo, Nene, AI, and the rest of the presumed starters play it will be interesting to see how the Denver big men fare against the likes of Kevin Love and Al Jefferson; and even more importantly, how the Nuggets look as a whole on defense. Because regardless of what statistic-crazy big-time media types try and tell you about the Denver Nuggets... the fact still remains that their defensive effort last year was akin to a wet paper bag trying to hold an angry wolverine.

Check back after the game for a complete analysis of the first look at your 2008-09 Denver Nuggets.

Go Nuggets!

DYK: Carmelo Anthony

(Boulder-CO) There is so much public knowledge about the one they call 'Melo that I feel it would be best to only include the least known facts about him. So, with no further adieu...

-Carmelo's middle name is Kyam and his son's name is Kiyan.

-'Melo is a fan of the Baltimore Ravens, Baltimore Orioles, and Texas Longhorns football.

-He led Oak Hill Academy to a 32-1 record and the #3 final ranking in USA Today in '01-02.

-Carmelo released a children's book in 2004 entitled "It's Just the Beginning".

-'Melo is a major contributor to the Family Resource Centers of Colorado.

-He has hosted "A Very 'Melo Christmas" each year in Denver where hundreds of kids participated in a festive holiday party.

-Carmelo started his own record label and entertainment company Krossover Entertainment.

Go Nuggets!

Today's Date in NBA History

(Boulder-CO) Today's date is October 10th, and on this day:

'72- Bob McAdoo made his debut for the Buffalo Braves at home against Atlanta. The Hawks won 120-109.

'80- Kevin McHale made his debut for the Boston Celtics against Cleveland. Boston won 130-103.

'00- Dick Klein, who founded the Chicago Bulls in 1965, died in his sleep in Greenville, S.C. at age 80.

Enjoy your day!

Today's Date in NBA History

(Boulder-CO) Today's date is October 9th, and on this day:

'93- The first 10 players on the USA Basketball Dream Team that would compete at the 1994 World Championship of Basketball in Canada were named: Dominique Wilkins, Joe Dumars, Mark Price, Derrick Coleman, Tim Hardaway, Larry Johnson, Alonzo Mourning, Shawn Kemp, Dan Majerle and Steve Smith.

'01- Milwaukee coach George Karl was named coach of USA Basketball’s 2002 World Championship team that would compete in the FIBA World Championship for Men, beginning Aug. 29 in Indianapolis.

Enjoy your day!

DYK: Anthony Carter

(Boulder-CO) AC is without question the most unsung when it comes to what actually makes the Denver Nuggets motor run. But did you know...

-AC started his collegiate basketball career at Saddleback Community College in Mission Viejo, California before attending the University of Hawaii.

-Anthony donated $100,000 to the University of Hawaii in 2002 to create the Anthony Carter Men's Basketball Scholarship Fund.

-Carter went unselected in the 1998 NBA Draft, and began his professional career with the Miami Heat, after having spent one season with CBA's Yakima Sun Kings.

-In 2003, his agent misread a part of his contract which would have enabled him to get an extension, and more money, with Miami but it was too late as he had already signed a contract with the San Antonio Spurs, which completely voided his rookie contract. The agent was later fired.

-He is the National spokesperson for the "I Have a Dream" organization, which sereves disadvantaged youth.

-In the future, AC sees himself coaching youth basketball.

Go Nuggets!

Today's Date in NBA History

(Boulder-CO) Today's date is October 8th, and on this day:

'75- The San Antonio Spurs, then members of the ABA, defeated the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks 109-107 in the first basketball game ever played in the Louisiana Superdome.

'99- Los Angeles Lakers Co-Owner/Vice President Earvin "Magic" Johnson, the legendary point guard who directed the great Showtime Lakers of the 1980s, is the subject of ESPN's SportsCentury series. Johnson was selected by a distinguished panel of 48 journalists, historians, observers and administrators as #17 on the list of the greatest North American athletes of the 20th Century.

Enjoy your day!

DYK: Steven Hunter

(Boulder-CO) We didn't see much of Steven Hunter last year, but that's not a good enough reason to not know about Steven Hunter. Did you know...

-Steven wears size 17 shoes.

-He is an avid Chicago Cubs fan and still follows his former DePaul Blue Demons.

-Steven lists "The Cat in the Hat" as his favorite book as a child.

Go Nuggets!

Today's Date in NBA History

(Boulder-CO) Today's date is October 7th, and on this day:

'87- Scottie Pippen made his debut for the Chicago Bulls against the Philadelphia 76ers. Chicago won, 104-94.

Enjoy your day!

DYK: Linas Kleiza

(Boulder-CO) It's no secret that Linas Kleiza is a budding star. He plays with aggression, style, and swagger but I'll bet you didn't know...

-Linas has an older brother named Zilvinas.

-He is the second Lithuanian-born player to play for the Nuggets, joining Sarunas Marciulionis.

-Linas also attended Marciulionis' basketball school as a youth and then attended Merkurijus.

-LK speaks five different languages: English, Lithuanian, Russian, German, and a little bit of Spanish.

-He likes watching movies and TV in his spare time and lists "Everybody Loves Raymond" and "Friends" as his favorite shows and "Gladiator" as his favorite movie.

-Robert De Niro is LK's favorite actor.

-While Linas likes all kinds of music, he lists Eminem and 50 Cent among his favorites.

-Kleiza moved to the states at the age of 16.

Go Nuggets!

Stop Talkin' Tinsley Trade!

(Boulder-CO) Nuggets vice president of basketball operations Mark Warkentien said, "It's erroneous." And it's not like Nuggets' brass to keep things a secret from fans, media, and even the team itself...

Go Nuggets!

NBA Blog Previews: Atlantic Division

(Boulder-CO) They're back and better than ever! That's right my fellow basketball brethren, the NBA Blog Previews are back and we are getting things started with the Atlantic Division. Be sure to read these previews carefully as they have been painstakingly created by those who know their teams best!

Boston Celtics

Jeff Clark: CelticsBlog.com

Jim Weeks: Green Bandwagon

FLCeltsFan: LOY's Place

John Karalis: Red's Army

Dustin Chapman: Celtics 24/7

New Jersey Nets

Dennis Velasco: About Basketball

New York Knicks:

Joey: Straight Bangin'

Seth Rosenthal: Posting and Toasting

Philadelphia 76ers

Dannie & Pete: Recliner GM

Jon Burkett: Passion and Pride

Toronto Raptors

Franchise: RaptorsHQ.com

Ryan McNeill: Hoops Addict

Cuzzy: Cuzoogle

Also see links to all the previews at CelticsBlog.com

Now go read!

Today's Date in NBA History

(Boulder-CO) Today's date is October 6th, and on this day:

'93- Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls announced his retirement from the NBA at a news conference in Deerfield, IL. Jordan’s retirement after nine seasons came less than four months after he helped lead the Bulls to their third consecutive NBA Championship with a six-game victory over Phoenix in the 1993 NBA Finals. His nine-year totals included 21,541 career points, seven straight league scoring titles (1987-93), an NBA record-high career scoring average (32.3 ppg), and three regular season and three NBA Finals MVP awards. Jordan announced his return to the NBA on March 18, 1995 and 24 hours later played in a game against Indiana at Market Square Arena, scoring 19 points in the Bulls’ 103-96 overtime loss.

'98- The NBA announced that all 114 preseason games for this year have been canceled because of the stalled collective bargaining negotiations with the National Basketball Players Association.

Enjoy your day!

Today's Date in NBA History

(Boulder-CO) Today's date is October 3rd, and on this day:

'74- Jerry West of the Los Angeles Lakers, dubbed “Mr. Clutch” for his performances on the court, retired after playing 14 seasons in the NBA. West scored 25,192 points during his career, along with averaging 29.1 ppg in 153 playoff games.

Enjoy your day!

Rumor is Juwan Howard to Sign

(Boulder-CO) In yet another perplexing move, rumor has it the Nuggets are going to sign Juwan Howard to a non-guaranteed contract and he will practice today. Howard played with the Nuggets in 115 games from 2001-03 with an average of 18.3 points and 7.8 rebounds over that duration, but since then has seen his averages drop dramatically. Last season in 50 appearances with the Mavericks, Juwan averaged seven minutes of playing time with a meager stat line of 1.1 points and 1.6 rebounds per game.

Howard is a 14-year veteran of the league, another 6'9" foward, and yet another perplexing addition/invitation to Nuggets' training camp. The question isn't can he play, because I'm sure he can but rather will he play?

Because the way I see it...

There's a handful of players his size with more youthful legs already on this team!

DYK: Allen Iverson

(Boulder-CO) You've got questions? I've got Answers! Here are some surprising things about Allen Iverson that you may not have known.

-His number "3" jersey was retired by Bethel High School in Hampton Virginia on February 13, 2003 at a halftime ceremony honoring the school's 1993 State Championship.

-Allen enjoys drawing and reading Sports Illustrated during his free time.

-Iverson's favorite actor is Samuel L. Jackson.

-His favorite food is lasagna.

-Allen founded the Cross Over Foundation and hosts an annual Allen Iverson Celebrity Classic.

Go Nuggets!

Today's Date in NBA History

(Boulder-CO) Today's date is October 1st, and on this day:

'86- Several NBA stars and other members of the league’s family gathered in New York for the taping of a special series of anti-drug public service announcements entitled “Don’t Foul Out.”

'99- Boston Celtics legend and current Minnesota Timberwolves VP Kevin McHale, Cleveland Cavaliers president and COO Wayne Embry and late Fort Wayne and Detroit Pistons owner Fred Zollner lead a class of five basketball immortals who are enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts.

'99- Boston Celtics legend and Hall of Famer Bill Russell, who led the franchise to 11 NBA Championships in his 13 seasons from 1956 until 1969, is the subject of ESPN's SportsCentury series. Russell was selected by a distinguished panel of 48 journalists, historians, observers and administrators as #18 on the list of the greatest North American athletes of the 20th Century.

Enjoy your day!

Nuggets 2008-09 Season Officially Starts

(Boulder-CO) We have all been waiting patiently (or in my case im-patiently) for the 2008-09 season to start and it has finally happened. Today, the Denver Nuggets opened up their training camp and there was a few surprise additions to their preseason roster. Nick Fazekas is a local product from Arvada, Ruben Patterson is an old familiar friend- a friend that was benched in the playoffs of 2006 against the Clippers, point guards "Smush" Parker and Mateen Cleaves, and rookie longshot from Clemson, James Mays.

Click here for the full training camp roster and preseason schedule.

Go Nuggets!

DYK: Kenyon Martin

(Boulder-CO) We're at it again with another perception altering gaggle of information and this installment of DYK is all about Kenyon Martin. Who, I'd guess you didn't know...

-Kenyon's collegiate number "4" was retired by the University of Cincinnati on April 25th, 2000.

-He was also named Conference USA's Athlete of the Decade that same year.

-Kenyon is a Board Member and active participant in the American Institute of Stuttering.

-He majored in criminal justice at the University of Cincinnati.

-Kenyon enjoys watching movies and playing video games in this spare time.

-He spoke at an assembly at Montbello High School in September 2006 as part of the school's "Pass on Violence" campaign.

-Kenyon is also a spokesman for the March of Dimes.

Go Nuggets!

Today's Date in NBA History

(Boulder-CO) Today's date is September 30th, and on this day:

'00- The USA Olympic Men’s Basketball Team captured its 12th gold medal in 14 Olympic basketball competitions with an 85-75 victory over France in the gold medal game in Sydney, Australia. The U.S. team, comprised of NBA players, had a close call in the semifinals, defeating Lithuania 85-83 in the semifinals when a three-point attempt by Sarunas Jasikevicius of Lithuania missed at the buzzer.

Enjoy your day!

DYK: J.R. Smith

(Boulder-CO) Here is the next installment of DYK. The player underneath our microscope is J.R. Smith, who did you know...

-J.R.'s full name is Earl J. Smith.

-J.R. also played football and baseball in high school.

-J.R.'s favorite sport other than basketball is football.

-J.R.'s favorite team is the Dallas Cowboys.

-J.R.'s favorite food is baked ziti.

-He enjoys playing video games in his spare time, especially Madden and NCAA College Football.

-J.R.'s favorite movie is "Love & Basketball".

-He lists being named MVP of the McDonald's High School All-American game in 2004 as his greatest achievement.

-His favorite musical artist is Jay-Z.

-J.R. funded two adult literacy scholarships through HANO and was on hand for the ribbon cutting of the Pecan Grove Resource Center.

-He started the J.R. Smith Foundation, which helps children get accepted into St. Benedict's Prep where he attended high school in Newark, N.J.

Go Nuggets!

DYK: Nene

(Boulder-CO) Over the next two weeks I will be bringing you little known facts about each of your 2008-09 Denver Nuggets in a series of DYK articles. On the block first is Nene, who did you know...

-Nene's given birth name was Maybyner Rodney Hilario.

-Nene plays bass guitar.

-Nene has nearly a 7'5" wingspan.

-Nene's favorite meal is feijoada- a Brazilian black bean stew.

-Nene's favorite actor is Jackie Chan.

-Nene's favorite sports teams are Sao Paulo (Brazilian soccer) and FC Barcelona and his favorite players are Ronaldinho and Ronaldo.

-Nene''s favorite movie is "The Protector".

And...

-A "Nene" is also the endangered Hawaiian state bird!


Go Nuggets!

I'd Like to Believe You Guys

(Boulder-CO) In yesterday's Rocky Mountain News a few of the Denver Nuggets made very bold predictions. Evidently, even with the departure of the only defensive staple the Denver Nuggets had from last season, there is still optimism in the Nuggets Nation. And as Carmelo Anthony states, "We’ve got a chance to win 50 to 60 (games)."

But can we believe him?

Well, at least his teammates do!

Kenyon Martin is on board with 'Melo, which is at least a good sign of his leadership abilities, and had this to add, "Sixty games, we won 50 games last year and came in eighth place (in the West). It will take 60 to be in the top three. So, I think so.”

I'd like to believe the guys, but something tells me we can chalk all this highly optimistic talk up to pre-training camp rah-rah. Especially considering the injury bug has already bitten this team in a very familiar place. That's right, with training camp starting on Tuesday the Nuggets are already down a man at guard. And to make matters worse, it's once again presumed starting point guard Chucky Atkins who is expected to miss the entirety of the preseason with a knee surgery.

So, with the news of Chucky Atkins once again not being able to be an active part of the team during this critical time of player cohesion. The Denver Nuggets are allegedly going to sign point guard Mateen Cleaves to a one-year non-guaranteed minimum contract. Cleaves has not played in the NBA since the 2005-06 season with the former Seattle Sonics, AKA now the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Today's Date in NBA History

(Boulder-CO) Today's date is September 28th, and on this day:

'83- The NBA and the Players’ Association established a landmark program in sports to battle drug abuse, providing treatment and rehabilitation that also mandated expulsion of repeat offenders and players convicted of using or selling drugs.

Enjoy your day!

Today's Date in NBA History

(Boulder-CO) Today's date is September 24th, and on this day:

'85- The Chinese national basketball team arrived in New York to begin a month of training and practice with NBA personnel, as part of the cultural and educational agreements between China and the United States.

'98- The NBA announced that the opening of training camps for the 1998-99 season have been postponed indefinitely because of the stalled collective bargaining negotiations with the National Basketball Players Association. Training camps were scheduled to open on October 5.

Enjoy your day!

Rivalry is Good for Sports and Blogs

(Boulder-CO) Touché, worthy opponents and thanks for reminding/rubbing in Carmelo's opening night suspension.

The look on Chris Andersen's face is priceless.

Go Nuggets!

Today's Date in NBA History

(Boulder-CO) Today's date is September 20th, and on this day:

September 20, 1917 Arnold "Red" Auerbach was born in Brooklyn, New York. Rest in peace. We miss you, Red.

Enjoy your day!

Let the Opening Night Antics Begin!

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Let the Opening Night Antics Begin!

(Boulder-CO) Tip of the hat to Kayce for bringing the above to my attention! This officially rekindles my dislike for the Utah Jazz and specifically Kyle Korver and Andrei Kirilenko, the rivalry between the two Northwest Division teams, and the good natured back-and-forth between the good (those of us on The Nugg Doctor) and the bad (those who read True Blue Jazz). For some reason it wouldn't publish with anything else in the post.

Go Nuggets!

Who's Expecting What?

(Boulder-CO) With only eleven days until the start of training camp and just a mere three weeks before the Nuggets open up their preseason schedule I figured it was right about time to see who's expecting what out of the Denver Nuggets this season. Vote or support the Jazz!

Go Nuggets!

Nuggets Roster & Payroll Analysis

(Boulder-CO) With only twelve days to training camp, and Monday's signing of rookie Sonny Weems, the Denver Nuggets' roster is apparently set and it is time to breakdown who is returning, who has been added, and how much it's going to cost to suit up the 2008-09 Denver Nuggets.

The Starting Five:

PG - Chucky Atkins - Chucky is returning from an injury washed season in 2007-08 that started with a groin pull in preseason and progressed into a full-blown sports hernia. Atkins is back, healthy, and most likely going to be the Nuggets' starting point guard opening night. But aside from that nod against the Utah Jazz, Chucky is going to have to prove to George Karl in the first ten games of the season that his offense is worthy of maintaining the starting job. Remember, with AI and Atkins in the backcourt the Nuggets have the smallest guard tandem in the NBA and J.R. Smith is probably just as explosive offensively while giving the Nuggets a much bigger guard to compensate defensively with taller, more physical match-ups around the league.

Chucky Atkins will make $3.4 million this season.

SG - Allen Iverson - AI is starting shooting guard, but for how long is the burning question. The Answer is in the final year of his contract with the Nuggets, and unless Denver wants to pony up for a huge contract after this season it will probably be the last year for Iverson in the Mile High. With that being said, what kind of playing style Allen Iverson brings to this upcoming season may dictate just how much or how little success the Nuggets accumulate. We all know that AI is still capable of scoring 30+ points on any given night, but where the true gold hides is when Allen puts his scoring aside and makes sure others get into the act. Denver has proven to be almost unbeatable when AI double-doubles with points and assists, and if the Nuggets are going to compensate for their obvious defensive shortcomings it is going to be with AI taking a page out of the great Nate Archibald's book when he won an NBA championship with the Celtics as a facilitator first and a scorer second.

Allen Iverson will make $21.9 million this season.

SF - Carmelo Anthony - Fresh off winning the Olympic Gold Medal with Team USA, 'Melo will be the Nuggets' starting wingman next season and for the rest of his career in Denver. There is no question in my mind that Anthony will be in the top five scorers this season, yet again, but how the rest of his game continues to mature (or digress) will dictate whether or not he emerges as the true leader of this team. 'Melo posted a career-high rebounding average last season and that mark of 7.4 boards per game seemed to come him all but too easily. With Marcus Camby gone, not only is Anthony's rebounding effort going to need improvement, but his defense is also going to have to stiffen or the Nuggets are going to struggle tremendously.

Carmelo Anthony will make $14.4 million this season.

PF - Kenyon Martin - K-Mart's max contract and less than maximum impact over the years will forever be the defining black eye of the Kiki Vandewedghe era. But the fact still remains that said contract almost ensures Martin's stay in Denver through 2011. So, the best case scenario for the Nuggets is for a very defensive minded Martin to re-emerge as he reinvents himself for this franchise. The Nuggets are not short on offensive fire power and Kenyon Martin's most valuable impact will be minimizing the loss of Marcus Camby on the boards and relieving some of the lost post defensive burden on Nene.

Kenyon Martin will make $14.1 million this season.

C - Nene - Big Brazil will face the most pressure of any individual on this team in the 2008-09 season as he is thrusted into the Nuggets' starting center position. Nene has only played in 81 games for Denver over the last three years due to various injuries in addition to an unexpected fight against testicular cancer that limited him to just 16 appearances in the 2007-08 campaign. Nene is now healthy and reportedly in great shape, but the loss of Marcus Camby puts tremendous pressure on him to perform at a high level as of right now. If he does perform up to the Nugget faithful's expectations then all will be overlooked concerning his prior injuries. If he doesn't... Can you say, "lottery pick?"

Nene will make $9.6 million this season.

The Bench:

PG - Anthony Carter - "A. Ceeeeeeeeeeee." is back for another season with the Nuggets, but how much playing time he sees will be dictated by how well others perform. Chucky Atkins and J.R. Smith are presumably ahead of Carter on the depth chart, but the Nuggets were wise to invest a little bit of dough on Carter who has proven to be a quality insurance policy.

Anthony Carter will make $1.2 million this season.

SG - J.R. Smith - No player on this roster excites me more or may have more opportunity than the Prodigy. If he can prove to be a steady and efficient ball handler, while continuing to provide the Nuggets with a three-point threat, Smith may emerge as the Nuggets' starting running mate with AI within the first 20 games of the season. We all know what he is capable of doing with the ball in his hands, but like many other players on this team, his aptitude as a reliable defender will serve as a measuring stick for how high J.R.'s stock can rise. Now here's the B side of the record: Coach George Karl has delegated Smith as his whipping boy in the past for hoisting bad shots and showboating. Both need to be avoided this season for Smith to lose the "immature" tag and solidify himself as a night-in and night-out performer this team so desperately needs in their backcourt.

J.R. Smith will make $4.9 million this season.

SF - Linas Kleiza - LK is a player you have to feel sympathy for. Here is a guy that would most likely start for a majority of the teams in the Eastern Conference on his tenacity alone, but (un)fortunately is stuck playing behind perhaps the premier scoring small forward in the West. I've previously outlined how the only thing retarding Kleiza's numbers is the scarcity of minutes to go around, but make no mistake about Kleiza's impact off the bench. He is now going to assume the catch-all position that Eduardo Najera formerly occupied and I expect great things out of the L-Train in 2008-09.

Linas Kleiza will make $1.8 million this season.

PF - Renaldo Balkman - When Vice President of Basketball Operations Mark Warkentien announced that the Nuggets traded PG Taurean Green, Forward Bobby Jones, and a 2010 second round draft pick to the New York Knicks for Renaldo Balkman and cash considerations I was less than pleased with the move. Denver already had Linas Kleiza log jammed behind 'Melo and to add another 6'8", "Big" small forward seemed pretty redundant. However, after talking to a few Knick fans (yes, they do still exist) I decided to leave the verdict out on Balkman. While his numbers aren't much to write home about he does present a tremendous upside with his energy. Balkman plays with a reckless abandon, shoots a high percentage around the goal, and his athleticism has been known to bother on the defensive end.

Renaldo Balkman will make $1.3 million this season.

C - Chris Andersen - If you haven't been a Nuggets fan for long I encourage you to go read Broken Wings to understand more about what makes the individual the Mile High City dubbed, "The Birdman" caw. Afterwards, it is important to understand that Chris Andersen is to the Nuggets as placing all your chips on double zero is on the roulette table in Vegas. Regardless of whatever happens, you're going to have a story to recount for years to come. So, if Andersen can play meaningful minutes off the bench while giving the fans good reason to cheer feel free to tip your waitress generously.

Chris Andersen will make $998,000 this season.

The Others (*Keep in mind only two of these players will be kept on the 12-man active roster list):

SG - Dahntay Jones - Reportedly a tremendous athlete, Jones has not been able to find a long-term NBA home since entering the league in 2003 as the Boston Celtics' selection with the 20th overall pick and his draft rights promptly being traded to the Memphis Grizzlies. Perhaps with trader's remorse, the Boston Celtics gave Jones another look in 2007, but his stay in Beantown was short as he was waived in October of 2007 before the Sacramento Kings waived him again in February of 2008. Jones then found himself with the Fort Wayne Mad Ants of the NBDL before landing a one year contract with the Nuggets this season.

Dahntay Jones will make $926,678 this season.

SG - Sonny Weems - Denver worked with the Chicago Bulls in a three-team trade along with the New York Knicks and the Portland Trail Blazers to acquire Weems. In July, Weems had surgery to repair a sports hernia suffered in routine workouts, but he is expected to fully recover in time for the start of training camp on Sept. 30th. Weems played five games for the Nuggets' Summer League team, averaging 9.2 points and three rebounds in 22 minutes per game.

The details of Sonny Weems' contract have not been disclosed.

PF/C - Steven Hunter - It's not a good sign when a player formerly suspended indefinitely for violation of the league's drug policy is brought in to take any minutes you may have been in line for of the bench. Which is exactly what the Nuggets decided to do after they sent starting center Marcus Camby packing despite still having Hunter on the payroll. This tells me that Steven Hunter will once again be on the end of the bench and rarely played. But, then again... Who can argue with getting paid $3.4 million dollars to watch basketball with courtside seats?

Steven Hunter will make $3.4 million this season.

So where does that leave Denver financially?

After taking on the league's third highest payroll last season with well over $85 million on the books this year's team is a little bit more of a bargain at $77.4 million. Leaving the Nuggets roughly $6.3 million over the NBA's luxury-tax threshold of $71.15 of which owner Stan Kroenke has to pay dollar-for-dollar that amount back to the league.

Go Nuggets!

Today's Date in NBA History

(Boulder-CO) Today's date is September 17th, and on this day:

'99- The NBA Board of Governors approved several playing rules modifications for the 1999-2000 season. The modifications had been recommended by a special committee of current and former players, general managers, coaches and other basketball experts in June and were tested in several NBA summer leagues. They are: A defender may not make contact with his hands and/or forearms on an offensive player except below the free throw line extended; A five-second rule that mandates that a player must either shoot, pass or pick up his dribble within five seconds if he begins dribbling the ball with his back toward the basket below the free throw line extended; The 24-second shot clock will be re-set to 14 seconds if the violations listed below occur with less than 14 seconds remaining on the 24-second clock, and will remain unchanged if the violation occurs with 14 or more seconds remaining on the 24-second clock: 1. A personal foul that does not result in free throw attempts. 2. Kicking the ball or blocking the ball with any part of the leg. 3. Punching the ball with a fist. 4. An illegal defense violation that does not result in free throw attempts; No illegal defense guidelines will apply to a player who is defending an offensive player who is positioned on the strong side of the court.

Enjoy your day!

Golf with J.R. Smith

(Boulder-CO) This is just a great story. Golf is a sport that I loathe and love all the same. Sometimes I find myself wondering why I have payed for such torture while at others I wish I could play all day long. But to play with the likes of an NBA baller, let alone the Nuggets' J.R. Smith, and to have the following transpire would truly be a memory of a lifetime.

NBA 09: The Inside

(Boulder-CO) SCEA is on the verge of opening up the 2008-2009 NBA video game season with NBA 09 The Inside available on all PlayStation consoles, and they have decided to feature Carmelo Anthony as one of the six NBA stars to grace the cover.

But, that's just the beginning of what is sure to make this game a must-have for any NBA gamer. Check out some of these new features:

The Life – Available on PS3 for the first time, players will go behind the scenes in this unique mode and experience the life of an NBA professional, balancing interaction with coaches, teammates, and rivals. NBA 09 The Inside lets players experience a completely new sequence of Life story elements for this year. Perform well on the court to earn rewards and endorsements.

Franchise Mode – For the first time on the NBA franchise, players can extend their experience in running a team where performance and player morale are tracked on virtually every level – salary, playing time, trades, team performance, and much more. Major focus will center player development, from draft selections all the way to seasoned NBA veterans.

NBA Replay Mode – Back to test the skills of the most hardcore NBA fans, "NBA Replay" is once again available for players to re-live great performances from the ’07 -’08 season and work through a wide array of the entire past season’s memorable gameplay scenarios.

NBA Replay (Games of the Week) – Returning with an all-new set of upcoming highlight-reel plays, "Games of the Week" will allow players to download five scenarios each week involving real NBA games from the upcoming ’08 -’09 season and attempt to replay those magical moments within the game.

Mini-Games – Two new mini-games available to challenge players:

o Blacktop Golf – A twist on the game of golf where players use basketballs to interact and score on traditional hoops, as well as different environmental objects, in an effort to get the lowest score possible.

o Rabbit – A shooting game where players attempt to score as many points as possible from moving targets and bonus targets, going through stages that gradually become more difficult.

Expanded Character Movement – A new contact mechanism takes into account a player’s momentum when pushing into one another, introducing a "physical" (as opposed to finesse) game play mechanic. Additionally, Havok is incorporated this year to create player interactions that move and flow in a much more fluid and realistic manner.

Brand New Animations – This year more than doubles the amount of dunk/lay-up animations are available, generating more variety under the hoop and creating a more realistic experience overall. Additionally, each character’s defensive posture shows a natural flow between one-on-one defense and off ball defense.

Full HD 1080p – NBA 09 The Inside continues to deliver true high definition at 60 frames per second, delivering the sharpest and most realistic basketball experience available.

The launch date for NBA 09 The Insider is October 7, 2008 and be on the lookout to score a free copy of this release shortly thereafter right here on The Nugg Doctor.

Go Nuggets!

Take That, King James!

(Boulder-CO) I am B-O-R-E-D bored, so what does any NBA team blogger do when college football is just barely enough to keep them from going into serious basketball withdrawal? Well, if your answer is look for rare and usually forgotten moments from the past then give yourself a nice pat on the back. Here is a clip of 'Melo giving LeBron James a taste of the medicine he is usually on the other end of the spoon of.

When does preseason start?

Go Nuggets!

Today's Date in NBA History

(Boulder-CO) Today's date is September 10th, and on this day:

'48- Bob Lanier was born in Buffalo, New York.

Enjoy your day!

39 Wins... Yea, You're Probably Right

(Boulder-CO) Here's a little ditty that should be able to dust the cobwebs off around here. The posting has been lean lately because I haven't had a whole lot of positive things to say so far through this off-season's transactions and I would rather give the new guys, and a few of the returning faces, a chance to surprise me before confirming my previous suspicions.

And apparently I'm not the only who thinks the Nuggets have taken a few steps back.

But 39 wins, really?

Basically, the Nuggets' entire season is hanging in the balance on what boils down to two players, Nene and Chucky Atkins. We know what 'Melo and AI bring, both good and bad. We also, now after a full healthy season, have an idea of what Kenyon Martin is going to give. But, where things get tricky is with Nene. If Nene stays healthy for the whole season the Nuggets can, at best, probably expect around a double-double of twelve and ten. Meaning, other guys (ie 'Melo, Kenyon Martin, and Chris Andersen) are going to have to each grab at least a rebound or two more than last year to make up for the rest of Camby's rebounding impact and you can forget about the blocks because their gone.

And if he doesn't stay healthy, well, can you say, "lottery"?

As for Chucky Atkins, we'll see if his presumed offensive boost is worthy of his defensive liability for a team that will most likely allow the most points per game next year. Remember, the Nuggets are in the position of having to start two guards who are both under six feet next year (not to mention one of their back-ups, Anthony Carter is merely 6'2") and I think you would be hard pressed to find another team in the NBA, or for that matter, any major conference NCAA team that is going to start a smaller backcourt.

What's everyone thinking with the season looming less than two months away?