<div align="center"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"> @ </span> Venue: Pepsi Center, Denver, CO National TV: NBATVHighDefTime: 09:00 pm ESTDate: Monday, 6 March 2006 ---</div><span style="color:darkslateblue"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%">Memphis Grizzlies (33-26)</span></span>Projected starters<span style="color:darkslateblue">PG: Chucky AtkinsSG: Eddie Jones SF: Shane BattierPF: Pau GasolC: Jake Tsakalidis</span>Sixth man: <span style="color:darkslateblue">Mike Miller</span>Coach: <span style="color:darkslateblue">Mike Fratello</span>---<span style="color:royalblue"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%">Denver Nuggets (32-28)</span></span>Projected starters<span style="color:royalblue">PG: Andre MillerSG: Ruben PattersonSF: Carmelo AnthonyPF: Kenyon MartinC: Marcus Camby</span>Sixth man: <span style="color:royalblue">Earl Boykins</span>Coach: <span style="color:royalblue">George Karl</span>---Nuggets' last game recap (vs. Magic)We finally showed up against a sub .500 team and not played down to the competition. This win was as important as any other win against a top 10 team because we're finally able to give total efforts against a team that has a worse record than us. When we were showing signs of leaning towards being passive, the new guys Patterson and Evans continued to play with passion and fire that it kind of got contagious. I'm impressed with Patteron's continuous presence all over the floor on both ends, and he got pretty nice breakaway dunks to finish with 21 points. Evans also did very good with 12 pts and 10 rebounds in limited time. If he keeps it up it'll be tough not to start him over Elson and we can definitely buy more time for K-Mart to rest his bothersome knee. vs. Grizzlies This matchup is important because we're (3rd seed) in line to face them (6th) in the first round of the playoffs. Currently, they have the homecourt advantage, but a win tonight against them will give us a clinch on the season series, meaning we will get the playoffs homecourt advantage instead of them. But the Grizzlies are playing pretty well with 3 straight wins in the bag, including last night's victory against the Clippers in LA, who had been playing very well at STAPLES Center. They have a pretty good chemistry, capable of going inside/ outside. Gasol is having an all-star year manning the PF spot, so he'll be tough to handle. And they have nice outside shooters in Atkins, Jones, Miller, and Bobby Jackson. Most of the guys are above average passers so they facilitate the offense to their coach Fratello's liking. Defensively, they're not slouches, the big guys can block shots, and the small guys are very active and pesky, led by Battier with 1+ spg and 1+ bpg. Their only weak link is Atkins but in a close game, down the stretch, he should be replaced by Jackson or Jones with Miller moving to SG. Playing against a team with a goal, we have to play smart and execute offense to the basic if we struggle against their defense. A little history between the two teams' meetings, we've been feasting on the Grizzlies. A win tonight will give us the 18th straight over them in Denver, and 20-2 record all-time. <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%"><span style="color:red">+</span></span> Closing comments and predictionsThis will be a tough one, but in the end, we'll pull this out, on another last-second shot by Melo (43 points) to win a 100-99 thriller. I know, I know, I haven't been making a <span style="color:red">L</span> prediction... I'm just following my instincts. :winkglasses:
