Inspiration came dressed in Denver Nuggets practice gear.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%">Visit By Hodge Brightens Nuggets' day</span>With teammates battling a case of the late-season doldrums, rookie guard Julius Hodge served as a reminder things always can be worse - much worse.Hodge, recovering from four gunshot wounds, sat courtside as the Nuggets went through their morning shootaround before Monday night's game against the Houston Rockets.His presence provided a spiritual pick-me-up for a team that was seeking motivation for the final week of the regular season.Found some Nuggets news, decided to post it and see everybodies thoughts."It's great to see him alive," center Marcus Camby said. "He could pretty much not be with us right now. I've been talking to him and seeing him every day, so it's good to finally see him up here."Hodge was shot while driving along Interstate 76 in the early hours of April 8. He was hit once in the left hip, twice in the left leg and once in the right leg. The shooter remains at large.Hodge, 22, resumed lifting weights but there is no timetable for a return to practice. Even before the shooting, he was not expected to be on the playoff roster."It's good to see him," Nuggets coach George Karl said. "Hopefully, we can get him around here more often. . . . We just have to rehab him and get him strong enough to play in the summer."Hodge said he has used humor to keep his teammates loose. He told them the best thing they can do for him is deliver some victories.Being a theater major at North Carolina State, Hodge said he appreciates the twist of being a shooting victim in Denver after growing up in Harlem, one of New York's toughest neighborhoods."Just pretty much counting my blessings," he said. "I know there's a reason why I'm still here, and I'm just going to continue to be a good person and continue to work on the basketball court when I get back."It's uncertain whether Hodge will accompany the team on the road for the playoffs."Julius is well-liked," Karl said. "I think having him around wouldn't be a bad experience. But his health is No. 1."</div>Also found this.<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%">Buckners' Contract Situation</span>The agent for Nuggets guard Greg Buckner expects his client will opt out of his contract after the season and become an unrestricted free agent."Everybody in the league knows he's going to opt out," Steve Kauffman said. "His value in the league has gone up significantly."Buckner last off-season signed a two-year, $3.47 million contract, with the second year a player option. He is making $1.67 million and would earn $1.8 million next season if he doesn't opt out by the end of June.Kauffman figures Buckner has little to lose by becoming a free agent. Unlike last year, when the Nuggets had to use salary-cap exception money to re-sign him, Buckner has early Bird rights.That means the Nuggets can exceed the cap up to about $5 million to retain him."There's a strong possibly of a guy like this being able to stay (with the Nuggets) with the early Bird rule," Kauffman said.Buckner wants to remain with the Nuggets and said "time will tell" what he does. He agrees early Bird rights could help if he does opt out."But only if (the Nuggets) want you," Buckner said.They do, according to general manager Kiki Vandeweghe."Buck's had a great year," he said. "Certainly, we'd like to keep Buck."</div>Both found at http://www.rockymountainnews.comMy thoughtsI am extremely glad that Julius Hodge showed up at the Nuggets game last night, even though they were up by 16 with 6 minutes left and lost, I am happy he showed up lol. I hope he can motivate this team somewhat, because right now they are going into the playoffs as basically underdogs.I am praying we resign G-Buck. He is the best defender on the team and without him, we will not have any answer for good scorers. He is a great role player for this team and I hope he stays.
I felt real bad when Nene got injured for the year, 3 minutes into the game on national TV against the Spurs.
Nene is no better defender than Buck... Buck is a mini version of Bruce Bowen. Nene isn't coming back this season... he's left off the playoffs roster. I would love to see him come back for next season though (resign) and hope we keep Evans too for rebounding and defensive purposes... then we can let K-Mart for key role players (shooters/ a reliable scorer off the bench)...
Yes, Nene isn't even as close to as good of defender as Buck. Buckner is one of the most underated defenders in the league. Any good guard on the other team, he is all over them.
