Here's the Oregonian's preview: http://www.oregonlive.com/nba/index.ssf/2009/10/improved_nuggets_ready_for_bla.html I really don't buy the above line of thinking. They really didn't add any pieces, and Billups is a year older. (He's 33, the same age as Miller, but then Miller isn't our second best player.) The really tough matchup, as always, is Carmello. Frankly, it'd be that way if Batum was here anyway. The guy is just such a physical beast. Portland once again has a big size advantage in the paint. Oden, Aldridge and Przybilla each have 2 inches or more on their Denver counterparts Nene, Martin and Anderson.
I actually feel a little better with Martell on Melo than if Batum was out there, he's a much better match physically and he can make him play some D on the other end of the floor. The biggest concern for me is Ty Lawson off their bench, unless Nate plays Bayless we've got no one to keep up with him, could be a big night for him.
For all the talk about how we need to run more (and I generally agree), tonight's game needs to be a grind. The key to stopping Carmelo is to run him ragged on defense. Make him run through multiple screens chasing Webs. Conditioning isn't his forte and while he likes to deliver hits, he hates to take them. Also, we need to get in their heads a bit. Chauncey keeps a pretty tight cap on them, but if we can rattle them a bit, they'll unravel (wow, that was a triple-mixed-metaphor). Another key will be feeding GO down low. Nene is as strong as Greg, but if we can force him to foul the Thuggets will be undersized with Andersen. Expect a VERY physical game.
I don't want to get in an up and down game with these guys. Let's take em down low and bang 'em! Hey Maxie who are rooting for tonight?
This game will come down to taking advantage of matchups properly. Denver ran a lot of small ball at the guard positions last night, with Billups playing SG and Lawson running the point. If Portland lets them use their speed and break down the paint a lot, they will have a very rough night. But if when Lawson comes in, they bring in Miller and have him post up Lawson several times in a row to get him in foul trouble, it will be a different story. The same story with Roy on Billups. Roy has to attack Billups in the paint in order to take him out of the game and make him defend and burn off energy on that end of the floor. Do not fool yourself and think Blake can stay in front of Lawson. Greg needs to be really aware of this guys ability to get by defenders and get to the rim. He has no outside game and does nothing else but attack the paint with his speed. I believe Center and PF will be pretty evenly matched. At SF, the old saying of bringing a knife to a gunfight applies. But instead we are bringing an Webster/Outlaw to a Carmello fight. They are going to have to play out of their minds on both ends to come even near equal. The Blazers will probably make some hay with their bench.
I'm eager to see if Martell can stop or slow down Anthony. Martell has been talking about focusing on D and I want to see him get a real test, which this will be. Last year, Anthony only played against the Blazers 2 times. He scored 38 points, shooting 16/26 the first time in Denver, and in Portland, he scored 12 points, shooting 3/18. Last night, he scored 30 points. Martell will have his work cut out for him tonight.
I know it is far removed, but I wonder if Andre will feel more pumped than usual for a game playing against the Nuggets. (To me, Miller's career thus far, is defined as being a Nugget). Webster can not handle Anthony . . . they have to double. DO you double Nene or let GO go 1 on 1? Nene looked quick last night.
There's nothing "sad" about it, Lawson was a great college point guard who completely blossomed his junior year into a well rounded shooter and distributor as well as a defender. I wanted the Blazers to draft him if at all possible and I stated so on a number of times before the draft.
I recently watched the last regular season game from last year against the nuggets where we crushed them. Batum in the game really got under Melo's skin a few times and did pretty well. I hope Martell can play him that well, I'm not sure though.
I realized I must like Nate more than Outlaw, because I look forward to the day Outlaw has a bad game, the Blazers win and posters are more concerned with trading Outlaw than firing Nate. tonight?
Why does Nate have to be fired? Why can't he just change some of his more retarded opinions on how a team should play? It's not that people hate Nate. I would assume they're calling for his head b/c he hangs himself with his public quotes that show an incredible (seemingly) lack of understanding of the game. And then changes his mind.
I guess some feel like he won't changed and needs to be fired. Are we reading the same board? The theme I read from some is Nate needs to go . . . there is even a couple threads about the next coach and if Porter should be it.
Hard to say for sure right now, but I'd check atdhe.net closer to tipoff. FYI, this is a TNT game not a comcast game if that matters.
