<div align="center">Venue: Staples Center, Los Angeles CaliforniaNational TV: TNTTime: 10:30 pm ESTDate: Thursday, November 2nd</div><span style="color:#3366FF">Denver Nuggets (0-0)</span>Projected Starters:<span style="color:#3366FF">PG- Andre MillerSG- JR SmithSF- Carmelo AnthonyPF- Kenyon MartinC- Marcus Camby6th man: Earl Boykins</span><span style="color:#FF0000">Los Angeles Clippers (0-0)</span>Projected Starters:<span style="color:#FF0000">PG- Sam CassellSG- Cutino MobleySF- Quinton RossPF- Elton BrandC- Chris Kamen6th man: Corey Maggette</span>Comments:Disappointment... That's how I felt when the Los Angeles Clippers eliminated the Denver Nuggets in 5 games last season. I hope we can use that as motivation to come back even stronger this season. We meet up with the Clippers tonight, Let's seek our much needed revenge.This is our first game with newly aquired guard J.R. Smith. He lit it up from beyond the arc for Denver during our 8 preseason games this offseason. If he can show any glimpse of shooting like we have seen in the past, Denver is in for a very good season. We were one of the worst 3 point shooting teams in the league last season. We have no other choice but to improve.Key matchup: Carmelo Anthony VS Quinton RossRoss's tough defensive ability frustrated Carmelo Anthony last season during the 2006 NBA Playoffs. He never seemed to get it going offensively. With a huge summer playing USA Basketball and a few new movies in his arsenal I dont see those days happening again.Anthony's stats against LA: 25.0 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 2.8 apg.Ross's stats against Denver: 3.3 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 1.0 apg.X-Factor players: Andre Miller, Shaun LivingstonDenver Nuggets: Andre Miller. We need him to step up and score some baskets. He always has trouble scoring against the Clippers because of the tough interior defense with Brand and Kamen. He needs to get his jumpshot going so he doesn't have to rely on driving to the basket.Los Angeles Clippers: Shaun Livingston. Now healthy, his role becomes much bigger. He needs to be able to step in and keep the offense running smoothly.BALLAHOLLIC's key to victory:- Perimeter defense. If we let Sam Cassell or Cutino Mobley gain an inch of space, they will burn us every single time down the floor. Both are excellent jumpshooters.- Andre Millers scoring capability. The Clippers held Andre Miller to single digit scoring numbers in each of the games we played against them last season.- Marcus Camby's defense on Elton Brand. Camby seemed lost at times guarding Brand last season. He underestimates his short jump shot which he openly gave him too many times last year.Conclusion: I actually think we will pull this one out. Karl seems to have all of the troops ready. Nuggets win 103-97.
Damn Balla, I'm thinking of making a thread like this, on the Nets-Raptors game, but now I'm doubting it: yours looks too good!!!!!Great preview.
This game isn't until tomorrow.Nice job balla. It's much better than you gave yourself credit for on AIM. I also think Denver will take it, but in a very close game. They are healthy, you added a solid player in JR Smith, Nene is back, everything is looking good for Denver right now. I think Melo will be in a groove all night and Camby will block a lot of shots.
Bumping this since it's game day, plus this thread is all the way at the bottom (probably because he posted it a day early).
Melo is going to have a huge year. He's off to a spectacular start. This Nuggets team is going to be very fun to watch this year, and if they stay healthy they have a chance to do some serious damage. I heard one of Melo's goals was to make an All-Defense team this year, if that happens that would be exceptional for him and the Nuggets.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Camby23Land @ Nov 2 2006, 11:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>34-32 Lets go Nuggs!</div>Your not a Nuggets fan Camby, you didn't know who Yakhouba Diawara was :shok: This is what I gathered from the first half:- Marcus Camby... 8 rebounds and 3 blocks already.- Carmelo looks awesome, He is in pretty good shape. His speed/quickness has improved. He has 5 dunks already!- JR Smith is shooting too many 3 pointers early on, Najera has no right taking a 3 haha.- Sam Cassell continues to kill us every time we play the Clippers, His jumpshot is so smooth. After he got back in the game he hit 3-4 straight jump shots.- Nene looks about 85-90%. He looked decent on offense, Lagged on defense.- We are letting Tim Thomas get too many open looks, He missed a few of them which helped us out alot but we cant keep giving them up.- The Clippers zone defense flows so well, All of their players rotate at the proper time.- The Clippers have an awesome transition defense.- Andre Miller needs to be traded.
Good half, we need to start hitting our shots because we cant keep closing out. Hopefully that changes in the 2nd half. Melo looking great tonight, he has really improved this summer. And Yeah, Andre Miller sucks, we really need a point guard!!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BALLAHOLLIC? @ Nov 2 2006, 10:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Your not a Nuggets fan Camby, you didn't know who Yakhouba Diawara was :shok: This is what I gathered from the first half:- Marcus Camby... 8 rebounds and 3 blocks already.- Carmelo looks awesome, He is in pretty good shape. His speed/quickness has improved. He has 5 dunks already!- JR Smith is shooting too many 3 pointers early on, Najera has no right taking a 3 haha.- Sam Cassell continues to kill us every time we play the Clippers, His jumpshot is so smooth. After he got back in the game he hit 3-4 straight jump shots.- Nene looks about 85-90%. He looked decent on offense, Lagged on defense.- We are letting Tim Thomas get too many open looks, He missed a few of them which helped us out alot but we cant keep giving them up.- The Clippers zone defense flows so well, All of their players rotate at the proper time.- The Clippers have an awesome transition defense.- Andre Miller needs to be traded.</div>The majority of Denver didn't. He came out of nowhere and we pay attention to football now. When you told me about him I found an article about him in the Denver Post and started paying attention to him.I agree with you saying Miller needs to be traded. We need a true point guard not a half pg half shooting guard.
You can count me in, wanted to trade him since last year. I forget what Charles Barkley said about him earlier but he was right all along. Hopefully more people join the club because im so sick and tired of Andre miller making bad decisions when we need to make plays badly
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticBalla32 @ Nov 3 2006, 12:25 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Melo to JR Smith! WOW!!! Smith can really sky, god damn.</div>And 1 baby!I love the chemistry they have with each other, Collins mentioned that Carmelo really took Smith under his wing.WHAT!OMG, Melo just got tossed.f*cking rediculus.
ARE YOU f*cking KIDDING ME?!?!?!?! Melo got tossed for that???!?!F*ck you David Stern! Jesus christ, this is ridiculous!
Guys, relax I know he should not have been tossed for that but the refs made it clear that they would have fast reactions with their wistles this season. Just look what happend to Rasheed Wallace the other night.
