<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> December 15, 2006 - 7:30 pm ET</div> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Denver Nuggets</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">(12-8)</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">PG</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Andre Miller</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">SG</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">J.R. Smith</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">SF</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Carmelo Anthony</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">PF</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Eduardo Najera</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">C</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Marcus Camby</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Nene, Earl Boykins, Reggie Evans, Yakhouba Diawara, Linas Kleiza</span> <span style="color:#009900">Boston Celtics</span> <span style="color:#000000">(8-13)</span> <span style="color:#000000">PG</span> <span style="color:#009900">Sebastian Telfair</span> <span style="color:#000000">SG</span> <span style="color:#009900">Tony Allen</span> <span style="color:#000000">SF</span> <span style="color:#009900">Paul Pierce</span> <span style="color:#000000">PF</span> <span style="color:#009900">Brian Scalabrine</span> <span style="color:#000000">C</span> <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson</span> <span style="color:#000000">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Wally Szczerbiak, Delonte West, Gerald Green, Leon Powe, Rajon Rondo</span> Injury Report <span style="color:#FFCC00">DEN:</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Kenyon Martin is out for season (microfracture surgery)</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">DEN:</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Joe Smith will not play (sprained right ankle)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Ryan Gomes will not play (strained right calf)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Kendrick Perkins will not play (plantar fasciitis)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Theo Ratliff will not play (lower back)</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Michael Olowokandi will not play (strained abdominal muscle)</span> Who To Watch Out For <span style="color:#00BFFF">Carmelo Anthony</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 31.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.1 apg, 1.6 spg</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Marcus Camby</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 10.5 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 3.1 apg, 2.4 bpg</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Andre Miller</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 12.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 9.4 apg, 1.6 spg</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">J.R. Smith</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 17.0 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.6 apg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Paul Pierce</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 25.6 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 4.0 apg</span> <span style="color:#009900">Wally Szczerbiak</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 19.3 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 2.0 apg</span> Rookie Watch <span style="color:#FFCC00">DEN:</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Yakhouba Diawara</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: Undrafted</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">5.4 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.1 apg</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Rajon Rondo</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 21</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#009900">3.8 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.4 apg, 1.1 spg</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Leon Powe</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: 49</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#009900">3.8 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 0.7 bpg</span> <span style="color:#000000">BOS:</span> <span style="color:#009900">Allan Ray</span> <span style="color:#000000">Overall Selection: Undrafted</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats:</span> <span style="color:#009900">2.5 ppg, 0.5 rpg, 0.5 spg</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Denver's X-Factor</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Nene</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 6.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Boston is extremely weak down low right now. Nene has a chance to really have his breakout game tonight, and he should.</span> <span style="color:#009900">Boston's X-Factor</span> <span style="color:#009900">Al Jefferson</span> <span style="color:#000000">Season Stats: 10.6 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 1.4 bpg (13 and 12 with 2 blocks as a starter)</span> <span style="color:#009900">With no Perk, Theo, or Kandi-Man in the game... and now no Gomes... Big Al has to be close to dominant. Denver absolutely kills us down low. Big Al REALLY needs to bring not only his A game, but his A+ game... with some extra credit.</span> <div align="center">Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#00BFFF">Carmelo Anthony</span> <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#009900">Paul Pierce</span></div> <span style="color:#000000">Two top 15 players, both near the top of the list when it comes to the best wings in the league. Both are offensive gods with decent defensive games, we'll see which one comes out on top tonight.</span> CelticBalla's Extra Thoughts/Notes We are coming off a 3 game winning streak, Denver is coming off a tough loss to Washington (greeeeeaaaat). But either way, I'm always happy to see Melo play, and I love Camby. I actually like quite a few players from the Nuggets. They are a hell of a team though, this should be a tough one for us. The Pierce/Melo matchup will be awesome. CelticBalla's Prediction I can't see us winning this one. They are just a MUCH netter team, and their big men KILL ours. I say Denver wins by double digits.
I'm going to disagree, and say Boston maintains it's winning streak with a surprise win over the Nuggets.
Last four game win streak was April 12-17 or somehting like that of 05, right after we got Toine back. Lets do it again. I'll be there, we gotta win.
Guys, I just got some updates from Fox Sports: - Ryan Gomes will not play tonight or tomorrow night. He is out with a strained right calf. - Tony Allen will start tonight, Wally off the bench. Here's the big one: Brian Scalabrine will start! No joke.
What an unbelievable game!!! I LOVED EVERY SECOND OF IT!!! I am sooooooooooo pumped! Who needs Allen Iverson? (lol) Paul Pierce <u>38 points, 8 rebounds, 9 assists on 11-17 shooting (6-12 3FG)</u> Pierce came out firing from EVERYWHERE! He was just unstoppable tonight. He was hitting absolutely everything, and he was finding the open man. Paul Pierce was The Truth tonight, WOW! Tony Allen <u>30 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, 1 block on 11-13 shooting. Played ALL 48 minutes</u> Tony Allen was absolutely PHENOMINAL!!! He played every second of the game, he played good defense, he attacked the basket, was a slasher, had 3 highlight dunks, brought a TON of energy, never got tired, rebounded, and made some nice passes. TA did it ALL! He had a career high 30 points. This was his best game as an NBA player. Ubelievable. And most of all: he likes SAL-MON and mashed potatoes!!! Al Jefferson <u>28 points, 10 rebounds on 13-19 shooting</u> Big Al Jefferson was unbelievable tonight as well. Running hooks, up-fakes, floaters, dunks, spin moves, etc. He did it all. He made some excellent plays and he really handled the double team beautifully. Big Al is going to be a major asset for this team. This was arguably his best game of the year, even over his New Jersey game, because of his poise and defense. Wally Szczerbiak <u>16 points, 4 rebounds, 6 assists on 6-14 shooting</u> I really like Wally in the 6th man role. I made a thread about it and I stand by it, Wally should continue to come off the bench with Tony Allen starting at the 2. But Wally played pretty well tonight. He missed some open longballs, but he moved the ball well and also hit some jumpers. Sebastian Telfair <u>6 points, 3 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals on 1-5 shooting</u> You know what? People will look at the box score, see the 1-5 shooting, and say he sucked again. But Bassy played real well tonight, IMO. He pushed the ball at all times, brought a lot of energy on both ends, and set up the offense very nicely. Bassy played a good game tonight, despite the poor shooting. Delonte West <u>4 assist on 0-3 shooting in 16 minutes</u> D-West didn't shoot much tonight, but he didn't need to with the way Pierce, TA, Big Al, and Wally were playing. He did make some nice plays though. A couple nice passes and some decent hustle. Brian Scalabrine <u>2 rebounds, 4 assists on 0-3 shooting (all open 3's) in 14 minutes</u> Scal missed 3 wide open three's, but I don't care. He played alright. Nothing great, nothing bad. He moved the ball well and played Najera well. Gerald Green <u>1 assist on 0-1 shooting in 8 minutes</u> There was a real reason for Gerald not playing much tonight, and that reason is Tony Allen! Gerald did make a pretty feed to Al Jefferson, hence that assist. Leon Powe <u>1 point, 2 rebounds in 6 minutes</u> He didn't play much, but he ripped away one beautiful rebound. I am sooooo happy about this win, it was a great one. And without Gomes! Next Game Tomorrow night (12/16/06) @ Charlotte at 7:00 pm. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Noah @ Dec 15 2006, 01:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I'm going to disagree, and say Boston maintains it's winning streak with a surprise win over the Nuggets.</div> Noah, you call everything!
im fu*kin hypedI was thereit was the best game they played all yearTA career high in points on 11-13 shooting..a few amazing dunks by AllenBig Al..great night..double double...Pierce like always came close to a tres y dos with 36, 8, 9Scal got booed everytime he got the ballyankshateru see that Gerald Green dunk in warm ups?
When 3 players score 20 + points, our chances of winning are obviously low. We did make a fight for it at the end, just wasn't good enough.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (playaofthegame @ Dec 15 2006, 11:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>im fu*kin hypedI was thereit was the best game they played all yearTA career high in points on 11-13 shooting..a few amazing dunks by AllenBig Al..great night..double double...Pierce like always came close to a tres y dos with 36, 8, 9Scal got booed everytime he got the ballyankshateru see that Gerald Green dunk in warm ups?</div>I was so pumped the whole game, that gerald dunk was ill though it got me in the mood to see a game. I cna barely talk now. they played a great all around game and it was good to see them FINALLY do that.ALSO robert parish was sitting the box behind meI also just want to add that Carmelo is a top 5 scorer. The guy is so good. He hit like 3 or 4 jumpshots with Tony Allen down his throat. What a great player.
wow, I'm mad I missed this one, phenomenal game b TA, Pierce, and Al. I mean, 30? from TA? I can't believe I missed it.let's make it five in a row against charlotte.
F*ck Yeah, I knew they'd be able to pull it off... I'm so glad they did, they're really gaining a lotta good momentum here!
C's really could make a push for the atlantic title, I still think NJ will take it but if TA and AJ can play half as good as they have been, along with gomes ratliff and kandi coming back, big things could be in the future.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Delonte4Prez @ Dec 16 2006, 03:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>C's really could make a push for the atlantic title, I still think NJ will take it but if TA and AJ can play half as good as they have been, along with gomes ratliff and kandi coming back, big things could be in the future.</div> Perk too. But just letting you know, Theo Ratliff may be out for the rest of the season, and this bad back could ruin his career. But as of right now, we are leading the Atlantic over New Jersey by a half game, and Richard Jefferson is out for them. I still think New Jersey is the best team in the Atlantic, but this division sucks lol. In the future, yes, we will be a good team. We have such a nice young core, plus Paul Pierce. In 2-3 years, we could be a very scary team.
I'd just like to add that despite playing every second of the game, Tony didn't lose one bit of energy out there. And even though Melo was hitting, he was inside his head and tired him out a lot. I love the new Tony Allen.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (yankshater213 @ Dec 16 2006, 02:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I'd just like to add that despite playing every second of the game, Tony didn't lose one bit of energy out there. And even though Melo was hitting, he was inside his head and tired him out a lot. I love the new Tony Allen.</div> This isn't the new TA, it's actually the OLD TA lol, from his rookie year. He has improved a couple things since then, but his defense is certainly back and his spring is getting there. He doesn't go for windmills every time he gets a chance now, but he still gets up and throws it down with power (hence my avatar, from last nights' game actually). But now that he's not trying to handle the ball so much, he has been VERY successful. Two or three dribble drives is great for TA, and he's a good slasher. I really hope he can keep this up because this is the TA that was a fan favorite in 2005 and a defensive stopper.
