<div align="center"> <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%">@</span> January 10, 2007 - 9:00 pm ET<span style="color:#FF0000">Game on ESPN</span></div><span style="color:#000000">San Antonio Spurs</span> <span style="color:#999999">(24-11)</span><span style="color:#999999">PG</span> <span style="color:#000000">Tony Parker</span> <span style="color:#999999">SG</span> <span style="color:#000000">Manu Ginobili</span> <span style="color:#999999">SF</span> <span style="color:#000000">Bruce Bowen</span> <span style="color:#999999">PF</span> <span style="color:#000000">Tim Duncan</span> <span style="color:#999999">C</span> <span style="color:#000000">Fabricio Oberto</span><span style="color:#999999">Key Bench Players:</span> <span style="color:#000000">Michael Finley, Brent Barry, Beno Udrih, Matt Bonner</span><span style="color:#00BFFF">Denver Nuggets</span> <span style="color:#FFCC00">(17-15)</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">PG</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Allen Iverson</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">Linas Kleiza</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">Earl Boykins, Reggie Evans, Nene, Yakhouba Diawara, Julius Hodge</span> Injury Report<span style="color:#999999">SA:</span> <span style="color:#000000">Francisco Elson will not play (tear in right rotator cuff)</span><span style="color:#999999">SA:</span> <span style="color:#000000">Robert Horry is questionable</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">DEN:</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Carmelo Anthony will not play (serving suspension)</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">DEN:</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Kenyon Martin is out for season (microfracture surgery)</span> Who To Watch Out For<span style="color:#000000">Tim Duncan</span><span style="color:#999999">Season Stats: 20.0 ppg, 10.1 rpg, 3.3 apg, 2.0 bpg</span><span style="color:#000000">Tony Parker</span><span style="color:#999999">Season Stats: 19.5 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 5.7 apg</span><span style="color:#000000">Manu Ginobili</span><span style="color:#999999">Season Stats: 16.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.7 spg</span><span style="color:#00BFFF">Allen Iverson</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 29.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 7.4 apg, 2.2 spg</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">As A Nugget: 26.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 7.7 apg, 2.2 spg</span><span style="color:#00BFFF">Marcus Camby</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 12.0 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 3.1 apg, 3.0 bpg</span><span style="color:#00BFFF">J.R. Smith</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 16.7 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 1.7 apg</span><span style="color:#00BFFF">Earl Boykins</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 15.1 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 4.3 apg</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">Last 10 Games: 23.7 ppg, 2.9 rpg, 4.7 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">6.1 ppg, 2.5 rpg, 1.1 apg</span><span style="color:#000000">San Antonio's X-Factor</span><span style="color:#000000">Beno Udrih</span><span style="color:#999999">Season Stats: 5.5 ppg, 1.2 rpg, 2.1 apg</span><span style="color:#000000">We know what Tony Parker is going to do. We know what Manu Ginobili is going to do. We know what Brent Barry is going to do. But, we never know what Beno Udrih is going to do. He either has a big game or he goes virtually unnoticeable. Tonight, he has to show up, because AI and Boykins is a deadly backcourt.</span><span style="color:#00BFFF">Denver's X-Factor</span><span style="color:#00BFFF">Reggie Evans</span><span style="color:#FFCC00">Season Stats: 6.6 ppg, 9.0 rpg</span><span style="color:#00BFFF">Evans needs to do what he does every night: bring energy, rebound, play tough defensively. San Antonio is obviously a great team, so they need a huge burst of energy off the bench.</span> <div align="center">Key Matchup vs. <span style="color:#000000">Tony Parker</span> <span style="color:#000000">vs.</span> <span style="color:#00BFFF">Allen Iverson</span></div><span style="color:#000000">These two are some of the best guards in the entire league. They are both penetrators, they can both score the ball, both are lightning quick, both have excellent court vision, and both are All-Star guards in the Western Conference. This is going to be awesome.</span> CelticBalla's Extra Thoughts/NotesJ.R. Smith will play tonight. His 10 game suspension is over. CelticBalla's PredictionI think San Antonio will win, but Denver will put up a big fight. Any time you have a guy like Allen Iverson on your team, you have a chance to win on any given night. However, San Antonio is one of the best teams in the league, arguably the best, and they have all their players healthy. Denver has their franchise player out, and the team is nothing to brag about defensively. I see a high energy game, and a very exciting game, but I see a San Antonio win.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BALLAHOLLIC? @ Jan 10 2007, 02:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Hey bro, JR Smith will be playing tonight.</div>Oh really? Sick. I thought he had one more game left, my bad.
Great set-up and I agree with everything. If Reggie Evans or Nene could come out and bring some energy the Nuggets could take this game at home. I eventually expect Nene to become a start once he's 100% healthy because he's a great rebounder, and he compliments Marcus Camby very well.
This will be great.1st time I get to see A.I play with Denver and they got JR back.I really think Denver will steal this one.
I am definitely going to take San Antonio in this one. Ginobili has been playing incredible the last couple of games, and I dont think this team will have an answer for him. With JR back, he is going to be getting alot of the minutes, and we all know that he is a terrible defender. Manu is going to have a field day. Tony has had alot of rest over the last couple of games becuase he was out, so I expect him to come back and play well. Duncan will be Duncan. You always know what you are going to get with him. I just think the Spurs are too good for this team without Carmelo. If he was back, this would be a much harder decision for me.
I am definitely going to take San Antonio in this one. Ginobili has been playing incredible the last couple of games, and I dont think this team will have an answer for him. With JR back, he is going to be getting alot of the minutes, and we all know that he is a terrible defender. Manu is going to have a field day. Tony has had alot of rest over the last couple of games becuase he was out, so I expect him to come back and play well. Duncan will be Duncan. You always know what you are going to get with him. I just think the Spurs are too good for this team without Carmelo. If he was back, this would be a much harder decision for me.
this will be a great matchup. AI vs. Tony Parker the fastest players in the league. Spurs get this one because denver isn't used to having J.R. in the linuep (first time in 10 games).
^Yeah lol... but it should be starting in 5 mins... But J.R. won't be starting unless Karl has a change of mind... he said he would bring J.R. into the rotation slowly although it would be much quicker imo
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pacers fan forever @ Jan 10 2007, 10:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>lol. did you see the cup spill? hhahhahahhahahhahahhahahahha!</div>Lmfao, yeah, and did u see that guy and the cake?
Wow, this sucks. I went out with my friends tonight because I thought the game started at 10:30, I get home and it's in the 4th quarter already. The game started at 9 apparently...I just checked the box scores and it looks like JR Smith is struggling a bit, especially from beyond the arc.
Yeah I figured that the chemistry would not be right with AI in there. He is too much of a me-first point guard and doesn't play good defense. Denver will need to make another trade to be a real threat for a championship. Melo is their youngest player so they can get the most value back with him. Also that Boykins/Iverson lineup is too small.
Well, I still wont say anything about this duo until we see Melo and A.I play on the same team together.Not to long, I believe 4-5 Games?88-83 after A.I's 3 point play. 30 sec left tho, I see SA taking this one.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mavsfan1000 @ Jan 11 2007, 03:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Yeah I figured that the chemistry would not be right with AI in there. He is too much of a me-first point guard and doesn't play good defense. Denver will need to make another trade to be a real threat for a championship. Melo is their youngest player so they can get the most value back with him. Also that Boykins/Iverson lineup is too small.</div>Are you suggesting that we trade Melo and build around AI and J.R. instead? :HAHAHA: AI isn't a pass-first player, the thing about him is once he is on a roll he thinks it's best to let him score because that's the highest chance his team will score on that possession. But it will be different with Melo... AI knows how capable Melo is of scoring... he too was looking for Boykins, J.R., Camby and even our other big men (if not because they didn't fumble the ball :thumbdn1AI's mentality is to make sure the team scores on every possession possible once Melo returns he knows he can share it with him. P.S. tough loss btw since we hung in there most of the game, but at least we got J.R. back... he really helped open the defense up in the middle.
Trade Melo for Garnett. Garnett will give you defense and rebounding help along with scoring. Minnesota I'm assuming wants to get younger since they no longer are a championship contender. Also after watching some of the stupid things Nene does having him out of the game should be an advantage.
