<div align="center"><font color="Black"><font face="Times New Roman">Battle Out West</font></font></div> <div align="center"></div> <div align="center"> </div> <div align="center"><u><font color="LightBlue">Denver Nuggets</font> @ <font color="Purple">Sacramento Kings</font></u></div> When: Sunday 11th January Where: ARCO Arena Time: 6:00 Local Time Tv: FSN, NBALP Records <u>Nuggets:</u> 22-15 <u>Kings:</u> 25-9 Last 10 <u>Nuggets:</u> 6-4 <u>Kings:</u> 7-3 Previous Games <u>Nuggets</u> <ul> [*]01/09/04 W 106-96 vs Utah [*]01/07/04 W 113-91 vs L.A. Lakers [*]01/05/04 L 98-74 vs San Antonio [/list] Streeak: Won 2 <u>Kings</u> <ul> [*]01/09/04 W 113-93 @ Phoenix [*]01/07/04 L 104-93 @ Seattle [*]01/06/04 W 105-89 vs Atlanta [/list] Streak: Won 1 Head Coaches Jeff Bzdelik vs. Rick Adelman Probable Starters Andre Miller vs. Mike Bibby Voshon Lenard vs. Doug Christie Carmelo Anthony vs. Peja Stojakovic Nene vs. Brad Miller Marcus Camby vs. Vlade Divac Injury List <u>Nuggets</u> Jon Barry Mark Pope <u>Kings</u> Lawrence Funderburke Chris Webber Key Factors <u>Home Court Advantage</u> <font color="Red">By Jump</font> The ARCO Arena is one heck of a venue. This place is always buzzing, and the Kings always thrive on its atmosphere. Denver are going to have to bring their A game. <font color="Gray"><font size="1">ARCO Arena</font></font> <u>Carmelo Anthony</u> <font color="Red">By TimFlem15</font> The key factor for this game is can Carmelo run. if he does his team responds with easy uncontested points, if he can't they'll have to go the hard way. <font size="1"><font color="Gray">Carmelo is the key to easy baskets.</font></font> <font color="Red">By Magic Johnson</font> <u>Kings:</u>Get the ball to Peja often as his offense is deadly and consistent. Pass to Divac down low, he's got a height advantage and is pretty speedy on the dunk. Be sure to keep Brad Miller involved, he'll do well on both ends of the floor. Brad and Divac should Zone the likes of Camby and Nene in order to get boards. Miller, Leonard and Anthony should be contained, Zone from the big men, Divac and Miller might make short work of them. Defense is the key to victory here. <u>Nuggets:</u>Rely on Boykins as backup for good minutes. Involve Leonard as he's been playing very well as of late. Like Sacramento, Camby and Nene should Zone the big men and shooters in order to disrupt shots. Carmelo and Miller must be constantly open in order to make the easy shots as they are more of an offensive team. Unlike Sacramento, offense will be needed to pick up the victory, they have less boarding and defensive ability, hence they should just go for the easy shots. Key Matchup vs. <u>Carmelo Anthony vs. Peja Stojakovic</u> <font color="Red">By Jump + TimFlem15</font> Carmelo will have to play defense on Peja. He is one of the sharpest shooters in the league and is aiming to kill the Nuggets with his outside jumper. If Carmelo can contain this shot the Nuggets will have a much greater chance of the win. Keys to the game <u>Nuggets</u> <ul> [*]Tight defence [*]Keep the crowd quiet [*]Get an early lead [/list] <u>Sacramento</u> <ul> [*]Outside Play [*]Keep Carmelo quiet [*]Rebound [/list] Predictions <font color="Red">Jump</font> This is going to be a very tough game for the Nuggets to win. Sacramento are among the elite in the league and are my pick for the championship. They have been playing tremendous ball without Webber and I doubt that Denver will be able to get the win, especially in the mad house which is ARCO Arena. Kings by 7. <font color="Red">TimFlem15</font> If Carmelo and the Nuggets can stop the Kings from getting easy uncontested baskets and from going on a run they'll get the W easily. If they can't we'll watch them fight for it. Nuggets by 7. <font color="Red">Magic Johnson</font> This is a tough matchup, pretty even offensively although I believe that Sacramento has the upperhand defensively and on the boards. However the Sixth man of Denver is far superior, he might turn the tide and cause the win. I still say, Sacramento by 5. <div align="center"><font size="1">Please visit NBA.com</font></div>
The Peja/Carmelo matchup will be interesting to watch, but I think the Kings have the upper hand in this game. Why, because the only Nugget the Kings have to shut down is Carmelo. Shut down Carmelo and you got the W. The Nuggets on the other hand have to contain Stojakavic, Brad Miller, Mike Bibby, if the bench comes in, Bobby Jackson.....It'll be a tough one for Denver
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting sactown_dyme:</div><div class="quote_post">the only Nugget the Kings have to shut down is Carmelo. Shut down Carmelo and you got the W.</div> Nope. Not only does Sacramento have to stop Carmelo, they'll also have to stop Andre Miller, Marcus Camby, the speedy Earl Boykins, and also Voshon Lenard.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Laker_Fever_834:</div><div class="quote_post">Nope. Not only does Sacramento have to stop Carmelo, they'll also have to stop Andre Miller, Marcus Camby, the speedy Earl Boykins, and also Voshon Lenard.</div> Umm i dont think Sac really stopped any of those guys tonight, not even Nene (which u failed to acknowledged ) but we still found a way to win. Peja had some trouble early but hit the 3's when it mattered. Nuggets couldnt stop the Kings that was the problem.
yup. the kings play the type of game i hope denver does in a few years. great scorers but awesome passing and movement.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting E-bro92:</div><div class="quote_post">Umm i dont think Sac really stopped any of those guys tonight, not even Nene (which u failed to acknowledged ) but we still found a way to win. Peja had some trouble early but hit the 3's when it mattered. Nuggets couldnt stop the Kings that was the problem.</div> Well you allowed 106 points to Denver. You guys simply don't play defense.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Laker_Fever_834:</div><div class="quote_post">Well you allowed 106 points to Denver. You guys simply don't play defense.</div> First off,Denver are a fast paced team that loves to get attack the basket on the break.Kings are the same which is why so many points were scored in this game. As a Laker fan do you have any right to mention kings have no defense when Lakers don't play any either?
As a Laker fan..you cant talk about how the kings dont play D At least the Kings have been picking up wins lately....
kings played great D in spurts. that was enough to give them runs to keep them ahead. overall their D isnt that good but since thier O is freaking awesome, who cares?
