<font color="Navy">Utah Jazz(1-0) </font> @ <font color="SandyBrown">Denver Nuggets(1-1)</font> Time: 7 pm Place: Pepsi Center TV: Altitude Head Coaches <u>Jeff Bzdelik/Jerry Sloan</u> Projected Starting Lineups <u>Andre Miller/Howard Eisley </u> <u>DerMarr Johnson/Raja Bell</u> <u>Carmelo Anthony/Andrei Kirilenko</u> <u>Kenyon Martin/Carlos Boozer</u> <u>Marcus Camby/Mehmet Okur</u> <u>Injury Report</u> <font color="Navy">Carlos Arroyo</font> <font color="Navy">Raul Lopez</font> <font color="SandyBrown">Voshon Lenard</font> Key Matchup This will be an interesting battle down low and I believe who ever wins that battle, will win the game for his team. They’re two all-star caliber players who moved to a different team this off-season. Kenyon Martin brings the hustle, intensity, and leadership the nuggets were lacking last season. Carlos Boozer adds to the identity that the Jazz were building last season. Another notable matchup is the AK and CA battle. A lot of people in the Media tried to play out a rivalry between these two last season. As you may remember, Andrei Kirilenko beat out Anthony for the last forward spot on the All-Star team. Many say that Carmelo deserved that spot more than AK did, well now would be the time to prove Melo. Keys to the Game <font color="SandyBrown">Nuggets</font> -The Nuggets have to come out running and make sure that they keep it up the whole game. If the nuggets want to win they have to get the defensive rebound, and kick it out for a fast break. The Nuggets will lose if they play like they did against L.A. -Who is gonna step up and take Voshon Lenard’s place? Kiki has said that a trade will be his last option for replacing Vo. He wants to give the players who have worked hard for him a chance at it. The three who are most likely to take his spot for the time being are, DerMarr Johnson, Rodney White, and Earl Boykins. -Kenyon Martin needs to have an outstanding game. This will be his last chance to make an impression on the Denver fans before heading to Utah. He needs to prove that he’s worth the copious contract he received this summer. <font color="Navy">Jazz</font> -Who is gonna make up for Carlos Arroyo’s production? He’s not gone for too long but Utah needs to send a message that they can still compete without their star point guard. -Shut down the Nuggets’ front court. If any team plans on beating Denver the best way to do so is to shut down their star front court. AK needs to show that he’s just as good as Carmelo. Carlos needs to prove he’s the better power forward that moved to the west. And Mehmet Okur Needs to prove his worth. Prediction This one will be a good game and I believe who ever wins this one will also win the one on Monday. I don’t see anybody with the ability to shut down all of the Nuggets’ weapons. I predict the Nuggets winning by ten.
Great preview and analysis, I almost made this game preview until I found myself in trouble trying to insert images of teams and players (I don't have a URL address). Melo definitely has a lot to prove to everybody that he was and more importantly is better than AK47. However, Melo is rather one dimensional, AK47 could make his teammates better in ways that anyone could hardly imagine coming from Melo. But this is no knock on Melo it's just fact and he has gotta prove it in this game by hitting his shots, finding his open teammates, and more importantly his team getting the W. I'd say give the spot to DerMarr Johnson. He's Kenyon's running teammate in their years in Cinncinnati (sp?) and the two should know each other well... and this is a good start and no question this guy can score... he just needs to fit into the Nuggets system. If DerMarr breaks down, replace him quickly, simple as that. Rodney ain't a sg, he's Melo's backup and Earl is just too small for that spot, are you kidding me Kiki? He and Denver are better off him coming off the bench. Forgot my prediction: Utah players should be high about their game against the Lakers but will back-to-back games (against Warriors on 5th), flying, and the Denver altitude choke them? The Nuggets have also learned better of themselves as a team by defeating the Wolves in such a close game too, I'd say this is no close Nuggets take this game by 13.
I think the Jazz will win this one, they are playing great right now. This will be their toughest game in the season, but in both games so far they have cracked 100 points and kept their opponents to 80 points or under. Anthony will struggle with Kirilenko, who will throw another block party. Boozer against Martin will be a great matchup, and a critical one. Marcus Camby needs to play well for the Nuggets to win, and take advantage of Okur's injury. But in the end I think the Jazz have to many scoring options, and their defense will be to much. Jazz by 6.
This is going top be a tough game for the Nuggets.The Jazz have a good all around team,and they have two great players who can hold the two great Nuggets players. If the Nuggets want to win this one they just simply have to outplay the Jazz,and it isnt going to be an easy job.If Carmelo starts out agressive and gets some pentration he can find open players.The Nuggets also have to take some advantage of Jazz point guard Howard Eisley,he is not bad but I dont think he is a capable starter in this leauge anymore. Nevertheless,Jazz 98-Nuggets87
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">If DerMarr breaks down, replace him quickly, simple as that. Rodney ain't a sg, he's Melo's backup and Earl is just too small for that spot, are you kidding me Kiki? He and Denver are better off him coming off the bench</div> Well Rodney isnt just carmelos backup.Neither is greg buckner both of them are bench players who can play either the 2 or the 3. And as far as Earl taking the spot he probly wont be the starting 2gaurd but, expect him to see more minutes. Even just against Minn. he played 36 mintues. Earl is arguably the Nuggets best shooter with Vo out (No disrespect to Melo).
BTW, about that thing that it's time for Melo to prove he was more worthy, he did that last year when he gave kirilenko a bit of his own medicine and held him to 2 points. I wouldn't be surprised if he had another huge game again too.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting boogieman470:</div><div class="quote_post">Well Rodney isnt just carmelos backup.Neither is greg buckner both of them are bench players who can play either the 2 or the 3. And as far as Earl taking the spot he probly wont be the starting 2gaurd but, expect him to see more minutes. Even just against Minn. he played 36 mintues. Earl is arguably the Nuggets best shooter with Vo out (No disrespect to Melo).</div> Really? I thought Rodney was a little too slow to play the 2 spot :mrgreen: Yeah, I would say that in clutch situation, Earl is the best shooter with Vo out... but give a little credit to Melo he has to fight through double teams to get his shots off. He is still the best Nugget in terms of creating his own shots. Btw, I'm glad that you did this preview because I'm simply not trained enough to do this. Keep up good work while I wait for Silky Smooth to teach me make one. :thumbsup:
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Silky Smooth:</div><div class="quote_post"> If the Nuggets want to win this one they just simply have to outplay the Jazz,and it isnt going to be an easy job.If Carmelo starts out agressive and gets some pentration he can find open players.The Nuggets also have to take some advantage of Jazz point guard Howard Eisley,he is not bad but I dont think he is a capable starter in this leauge anymore. </div> He's not a starter for the Jazz, Keith McLeod is. McLeod is doing a great job so far, he had a double double in his last game with 15 points, 10 assists. He's not even a weakness for the Jazz so far. The Nuggets should look to take advantage of Jarron Collins, since Okur will be playing limited minutes, if any.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Stockton:</div><div class="quote_post">He's not a starter for the Jazz, Keith McLeod is. McLeod is doing a great job so far, he had a double double in his last game with 15 points, 10 assists. He's not even a weakness for the Jazz so far. The Nuggets should look to take advantage of Jarron Collins, since Okur will be playing limited minutes, if any.</div> Well I dont really follow the Jazz so I wouldnt know that,but thinks for filling me in and I was just following BoggieMans preview.In that case the Nuggets should really look inside and go at Collins like Stockton stated.K-Mart could be able to expoit this but he also has Bozzer to worry about in the low post.
Jazz are up 38-20 now, 9:56 left in the 2nd quarter. Their play has surprised even me, I expected them to be good, but not this good. Andrei Kirilenko has got to the line 10 times so far, and Boozer dominating Kenyon Martin.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Silky Smooth:</div><div class="quote_post">Well I dont really follow the Jazz so I wouldnt know that,but thinks for filling me in and I was just following BoggieMans preview.In that case the Nuggets should really look inside and go at Collins like Stockton stated.K-Mart could be able to expoit this but he also has Bozzer to worry about in the low post.</div> Yeah that was my bad i dont rreally follow the jazz either but when i saw the roster i figured he'd be starting in place for Carlos
Boozer owneddddd K-Mart tonight. Anthony 3-20, 7 points? Just stop shooting the rock kid, and pass it around.
Carmelo man, what happened to you? With tonight's 3-20, his 20% shooting is getting even worse. I didn't watch the game or see the full recap yet but it's clear from the boxscore Carlos Boozer got the best of K-Mart.
Man. That really sucked. If anybody was gonna get blown out i expected it to be the Jazz. Playing back-to-back is tough and i gotta hand it to Utah. There for real good game guys
