<font face="Tahoma"><div align="center"> Phiadelphia 76ers (13-14) @ Denver Nuggets (13-15) Date: December 31st, 2004 8:00 PM (local time) TV:ESPN2, CSN Last Games Golden State 104, Denver 101 Philadelphia 114, Seattle 107 </div> As a interim head coach in the 200-01 season Jim O'Brien led the Celtics for 48 games to a .500 record (24-24). During his time in Boston Jim O'Brien led the Boston Celtics to the Eastern Conference finals, and a eventual lose in six games to the New Jersey nets. Last season O'Brien abruptly left the Celticsmid way through there season after the trade of his two favorite players Eric Williams and Tony Battie. The Sixers had also at the time lost there own coach Larry Brown at the time to the Detroit Pistons after a six game lose to the Detroit Pistons in the second round of the playoffs. They tried to have Randy Ayers as there replacement, but to no avail as he would be fired before all star break. The job would then fall to interm head coach Ford who's problems with star Allen Iverson and old school coaching style cost much contriversy in a some what hopeless losing season. Then the Sixers search lead them to home town native Jim O'Brien. JO has tryed many different lineups as head coach of the 76ers so far this season the only constant of the five starters being Allen Iverson and Andre Igoudala. We can not say that he has lived up to expectations as coach so far this year, but he is getting there. They have come off a couple close games, and nice wins lately they are only two games out of the lead in the Atlantic division <div align="center"> <font color="Blue">Sammy Dalembert </font> -PPG 5.6 RPG 6.80 APG .6 <font color="Blue">Kenny Thomas</font>- PPG 9.2 RPG 6.5 APG 1.3 <font color="Blue">Andre Iguodala</font>- PPG 8.7 RPG 5.4 APG 2.6 <font color="Blue">Willie Green</font>- PPG 8.6 RPG 2.6 APG 2.1 <font color="Blue">Allen Iverson</font>- PPG 28.9 RPG 4.0 APG 7.1</div> <div align="center"> <font color="Blue">Kyle Korver</font>- PPG 11.4 RPG 3.7 APG 2.1</div> Is it just me or are the Philadelphia 76ers finally looking like a team with heart, a team they havent looked like since the 2001 season. they got guys stepping up to pick up the scoring load when AI is not hot they got guys who know there role doing there thing, and are 3-0 so far on there eight game road trip which was projected to make or break them. Samuel Dalembert has been doing very well on this road trip if you break down his game by game splits for this road trip so far he is averaging 7.5 points per game, 6 rebounds, 1.6 blocks a game. Compared to his normal stats of 5 points a game, 6.80 rebounds and 1.6 blocks so he has picked up his scoring and helped AI got so far carring the scoring load. In this game he will be going against Marcus Camby a good defender, and streaky offensive player it should be a goos matchup do not expect either to dominate though. Kenny Thomas has also picked up his scoring if you have followed my previews you will have noticed he has improved his scoring and rebounding average. He is starting to look like the Kenny Thomas of old. He is getting on the boards and scoring he scored 15 points last game for us one of six 76ers to get into double digits. He will have a huge challenge in Kenyon Martin this game. Iggy has also picked up his scoring a little, but he is dominate some nights and irrelevent offensively the next night. He scored 22 points against the Blazers, and only four points against the Sonics. He did however hit the boardsfor seven rebounds. His ability to creat steals will be a big need this game against a Carmelo Anthony coming back from injury. Willie Green exploded against the Seattle SuperSonic like said before one of six sixers to reach double figure scoring he scored 20 points after failing to reach double digit scoring the other two games in the road trip. We will be looking at him to take advantage of Greg Buckner in there matchup. Allen Iverson what can you say he has lead the Sixers in scoring every game this month, had two 50 point scoring games this month, and is not done yet I expect him to come up big tonight as he tries to lead the Sixers to another win, and guarentee them at least a .500 finish in this road trip. Ahh Kyle Korver if you have been following my previews you have seen his average in points steadly decreasing. He has not had a big game in idk how long. He needs to step up or he is going to be in JO's dog house like Kenny Thoams was for a while and we need his shooting so hopefully that does not happen. To me I think we need tto try to get him in a matchup with Buckner as often as we can. <div align="center"> (Coach Picture not avaliable) <font color="blue">Marcus Camby</font>- PPG 8.8 RPG 8.8 APG 1.7 <font color="blue">Kenyon Martin</font>- PPG 15.2 RPG 8.2 APG 3.1 <font color="blue">Carmelo Anthony</font>-PPG 21.4 RPG 6.0 APG 3.2 <font color="blue">Greg Buckner</font>- PPG 6.6 RPG 3.0 APG 2.1 <font color="blue">Andre Miller</font>-PPG 15.3 RPG 4.1 APG 6.0 <font color="Blue">Nene Hilario</font>-PPG 7.9 RPG 4.9 APG 1.7 Marcus Camby is a player who you never know what he will give you if he will dominate or if he will just be one of the five players who have to be on the court. He does alot of things for this team that dont show up on the stat sheet a lot of hustle plays for them to win he will need to do not and show up with his offensive game today. Kenyon Martin has struggled to say the least this season without Kidd to set him up. Dont get me wrong he is still great and we need to stop him and keep him off the board, but with Kidd he was a all star with the Nuggets he is just been a solid role player at best. He needs to return to his old ways his big plays when the team needs them and being a floor leader. Carmelo Anthony's first game back from injury, and what has changed since he was last on the court well there is a new coach and his team is on a huge slide. Think this will effect his game? Probably. I do not expect to see the 20 point scoring Carmelo Anthony tonight he has to learn what the new coach likes to run, and has to get back into the flow he will be rusty imo. Greg Buckner former sixer starting because of a season ending injury to leonard thats all I can really say about him he is a decent defender, but does not have much of a offensive game. He may have a few good hustle plays but will not be a huge factor in this game his job stop Willie Green. Andre Miller still a good guard lead the league in assists a few years back with the Cavs he is a solid gaurd, and can not be under rated this game him and Iverson should be a good matchup this game see what happens hopefully AI can hang on to the ball this game and lead the offense. Nene has been a good factor off the bench for the Nuggets this season in the middle of trade rumors he has performed solid for them all season long after coming abck from the injury. Guarding him and Martinw ill tire our big men out I think we should use Skinner this game to body them up more often then we normally would. MVP <font color="Blue">Points 43, 6 rebounds, 9 assists</font></div> <div align="center"> </div> * Have Anthony perform he is coming back form injury so you cant tell how he will perform. Try to get him involved early, but if it isnt working dont try and force anything try to play a lot of help D to help Anthony since he probably wont be full strength * Control the boards the Nuggets have the bigger guys they should have no trouble doing this. </font><div align="center"></div> Well I think we can win this game after the Seattle gaem anything seems possible. I will hold off on predicting who will win though I do not really know who will win this game or what team will come out the Nuggets that where hot with Anthony or the team that has been on the losing streak.
This is a great preview, Pure, great game by the Nuggets who stepped up defensively in the fourth quarter, kudos to our new coach Cooper. Melo returned and had two crucial three pointers in the 4th quarter run and finished with 24... great comeback by Melo, hopefully this win will start a new winning streak. http://www.nba.com/games/20041231/PHIDEN/recap.html
