<div align="center"> @ <font color="blue">Denver Nuggets (42-31)</font> @ <font color="teal">New Orleans Hornets (18-55)</font> Time: Wed, Apr. 6, 2005, 08:00 P.M. Eastern Time TV: NBALP Place: New Orleans Arena, New Orleans, LA --- Ballers: <font color="blue">Marcus Camby</font> ( C), <font color="blue">Kenyon Martin</font> (PF), <font color="blue">Carmelo Anthony</font> (SF), <font color="blue">DerMarr Johnson</font> (SG), <font color="blue">Andre Miller</font> (PG) Top bench baller: <font color="blue">Earl Boykins</font> Coach: <font color="blue">George Karl</font> (25-6, first season with Nuggets) --- Ballers: <font color="teal">Jamaal Magloire</font> ( C), <font color="teal">David West</font> (PF), <font color="teal">Bostjan Nachbar</font> (SF), <font color="teal">J.R. Smith</font> (SG), <font color="teal">Speedy Claxton</font> (PG) Top bench baller: <font color="teal">P.J. Brown</font> Coach: <font color="teal">Byron Scott</font> (18-55, first season with Hornets) <font size="5"><font color="blue">Top</font> <font color="gold">Ballers</font>:</font> <font color="blue">Kenyon Martin: 26 points, 9 rebounds, 3 blocks.</font> <font color="teal">P.J. Brown: 19 points, 17 rebounds, 6 assists.</font> <font size="5">purpleb0n9's <font color="Blue">Team</font> <font color="Gold">Analysis</font>:</font> <font color="blue">-D</font><font color="gold">N:</font> Okay now that we're officially no. 7 seed, we are one step closer to going no. 6 and avoiding what I call the last 2 deathrow spots, no. 7 and no. 8, who will be likely to face the mighty Suns and Spurs in the playoffs first round, respectively. Not that I don't trust my Nuggets to be able to beat either team because I think they can, but I'd say let's face the no. 3 seed, have a bigger chance to move on to the second round, and gain some playoffs momentum. I know we're on a good momentum now but playoffs and regular season are different things entirely. With the loss at Golden State yesterday, the no. 6 Rockets only have a 1.0 game lead over us. With this win at New Orleans, we'll cut it to 0.5 and hopefully the Rockets will lose to the Lakers in LA tommorow. But as usual, we can't worry about what other teams do, we gotta worry about ourselves and get one win at a time. <font color="teal">- New Orleans:</font> The Hornets are doing pretty well lately, going 3-2 in their last five while almost pulling off wins vs. the Cavs and league-leading Heat. I've said it in my last Hornet preview that this team adopted the Bulls' defensive starting lineup and a deep bench. Coach Scott is definitely great... at copying other coaches' styles. First, it was Eddie Jordan's Princeton offense, and now Scott Skiles' thang. Hey, you gotta do what you gotta do to stay employed, right? If the Hornets keep this pace til the end of season, Scott'll save his job. <font size="5">purpleb0n9's <font color="Blue">Predict</font><font color="Gold">ion</font>:</font> The Hornets will be ready to give us trouble, but I think we'll be prepared for their challenge. We'll win this by 16, 113-97.</div>
