<div align="center"> @ <font color="blue">Denver Nuggets (38-30)</font> @ <font color="darkorange">Phoenix Suns (52-17)</font> Time: Sat, Mar. 28, 2005, 09:00 P.M. Eastern Time TV: NBALP Place: America West Arena, Phoenix, AZ --- Ballers: <font color="blue">Francisco Elson</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> (21-5, first season with Nuggets) --- Ballers: <font color="darkorange">Amare Stoudemire</font> ( C), <font color="darkorange">Shawn Marion</font> (PF), <font color="darkorange">Quentin Richardson</font> (SF), <font color="darkorange">Joe Johnson</font> (SG), <font color="darkorange">Steve Nash</font> (PG) Top bench baller: <font color="darkorange">Jim Jackson</font> Coach: <font color="darkorange">Mike D'Antoni</font> (73-57 overall with Suns) <font size="6"><font color="blue">Top</font> <font color="orange">Ballers</font>:</font> <font color="blue">Carmelo Anthony: 33 pts, 12 rebds, 5 assists. </font> <font color="darkorange">Amare Stoudemire: 46 pts, 14 rebounds, 4 assists.</font> <font size="6">purpleb0n9's <font color="Blue">Team</font> <font color="Orange">Analysis</font>:</font> - <font color="blue">D</font><font color="orange">N</font>: This is it... the most important game of the year for us yet is finally here. This game is probably a preview of next month's first round playoffs matchup, so this will be a statement game for us. We lost to them in the previous two meetings in Denver this season by a very close margin. Winning this one is important as it sends a message to them that we're not a pushover team, not quite the bullied as the lower seed. We must show that we're able to hang with them. The key for us is just to play good basic defense. Obviously, we must get back on the D end as soon as we finish an offensive play. On the half court set, we must play help team defense and step up to the Sun that gets free off a screen. On the O end, I think we'll use Dre to post up on Steve, just to try to wear him out so he wouldn't have as much energy left on their ball possessions. But we must play loose and don't forget that it's basketball, it's a fun game, and against this team it's not all about D for us because we've also got our own O that they've got to worry about. We also have to take and hit as many good shots, especially from the outside. We gotta be more physical with them, play them hard for 48 minutes. <font color="darkorange">- Phoenix:</font> They've been solid this month, winning all their roadies, except Miami, while losing just three times overall. It appears to me that all three losses to the Rockets, Warriors, and Heat had one thing in common: they could not stop the go-to guys on those teams (T-Mac: 38 pts, B-Diddy: 33 pts, and Shaq: 25 pts) <u>especially</u> down the stretch. They were worried a little too much about their D while forgetting they were a force on the other end too. The good news for the Suns is the Nuggets don't have a go-to guy of those guys' caliber, but the bad news is we move and share the ball and points, which could prove to be more effective and even more difficult to defend. In this game they need to stop worrying about their D and just do whatever they've excelled at: scoring and easy fastbreak transition and let the Nuggets worry about their own D. <font size="6">purpleb0n9's <font color="Blue">Predict</font><font color="Orange">ion</font>:</font> Phoenix, which leads the L in scoring per game at 110.4 meets Denver that has averaged 117.7 pts in its last 6 games. This time, I won't predict the outcome, just the final score, 139-134. The fans are back, and so is the NBA. :rock: May the best team win!</div>
Nice preview, it should definitely be a nice game. I'll be rooting for Denver on this one given that fact that they are the big underdogs making a big run with Karl. Man, if they win this, it would be huge. I really don't know who'll win this since Denver has been red hot the past few games and has the players to beat Phoenix. If they can keep up with their offense, this should be a close one.
You gotta respect that ref for letting Karl speak his mind before ejecting him. Karl was so red that I thought they may need to call the paramedics.
