<div align="center"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%"> @ </span> Venue: Pepsi Center, Denver, CO National TV: NBALPTime: 09:00 pm ESTDate: Wednesday, 1 March 2006 ---</div><span style="color:red"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%">Detroit Pistons (47-9)</span></span>Projected starters<span style="color:red">PG: Chauncey BillupsSG: Richard Hamilton SF: Tayshaun PrincePF: Rasheed WallaceC: Ben Wallace</span>Sixth man: <span style="color:red">Antonio McDyess</span>Coach: <span style="color:red">Flip Saunders</span>---<span style="color:royalblue"><span style="font-size:18pt;line-height:100%">Denver Nuggets (30-27)</span></span>Projected starters<span style="color:royalblue">PG: Andre MillerSG: DerMarr JohnsonSF: Carmelo AnthonyPF: Kenyon MartinC: Marcus Camby</span>Sixth man: <span style="color:royalblue">Earl Boykins</span>Coach: <span style="color:royalblue">George Karl</span>---Nuggets' last game recap (vs. Bucks)We got crushed good on our own homefloor, 89-110. It's the worst home loss of the season for us, something that could give us a kick when we face the best NBA team, the Pistons, tonight. Back to the last game however, the efforts could be described as "lazy", "no movement", "zombie", "stoned" if you will. As the newcomer defensive specialist Patterson said, "guys were not rotating, were not helping each other." But this is also a kind of game that we used for getting more comfortable with the newcomers. Hope we are not taking too long, for there're only 25 regular-season games left. This is also one of the few games I remember Melo notching non-double-digit points in one half (only 4 pts in the 2nd to finish with 19 pts overall). vs. Pistons What can I say? They're the best team in the NBA. Boasting the best record, 47-9, including a six-game winning streak. A 72 win season (the Chicago Bulls's win totals in the 1995-96 season) seems out of reach but a 70 win season is still possible. They "just" need to go 23-3 the rest of the way. But we Nuggets definitely want to be one of those three losses in their L column. Aside of bouncing back from our last horrible game, we also get a chance to avenge our worst loss of the season when we were spanked 89-114 on their homefloor on Nov. 23. So that's two blowout losses in our mind and hopefully it will give us motivation, an edge, determination to play our best on every possession, defensively or offensively, in this game and for us to come out victorious. Patterson seemed to impress Karl enough that he started him in the second half of the Bucks game. If this continues and with guard Greg Buckner hurting, we will see him in our starting lineup soon. But eventually he will have to give up the spot back when Buckner returns, because he doesn't have the shooting range that Buckner does. I expect Patterson to guard Hamilton as his main task tonight. He could be in a foul trouble quick, so he has to play smart. Colorado native Chauncey Billups is having an MVP-caliber season, and expect him to be greeted with cheers from our crowd. There will probably be no slowing him down, defensively and offensively Billups owns our point guard Miller although Andre's passing gives him a slight edge. Then Tasyhaun Prince is known to be capable of locking down high-scoring superstars. Tonight, he will try to do the same against Melo, probably the L's most prolific scoring small-forward since Bernard King. I can only say this, the only person who can stop Melo is Melo. I know it's an old phrase, but it's true if you follow the Nuggets this season. He has struggled to find his groove in two straight games against rookie James Singleton (who has above average D by the way) in late January, but he also has thirty point games while being defended by very good defenders in Andres Nocioni of the Bulls and, most recently, Trenton Hassell of the Wolves. No matter who guards him, the one who can really shut down Melo is himself. He needs to step up another notch for us. K-Mart also has to be aware that Sheed likes to go wait outside the three point line to bury those open three pointers. Most probably, with the knees of his, K-Mart won't be able to switch back to him quick enough should he have to help out on double teams. In this case, other Nuggets such as Miller or Patterson need to help out on the defensive rotation. Remember, no individual can guard nearly as well as a team collectively. Then there's big bad Ben Wallace, who will give them some nice extra possessions with his rebounding. If K-Mart isn't helping much with rebounds, we can use our new guy, Reggie Evans, who by the way did exactly what he was brought in to do in the last by pulling 8 rebounds in only 16 minutes, and pair him with Camby to give us two strong rebounders to neutralise the Wallaces' board work. But it really depends on the game situation. Will we be in need of scoring or defensive plays? Either way, expect Evans to log many minutes, possibly topping 20 mins. <span style="font-size:24pt;line-height:100%"><span style="color:red">+</span></span> O Nene, where are thou?... Najera probable after a knee surgery... Buckner doubtful with hyperextended knee. Closing comments and predictionsI have a good feeling about this game. It sounds crazy especially after that blowout loss, but I think we can win this game if we put together some real efforts. I have a feeling K-Mart will explode with 30+ pts, Melo with 25+, Camby will pull down 12 boards, 6 blocks, Miller with 10+ assists, Patterson with 3 steals, and we play one of the most complete games of the season in winning 105-99. :rock:
It's crazy, K-Mart hitting threes, we all playing energetic, it's great to see. :worthy: Strong numbers are: rebounds, we got 59! That's worth 2 games of rebounding for us lately, considering we'd been outrebounded in 12 of our previous 13 games before this. Camby finally went to the glass again, grabbing 20 rebounds, K-Mart complimented him nicely with 12 and Evans gave us 7 off the bench. This is a total team effort. And then, 26 assists, it's been a while too we had that many.And I think I'm wrong about Ruben Patterson. If he keeps up bringing the energy and intensity like that (I love the way he scuffled with Hamilton :flex: ), he will be tough to be replaced by even a healthy Buckner.
Camby and Canyon outplayed the Wallaces.I still cant believe the knicks gave up on camby.... feckin idiots and they keep houston. Camby and Kurt thomas at that..... tiss tiss even though Kurt sucks as a sun
