<div align="center"> @ <font color="royalblue">Denver Nuggets (43-31)</font> @ <font color="navy">Minnesota Timberwolves (40-35)</font> Time: Fri, Apr. 8, 2005, 09:30 P.M. Eastern Time TV: <font color="red">ESPN</font> Place: Target Center, Minneapolis, MN --- Ballers: <font color="royalblue">Marcus Camby</font> ( C), <font color="royalblue">Kenyon Martin</font> (PF), <font color="royalblue">Carmelo Anthony</font> (SF), <font color="royalblue">DerMarr Johnson</font> (SG), <font color="royalblue">Andre Miller</font> (PG) Top bench baller: <font color="royalblue">Earl Boykins</font> Coach: <font color="royalblue">George Karl</font> (26-6, first season with Nuggets) --- Ballers: <font color="navy">Michael Olowokandi</font> ( C), <font color="navy">Kevin Garnett</font> (PF), <font color="navy">Latrell Sprewell</font> (SF), <font color="navy">Trenton Hassell</font> (SG), <font color="navy">Troy Hudson</font> (PG) Top bench baller: <font color="navy">Wally Szczerbiak</font> Coach: <font color="navy">Kevin McHale</font> (15-9 as interim coach) <font size="5"><font color="blue">Top</font> <font color="gold">Ballers</font>:</font> <font color="royalblue">DerMarr Johnson: 17 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists.</font> <font color="navy">Latrell Sprewell: 32 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists.</font> <font size="5">purpleb0n9's <font color="RoyalBlue">Team</font> <font color="Gold">Analysis</font>:</font> This game is going to be a classic matchup. Both teams have started disliking each other since last year's playoffs first round series. Trash talks and physical plays are out of question, with a fight (Nene-Olowokandi) being the egg on the top of an otherwise great basketball from two great teams. This game will even be more intense than ever as Minnesota is fighting for a playoff spot while we Nuggets look to winning as many games as possible and moving up in the standings as many slots as possible on the dawn of this 2004-05 regular season. <font color="royalblue">-D</font><font color="gold">N:</font> We conclude our current 4 game road trip here, so let's finish out strong. The key is to match their intensity, match a physical play with a physical play, be aggressive and a little crazy on both ends, and play our basic team defense. We seem to have slipped a little in the fourth quarter of the Hornets game. I think guys were just trying to be loose a little bit after leading by a comfortable margin, which is fine, but if not addressed, could lead to the very cause of our early season exit. So enough with the fun, and it's time to focus again. <font color="navy">- Minnesota:</font> The Wolves need to win this game to lock up the season series to their edge, but they basically need to win every remaining game for some hope of overtaking the 8th place Grizzlies for the west's final playoff spot. The key for them is to play their physical style, and go hard for 48 minutes on both ends. Sounds simple, but not really if you have to play at the Nuggets' non-stop, running pace. They need Sprewell to make some big contribution on the offensive end, and big plays from either Sam, Wally or Eddie off the bench will be, well... big for them. <font size="5">purpleb0n9's <font color="RoyalBlue">Predict</font><font color="Gold">ion</font>:</font> I can see us down by 5-7 points in the fourth quarter, but it's about how we respond to that. I really wanna see that from the team, living and thriving under pressure, it would be awesome. I think we'll have a demoralising run and take the game, 98-86.</div>
Awesome game fellas! I was especially impressed with Kenyon Martin tonight. This game is the prime example why I wish the Warriors could have signed him to a contract last year, but NOOO! We have Troy Murphy....
^ Yup I was also impressed with him, he had big dunks and plays that kept the Wolves at bay... which demoralized them. When he goes we go
