CURRENT PROBABILITIES (rounded to the nearest 5%): Percent Chance the Nuggets will win this game: 30% Percent Chance the Nuggets will make the playoffs: 70% Percent Chance the Nuggets will win a playoff series: 15% Percent Chance the Nuggets will win 2 playoff series and reach the West finals: 0% Percent Chance that George Karl will be fired or will retire no later than the end of this season: 40%</p> CURRENT ALERT STATUS: ORANGE ALERT</p> KEY FOR STARTERS Position Number Name Height Weight PPG RPG APG FG% (Points, Rebounds, & Assists Per Game, Field Goal Shooting %) Recent Highlights</p> NUGGETS PROBABLE STARTERS</p> Small Forward 15 Carmelo Anthony 6-8, 230 2007-08: 25.2 4.9 4.6 .447 Collected a season-high-tying three steals (2nd time) in 34 minutes during the Nuggets loss at Houston on 11/24. With his 24 points at L.A. Clippers on 11/21, he has now scored 20+ in 11 of the Nuggets 12 games this season. Averaging 27.0 ppg on .526 shooting during the Nuggets five-game win streak, while playing just 33.5 mpg.</p> </p> Power Forward #21 Eduardo Najera 6-8 235 2007-08: 6.3 4.6 0.8 .500 The Nuggets are devastated by injuries at power forward and center, which will likely give Najera the start unless Kleiza, who is questionable, or Martin, who isdoubtful, are available. Najera will probably get the start over Kleiza if he is available.</p> </p> Center #23 Marcus Camby 6-11, 235 2007-08: 9.9 15.0 3.1 .491 Is currently the only center in the NBA who is averaging at least 3.0 assists (Yao Ming is the next closest at 2.6). Scored a season-high 18 points to go along with 18 rebounds and three blocks at L.A. Clippers on 11/21. Registered his third 20+ rebounding game of the season with 20 boards in 29 minutes vs. New York on 11/17.</p> </p> Shooting Guard #5 Yakhouba Diawara 6-7, 225 2007-08: 4.7 1.8 1.2 .480 Denver is 7-2 (.778) this season when Diawara plays 14 or more minutes during a game (just 2-3 otherwise). Denver is now 8-2 (.800) this season with Diawara in the starting lineup, as well as 16-13 (.552) all-time.</p> </p> Point Guard #3 Allen Iverson 6-0, 165 2007-08: 23.6 2.9 7.2 .450 With his two steals at Houston on 11/24, he has now had at least two steals in 10 of the Nuggets first 14 games. Led the Nuggets with 29 points (11-19 FG), nine assists and three steals in the loss at L.A. Clippers on 11/21.</p> NUGGET'S KEY OFF THE BENCH PLAYER</p> Shooting Guard #1 J.R. Smith 6-6 220 2007-08: 11.0 2.5 2.8 .422 Smith has been scoring solidly with multiple treys and multiple steals since he has re-earned a spot in the rotation, and since he has been spending more time at the point, he is also averaging four assists per over the last six games.</p> PACERS PROBABLE STARTERS</p> Small Forward #33 Danny Granger 6-9 228 2007-08: 18.8 6.1 2.0 .467 Scoring 20+ points for the third game in a row, and the seventh time this season, he connected on 7-15 FGS, 1-4 3-pt FGS and 6-8 FTS for his 21 points that accompany four rebounds and three assists vs. Cleveland, 11/25.</p> </p> </p> Power Forward #3 Troy Murphy 6-11 250 2007-08: 12.6 6.7 1.9 .382 Hitting just 1-10 FGS and 1-2 FTS, he had three points to go along with three rebounds, one assist and steal in 24 minutes without a turnover vs. Cleveland, 11/25.</p> Center #10 Jeff Foster 6-11 250 2007-08: 6.9 9.0 1.2 .507 Topping the Pacers in rebounds for the sixth straight game, he had nine rebounds to go with nine points, one assist, one steal and one blocked shot in 35 minutes vs. Cleveland, 11/25.</p> Shooting Guard #17 Mike Dunleavey 6-9 230 2007-08: 15.4 5.9 2.3 .456 Including five in the first period, he totaled eight points with four rebounds and one assist in 31 minutes without a turnover against the Cavs, 11/25. He started 2-2 from the floor vs. Cleveland, but finished 3-5 FGS for the game.</p> Point Guard #11 Jamaal Tinsley 6-3 185 2007-08: 13.7 4.2 8.1 .386 He fell one rebound short of a triple-double with 24 points, 10 assists and nine boards vs. Cleveland, 11/25. He also had one assist and a blocked shot vs. the Cavs.</p> PACER'S KEY OFF THE BENCH PLAYER</p> Small Forward #4 Shawne Williams 6-9 225 2007-08: 9.3 3.3 0.9 .487 Williams scored a career-high 24 points on 8-of-11 shooting Tuesday November 20.</p> KEY MATCHUP 1: SMALL FORWARD Carmelo Anthony DENVER Danny Granger INDIANA</p> </p> KEY MATCHUP 2: CENTER</p> Marcus Camby DENVER</p> Jeff Foster INDIANA</p> </p> KEY MATCHUP 3: POINT GUARD Allen Iverson DENVER Jamaal Tinsley INDIANA</p> TEAM RECORDS COMPARED</p> PACERS...............................NUGGETS 6-8 Win-Loss Record................9-5 .429 Winning Percentage..........643 4-5 Home Win-Loss Record........6-1 2-3 Road Win-Loss Record.........3-4 2-5 East Conf. Win-Loss Record...5-2 4-3 West Conf. Win-Loss Record..4-3 0-1 Division Win-Loss Record......4-0 L 1 Streak, L=loss, W=win..........L 1</p> TEAM STATS COMPARED This is the Best Statistical Preview You Will find anywhere!</p> Definitions: Offensive efficiency: Points scored per 100 possessions. Defensive efficiency: Points allowed per 100 possessions.</p> PACERS...................................NUGGETS 102.8 Points scored....................... 105.1 105.4 Points allowed...................... 99.5 106.0 Offensive Efficiency................107.1 107.5 Defensive Efficiency................100.0 .435 FG% own............................. .457 .441 FG% opposition...................... .436 .344 3PT% own............................ .339 .384 3PT% opposition.................... .339 44.8 Total Rebounds per game...........44.5 45.4 Opposition Total Rebounds/game..47.1 12.9 Offensive Rebounds/game..........10.7 11.0 Opposition Offensive Reb/game...13.9 7.4 Steals Per Game.......................10.5 7.7 Opposition Steals Per Game..........9.6 5.2 Blocked Shots Per Game..............6.2 5.4 Opposition Blocked Shots/Game.....4.4 21.7 Assists Per Game....................22.9 20.4 Opposition Assists Per Game.......23.4 15.1 Turnovers Per Game................16.8 16.1 Opposition Turnovers Per Game...18.4 1.44 Assist/Turnover Ratio.............. 1.36 26.0 Fouls Per Game...................... 22.0 22.9 Opposition Fouls Per Game.........24.4</p> NUGGETS INJURY REPORT</p> OUT: Chucky Atkins suffered a severe right groin strain at Phoenix on 10/25 and is expected to miss 6-8 weeks. OUT: Nene suffered a torn ulner collateral ligament in his left thumb at Boston on 11/7 and underwent successful surgery on 11/9. He is expected to miss six weeks. OUT: Steven Hunter underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on 11/16 and is expected to miss six weeks. DOUBTFUL: Kenyon Martin suffered a right knee strain in the second quarter at Houston on 11/24. He will have an MRI done on 11/26, after which his status will be determined. QUESTIONABLE/DAY TO DAY: Linas Kleiza has missed two-straight games due to a sprained left ankle suffered at L.A. Clippers on 11/21 and is considered questionable for tonight’s game.</p> PACERS INJURY REPORT</p> OUT: Ike Diogu, torn left calf muscle QUESTIONABLE/DAY TO DAY: Jermaine O'Neal, sore left knee, day-to-day</p> ON THE AIR</p> Tonight’s game will be televised on Altitude with Chris Marlowe calling the action and Scott Hastings providing analysis. The game will also be broadcast on KKFN AM 950, with Jerry Schemmel doing the play-by-play and Jason Kosmicki hosting the studio courtside.</p> NUGGET'S KEYS TO VICTORY</p> Stay cool and confident. I’m going to have to keep including this key until the Nugget's players and coaches maintain their confidence more consistently. They also need to avoid the drama from having criticism and dirty laundry in the newspapers. And they need to avoid ugly off-court incidents. Yeah, I'm looking at you when I say that, J.R. Smith.</p> Carmelo Anthony and Eduardo Najera need to defensively rebound like hell. The Nuggets are devastated with injuries now, and it appears that all 3 power forwards and 1 of the two centers will not be available for this game. Unless Anthony and Najera hit the boards big time, the Nuggets are probably toast in this game.</p> Keep the ball moving. The assists completely dried up in Houston. The Nuggets have to keep the ball moving so that they are not making it too easy on the defenses of their opponents.</p> PACER'S KEYS TO VICTORY</p> Double team Melo or Iverson, usually Melo. There is a reason most teams do this. You want to double Melo unless Iverson is killing you, in which case you probably should start doubling Iverson and going for steals off him. Also, you should always try to get Melo into foul trouble, because the reward is huge if you succeed.</p> Penetrate the paint for what should be easy scores. With no power forwards and only 1 center, the Nuggets are a team that is ripe for the pickings inside if there ever was one.</p> Offensively rebound like hell. This goes nicely with key to victory #2, and should be very achievable due to the Nuggets being devastated with big man injuries. The Nuggets have been getting more and more vulnerable to second chance scores and now it might be almost as easy as taking candy from a baby unless Melo and Najera rise to the occasion.</p> PREDICTIONS</p> The Nuggets may have no power forwards and only 1 center available for this game! With this kind of devastation, it actually becomes pretty simple to figure out what must happen if the Nuggets are to have a chance. To have any chance to win the game, both Melo and Najera have to get 8-12 rebounds each. Yakhouba Diawara and Bobby Jones will have to be active rebounders as well. It goes without saying that Camby will have to be huge.</p> Bobby Jones will have to play at least 30 minutes and keep his personal foul and turnover counts within reason. Also, the Nuggets in general and Allen Iverson and J.R. Smith in particular are most likely going to need to get a really good number of steals.</p> DON'T TICK ME OFF MORE THAN USUAL GK For once during a game in which the Nuggets are being routed, and this game will be threatening to become a rout even if it actually doesn't become one, call a couple of early time outs during big Pacer runs and try to rally the troops. Don't wait until the usual time out scheduled time comes along. This works wonders for other Coaches.</p>
