DN @ Portland game preview <div align="center"> @ <font color="blue">Denver Nuggets (40-31)</font> @ <font color="red">Portland Trail Blazers (24-47)</font> Time: Sat, Apr. 2, 2005, 10:00 P.M. Eastern Time TV: NBALP Place: Rose Garden, Portland, OR --- Ballers: <font color="blue">Marcus Camby</font> ( C), <font color="blue">Nene</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> (23-6, first season with Nuggets) --- Ballers: <font color="red">Joel Przybilla</font> ( C), <font color="red">Shareef Abdur Rahim</font> (PF), <font color="red">Darius Miles</font> (SF), <font color="red">Damon Stoudamire</font> (SG), <font color="red">Sebastian Telfair</font> (PG) Top bench baller: <font color="red">Travis Outlaw</font> Coach: <font color="red">Kevin Pritchard</font> (2-13 as interim coach) <font size="5"><font color="blue">Top</font> <font color="gold">Ballers</font>:</font> <font color="blue">Andre Miller: 23 pts, 9 assists, 2 steals.</font> <font color="red">Damon Stoudamire: 28 pts, 4 rebounds, 5 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>: Camby was great for them against the Spurs. He was everywhere, making plays after plays, blocking shots, jumping into passing lanes, rebounding, passing, even knocking down jumpers. If he could repeat that performance again it would be hard for the Nuggets to lose this game. The key for them is to pressure rookie point guard Sebastian Telfair into rushing passes and shots, just to generally mess up their plays. They did a good job defending the Spurs' outside shooting, which was just 5 of 23. They must do it again in this game as Portland (5th with .372 3PT%) actually shoots better percentage from behind the arc than San Antonio (10th with .360 3PT%). <font color="red">- Portland:</font> They have to stay in front of the Nuggets for all four quarters. Each player will have their specific role against their Nugget player: box out Camby, double team Nene, play Melo straight up, etc. If Portland is serious about winning this one, they should consider playing full court pressure defense that will slow Denver's running game and hopefully ruining their rhythm. But I'm guessing the management is more concerned about bringing the kids (Sebastian, Travis) slowly than winning, which is not a bad thing at all but makes my analysis pointless. <font size="5">purpleb0n9's <font color="Blue">Predict</font><font color="Gold">ion</font>:</font> Too bad the Nuggets won't be going to Las Vegas after this game. It would have been a sweet reward for getting what the coach challenged them to do. They are on a roll, and it helps that they lost to the Blazers the last time they met here... they have to avenge that loss, which is a simple but effective motivation. The Nuggets will have their most blowout win of the season, 126-89.</div>
Too bad this years game doesn't have the implications like last years. I believe it was the 2nd last game season where they met up in Portland. It was these two and the Jazz fighting for the last playoff spot. It looked like the winner of the Portland-Nuggets game would get the last seed. It was hard for me to root for a particular team because they are both 2 of my teams. Ultimately the Nuggets pulled it off last year. This game will be in Portland, and the Nuggets seem like a very good team under Karl. With the Blazers being underman for various reasons, and the Nuggets too (K-Mart: Questionable), it will be an interesting matchup. However, at the end of the day, I don't see the Blazers taking this. I see Camby with another huge game. Portlands guards and expose the Nuggets D, but that seems like all that they have on their side. Prediction: Nuggets 104 Blazers 90 --- Camby - 14 Points, 16 Boards, 5 Blocks Andre Miller - 18 Points, 6 Assists, 6 Boards --- Telfair - 21 Points 7 Assists, 5 TO's Pryzbilla - 6 Points, 11 Boards, 3 Blocks
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Too bad the Nuggets won't be going to Las Vegas after this game. </div> ya i was wondering about how that all would affect the collective bargaining agreement. its a cryin shame
We responded well to their strong second half rally in the fourth when Melo and Johnson took over offensively for us. Recap and boxscore. With this win, we're assured of a .500 season and we hold a 0.5 game lead over the 8th spot Grizzlies. We'll play them next at <font color="Orange">Memphis</font> on <font color="DarkOrange">Tuesday!</font>
