The Official Denver Nuggets Thread!

[MasterShake]

Originally Posted by GEM

Hell yes!! Good win for the Nuggies! Listened to it on the radio and it was so good to hear....Kobe is angry...aww poor baby! Smooth had a helluva game. Birdman with at least 12 boards. Woooo! All that without Melo too.

Yeah, caught this on the radio too! Frist game I was able to follow in about 2 weeks, great win!

[EMB6903]

Whoever thinks the Nugs dont match up with the Lakers this year isnt paying attention. Yes they do have the Bigs that give us problems but our perimeter players are so much better. good PG play exposes LA and we have 2 very good ones in Billups and Lawson.

[Denver Native (Carol)]

Originally Posted by EMB6903

Whoever thinks the Nugs dont match up with the Lakers this year isnt paying attention. Yes they do have the Bigs that give us problems but our perimeter players are so much better. good PG play exposes LA and we have 2 very good ones in Billups and Lawson.

Either Hastings or Marlowe said last night that there is no way the Lakers can match up physically with the Nuggets. Also, in an article earlier this season that I read, Phil Jackson stated that is why the Lakers picked up Artest - to try and match up physically with the Nuggets.

[Denver Native (Carol)]

http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_14346679

LOS ANGELES — One by one, they popped up from their courtside seats and shuffled toward the exits, and not even their surgically squeezed faces could prevent the frowns.

At the Staples Center on Friday night, the visiting Nuggets sent the Lakers and their chic fans home in a hissy after a remarkable 126-113 win. This was Avatar big.

In fact, it was the biggest win of the season for numerous reasons — Denver won on the road, against the hated Lakers — and did so without the injured Carmelo Anthony.

Before the game, Lakers coach Phil Jackson was asked to describe Nuggets guard Chauncey Billups: "He's a director, a conductor of what's going on. . . . And if he sees his team needs scoring, he finds a way to do that."

Without Anthony's 29.7 points per game, Billups looked to score early and often, and finished with a career-high 39. He had 13 3-point attempts, making nine, also a career high. It was his best game ever, and couldn't have happened at a better time.

"I got space to get my shot off, and sometimes when you get it going, you feel like you can't miss," Billups said.

The Nuggets hadn't won a regular- season game at the Lakers' home since the 2006-07 season (Denver won one of three games at the Staples Center during the 2009 Western Conference finals, which L.A. won in six games).

"There's no question that this is a win that a lot of people were looking forward to," Denver coach George Karl said. "And winning without Melo, I think, gives our guys some confidence and a toughness and edge that we can play the best — with or without Melo."

When Billups hit a 3 with 2:30 left in the third quarter, not only did it give Denver (down 11 at one point) the lead, but it gave Billups his eighth 3 on the night, surpassing his career high. Billups had made seven 3s three times, most recently on Jan. 11, 2004, against Dallas.

It was Billups' night, but it was surely a team effort. J.R. Smith hit numerous tough shots, many while contorted in midair, finishing 11-for-17 for 27 points in arguably his most meaningful effort of the season (note that many of his 3s in the Atlanta win came with the game in hand). Chris "The Birdman" Andersen soared amid the Lakers' trees and snatched a season-high 15 rebounds. And, homegrown star Arron Afflalo (of Compton) played stingy defense in front of his old pals.

"We're serious when we play them," Smith said. "The last 2-3 years, with them beating us, we kept building up frustration. And finally, this year, we were able to unleash it."

Of course, playing the Lakers means being reunited with Kobe Bryant. The story line this time was that Bryant had sprained his left ankle in the previous game, and it was unclear whether the all-star would suit up against Denver. But there he was, splashing jumpers, five in the first quarter alone.

But Denver played Bryant teeth-grindingly tough for the rest of the night. Often, Bryant looked to the ref for a foul, but none was called. Bryant was 5-for-8 in the first quarter, but 6-for-14 the rest of the night.

Meanwhile, Denver all-star Anthony missed his sixth straight game because of a left ankle injury. Anthony fully participated in a Friday morning shootaround, but afterward said he wouldn't play that evening and "probably" won't play tonight against Utah.

Anthony remains optimistic that he can play this week.

[BroncoAV06]

I was out at a D-League game last night then went out to dinner with a lady friend so I missed the game. Great to see Billups go off and to take another one from the Lakers!

[BroncoAV06]

Petro is my favorite non-known Nugget.

[Denver Native (Carol)]

Originally Posted by BroncoAV06

Petro is my favorite non-known Nugget.

Did you notice that Champ and Dre Bly are at the game again tonight? Bly must make Denver his off season home now, as they showed him and Champ together at another Nuggets game not too long ago.

[BroncoAV06]

103-70 at the end of the 3rd qtr! Ah Yeah Buddy.

Saw Champ chillin, that's the life.

[Broncolingus]

36 point blowout tonight in Melo's return...

Excellent job, gents...

(...now, if we can just get by LA in the finals...)

[Denver Native (Carol)]

Originally Posted by BroncoAV06

103-70 at the end of the 3rd qtr! Ah Yeah Buddy.

Saw Champ chillin, that's the life.

Also - #7 was there

[Denver Native (Carol)]

http://www.denverpost.com/ci_14372764

Team USA will announce its pool of players today for the 2010 World Championships, and expect Carmelo Anthony to be joined by another Nugget on the 20-plus player list -- Chauncey Billups.

The Nuggets' point guard will make himself available for the Aug. 28-Sept. 12 World Championships, according to a source, and because of the uncertainty with Chris Paul's injury, it's possible that Billups could make the 12-man squad.

[Denver Native (Carol)]

http://www.denverpost.com/nuggets/ci...900?source=rss

Will Chauncey Billups be 2012's Jason Kidd?

The Nuggets guard will join the pool of 27 players at the Team USA training in Las Vegas, where the roster will be determined for the 2010 World Championships, the steppingstone to the 2012 London Olympics.

The Mavericks' Kidd was a key member of the 2008 Olympic champs, providing leadership as a point guard.

"Chauncey indicated to us that there's nothing that he would want more than to win a gold medal before his career is over, and we collectively feel he could very well fit right into the Jason Kidd role," Team USA chairman Jerry Colangelo said. "He's a veteran who can play at a very high level at his age and is well-respected by his peers. We're very happy and excited that he wants to give it one more shot."

Also on this year's Team USA roster is Nuggets all-star Carmelo Anthony.

The World Championships are Aug. 28-Sept. 12. New Orleans guard Chris Paul is undergoing knee surgery and is out for a couple months. Utah guard Deron Williams will return and other point guards in the mix are the Bulls' Derrick Rose, the Clippers' Eric Gordon and the Thunder's Russell Westbrook. Billups is 33 years old.

As for the World Championships, Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski said: "We believe it's extremely important. The world looks at it as the world championships. There are 24 teams involved where only 12 involved for the Olympics. We're trying to make that commitment to USA basketball, and us showing that commitment, it will give it greater recognition."

[Ziggy]

Rumors are swirling with the trade deadline approaching that the Nuggets are after Tyrus Thomas of the Bulls. Thier biggest competition is the Rockets. This would be an ideal scenario for us. Adding Thomas would give us the length and shot blocking to compete on every level with the Lakers. We would have to give up a 1st and a couple of expiring contracts, but to gain a piece like that without giving up any of our top players would be huge. We're already the 2nd best team in the West, and challenging the Lakers for 1st. Thursday is the deadline. Let's see what happens.

[Ziggy]

Originally Posted by EMB6903

Whoever thinks the Nugs dont match up with the Lakers this year isnt paying attention. Yes they do have the Bigs that give us problems but our perimeter players are so much better. good PG play exposes LA and we have 2 very good ones in Billups and Lawson.

The Nuggets can match up with the Lakers. The difference is, one injury to a big, or foul trouble, and it's advantage Lakers. We have the horses, just not the depth.

[Broncolingus]

Originally Posted by Ziggy

Rumors are swirling with the trade deadline approaching that the Nuggets are after Tyrus Thomas of the Bulls. Thier biggest competition is the Rockets. This would be an ideal scenario for us. Adding Thomas would give us the length and shot blocking to compete on every level with the Lakers. We would have to give up a 1st and a couple of expiring contracts, but to gain a piece like that without giving up any of our top players would be huge. We're already the 2nd best team in the West, and challenging the Lakers for 1st. Thursday is the deadline. Let's see what happens.

I wouldn't mind picking him up at all...esp. for the playoffs. I think Karl could get even a little more out of dude.