Reply With Quote
go suns?
Game info: 10:00 pm EDT Mon Mar 31, 2008 TV: NBA, FSAZ Add to Calendar | Buy Tickets By BRETT HUSTON, STATS Writer
Mar 30, 5:13 pm EDT
Printable View
Return to Original Buzz Up PrintDespite being 17 games over .500, the Denver Nuggets find themselves in danger of missing the playoffs in the loaded Western Conference. If they continue to play the way they have lately, however, they may be able to join what should be a formidable postseason field.
The Nuggets look to tie a season high with their sixth straight win as they hit the road to open a home-and-home series with the Phoenix Suns on Monday.
Denver (45-28) had been sitting in ninth place in the West behind Golden State since the end of February, but finally jumped past the Warriors on Saturday night. The Nuggets defeated Golden State 119-112 for their eighth straight home victory, moving them into the conference’s final playoff spot - for now.
“Every game is important from here on out,” said guard Allen Iverson, who had 14 points on just 4-of-20 shooting. “We understand even if we got this one, we’ve got to concentrate on getting the next one. We’re not satisfied.”
The Nuggets were a half-game up on Golden State and a half-game back of Dallas entering play Sunday. With all three teams boasting at least 44 wins, it seems likely the NBA will have a 50-win team left out of the playoffs for the first time.
Denver is the NBA’s third-highest scoring team at 109.7 points per game, but it’s been even more impressive offensively in its last 14 games. The Nuggets are averaging 120.0 points in that span, more than enough to overcome the 110.2 per game they’ve been allowing.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Denver’s offensive outburst is its balance. Beyond the team’s top scorers, Iverson and Carmelo Anthony, Kenyon Martin is averaging 17.5 points over his last eight games, while reserve J.R. Smith has given the Nuggets 15.5 per game in that stretch.
Iverson is averaging 33.3 points in his last four contests against Phoenix (49-24), while Anthony is averaging 30.3 in his last eight versus the Suns.
Denver is 30-7 at home and has won 18 of its last 20 there. The Nuggets are 15-21 on the road, but have won their last three away from the Pepsi Center, all during their current five-game winning streak.
The Suns are one of five West teams within two games of the conference’s top spot. They’re returning home after a four-game trip that saw them drop the first two - losses that followed a seven-game winning streak - then rebound with wins in Philadelphia and New Jersey.
Amare Stoudemire had 33 points and 15 rebounds - his fourth 30-plus point effort in his last five games - in a 110-104 victory over the Nets on Saturday.
“This was very important,” said Stoudemire, averaging 30.4 points in his last 10 games. “We are playing well, we are all jelling and showing great improvement.”
Stoudemire has been outstanding since Shaquille O’Neal joined the Suns last month, but O’Neal’s recent progress is perhaps the most encouraging sign for Phoenix as it battles the Los Angeles Lakers for the Pacific Division lead.
O’Neal, who initially struggled in the Suns’ up-tempo system, is averaging 16.6 points and 10.0 rebounds in his last five games.
“I’m just doing what’s asked of me,” O’Neal said. “Amare is the first option. This is a team were guys don’t worry about shots.”
O’Neal had 12 points and 18 rebounds in a 126-113 loss at Denver on March 5.
The teams have split two meetings this season, each winning at home. The Nuggets haven’t won in Phoenix in their last six visits.
go suns?
Go Nuggets if you'd rather have the 14th pick.
suns will dominate this time. Totally different team to last time they met.
Go Thuggets.
that Melo, but Go Nuggets
Two Stat padders going at each other? must be fun dunking the out of the ball
Suns are only 1.5 games back...Nuggets are 5.5 games back and less of a threat to the Spurs in the standings...GO NUGGETS!!!
Nuggets up 39-25 at the end of the 1st...they are really taking it to the Suns...
suns did not score the last 3 and half minutes in first
but denver can not play d LOL
lol did you see amare flop for a T
Crawford handing out the Ts as usual...
Nuggets ran the score to 43-25 before PHX scored again...crazy...
Hokey smokes. Nuggies are playing the best D I've ever seen them play. They're flying all over the court. Freakin' Najera just blocked Shaq.
How long can this last?
Goddamn there is no reason the Nuggets should be battling for the #8 seed. They have so much ing talent!
Nuggets have 50 already with 8:14 still left in the first half...holy ...
man i hate Amare. Biggest in the NBA (yes, even bigger than melo)
Nene looks awesome considering
It's getting chippy out there...
Good game so far
props to the Nuggs
I hope they blow Phoenix out of the water
So what do you guys think........Nuggets the sleeper team in the WC this year? I think they more than the Warriors or Mavs have the ability to upset any of the top #3 teams in the WC.
Shaq blows the bunny against Christian Slater.
Nuggets are still first round fodder...
yeh dont confuse a run in regular season play with a playoff run
they will win a game again and get out, assuming they do get in lol
Depends on the matchup. The Nuggets and George Karl over a 7-game series are not likely to keep their composure. The Spurs and Lakers should handle them relatively easily, but it will be really physical.
Nuggets against another emotional team like the Warriors or Suns would be high entertainment, but unlikely to happen.
While the Nuggets won't be a pushover, I just don't think this team has the playoff push to get past round 1.
They don't have a high B-ball IQ, and I'm not really all that sold on George Karl.
Having said that, I wouldn't wanna see them in round 1
There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)
Posting Permissions
