Game Blog: 5th Dec - Nuggets @ Spurs (8:30pm EST)

[024]

unlike the boston game, this will be a legitimate measuring stick to see where the spurs are at. if they get blown out by the nuggets at home, it will be a troubling sign that the spurs can't even keep up with the second tier teams.

[slick'81]

unlike the boston game, this will be a legitimate measuring stick to see where the spurs are at. if they get blown out by the nuggets at home, it will be a troubling sign that the spurs can't even keep up with the second tier teams.

i wouldnt call denver a 2nd tier team they were a wcf finalist last season

but yes a tough test albeit at home indeed

[024]

i wouldnt call denver a 2nd tier team they were a wcf finalist last season

but yes a tough test albeit at home indeed

i would only put boston in the lakers in the top tier right now because they would pretty much be the favorites against every team except each other. magic is kind of stuck between the top and the second tier. and the rest: hawks, mavs, nuggets, spurs, and maybe the suns and blazers all currently belong a step lower than them.

[TD 21]

I had a good feeling going into the Celtics game and I have a bad feeling going into the Nuggets game. Hopefully, the result will be the opposite of my gut feeling again.

The Spurs will have a good chance to win this game if Pop stops treating games against elite teams as if it's the preseason and playing myriad wacky combination's that have no chance of being used or of being effective come playoff time.

Tonight, Finley and Ratliff should be benched, here's why: Bogans should come off the bench and Mason should start at SG. Afflalo is a non offensive threat and Mason will offer more shooting/scoring punch. Bogans can be used as the backup SF, because I'd rather his strength and bulldog tenacity on Anthony over anyone not named Jefferson on the Spurs. This renders Finley useless and allows Ginobili/Mason, with possibly some Hill, to primarily share the SG minutes. As for Ratliff, the Nuggets don't have the biggest front line. Between Duncan and McDyess, with possibly some Blair, the Spurs should be just fine guarding Nene. Martin and Anderson in particular aren't major offensive threats and neither should be a serious problem in the post.

Assuming it's close throughout, the rotation should look like this.

Starters: PF- Duncan (36-40), SF- Jefferson (36-42), C- McDyess (26-32), SG- Mason (15-20), PG- Parker (36-40)

Bench: SG- Ginobili (26-32), PF- Bonner (15-20), PG/SG- Hill (15-20), PF- Blair (15-20), SG/SF- Bogans (10-15), SG/SF- Finley (DNP-CD), C- Ratliff (DNP-CD)

Inactive/D-League: PF- Haislip, C/PF- Mahinmi, SG/SF- Hairston

Knowing how Pop operates, probably very little of this takes place, we continue to see at least 11 players used, myriad wacky combination's and Bogans starting and switching assignments with Parker defensively (meaning he'll take Billups).

[dbestpro]

Need to start the big 5 now and for the rest of the season. Its time to end the inconsistencies.

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

Only just over 5 hours to go till game time. Since it's the 5th December, here are 5 matchups that will be interesting to see in tonight's game -
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1. Duncan vs Nene - (The Big Fundamental vs the Brazilian) - Nene has been playing solid this season and is really developing a nice inside game to go with his always improving touch from further out. His defense is constantly improving and we have seen him do a good job on Duncan down low. He has the speed and strength to cause match up problems for Duncan.

I don't think it is a coincidence that Duncan's initials are TD. The man could drop a TD on your team without you even knowing he is on the court. If he gets going inside early and the Spurs continue to feed him, then the Nuggets will be forced to double him, opening it up for the outside bombs.

With this matchup id have to give the advantage to Duncan. He is rested, at home and looking to lead the team back after a loss.
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2. RJ vs Melo - Melo has been playing lights out this season but still has streaks where his selfish one on one style can cause him to have 2/12 nights if he isn't on. If Melo gets in the paint early, it will open up his outside game and if his outside game is on as well, then it's pretty much lights out unless the Spurs want to commit 2 or sometimes even 3 defenders to him.

From what i see, RJ is an enigma this season. He will have a heck of a time defending Melo tonight, assuming Pop doesn't have a brain fart and try and use 6'5 Bogans to defend Melo. RJ just has to play Melo as physical as possible without getting called every time, it is the only way to try and get Melo off his game. On the offensive end, RJ needs to attack (although i know its tough with TD clogging the lane) coz Melo still isn't the best defender and can sometimes commit stupid fouls. Be warned though RJ, if you drive into the Bird's nest, you better be ready to see your stuff sent back to the Alamo era.

Advantage - Melo
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3. JR vs Manu - Two of the best 6th men will surely go head to head at some point in the game. JR has been his usual self this season. He has played some A+++ basketball at times and played great D on people like Kobe and Wade, and at other times he has caused me to want to stick forks in my eyes ( you get the idea). He has to start the game by attacking and getting to the rim, then bomb it from outside, not the other way around.

Manu always annoys the Nuggets coz he shows up against them. I could see him causing more headaches than anyone else tonight. I think he will be guarded by JR and Afflalo at times. I am not sure what Manu's D has been like this season, but it is a tough ask for him to slow JR if he is ballin', better leave it to Bogans,

Advantage - Manu
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4. Blair vs Andersen - Beast vs Bird - Two guys who bring more energy and hype to their respective teams than Richard Simmons brings to fat people. These guys will do the dirty work and it won't show up on the stat sheets, but the coaches know what they do and the fans appreciate it as well.

No advantage for either here. Just two hardcore guys going to work.

5. Parker vs Billups - I am curious to see who guards each of the Point Guards to start the game. Not sure if they will guard each other, or if the opposing coaches might see if their defensive minded shooting guards can contain the point guards. I think AA will defend RJ or Parker, obviously he would have trouble staying in front of Parker but his length may bother him.

Billups frustrates Nuggets fans just like Parker frustrates Spurs fans. One night they can look like the best point guards in the league, and then the next night they can look like they have been possessed by the ghost of Jason Hart.

This matchup is also tough one to call. Id give the nod to Parker if he shows up and scores in the lane at will.
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Overall, i think the Spurs squeak out a close one at home.

Billups usually owns Parker, so I would give Chauncey the advantage IMO.

[Rebounds]

Celt's game - delete
Nugs game - hopefully a keeper!

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Gak! Nuggets_fan started the thread! We're dooooooomed!

I am tipping a gutsy 93-89 Spurs win. No vbookie?

[siraulo23]

has nba.com fixed the audio league pass yet?

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

i wouldnt call denver a 2nd tier team they were a wcf finalist last season

but yes a tough test albeit at home indeed

Denver certainly isn't "2nd tier"... they are better than last year and a true contender.

[Pauleta14]

RJ shut down Pierce last game, wonder how he'll be against Melo.

Did RJ shut Pierce down, or wasn't Pierce very "active" offensively???

[ffadicted]

Had a bad feeling about the boston game, and we shot season low FTs and season high TOs.

Have a good feeling about this one. Let's hope I go 2/2

[duncan228]

Starters.

[Death In June]

If anyone has any "suggestions" on how to watch the game, PM me.

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

Still sticking with Bogans huh? Well at least Pop is being consistent with this starting line up.

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

I wonder if RJ starts out on Melo or if they give Bogans the go....?

[urunobili]

I got a feeling...
That tonight's gonna be a good night...
That tonight's gonna be a good night...
That tonight's gonna be a good good niiiiight...

[Pauleta14]

If anyone has any "suggestions" on how to watch the game, PM me.

me too please!!!

[urunobili]

If anyone has any "suggestions" on how to watch the game, PM me.

buying league pass is the best way...

[Crookshanks]

I am so pissed right now. I just moved to Ft. Worth and neither of the cable providers have NBA League Pass. So I purchased NBA Broadband - however, because tonight's game is on NBA tv - it's blacked out. And I don't get NBA tv with AT&T Uverse - argghhhh

[ffadicted]

I like bogans in the starting lineup. It's already full of scorers, and if we stick ginobili or hill in, our second unit will lose a lot more then our starting lineup would gain

[SanAntonioSpurs23]

It's on NBATV....

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

Gonna be a real tough game tonight.

Nene-KMart-Melo is one of the best front lines in the league, Billups is a consummate PG, and their bench has punch (JR, Bird, Ty) just like ours.

These are NOT the Nuggets we owned from 2005-7.

Should be fascinating.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

If anyone has any "suggestions" on how to watch the game, PM me.

Goooooooooogle.

[RuffnReadyOzStyle]

I wonder if RJ starts out on Melo or if they give Bogans the go....?

Bogans without a doubt. He's there to take the oppositions best non-big.