Denver Nuggets @ Memphis Grizzlies - Game 45

[Shady08]

Game Chat: http://nuggets.proboards1.com/index.cgi?action=chat

[J Smitty]

This will be their first game under their new coach, so who knows how the hell their lineup and rotation, and general style of play will look. That's always a tough situation for any opponent to go into, no matter how good you may be or how bad they are. With that said, we are vastly the better team, so we should and need to win this one regardless.

[pistonsnuggets]

Only 2 more games left until Melo comes back!
Im expecting a win today, JR Smith gets 30!!!
Nene averaging 17.8 points and 9.0 rebounds in his last 12 games.

[legendarywalton]

Nene averaging 17.8 points and 9.0 rebounds in his last 12 games.

Wow, those are frightening numbers. How is this guy not getting any national attention. Seriously, if he didn't have nut cancer last year, the TNT announcers wouldn't have a damn thing to talk about on Thursdays...

[mutumba]

No kidding. And his name still doesn't get mentioned at all for Most Improved Player...

Anyway, this is the type of game where I now expect a win instead of having doubts like last year. As long as we don't let Mayo get hot and limit open looks from three, I think we'll be alright. Go Nuggs woooo

[blue steel]

for some reason i feel like this could be a let down game, but everytime i've felt like that this team has proved me wrong. we should continue our streak against them tonight, it would be great to win these next two games without melo.

and if we win, our record will be 30-15, what was our record last year after 45 games? i feel like we had at least 5 more losses. what a difference a real pg and big man can make to a team.

[sportsmikegm23]

The Nuggets were 27-18 last year at the 45 game mark... but you are right...it really seems like we are much better than last year. I think it's because they usually play hard and show up every night... not the drastic swings like last year from hot to cold. With Melo coming back in the next few games...his hand and elbow healed well... they could really improve as a team. If they could just find a way to get another back up big that could bang with the Gasol's, Duncan's, and Yao or a few others so Nene and Kenyon can rest just a little (Bird's doing well, but pretty small weight wise).

Tonights game is a scary one. New coach, guys that want to prove something to the new coach... The Nuggets have to be ready to go tonight. Should still be rested even with the plane issues. 2 games in 7 nights is pretty easy, but it's going to get tough after this... Jones will have to D up OJ Mayo and maybe not perfect, but Nene hopefully have another strong game and doesn't let Gasol be a factor. Focus on tonight and don't worry about tomorrow.

[legendarywalton]

Not to bring up the ghosts of the board's past, but look at all the turmoil that AI has caused with Detroit. Even Chris Webber said that Iverson needs to play with four stiffs... This team looks like the really enjoyable group that got together prior to the brawl at NY. Imagine if Melo comes back healthy and starts working the pick and roll with Nene again .

[sportsmikegm23]

I just hope they start playing some basketball tonight... just look terrible out there right now...

[pickaxe]

Nice win in terms of the final product. Easy win. Hopefully tighten some stuff up for NO tomorrow.

I liked Chauncey pushing it on defense.

And I really wish Petro would have made that jump ball tap to the basket.

[The Answer_CO]

Turning the ball over 27 times is horrible.
15 steals and 15 blocks is good

[corona]

up 5.5 games on utah now.

would be great to get this one tomorrow @ new orleans.

[blue steel]

^

definitely. like marlowe said during the game, we have only one loss to below .500 teams, and that was against golden state without AI or Billups. Now we really need to start proving that we can beat quality teams at home and on the road. A win tomorrow with melo's return on the horizon would be huge.

[MHZ]

Tomorrow would be huge. Unfortunately New Orleans didn't play tonight, and it's at their house. They're certainly banged up, but I still have a tough time seeing us grab this one. They better come out of the gates stronger tomorrow than they did tonight against the Grizz.

5.5 games on Utah is nice, but considering they're not second in the division, it means a little bit less, there, corona. One more without Melo, then a Charlotte team that beat the Lakers tonight. They always seem to split the season series with us, too.

[J Smitty]

We've played New Orleans well this year. The first game was a fluke, seriously. The last couple minutes of that game were just (Please Use More Appropriate Word), much like the game a couple years ago. We dominated them in the 2nd meeting for stretches, and others not so much(that game was also the 2nd of a b2b). They'll definitely be tougher on the road, but them (possibly) missing West should even things out a little. Should be a good close one.

Charlotte doesn't scare me too much. They've been playing much better, but they'll also be playing their 4th game in 6 nights when they come to play us. Wallace could possibly be out too, after taking that cheap shot from Bynum tonight and leaving the game.

Hopefully we can get both of those....get Melo back into form during the Cats game, with a nice 3 day rest before a big matchup against San Antonio next Tuesday(our last home game for about three weeks).

[legendarywalton]

I may have jumped the gun complaining about double digit wins... this game was much, much worse than the Utah game. Poor Nene, he just looked so frustrated. I can't remember how many times he fumbled the ball off his feet or fired a pass into the crowd/other team's hands. Thank god Chauncey got his stroke back.

Stat of the night: JR was + 27. He only had two turnovers. I hope he can keep his level of play consistent when 'Melo returns.