Denver (40-27) @ Atlanta (39-28)
Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 8:39 am
Wednesday, March 16th, 2011 - 5:00 PM MST - ALTITUDE
BENCH:JR - RAY - BIRDMAN - BAD AL - FORBES - MOZGOV - KOUFUS
INJURIES: GALLO (out - toe) - AFFLALO (playing - hamstring)
ATLANTA HAWKS STARTING FIVE:
JEFF TEAGUE - KIRK HINRICH - JOE JOHNSON - JOSH SMITH - AL HORFORD
BENCH: JAMAL CRAWFORD - MARVIN WILLIAMS - ZAZA PACHULIA - DAMIEN WILKINS - JASON COLLINS - JOSH "I AIN'T MOVIN FOR NOBODY" POWELL - HILTON ARMSTRONG
KEY MATCHUP:
AND 
VS.
AND 
With the Atlanta Hawks on the second half of a home back to back, the Nuggets should look to push the pace with both point guards on the court together a bit and I would expect the Hawks to combat that with Hinrich and Teague who have played together a bit since the trade of Hinrich from the Wizards. If Afflalo is unable to go and Forbes struggles again, we could see even more of this look than normal. It was very effective last game as both had over 20 points and 10 rebounds. The battle in the post should also be a good one to watch as these teams for the most part match up very well. Bird may be an x factor, although rare for him on the road, he has been playing great the last 10 games. The Nuggets wings will also have to keep Joe Johnson in check, something that will be much easier to do with a healthy Afflalo in the lineup. Overall this is a solid match up and should be a good judge into just how good this Nuggets team can actually become.
BENCH:JR - RAY - BIRDMAN - BAD AL - FORBES - MOZGOV - KOUFUS
INJURIES: GALLO (out - toe) - AFFLALO (playing - hamstring)
ATLANTA HAWKS STARTING FIVE:
JEFF TEAGUE - KIRK HINRICH - JOE JOHNSON - JOSH SMITH - AL HORFORD
BENCH: JAMAL CRAWFORD - MARVIN WILLIAMS - ZAZA PACHULIA - DAMIEN WILKINS - JASON COLLINS - JOSH "I AIN'T MOVIN FOR NOBODY" POWELL - HILTON ARMSTRONG
KEY MATCHUP:
AND VS.
AND With the Atlanta Hawks on the second half of a home back to back, the Nuggets should look to push the pace with both point guards on the court together a bit and I would expect the Hawks to combat that with Hinrich and Teague who have played together a bit since the trade of Hinrich from the Wizards. If Afflalo is unable to go and Forbes struggles again, we could see even more of this look than normal. It was very effective last game as both had over 20 points and 10 rebounds. The battle in the post should also be a good one to watch as these teams for the most part match up very well. Bird may be an x factor, although rare for him on the road, he has been playing great the last 10 games. The Nuggets wings will also have to keep Joe Johnson in check, something that will be much easier to do with a healthy Afflalo in the lineup. Overall this is a solid match up and should be a good judge into just how good this Nuggets team can actually become.
Raymond Felton via Denver Post wrote:The (Denver) offense is pretty much the same as how I used to play at North Carolina and how I was playing this year in New York — pushing the ball down the court, getting into a lot of screen-and- roll plays, I'm trying to get back into my groove.
Raymond Felton via Denver Post wrote:We've got two guys out there who can screen and roll. It's kind of tough to guard, It's constant (motion). The defense doesn't have a lot of time to set up.
J.R. Smith via Denver Post wrote:We've just been getting in good rhythm, a lot of times, we pump-fake and try to premeditate our moves before we even catch the ball. I think the best way to shoot is just catch and shoot. It's been working for us.
He was a good 8 feet behind the arc on that bomb.