NBA PLAYOFFS RND 1: NUGGETS vs. THUNDER - GAME1

[DaFan334]

Nuggets Injuries:
Timofey Mozgov - (available - ankle)
Arron Afflalo (game-time decision - ankle)
Ty Lawson (playing - ankle)
Thunder Injuries:
none


The Nuggets will need to get healthy and stay healthy in order to give the Thunder a good run for their money. Coach George Karl expects everyone except Timofey Mozgov healthy to start the series with Timo rejoining the team at some point during the series. Having lost both games against the Thunder following the Melo trade, the Nuggets must prove they can beat them. This time they will have the luxury of having Arron Afflalo and Birdman back at full strength (hopefully AAA) which should help them defend the Thunder's powerful offense. Should be the start to an intense battle between two of the NBA's hottest teams.


On a personal note, **** Scott Brooks. Was promised Nuggets tickets back when he was an assistant from him then he totally blew it off and ignored me when I tried to get them from him. For that, hopefully the Nugs will have a little bit extra karma. Oh and **** You from Seattle.

[Kashy_Tigray]

Hey fellas, I come in peace. The city of Seattle is probably rooting for you guys to win. I'll post these pictures for good luck .

[Kashy_Tigray]

I'll be rooting for you guys. I think you can steal at least one of the first two games against Seattle. And then sweep the home games in Denver.

Best of luck!

[Kashy_Tigray]

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s9Dp20ydm1E[/youtube]



[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LWmKROvnWpI[/youtube]

[el loco]

The schedule

Sunday: At Thunder, 7:30 p.m., TNT

Wednesday: At Thunder, 6 p.m., TNT

Sat., April 23: At Nuggets, 8 p.m., ESPN

Mon., April 25: At Nuggets, 8:30 p.m., TNT

Wednesday, April 27: At Thunder,* TBA

Friday, April 29: At Nuggets,* TBA

Sunday, May 1: At Thunder,* TBA

[Doomsta]

oledoit

[pickaxe]

making playoff threads with a chip on his shoulder.......I likey!

good job with the colors too

[Kashy_Tigray]

Nick Collison has been with the Seattle Sonics for 8 years, since 2003. He is the longest tenured Seattle player on their roster.

[dis4ryan]

Uhhh what is going on with this game thread. I hated the Sonics when I was younger. I remember the entire crowd in McNichols arena chanting "Schrempf sucks." No one cares about a two hour movie on the Sonics, Kashy Tigay. Actually, the most memorable highlight I have of the Nuggets is Dikembe with the ball on the floor after beating the Sonics in the playoffs. Awkward.

[HeartSouloma]

Nick Collison has been with the Seattle Sonics for 8 years, since 2003. He is the longest tenured Seattle player on their roster.

Dude get over it. Your team is DEAD stop bringing up the past, and Thunders up.

Any-ways can't wait for this game! Any update on AAF? Really want to face a fully healthy Nuggets...

So good luk guys...

[el loco]

making playoff threads with a chip on his shoulder.......I likey!

good job with the colors too

[CKRT]

where did you get that picture of Harden? looks great.

good luck guys, should be a great series. try to keep it civilized on the GB.

[DaFan334]

^ESPN, I believe Getty owns the actual rights to it. And I obviously edited it from there.

http://www.denverpost.com/nuggets/ci_17851704

Karl says he doesn't think everyone will be 100%, but thinks everybody will be able to play in the opener. Although he won't go into specifics about any of the injuries and anyone in particulars status now that the playoffs are underway.

Also says KMart will be guarding Durant in the 4th quarter of games. I think thats easily our best move with Ibaka and Perkins being far less deadly on offense. Chandler or Gallo can probably hang with one of those two enough in the paint to allow us to do so.

Scares me that Afflalo isn't coming back at 100% but if he can stay healthy and play well it gives us a much better chance at winning the series. With the length of these rounds, it might be better holding him out for game one and coming back with him in game 2, but Afflalo is a competitor, so I see him out there.

[Powder Blue]

Nuggets got a HUGE break with that schedule....Hope all those ankles are healing

[corona]

definitely like that it's sunday-wednesday-saturday. two days in between each game gives a lot of time to rest the injuries. i just hope lawson's quick/aggressive in the first game and afflalo doesn't re-aggravate the hammy and end up on the sideline the rest of the series+.

[DaFan334]

Ild honestly be more comfortable resting AA for game one if he isn't 100%. Better off having him at 100% the rest of the series than risk losing him for the rest of it.

[KAVK]

Game time decision on AAA, more likely to be rested. Karl is going to be discreet about injuries as he said earlier. We should try not to bring it up often and jinx it.

"I think more teams have got to get the mind-set of what Denver's doing," former NBA all-star forward, coach and executive Kevin McHale said this week on a conference call. "Maybe Denver will become kind of the blueprint for a lot of teams who say, 'We're going to get a bunch of good players and have healthy, internal competition.' They're all playing with a purpose. That's going to be a fun series.

Nicely said Kevin!

Go Nuggets.

[Shady08]

From an ESPN insider article.

The Denver Nuggets are set up to make a serious run

The Nuggets are already well-known as a hot team coming into the playoffs, but late-season results don't appear to have any extra impact on playoff performance, so they're not gaining any advantage there. The two strongest historical factors indicating playoff success do work in their favor, however, as they play at the fastest pace of any playoff team and have one of the league's better centers.

The Nuggets rank second among all playoff teams in our OP score, which means that, historically speaking, they figure to play almost two points better in the playoffs than they did in the regular season. Denver has actually played roughly equal to its regular-season level during the past seven playoffs, but with a career year from Nene they could finally buck that trend. Based off previous performance, the Nuggets have an above-average chance at making a Butler-esque run through the Western Conference playoffs.

[RRFB]

@nuggetsnews

No Arron Afflalo for #nuggets tonight here in okc...(hamstring)

Probably for the best. Hopefully he's ready to go for Game 2.

[Shady08]

Sucks that AAA isn't playing, but better him play today then miss the rest of the series or miss today and play the rest of the series, get healthy Arron!!!