Phoenix @ Denver

[corona]

Key Matchup:
v.
Stoudemire's averaged 29 points on 57% shooting after the All-star break. Kmart will need to use every trick in the book to slow him down, as well as take the ball back at Stoudemire offensively and perhaps get him in foul trouble.

Last Meeting: Last Night
Phoenix recovered from a 22 point deficit to win by 15.

Denver: 45-29
Rank 11th in offense and 7th in defense

Keys to winning:
Maintaining a consistent sense of urgency to get into the playoffs and win the division.
Making the extra pass on a consistent basis.
Staying home on shooters
Treating the game like a playoff game in every way, regardless of the opponent.

Last 5 Games:
L Phoenix
W Golden State
W Dallas
W Memphis
W Toronto

Phoenix: 50-24
Rank 1st in offense and 15th in defense.
Grant Hill is likely sidelined with a pulled groin and sprained wrist.

Last 5 Games:
W Denver
W New Jersey
W Philadelphia
L Boston
L Detroit

Photos:






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

Game Notes:
http://www.nba.com/nuggets/news/notes.pdf
http://www.nba.com/suns/news/notes.pdf

Playoff Picture: (as of sunday morning)
9th seed, 1/2 game behind golden state, 1 full game behind dallas.

[PeTBuLL]

Leandro will start for PHX, u dont have a sig displaying his photo?

[lukem005]

Last Nights game ripped my heart out , Lets hope it has the opposite effect for the team. I hope they can come out strong and not get complacent once they secure a decent lead. The Nuggs have to realize that this time of year (especially with a team like PHX) there is no such thing as a comfortable lead.

I had assumed we would split with them on this b2b, I am hopeful that still comes true.

[DaFan334]

May want to switch the top to Phoenix @ Denver. The current one didnt do us too good last night.

Absolutely need to come out and play a full game tonight.

[MHZ]

What a joke that was last night... Don't do it again?

[DaFan334]

http://www.denverpost.com/nuggets/ci_8765197

The second half left Denver dazed, confused and just plain mad. Marcus Camby left the arena and went to the locker room when he was removed from the game in the fourth quarter. Kenyon Martin yelled at anyone who would listen when he was taken out with about three minutes left. Players winced at shots that fell in the first half, but almost never found their mark in the second.

When did Camby leave? We talkin when he was pulled after lighting up Shaq for 8 straight with about 6 mins left?

[Suns_Fever]

I'm pretty sure Denver will crush us tonight. I was hoping for astleast a 1-1 split.

[MHZ]

Well, it certainly should have happened last night. I can see the Nuggets getting beat handily tonight.

[sportsmikegm23]

May want to switch the top to Phoenix @ Denver. The current one didnt do us too good last night.

Absolutely need to come out and play a full game tonight.

Don't worry..they won't play a full game...it's a back to back... so that's out completely...winning...they might because they are home and maybe the refs will feel sorry for the Nuggets being humiliated last night...some one will take some pity on the poor scared little Nuggies. but on the plus side they will be wearing matching sleeves and headbands to be pretty on the court....I remember Melo saying something about 60 wins and contending for a championship....what sport? marbles? jacks? hopscotch maybe? because it sure ain't basketball. If there is a God, is there anyway we can find some basketball IQ around these parts? Please....

I have never been more angry and disguisted by one of my favorite teams ever... and being a Broncos, Rockies, Avs, and Nuggets fan...I have had times to be angry and disguisted. Last night's moronic event is something I just can't understand period. They needed that game...up by 19 at halftime...you have to come out like you are down 19...cause the Suns are going to make their run...bust your a$* on every flippin play. I don't care if they get 50 assist in one game...no more off days for these wimps until they beat a playoff team on the road. I won't even watch tonight's game...I am too f****** mad too.

[bobobolas1]

Good game nuggets!


Beat em!

[Shady08]

After last nights heart breaker, we need to get it done tonight. GO NUGGETS!

[blue steel]

im going to the game tonight, i know the atmosphere will be intense, but what a pathetic loser typical nuggets let down last night was... we had way too big of a lead way to early, we still arent mature enough to hold on to it.

D'antoni definitely wins the better halftime speech award, but whos actually surprised about that. George needed to emphasize urgency since the Suns are probably the best team in the league at erasing a deficit fast.

[JEWELZ]

that was the definition of a heart breaker last night, PLEASE WIN THISSS

[noone]

I have the Suns winning this one. They're a tough beat no matter where you play them, especially now with Shaq/Amare in their front court.

Nene needs to man up and not want to sit out after playing 5 minutes. They need him.

Karl sucks. But you can always hope for him to make the proper and timely rotations.

Better hope their 3's aren't falling.

Carter just sucks period. As odd as this may sound, it's really a shame when he plays a good first quarter because that always leads him to extended minutes and sucking in the third. Has he ever had a good game in 2 consecutive halves?

[noone]

As for those of you saying you expected to lose the game in Phoenix, that's just a cop out for the team (players and coach). I don't care where you're playing, you don't get up 19 at the half, give it all up in the third, and get blown out in the 4th. That just shouldn't happen. No matter win or loss tonight, they shouldn't have lost in Phoenix, period. No excuses. If I were a Denver fan at the game, I would boo their asses when they walked onto the court.

I also hope the report was true of Camby walking into the locker room after he was taken out scoring 8 straight points. As much as I dislike Camby (the player), he deserved to be on the court and not taken out. 1 of Karl's many screw-ups in the second half.

[The Answer_CO]

Hopefully, Kenyon can do something he didnt do yesterday to stop Amare and Carter can see how Nash was killing him from deep last night. Somebody needs to help Carter when ShaQ or Amare sets a screen up top cause Nash shoots the 3 right away.
Also, Nash shoots it in transition. Alot of work for Nuggets tonight.
GO NUGGETS!

[noone]

How silly. Second straight game on NBATV. What a joke.

[big123]

How silly. Second straight game on NBATV. What a joke.

At least it shouldn't be the Phoenix commendators tonight. Last night they were horrible to listen to.

[iaaa99]

Hopefully stupid Karl use Hunter tonight instead of Najera. It is impossible for Najera to guard shaq. At least with hunter he has some length. Also Atkins should play more. Carter is not doing anything good after the 1st quarter. And finally maybe this coach can use his sub and time out in a good way. U do not bench a player when he is hot. Like Camby yesterday and many many times JR, Melo. This coach must understand the sub is not written in a book (oh Camby played 7 min now his time to be benched) it is not like this stupid coach. Yesterday PHX coach just gave u a lesson hopefully u will respond

[MELO4MVP]

Wow. Warriors beat Spurs twice already this season. If Warriors win and we lose tonight, season over.