Scouting the Nuggets

[el loco]

Scouting the Nuggets: Starters
By Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News

25 ANTHONY CARTER, GUARD
Height/weight: 6-foot-2, 195 pounds.
College: Hawaii.
Age, experience: 33, 10th season.
Last season: 7.8 points, 5.5 assists, 34.9 three-point percentage in 70 games with Nuggets.
Outlook: Woke up one day and suddenly could hit an outside shot. After making 16-of-127 (12.6 percent) previously in his career, was 45-of-129 last season. Heady player but still a stopgap starter. Always will have to listen to rumors about the Nuggets possibly acquiring a point.
*ESPN rank: 246.

Three questions
No. 1: What was the pair of basketball shoes you always wanted as a kid and finally got?
Pony Spud Webbs. I was in middle school or elementary school, and he was one of my favorite players. He was shorter, and people said I looked like him. They were 30-some dollars.
No. 2: Baseball players get to choose the song played when they come to bat. What song would you like to hear when introduced?
Lil Jon's Get Crunk. He's just a hype person. Every song, he makes you get up, whether you're in the club or whatever.
No. 3: Has the declining economy affected anything you have been doing?
Big time. I'm not going out and eating as much. I'm not spending as much on cars and buying my kids whatever they want. With the economy like this, you have to make changes.


3 ALLEN IVERSON, GUARD
Height/weight: 6-foot, 180 pounds.
College: Georgetown.
Age, experience: 33, 13th season.
Last season: 26.4 points, 7.1 assists in 82 games with Nuggets.
Outlook: John Stockton never seemed to get old. Iverson sure didn't last season, raising his scoring average and playing all 82 games. But Iverson had preseason knee and ankle injuries and could start slow. He says he's willing to sacrifice scoring for the good of the team.
*ESPN rank: 19.
Three questions
No. 1: What was the pair of basketball shoes you always wanted as a kid and finally got?
Air Jordans. I was like 10 or something like that. It was the greatest because we couldn't afford them. But I was able to get them. My mom bought them.
No. 2: Baseball players get to choose the song played when they come to bat. What song would you like to hear when introduced?
Big Dogg Status by Scarface. I just like that song. It hypes me up. I just love the song.
No. 3: Has the declining economy affected anything you have been doing?
I just don't gamble as much as I used to at casinos. I used to gamble a whole lot. . . . (It's also) just because I don't win.

15 CARMELO ANTHONY, FORWARD
Height/weight: 6-foot-8, 230 pounds.
College: Syracuse.
Age, experience: 24, sixth season.
Last season: 25.7 points, 7.4 rebounds in 77 games with Nuggets.
Outlook: Vows to become more of a leader. This has been heard before. But Anthony is showing fine signs of additional maturing and has an Olympic gold medal. His scoring is not a problem, his rebounding is getting better and now he must continue to hone passing skills and defense.
*ESPN rank: 15.
Three questions
No. 1: What politician in history do you most admire?
I'm an Obama fan. What he stands for. What his vision is. Who he's trying to help. What he's trying to do.
No. 2: What's your favorite pet you've ever had?
I had a little bird. It flew out the window. I was like 6 or 7. A little parakeet. (I was) feeding it, and it just flew out.
No. 3: Baseball players get to choose the song played when they come to bat. What song would you like to hear when introduced?
No Matter What by T.I. Because it just soothes me.

4 KENYON MARTIN, FORWRD
Height/weight: 6-foot-9, 240 pounds.
College: Cincinnati.
Age, experience: 30, ninth season.
Last season: 12.4 points, 6.5 rebounds in 71 games with Nuggets.
Outlook: Returned with a new attitude and had a great comeback season after playing in only two games in 2006-07 because of knee surgery. Has lost some explosiveness because of age and injuries but makes up for it with smartness and toughness. Must continue to stay healthy.
*ESPN rank: 145.
Three questions
No. 1: What was the pair of basketball shoes you always wanted as a kid and finally got?
You always wanted a pair of Jordans as a kid. I couldn't afford them, but I finally got my first pair in high school. I had a girlfriend who worked at Foot Locker, and I got them for free.
No. 2: What politician in history do you most admire?
Obama. First black man that has a chance to win it. No black man has ever come this far in politics and accomplished things like that to be in position to be president of the United States, and I think that's pretty neat.
No. 3: What's your favorite pet you've ever had?
French mastiffs. Smith and Wesson and Leonidas. I had three. I had to put Smith to sleep. . . . They're big dogs. I can't be walking around with a Pomeranian or no Teacup Yorkshire. I need big dogs. Mastiffs fit me well.

31 NENE, CENTER
Height/weight: 6-foot-11, 250 pounds.
College: None. From Brazil.
Age, experience: 26, seventh season.
Last season: 5.3 points, 5.4 rebounds in 16 games with Nuggets.
Outlook: There's a picture of him when you look up the term "hard luck." Has sat out 165 games the past three seasons, including half of last season because of testicular cancer. But he now is in good shape and while center isn't his natural position, he can get an upper hand with athleticism.
*ESPN rank: None.
Three questions
No. 1: What's the craziest question a fan has asked you?
They ask me if I'm Carmelo Anthony. I say I'm Earl Boykins. Or they ask me, "Are you a basketball player?" I say, "No, I'm security."
No. 2: What's your favorite pet you've ever had?
I have two Labradors, Dora and Diego. They are the best. Because they protect you. They're going to take a little piece out of you. If nobody is around, they attack. But if we are around, they're like cats.
No. 3: Baseball players get to choose the song played when they come to bat. What song would you like to hear when introduced?
It would be gospel music. Because God gives me strength.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2 ... s-outlook/

Scouting the Nuggets: Reserves
By Chris Tomasson, Rocky Mountain News

11 CHRIS ANDERSEN, FORWARD/CENTER
Height/weight: 6-foot-10, 228 pounds.
College: Blinn (Texas) Junior College.
Age, experience: 30, seventh season.
Last season: 1.2 points, 1.8 rebounds in five games with New Orleans.
Outlook: After a two-year drug suspension and playing sparingly last season, was projected to be rusty. But "Birdman," rejoining Denver after four years, hasn't needed much 3-in-One Oil. Provides energy and an improved shot, but must prove he can play big-time minutes.
*ESPN rank: None.

12 CHUCKY ATKINS, GUARD
Height/weight: 5-foot-11, 185 pounds.
College: South Florida.
Age, experience: 34, 10th season.
Last season: 4.7 points, 2.0 assists in 24 games with Nuggets.
Outlook: Nuggets had lots of hopes after signing him to a three-year deal in 2007, but Atkins has been plagued by lots of injuries. He'll miss at least the first week of the 2008-09 season because of knee surgery, and it remains to be seen if he'll ever give the Nuggets a lot. The team could use his outside shot.
*ESPN rank: None.

32 RENALDO BALKMAN, FORWARD
Height/weight: 6-foot-8, 210 pounds.
College: South Carolina.
Age, experience: 24, third season.
Last season: 3.4 points, 3.3 rebounds in 65 games with New York.
Outlook: Provides flying hair with long dreadlocks and a flying body as he never stops hustling. Nuggets like his defense and nonstop energy. As far as offense goes, doesn't provide too much other than layups and dunks. Got him off scrap heap from New York.
*ESPN rank: 200.

45 STEVEN HUNTER, CENTER
Height/weight: 7-foot, 240 pounds.
College: DePaul.
Age, experience: 26, eighth season.
Last season: 2.1 points, 1.5 rebounds in 19 games with Nuggets.
Outlook: Has knees of a 46-year-old. Because of knee soreness, it could be a while before Hunter provides much if anything at all for the Nuggets. As Denver's only 7-footer, Hunter could be handy against big teams. When healthy, he can run the floor but can't shoot free throws (48.3 percent in his career).
*ESPN rank: None.

5 JUWAN HOWARD, FORWARD
Height/weight: 6-foot-9, 253 pounds.
College: Michigan.
Age, experience: 35, 15th season.
Last season's stats: 1.1 points, 1.6 rebounds in 50 games with Dallas.
Outlook: Some thought he was washed up when he arrived in Denver on a nonguaranteed deal. But Howard was steady in the preseason and made the team after averaging 5.7 points and 4.5 rebounds. A team player and savvy veteran who can help when called upon.
*ESPN rank: None.

30 DAHNTAY JONES, GUARD/FORWARD
Height/weight: 6-foot-6, 210 pounds.
College: Duke.
Age, experience: 27, sixth season.
Last season: 3.2 points, 1.4 rebounds in 25 games with Sacramento.
Outlook: Hopes coach George Karl, a North Carolina alumnus, won't hold Duke pedigree against him. Could fill role as perimeter defender. Was a summer-league scoring star but may not get many shots because of Nuggets' trigger-happy perimeter.
*ESPN rank: None.

43 LINAS KLEIZA, GUARD/FORWARD
Height/weight: 6-foot-8, 245 pounds.
College: Missouri.
Age, experience: 23, fourth season.
Last season: 11.1 points, 4.2 rebounds in 79 games with Nuggets.
Outlook: Once again, Nuggets must be creative in finding him minutes. True position is small forward, where Carmelo Anthony plays 40 minutes. Will slide to power forward and shooting guard. Has potent outside shot and drive ability.
*ESPN rank: 130.

1 J.R. SMITH, GUARD
Height/weight: 6-foot-6, 220 pounds.
School: St. Benedict's Prep (high school in Newark, N.J.).
Age, experience: 23, fifth season.
Last season: 12.3 points, 40.3 percent on three-pointers in 74 games with Nuggets.
Outlook: Up-and-down player who lately has been having more ups. Finished strong last season, earning three-year, $16.5 million contract. Can score when needed but must continue to improve passing and defense. Will be sixth man or could move into starting lineup.
*ESPN rank: 27.

13 SONNY WEEMS, GUARD/FORWARD
Height/weight: 6-foot-6, 203 pounds.
College: Arkansas.
Age, experience: 22, rookie.
Last season: 15.0 points, 37 percent on three-pointers in 34 games at Arkansas.
Outlook: Missed all of training camp after sports hernia surgery and a groin pull, and it remains to be seen whether he can contribute as a rookie for the Nuggets. Provides great athleticism and dunking highlight-reel footage, but Nuggets are loaded with swingmen.
*ESPN rank: None.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2 ... -reserves/

[corona]

Lil Jon's Get Crunk. He's just a hype person. Every song, he makes you get up, whether you're in the club or whatever.

i didn't know it was possible....but i just lost more respect for anthony carter.
33, and his favorite song is by lil john.

really? really?

No. 3: Baseball players get to choose the song played when they come to bat. What song would you like to hear when introduced?
It would be gospel music. Because God gives me strength.

typical nene. lol
needs to pray to stay healthy this season. and if he doesn't....he needs to jump off that god bandwagon.

[el loco]

I liked the other answers Nene gave.

I lost even more respect for Carter as well. It was just last season when the Nuggets did a halftime show on how hard he had things growing up. His family was so poor that he had to wear his older sisters clothes to school and dropped out because of all the teasing he received because of it. Now times have gotten so tough on him that he has had to cut back on buying vehicles. IMO it turned that nice little inspirational story from a season ago into a big friggen joke.

Melo's favorite pet was a parakeet

[SnakefromHell]

No. 1: What's the craziest question a fan has asked you?
They ask me if I'm Carmelo Anthony. I say I'm Earl Boykins. Or they ask me, "Are you a basketball player?" I say, "No, I'm security."

Nene has a sense of humor

I hate it when my birds fly out of cage