2008-09 Game 15: Denver Nuggets at Los Angeles Clippers Game Thread
by Jeremy on Nov 26, 2008 12:00 PM MST
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PrintDenver Nuggets at Los Angeles Clippers, Nov 26, 2008 8:30 PM MST
The Denver Nuggets and Los Angeles Clippers played less than four weeks ago, but the two teams that take the floor tonight will bear little resemblance to the two teams that played on Halloween. The Nuggets will have Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups on the floor this time and the Clippers will have Marcus Camby, Zach Randolph and presumably Baron Davis for a full game (he left in the second quarter in the first meeting).
In addition to those changes rookie Eric Gordon has been moved into the starting lineup. He was red hot in his first career start scoring 25 points on 9-18 shooting including 4-8 from downtown. The Nuggets will have to pay attention to where Gordon is at all times as he is their only high percentage three point threat.
With all the changes the Clippers are clearly a more talented team than they were when the season started, but I am not sure they fit together any better.
The matchup between Baron Davis and Chauncey Billups will be fun to watch. Both are bigger point guards who like to spend some time in the post. Chauncey should be able to limit Baron’s penetration and the more Baron plays on the perimeter the better it is for the Nuggets.
With the addition of Zach Randolph along side of Chris Kaman and Marcus Camby the Clippers have a strong front line that will cause the Nuggets problems. I think George Karl needs to make sure that Nene is in the game whenever Chris Kaman is on the floor. We have seen Kaman dominate Kenyon and I shudder to think of Kaman being guarded by Renaldo Balkman who is even smaller than Kenyon and has been filling in at center on defense while Chris Andersen has been out. Fortunately the Nuggets can put anyone they want on Camby because we all know he will never go down on the post. However, whoever is guarding Marcus better be ready to box out because you know Camby will be looking to grab 20 boards and block ten shots.
It will be interesting to see if the Nuggets can exploit Camby’s defensive shortcomings. Chauncey could end up with 30 points on open 16 to 18 foot jumpers as long as they play pick and roll with Marcus’ man and if Camby is ever caught on Nene I hope the big man takes him down low to take advantage of his skinny build. We also know if Marcus is on Kenyon, Martin will see a plethora of open looks form the perimeter and he has demonstrated he can knock jumper after jumper down from 20 feet and in.
It will again be important for Denver to have a fluid half court offense as the Clippers will try to pack the paint with their shot blockers. Without motion it will be difficult to get them out of position to open up the paint and then we will see Denver turn into a jump shooting team. I expect Melo to have the chance to put up another seven or eight assist night as the Clippers like to bring help as soon as he gets the ball and double him after he puts it on the floor.
Defensively the Nuggets will have to find a way to contain Al Thornton as he tends to have big games against Denver. He has played all but six minutes of the last three games for the Clippers and played 48 of the 53 minutes and dropped 30 points the first time these two met this season.
The game tonight is the first of a stretch where the Nuggets play four games in five nights that include home games against the Hornets and Rockets sandwiched around a roadie to Minnesota to close out the month of November. Tonight’s game is important to ensure they get started on the right foot.
I strongly recommend you check out Clips Nation for some great Clipper insight and I would also be remiss if I did not direct you over to Clipper Blog as well.
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Think we can expect a break out game from JR finally? I like his odds with eric gordon guarding him.
In college
Sonny Weems totally outplayed Eric Gordon in an upset victory for Arkansas over Indiana, scoring 31 points and holding Gordon to 8. Maybe tonight is the night to unleash our uber-atheletic rookie. Once we are 25 points up.
Completely Agree
Really excited to see Sonny Weems have a shot tonight hopefully. He’s a great young forward talent and extremely athletic.
Wow
It hurts my heart to see big cap in a Clippers uni. :(
No matter where Camby goes, I will always respect him as an amazing player and person.
was just thinkin that
and you can bet it tears him up to see the success we have had without him. Love camby, classy guy.
Any enthusiasm Clipper fans had for Randolph
is gone already with his horrible shot selection.
Pickaxe and Roll - An SB Nation Denver Nuggets Blog
He's on the bench...
Just hasn’t played. I guess Karl might have been a little unhappy with him having missed all five of his threes against the Bulls.
If you guys never hear from me again
It will be because I am in jail for the murder of Dahntay Jones. Pass the ball Dahntay!
Pickaxe and Roll - An SB Nation Denver Nuggets Blog
Nuggets have completely stopped moving on offense
Pickaxe and Roll - An SB Nation Denver Nuggets Blog
Halftime Stats
Pace Factor – 101.8
Defensive Efficiency – 108.0
Offensive Efficiency – 110.0
Pickaxe and Roll - An SB Nation Denver Nuggets Blog
I will never understand
why the Nuggets completely stop moving on offense for minutes at a time
Pickaxe and Roll - An SB Nation Denver Nuggets Blog
Absolutely no reason not to have Melo in there by now
Pickaxe and Roll - An SB Nation Denver Nuggets Blog
I think he has tried to be too cute with resting the starters for tomorrow night
But the players are not getting the job done either on both ends of the floor.
Pickaxe and Roll - An SB Nation Denver Nuggets Blog
What will it take to get Kleiza to cut to the rim?
Melo had no choice but to shoot.
Pickaxe and Roll - An SB Nation Denver Nuggets Blog
*clapclap*
I actually hope they lose this game tonight . They certainly don’t deserve to win with Karl’s coaching.
Denver deserves to lose this game
All around sad effort mentally and physically.
Pickaxe and Roll - An SB Nation Denver Nuggets Blog
By the way Carter was selfish taking that three he airballed
The correct play is to continue to swing it to Kleiza.
Pickaxe and Roll - An SB Nation Denver Nuggets Blog
Thank you Marcus Camby for giving that one to Denver!
Pickaxe and Roll - An SB Nation Denver Nuggets Blog
Looking forward to your analysis tonight
However strange it might be. Carmelo had a great night with the exception of 5 TOs. Kleiza continues to suck. JR didn’t play, and I absolutely must fucking know why.
J.R. Smith
I still have not heard one thing from Altitude as to why J.R. sat the whole game. This isn’t Cheikh Samb! J.R. is supposed to play. All I need is a J.R. was late to shoot around or Karl thought he needed a night off. At least acknowledge it is a story!
Pickaxe and Roll - An SB Nation Denver Nuggets Blog
There it is
JR Smith “very late to a practice and lateness to practice is going to be handled differently this year”.
Good. I am absolutely satisfied with that.
If they could have told us that at the beginning of the game
I would have posted a lot less about Karl sucking.
Terrible job by Altitude with the J.R. story
I realize they did not have a sideline reporter, but is it too much to ask that they talk to someone during a commercial or between quarters?
Jason Kosmicki will text the Nuggets PR people if he needs to know something like that. I think I will start listening to the radio call from now on. I guarantee you Koz knew what was going on.
Pickaxe and Roll - An SB Nation Denver Nuggets Blog
Finally the news we have been waiting for - J.R. was "very late" to a practice
They asked Karl if J.R. knew he was going to sit before the game and freaking Altitude cut back to the studio!
Pickaxe and Roll - An SB Nation Denver Nuggets Blog
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