Can J.R. wear that green jersey when the playoffs begin?...

I'll give AC his due in THIS game being that this was the Clippers though makes this hard to say.

I am pleased to see the way they are playing. I feel that Karl is giving JR his props and encouraging him to live up to his potential instead of visa versa. Some a number of those shots could have been more wisely used out of respect to Karls conservative approach.

Otherwise it is a joy to watch the Nuggets take charge on this run.

I find it fascinating they are getting little media coverage...As Andrew said. They rave about the other teams in the east and the Nuggets have a higher seed and better record.

I watched NBA fast break after the game. Mashburn actually apologized to Chauncey and the nuggets saying he counted them out early in the season and they are serious contenders he said. But of course during the plays of the week not a single Nuggets highlight, screw the national media were gonna turn alot of heads if we keep this play up.

I wasn't aware that Chauncey had such an efficient game.

Zach Randolph probably had the funniest box score of anyone tonight: Team high in points (22), team high in rebounds (12), shot 50%, had an assist, a steal, and a block. But then he also had a +/- of -18 (a team low).

JR Smith was phenomenal in the literal sense of the word. He DID slash to the basket and had a few nice assists as a result. 7 3-pointers off the bench is absolutely plantains, particularly when he had 8 in the last game.

Nene absolutely abused the Clippers' big men in the first quarter, I seriously thought he could go for 40 with the way he started out.

Melo didn't have a great night offensively, but he had some nice assists (he would have one more if Balkman could make a mildly contested layup). But I was once again impressed with how Melo has committed to defending out on the wings and uses the baseline as an "extra defender". I'm not sure, but something tells me Chauncey has been encouraging this commitment to perimeter D.

Kleiza is worth his weight in fecal mater right bout now. I'm not sure what's going on with him, but this is more than a slump. Much more. If K-Mart doesn't get back to 100%, this might expose a glaring hole that other teams can exploit, because it's not looking like Kleiza can currently fill that role. I'm also not sure how Balkman will be used either. He's currently going through what I like to call George Karl's processing plant. It's a giant machine randomly stress tests whatever you put through it. Sometimes things come out better, sometimes worse, and sometimes nothing comes out the other end. But the machine keeps churning.

Sunday will be beautiful, because it's a West-fest. Teams that are chasing us have to face each other. So while it does guarantee that 2 teams will gain ground on us (or at the very least keep pace with us), which is why every game at this point it important, it also guarantees that 2 teams will lose ground. I like that. On top of that, San Antonio has to go into Cleveland after the Cavs have dropped 2 straight and are still looking to seal finals home court advantage. Even if the Spurs do manage to pull this one out, they won't be in better shape than they were when they entered.

I too have noticed that local announcer's give the Nuggets their just due (it's hard not to when they're giving your team the business), but the national outlets don't want to admit they were wrong.

It also took Jamal Mashburn a while to give Birdman credit for his blocking. He slipped it in at the end.

Liked Kiszla'a article in the Post. Anthony has had to grow up with a spotlight and he's certainly had his rough spots.

It hasn't exactly been easy though. Anyone else remember last year when Anthony was going to the offensive boards like a fiend? And getting the #$%@ beat out of him every game? He persevered, let AI take 15 more shots per game than he should have, and fought through. His decision making has always been a bit suspect but I for one appreciate the fight the guy has shown.

The whole city jumped his case for the idiocies, I'm hoping that they are all just as quick with giving him accolades when he's deserving.

"Anthony has had to grow up"

Uh, how about "is growing up"?

At least I'm hoping this is the case. Over the last two years, this year especially, I've grown to like Melo. But he still slips back in to his old ways all to frequently.

The latest example was against Utah when he forced way too many contested shots in the middle. His frustration about getting hammered inside eventually boiled over when he drew his 14th T of the season.

You can't blame the guy for being competitive, but he needs to continue to find ways to score when part of his game isn't working, especially against teams with a strong inside presence like Utah. And he (and Martin) needs to learn to take his frustration with the refs out on the other team on the defensive end.

If the Nuggets can compete in the playoffs without melting down mentally the way they did last year, then I'll say Melo has grown up. Personally, I think he's up to the challenge. He better be if we draw Utah in the first round.

I honestly don't think Melo has grown up at all since being in Denver. He still makes the same stupid, immature mistakes over and over. But just because his team is doing better this year people are trying to say he has grown up.

I went to the game last night with some buddies and it was pretty fun. It wasn't the best game as far as competitiveness but watching Birdman block, dunk and rebound and JR light it up from 3 was worth every penny. Plus Rocky made some incredible shots as well. Looks like we are going to need another petition to get JR to wear a green jersey in the postseason, I don't see any problem in it as nobody in the West wears green jerseys.

Goldennugget.... you are way too hard on Melo. He carried us through that road trip and you still pound on him. Melo has his issues but he HAS grown up this year...aside from the suspension. Even George Karl would say so.

Solve this dichotomy for me. You guys say Melo settles for too many jumpers. I agree. Yet you just pointed out that he took the basketball to the hole against the Jazz, got hammered and got frustrated. So you don't want him to take jumpers...yet you don't want him to complain when he (like always) gets fouled repeatedly and gets frustrated like anyone would.

And no....people aren't brushing by Melo's problems...in fact...I've noticed he gets crap no matter HOW the Nuggets are doing.

Jeff of course I am hard on him. I can't stand immature professional athletes, or "afletes" as Melo likes to say. I can't tell you how bad it bugs me when Melo complains to the refs every time he goes to the hole. I will admit he has grown up when he stops making bad decisions on and off the court, but until then he is fair game to get criticized.

Damn Goldennugget, Melo Hater? And you were all over my case when I was dissing AC? What's with that? When I was calling AC the weakest link you were there with stats and the bible. Now you're dissing Melo? Things that make you go uhmm.

Samiam - Lol, no I am not a Melo hater. Melo is my man, but that doesn't' mean I can't be hard on him, ya know? I believe in him more than anybody and I know sometime when Karl leaves he is going to flourish, and reach his full potential. But the stupid things he does on the court bug the *ish out of me, and I come here to vent, that's all. But you really can't tell me Melo has grown up when he is pushing his limits with the tech limit right now, not to mention it hasn't even been a year since he got in trouble with his dui.

Goldennugget, did you notice I gave AC kudos? The last two games he has done well and what it takes to be a back up. Mainly score thoses seven or eight points when he is in the game. He still needs improvement on his turnovers and free throw shooting.
I glad you said when GK leaves Melo will be alright, but if GK doesn't leave, then what?