Sunday reading/listening...

Thanks for the links Andrew. Thank God we didn't get Tinsley. Iverson without the scorers flair or health. I can't believe they were even gonna do that. Stephon Marbury II.

Well, the Lakers are going to get it done tonight, but Kobe isn't the leader Jordan is and never will be. Anyone else watch Kobe doin work last night? The guy is obviously a competitor but doesn't have the leadership and sheer will that Jordan had, or the love of his team. Jackson has fallen off and what the heck happened to Fisher?

This team is ripe for an upset and the Nuggets are the one's to do it. It won't be easy but it certainly is possible.

When this team picked up Iverson, I was skeptical- but figured i'd give it a chance to work. Seems to me that the problems were NEVER about scoring/offense, but more about DEFENSE. They were so frustrating to watch even when Andre Miller was the PG. Once the focus rightfully shifted to defense, thats when the metamorphosis began. CB7 was the final piece of a puzzle that was finally coming together. He just ended up being the most important piece. Go Nuggs!

Wow that article on ESPN by Tom Friend was truly probably one of the best sports articles I have ever read. It really put into perspective a lot of different people (especially Chauncey) for me. Like, it is clear Dumars is a complete jack-ass. People always celebrate how great of a GM he is but really what good thing has he done that hasn't been countered by an even worse move? He fired Brown for losing a game 7 in the Finals, got rid of the only finals MVP on the team, got rid of the multiple award winning DPOY in Wallace, and on and on. Sure he made that team, but he destroyed twice as fast, and for really no justifiable reason at all.

I have mixed feelings about A.I. and that article really brought out the ones I try to ignore. I just can't but help to love the guy on so many levels but maybe all the rumors about A.I. being a bad team player (aka a "canswer") are true after all.

And George Karl is still on my Stiff List personally. We all know he isn't a fan of running plays, but if you are telling me he can't manage to draw up one in-bounds play in a tight playoff game just so there is something to go off of and he has to let his PG call it for him, then I don't see any reason at all that he should have any job security whatsoever.

I think how the article portrayed Chuancey was incredible though. Nobody ever brings up how he was tossed around the league like a journeyman before landing in Detroit. And when you think of a guy that was treated like that then goes on to lead his team to a championship and win Finals MVP, like George said in the article, wow. It's just too hard to believe. I can't say how happy I am to have a guy as great as Chauncey having this massive affect on our team and it's fans. He is the kind of guy that brings communities, families, old friends, ect together all for one simple game. I think Chauncey has really become one of my favorite players ever really fast, and that article had a lot to do with it.

As for the other articles, they were all interesting. I can't help but think like the first article said we kind of lucked out. I mean, we were considering signing Jamal Tinsley to pair with Allen Iverson as well as trading Melo. That can't be, in any way, the ideas of a good management team. Imo, I think they lucked out with Billups big time. In other words, he saved their asses.

More than anything those articles just made me realize where we are more than anything. I have taken for granted this team this whole year. I was happy, satisfied, all the above, but never did I realize how cursed this franchise was and how much a guy with the philosophies, respect and values like Billups has can make an affect on a team the way it has this year. I am so excited now, there used to be a part of me that wanted to see a Kobe/Lebron finals, but not anymore. I am a pure fan and believer of this team and am going to pray that if there is a God he is a Nuggets fan. We deserve this win, not a guys like Kobe and Phil who are total ass-holes and could care nothing about anyone except for themselves. We are the guys, with Chauncey and Birdman who are about the team game, and the heart and soul of a team. So, I am going to pray Chauncey leads us to the promise land every night until this series is over. But even if we do lose, this season has been one I will remember for the rest of my life.