Game 53: Nuggets @ Magic

by Nate Timmons on Feb 11, 2009 2:21 PM MST

Records:
Nuggets 35-17 (15-11 on the road)
Magic 38-12 (20-5 at home)

Pay close attention to that home record for the Magic. The Nuggets have not won in Orlando since the 1991-1992 season - that's good for an 0-15 effort since that time.

Things will not be any easier this go round ... I don't think any Nuggets fan has forgotten the beating Orlando put on Denver on January 17th at The Can (Pepsi Center). To give you a refresh ... Denver lost 106-88 and basically just lied down in the train tracks and watched as the steamroller dismantled them.

Well I guess things will be a touch easier since Jameer Nelson is out with a separated shoulder. Nelson was named to the All-Star team after averaging 16.7 ppg and 5.4 rebounds before suffering the injury. The Magic quickly moved guard Keith Bogans to the Milwaukee Bucks for point guard Tyronn Lue as an insurance policy.

The Nuggets must find a way to stop the Orlando's inside-outside play. If Chris Anderson is unable to go, which I suspect he will sit out with that sprained wrist, then Nene will be in serious trouble down low defending Dwight Howard. The problem there is that if Denver decides to double Howard ... he is capable of kicking the ball out to one of Orlando's many bomb specialists (Rashard Lewis or Hedo Turkoglu). But Nene has had trouble staying out of foul trouble and the task of guarding Howard may prove too much (at least in the officials eyes.)

The theory states that it's better to make teams beat you with outside shots, but when that team is leading the league in three-point shooting at 39.9% - then you almost have to say: to hell with that theory and force Howard to try to beat you.

Opposition's take: Third Quarter Collapse (great write up!)

Pregame Notes:

Denver is 3-6 on the season in the second of back-to-back games on the road
In his last five games Dwight Howard is averaging 25.4 ppg and 15.2 rebounds per game - on the season he averages 20.6 ppg and 14.1 rpg
In the first matchup versus the Nuggets: Turkoglu, Lewis, and Nelson scored a combined 77 points to Howard's 14 - so pick your poison if you allow the outside shooting ...

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That was a great victory

They’ve really rebounded nice after that butt-kicking in jersey

by nebraskasux on Feb 11, 2009 8:57 PM MST reply actions

that's the thing though....

every game is importiant. A loss in NJ and a win in Orlando all equals out the same. If we showed up like we should have in NJ then we’re holding the 2nd seed in the West. Every single game is improtant.

I am the eggman...they are the eggman...I am the Mermaid...Goo Goo Gajoob!!!

by PosterNutbag on Feb 12, 2009 3:50 AM MST up reply actions

no doubt

you’re right, but after that horrible performance we could of packed it in before the all-star break, but at least we went out and got 2 more fairly impressive wins

by nebraskasux on Feb 13, 2009 4:44 AM MST up reply actions

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STIFF LIST (as of 4/26 by Andrew Feinstein)

1. METTA WORLD PEACE

Metta resorted back to Ron Ron last Sunday by clubbing James Hardenwith an "inadvertent celebratory elbow", landing him a 7-game suspension. Apparently, changing his name didn't prevent NBA commissioner David Stern from overlooking Metta's past behavior problems.

2. CHARLOTTE BOBCATS

The 'Cats are on the verge of securing the worst winning percentage in NBA history. Given that the guy who runs the team - Michael Jordan - had previously drafted Kwame Brown and Adam Morrison, should this really be a shock?

3. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER
The team that was supposedly built to overcome the lockout-shortened season managed to lose 7 of its last 14 games, ceding the Western Conference's 1-seed to the Spurs in the process. Their reward might be a first round matchup with defending champion Dallas.

4. BILLY HUNTER AND DEREK FISHER

With report after report coming out about NBPA union head Hunter's shady, nepotistic dealings and questions arising about Fisher's own role in dealing with NBA owners behind Hunter's back during the lockout, this off-the-court scandal could prove to be more exciting than the playoffs themselves!

5. STEVE NASH AND THE PHOENIX SUNS
The Suns are on this list for squandering the last few great seasons from Nash. Nash is on this list for his stupidly stubborn loyalty to a franchise as awful as the Suns.