If Kmart is out for a significant portion of the season, what would you think about going after Eddie Najara?  The Nets are clealy unloading salary and will finish at the bottom of the League this year record wise.  Eddie has a pretty rich contract and history of injuries, and I am sure they would consider moving him.   Eddie would fill the whole left by Kmart perfectly, but would cost the Nuggs some luxury tax.  He looked pretty lively against us in the NJ game, and I have feeling he would love to finish his career here.   Couldn't the Nuggs package a player and one of the trade exceptions to NJ for Najara?? 

Hated to see Kmart go down, but we all knew that there was a decent chance Kmart was going to miss chunks of the season due to injury.  It's too bad, because he was probably playing as well this season as I have seen him play in Denver.  Come back soon Kmart!!

All that being said, Kmart's injury is a real opportunity for Rolando Balkman to soldify his role on this team.  There are those of us that feel that Karl should be giving Balk 20-25 minutes a game.  Balk  is one of those few players in the League that adds certain intangibles that don't always show up on the stat board but really give a team a winning edge.  His ability to get loose balls, create steals, harrass defenders, and get easy buckets inside are qualities the Nuggets are really going to need if Kmart is out for a long stretch.  Karl needs to put up with Balk being out of position once in a while, and let hime do this thing.  Balk could really drive opponents nuts if he gets minutes.  Let's hope Karl gives most of Kmart's minutes to Balk and Birdman (not Petro and Allen) and give the Nuggs starting 5 an edge that they are going to need while Kmart rehabs... 

I know what you guys are thinking, How is this Karl's fault. Well because when Denver cut the lead to 12 he should have put Melo or Billups in the game, 3:30 were left enough time for melo to get to work. I also think the refs had a lot to do with this lost. Making bad calls all game long. Another thing AC should quit taking shooting the ball, he is only good for defense.  What are your guys thought on tonight's game.

Some morning links for you to browse through ...

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Tyrus Thomas is officially in the doghouse in Chicago after totaling a whopping 12 minutes of game time tonight.  What's more, rookie Taj Gibson is starting over him.  I don't think the bulls extended him so he might be a restricted free agent this season, but I know they're another team trying to free up some cap room to make a big at DWade.  Could we use a TPE to get Thomas?  He could back up Martin the next couple of years and then replace him.  He'd be an extremely high energy guy to bring off the bench along with the Bird.   

Many of us here on Denver Stiffs wanted the Nuggets to use their second round draft pick on DeJuan Blair ... the rebounding machine from Pittsburgh that ENDED UP BEING DRAFTED BY THE FREAKING SPURS!

Well, as it's been well documented or at least talked about ... Blair has no ACLs. The concern is that Blair may have a very short NBA career because his knees will not hold up. The guys over at SB Nation's Spurs blog Pounding the Rock were also very interested in this, so Fred Silva brought in an expert and got his take on Blair's knees.

I highly recommend giving it a read. CLICK HERE.

And while you are over on Pounding the Rock be sure to vote on the "Best NBA hair" poll ... Birdman needs some love!

A quick bit:

As most are now aware, DeJuan Blair is missing both of his ACLs.  While in high school, Blair tore both ACLs and had them surgically repaired.  Unfortunately, the surgeries were unsuccessful as it has been revealed that he does not have either ACL.  After the surgeries, his body must have rejected the repaired ACLs and absorbed them.  I had many questions about DeJuan Blair's knees so I decided to find the most knowledgeable person possible in order to get some answers.  Enter Steve Stratton, PHD, PT, ATC and founder of Steven Stratton Physical Therapy located in San Antonio, TX.

Dr. Stratton began our discussion by explaining that the ACL is simply a stabilizer of the knee, and is not the most critical stabilizer; that would be the PCL.  He said 95% of athletes that have their ACL surgically repaired return to their sport.  He explained that he played running back at BYU for two years and had his ACL-less knee hit every way imaginable without any problems.  It is not unheard of for a person without an ACL, or two, to have a lengthy, successful athletic career. 

However, a knee without an ACL is an injured knee that can give at any moment.  The wrong tweak or hit could damage the PCL, at which point it would be game over.  I then asked, "How many years can we expect from DeJuan Blair?" ... click the link to find out the answer ...

Anyone else get annoyed with the score and stat bar that ran across the top of the screen for last night's Nugs - Nets game?  I hope that isn't the status quo for this season's broadcasts.  Every time there was a jump shot, the ball got lost among the 31-point lead. Every time there was a free throw, it looked like Geordi La Forge was at the line. Does it look any different on the HD broadcast?

CHARLOTTE, NC—Frightened by the deafening music, the frenzied laser show, and the announcer's booming voice, panicked Charlotte Bobcats players fled the chaotic environment of the Time Warner Cable Arena during their pregame introduction Friday, hiding in their locker room until they were assured by officials that it was safe to come out. "I have no idea what was going on out there, because it just went totally dark, and then everybody started screaming and there were these sirens going off for some reason," said small forward Gerald Wallace, who admitted fearing for his life. "Then there was this growling, super-loud voice that seemed to come from all around us. And somehow it knew all our names—how? Anyway, that's when we all got the hell out of there as fast as we could."After Bobcats coach Larry Brown spent 20 minutes coaxing the players back onto the court for the opening tip-off, the team scattered in every direction when a referee blew his whistle.

Of course, this top-notch reporting is courtesy of The Onion :)

http://www.theonion.com/content/news_briefs/bombastic_team_introduction

Reader Artimus Mangilord sent me an email last night of the Suns vs. Magic preview story on ESPN from the game last night (Magic won 122-100). He pointed out the following excerpt:

After finishing ninth in the Western Conference last season and missing the playoffs for the first time since 2004, Phoenix is one of three remaining undefeated teams in the league in 2009-10. The others -- Boston and the Los Angeles Lakers -- are the last two NBA champions.

Notice anything wrong there?

I'll point it out again ...

Phoenix is one of three remaining undefeated teams in the league in 2009-10. The others -- Boston and the Los Angeles Lakers

Last I checked the Lakers lost on October 30th to the Dallas Mavericks 94-80 and currently have record of 4-1.

Since Phoenix lost last night there are now only two undefeated teams in the NBA ... the Boston Celtics and YOUR Denver Nuggets.

I guess even with editors things like FACTS can fall through the cracks ...

ntimmons73@yahoo.com

I think the stats say enough for this one. This will be my last comparison post. Both had about the same minutes, and Lawson obviously outplayed Carter. People say that Carter is brought in to bring offensive production and energy, well it looks like Carter's days of doing that are over, and the rookie has taken his place. Its apparent after the last five games that Lawson is much better than AC. AC thank you for everything you've done in Denver (especially those 2 turnovers in the playoffs last year that cost us the series) but your days are done. Ty Lawson has taken your spot.