SAN ANTONIO SPURS VS. DENVER NUGGETS 2007 NBA PLAYOFFS - WESTERN CONFERENCE FIRST ROUND 1 Nuggets 95 Spurs 89; Nuggets Lead the Series 1-0 2 Spurs 97 Nuggets 88; Series Tied 1-1 3 Spurs 96 Nuggets 91; Spurs Lead the Series 2-1 4 Spurs 96 Nuggets 89; Spurs Lead the Series 3-1 5 Wed May 2 Denver at San Antonio 6:00 PM Mountain Daylight Time 6* Fri May 4 San Antonio at Denver TBD TBD 7* Sun May 6 Denver at San Antonio TBD TBD *If Necessary TBD: To Be Determined NUGGETS PROBABLE STARTERS <u>KEY</u> Position Number Player Height Weight Points, Rebounds, and Assists Per Game Points and Minutes Last Game Highlights [imgl]http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/nba/profiles/players/65x90/3706.jpg[/imgl] Small Forward 15 Carmelo Anthony 6-8, 230 28.9 ppg; 6.0 rpg; 3.8 apg Points & Minutes: Averages 28.9 points per game in 38.2 minutes per game= .76 points per minute Last Game: With his 29 points in Game 4, he has now scored 20+ in six-straight postseason games against the Spurs. [IMGl]http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/nba/profiles/players/65x90/3605.jpg[/IMGl] Power Forward 31 Nen? 6-11, 260 12.2 ppg; 7.0 rpg; 1.2 apg Points & Minutes: Averages 12.2 points per game in 26.8 minutes per game= .46 points per minute Last Game: Matched his postseason career-best of 18 points in Game 4 on 4/30, tying the mark he had set in Game 3. [IMGl]http://assets.espn.go.com/i/nba/profiles/players/65x90/3084.jpg[/IMGl] Center 23 Marcus Camby 6-11, 235 11.2 ppg; 11.7 rpg; 3.2 apg Points & Minutes: Averages 11.2 points per game in 33.9 minutes per game= .33 points per minute Last Game: Has pulled down 10+ rebounds in all four games this series, not to mention eight-straight games since 4/9. [IMGl]http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/nba/profiles/players/65x90/3094.jpg[/IMGl] Shooting Guard 3 Allen Iverson 6-0, 165 26.3 ppg; 3.0 rpg; 7.2 apg Points & Minutes: Averages 26.3 points per game in 42.5 minutes per game= .62 points per minute Last Game: Ranks 2nd in the NBA this postseason in minutes (45.0), 13th in scoring (23.3) and is tied for 14th in assists (5.3). [IMGl]http://assets.espn.go.com/i/nba/profiles/players/65x90/3741.jpg[/IMGl] Point Guard 25 Steve Blake 6-3, 172 6.4 ppg; 2.0 rpg; 5.0 apg Points & Minutes: Averages 6.4 points per game in 27.1 minutes per game= .24 points per minute Last Game: Totaled four assists, three rebounds and two points in 35 minutes during Game 4 vs. San Antonio on 4/30. NUGGETS MOST IMPORTANT PLAYERS FROM THE BENCH <u>KEY</u> Position Number Player Height Weight Points, Rebounds, and Assists Per Game Points and Minutes Notable [IMGl]http://assets.espn.go.com/i/nba/profiles/players/65x90/3835.jpg[/IMGl] Shooting Guard 1 J.R. Smith 6-6 220 13.0 ppg; 2.3 rpg; 1.4 apg Points & Minutes: Averages 13.0 points per game in 23.4 minutes per game= .56 points per minute 3-Point Shooting %-Accuracy: .390 [IMGl]http://assets.espn.go.com/i/nba/profiles/players/65x90/3953.jpg[/IMGl] Guard-Forward 43 Linas Kleiza 6-8 235 7.6 ppg; 3.4 rpg; 0.6 apg Points & Minutes: Averages 7.6 points per game in 18.8 minutes per game= .40 points per minute 3-Point Shooting %-Accuracy: .376 [IMGl]http://assets.espn.go.com/i/nba/profiles/players/65x90/3663.jpg[/IMGl] Power Forward 30 Reggie Evans 6-8 245 4.9 ppg; 7.0 rpg; 0.7 apg Points & Minutes: Averages 4.9 points per game in 17.1 minutes per game= .29 points per minute Rebounding: has averaged 7.0 rebounds per game in just 17.1 minutes per game [IMGl]http://assets.espn.go.com/i/nba/profiles/players/65x90/3437.jpg[/IMGl] Small Forward, Power Forward 21 Eduardo Najera 6-8 220 6.6 ppg; 4.1 rpg; 0.9 apg Points & Minutes: Averages 6.6 points per game in 22.1 minutes per game= .30 points per minute FG Shooting: 204-354 .576 SPURS PROBABLE STARTERS <u>KEY</u> Position Number Player Height Weight Points, Rebounds, and Assists Per Game Points and Minutes Last Game Highlights 2007 Playoffs Highlights 2006-07 Season Highlights [IMGl]http://assets.espn.go.com/i/nba/profiles/players/65x90/3167.jpg[/IMGl] Small Forward 12 Bruce Bowen 6-7 200 6.2 ppg; 2.7 rpg; 1.4 apg Points & Minutes: Averages 6.2 points per game in 30.0 minutes per game= .21 points per minute Last Game: 10 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals 2007 Playoffs: Averaging 6.5 points and 1.8 steals in 31.8 minutes … shooting .435 (10-23) from the field and .429 (6-14) from three-point range 2006-07 Season: Averaged 6.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 30.0 minutes… shoot .405 (189-467) from the field and .384 (89-232) from three-point range. [IMGl]http://assets.espn.go.com/i/nba/profiles/players/65x90/3173.jpg[/IMGl] Power Forward 21 Tim Duncan 6-11 260 20.0 ppg; 10.6 rpg; 3.4 apg Points & Minutes: Averages 20.0 points per game in 34.1 minutes per game= .59 points per minute Last Game: 22 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists 2007 Playoffs: Averaging 19.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 3.3 blocks in 38.3 minutes … shooting .459 (34-74) from the floor. 2006-07 Season: Averaged 20.0 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.4 blocks in 34.1 minutes … shot .546 (612-1,119) from the field. [IMGl]http://assets.espn.go.com/i/nba/profiles/players/65x90/3364.jpg[/IMGl] Center 16 Francisco Elson 7-0 235 5.0 ppg; 4.8 rpg; 0.8 apg Points & Minutes: Averages 5.0 points per game in 19.0 minutes per game= .26 points per minute Last Game: 8 points, 6 rebounds and 1 block 2007 Playoffs: Averaging 3.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in 13.3 minutes … shooting .385 (5-13) from the field 2006-07 Season: Averaged 5.0 points and 4.8 rebounds in 19.1 minutes… shot .511 (144-282) from the field. [IMGl]http://assets.espn.go.com/i/nba/profiles/players/65x90/3023.jpg[/IMGl] Shooting Guard 4 Michael Finley 6-7 225 9.0 ppg; 2.7 rpg; 1.3 apg Points & Minutes: Averages 9.0 points per game in 22.2 minutes per game= .41 points per minute Last Game: 9 points, 3 rebounds and 1 assist 2007 Playoffs: Averaging, 13.5 points and 3.8 rebounds in 29.3 minutes … shooting .413 (19-46) from the floor and .407 (11-27) from threepoint range. 2006-07 Season: Averaged 9.0 points and 2.7 rebounds in 22.1 minutes… shot .918 (90-98) from the free-throw line. [IMGl]http://assets.espn.go.com/i/nba/profiles/players/65x90/3527.jpg[/IMGl] Point Guard 9 Tony Parker 6-2 180 18.6 ppg; 3.2 rpg; 5.5 apg Points & Minutes: Averages 18.6 points per game in 32.5 minutes per game= .57 points per minute Last Game: 15 points, 4 assists and 1 steal 2007 Playoffs: Averaging 18.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.3 steals in 38.3 minutes … shooting .449 (31-69) from the floor. 2006-07 Season: Averaged 18.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 5.5 assists in 32.5 minutes… shot .520 (570-1,096) from the field. SPURS MOST IMPORTANT PLAYERS FROM THE BENCH <u>KEY</u> Position Number Player Height Weight Points, Rebounds, and Assists Per Game Points and Minutes Notable [IMGl]http://assets.espn.go.com/i/nba/profiles/players/65x90/3380.jpg[/IMGl] Shooting Guard 20 Manu Ginobili 6-6 205 16.5 ppg; 4.4 rpg; 3.5 apg Points & Minutes: Averages 16.5 points per game in 27.5 minutes per game= .60 points per minute 3-Point Shooting %-Accuracy: .396 [IMGl]http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nba/players/2005/3017.jpg[/IMGl] Guard-Forward 17 Brent Barry 6-7 210 8.5 ppg; 2.1 rpg; 1.8 apg Points & Minutes: Averages 8.5 points per game in 21.4 minutes per game= .40 points per minute 3-Point Shooting %-Accuracy: .446 [IMGl]http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nba/players/2005/3988.jpg[/IMGl] Center 7 Fabricio Oberto 6-10 245 4.4 ppg; 4.7 rpg; 0.9 apg Points & Minutes: Averages 4.4 points per game in 17.2 minutes per game= .26 points per minute FG Shooting: 158-281 .562 [IMGl]http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/v/nba/players/2005/830.jpg[/IMGl] Power Forward 5 Robert Horry 6-10 240 3.9 ppg; 3.4 rpg; 1.1 apg Points & Minutes: Averages 3.9 points per game in 16.3 minutes per game= .24 points per minute 3-Point Shooting %-Accuracy: .336 NUGGETS RED CROSS REPORT OUT: Kenyon Martin underwent successful surgery on his right knee on 11/15 and will miss the remainder of the season. OUT: J.R. Smith, although not injured, was publicly benched by Coach George Karl SPURS RED CROSS REPORT No Injuries THE MATCHUP BY THE NUMBERS KEY FOR TEAM STATISTICS: PPG Points Per Game (measures offense) OPG Opponents Points Per Game (measures defense) FG% % of All Shots Made (2's and 3's) 3PT% % of 3-Point Shots Made FT% % of Free Throws Made RPG Rebounds Per Game APG Assists Per Game SPG Steals Per Game BPG Blocks Per Game TO Turnovers Per Game ...............PPG. OPG. FG% 3PT% FT% RPG APG. SPG. BPG. TO NUGGETS 105.4 103.7 .465 .336. .746 43.4 23.4 8.27 5.30 16.5 SPURS..... 98.5 ..90.1 .474 .381. .751 40.7 22.1 7.16 5.09 13.9 HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS SMALL FORWARD MATCHUP [imgl]http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/nba/profiles/players/65x90/3706.jpg[/imgl] NUGGETS Small Forward 15 Carmelo Anthony 6-8, 230 28.9 ppg; 6.0 rpg; 3.8 apg Points & Minutes: Averages 28.9 points per game in 38.2 minutes per game= .76 points per minute Last Game: With his 29 points in Game 4, he has now scored 20+ in six-straight postseason games against the Spurs. [IMGl]http://assets.espn.go.com/i/nba/profiles/players/65x90/3167.jpg[/IMGl] SPURS Small Forward 12 Bruce Bowen 6-7 200 6.2 ppg; 2.7 rpg; 1.4 apg Points & Minutes: Averages 6.2 points per game in 30.0 minutes per game= .21 points per minute Last Game: 10 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals 2007 Playoffs: Averaging 6.5 points and 1.8 steals in 31.8 minutes … shooting .435 (10-23) from the field and .429 (6-14) from three-point range 2006-07 Season: Averaged 6.2 points, 2.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists in 30.0 minutes… shoot .405 (189-467) from the field and .384 (89-232) from three-point range. POWER FORWARD MATCHUP [IMGl]http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/nba/profiles/players/65x90/3605.jpg[/IMGl] NUGGETS Power Forward 31 Nen? 6-11, 260 12.2 ppg; 7.0 rpg; 1.2 apg Points & Minutes: Averages 12.2 points per game in 26.8 minutes per game= .46 points per minute Last Game: Matched his postseason career-best of 18 points in Game 4 on 4/30, tying the mark he had set in Game 3. [IMGl]http://assets.espn.go.com/i/nba/profiles/players/65x90/3173.jpg[/IMGl] SPURS Power Forward 21 Tim Duncan 6-11 260 20.0 ppg; 10.6 rpg; 3.4 apg Points & Minutes: Averages 20.0 points per game in 34.1 minutes per game= .59 points per minute Last Game: 22 points, 11 rebounds and 6 assists 2007 Playoffs: Averaging 19.5 points, 10.3 rebounds, 5.5 assists and 3.3 blocks in 38.3 minutes … shooting .459 (34-74) from the floor. 2006-07 Season: Averaged 20.0 points, 10.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 2.4 blocks in 34.1 minutes … shot .546 (612-1,119) from the field. CENTER MATCHUP [IMGl]http://assets.espn.go.com/i/nba/profiles/players/65x90/3084.jpg[/IMGl] NUGGETS Center 23 Marcus Camby 6-11, 235 11.2 ppg; 11.7 rpg; 3.2 apg Points & Minutes: Averages 11.2 points per game in 33.9 minutes per game= .33 points per minute Last Game: Has pulled down 10+ rebounds in all four games this series, not to mention eight-straight games since 4/9. [IMGl]http://assets.espn.go.com/i/nba/profiles/players/65x90/3364.jpg[/IMGl] SPURS Center 16 Francisco Elson 7-0 235 5.0 ppg; 4.8 rpg; 0.8 apg Points & Minutes: Averages 5.0 points per game in 19.0 minutes per game= .26 points per minute Last Game: 8 points, 6 rebounds and 1 block 2007 Playoffs: Averaging 3.5 points and 4.5 rebounds in 13.3 minutes … shooting .385 (5-13) from the field 2006-07 Season: Averaged 5.0 points and 4.8 rebounds in 19.1 minutes… shot .511 (144-282) from the field. SHOOTING GUARD MATCHUP [IMGl]http://espn-ak.starwave.com/i/nba/profiles/players/65x90/3094.jpg[/IMGl] NUGGETS Shooting Guard 3 Allen Iverson 6-0, 165 26.3 ppg; 3.0 rpg; 7.2 apg Points & Minutes: Averages 26.3 points per game in 42.5 minutes per game= .62 points per minute Last Game: Ranks 2nd in the NBA this postseason in minutes (45.0), 13th in scoring (23.3) and is tied for 14th in assists (5.3). [IMGl]http://assets.espn.go.com/i/nba/profiles/players/65x90/3023.jpg[/IMGl] SPURS Shooting Guard 4 Michael Finley 6-7 225 9.0 ppg; 2.7 rpg; 1.3 apg Points & Minutes: Averages 9.0 points per game in 22.2 minutes per game= .41 points per minute Last Game: 9 points, 3 rebounds and 1 assist 2007 Playoffs: Averaging, 13.5 points and 3.8 rebounds in 29.3 minutes … shooting .413 (19-46) from the floor and .407 (11-27) from threepoint range. 2006-07 Season: Averaged 9.0 points and 2.7 rebounds in 22.1 minutes…shot .918 (90-98) from the free-throw line. POINT GUARD MATCHUP [IMGl]http://assets.espn.go.com/i/nba/profiles/players/65x90/3741.jpg[/IMGl] NUGGETS Point Guard 25 Steve Blake 6-3, 172 6.4 ppg; 2.0 rpg; 5.0 apg Points & Minutes: Averages 6.4 points per game in 27.1 minutes per game= .24 points per minute Last Game: Totaled four assists, three rebounds and two points in 35 minutes during Game 4 vs. San Antonio on 4/30. [IMGl]http://assets.espn.go.com/i/nba/profiles/players/65x90/3527.jpg[/IMGl] SPURS Point Guard 9 Tony Parker 6-2 180 18.6 ppg; 3.2 rpg; 5.5 apg Points & Minutes: Averages 18.6 points per game in 32.5 minutes per game= .57 points per minute Last Game: 15 points, 4 assists and 1 steal 2007 Playoffs: Averaging 18.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 6.0 assists and 1.3 steals in 38.3 minutes … shooting .449 (31-69) from the floor. 2006-07 Season: Averaged 18.6 points, 3.2 rebounds and 5.5 assists in 32.5minutes… shot.520 (570-1,096) from the field.
Great preview Tremaine, it should be a tough game for Denver but hopefully they can survive. Hopefully AI can get his mind right and play smart this game. Melo's had a great series so far, I think the key for Denver to win tonight is if AI plays smart, and Nene holds is own like he's been doing. Should be a fun game, peace.
So far the lil nba Go Nuggets post has been followed by ten wins out of fourteen games. So let's see if it can get an eleventh win for 11-4. lil nba: Go Nuggets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! tremaine: Go Nuggets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The form is "Go Nuggets" followed by 32 exclamation points. I think the form must be exact for the good luck to work. I realize that Popovich apparently knows the antidote to this, but maybe the antidote won't work in this game, so it's worth it to try it again.
<div class="quote_poster">Miami Flash City Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Great preview Tremaine, it should be a tough game for Denver but hopefully they can survive. Hopefully AI can get his mind right and play smart this game. Melo's had a great series so far, I think the key for Denver to win tonight is if AI plays smart, and Nene holds is own like he's been doing. Should be a fun game, peace.</div> Thanks for the compliment. I'm a nice guy and not the mean or uptight guy I might sound like sometimes when I attack George Karl. That guy has driven me and many, many other Nuggets fans up the wall this year. The more closely you follow the Nuggets, the more likely you are to be angry at Coach Karl. For the first time ever, I am thinking that Melo might play for a different team within the next 4 or 5 years. The Miami Heat, maybe? He'd play anywhere, it doesn't have to be a team that is winning right now.
Denver got there self rite back in the gam.. just wat we needed to go to the second half. Blake keepin us in the game and hopefully iverson can find his stroke.. 48-44 nuggets Missunderstood
Wow, Allen Iverson what is he thinking.... Melo isn't even getting touches in the fourth quarter its just AI dribbling all over the court doing turnovers..
lil nba and everyone else who comes here: I hope you keep visiting in the off-season, because I'm gonna keep covering Melo, A.I., and the Nuggets. I'll be recommending changes for the Nuggets and also trying to figure out a way to increase the odds that George Karl will retire or be fired. I'm going to hunt down the physical addresses and the e-mail addresses for the owner and the front office guys, for one thing, so I can write them directly.
<div class="quote_poster">tremaine Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">lil nba and everyone else who comes here: I hope you keep visiting in the off-season, because I'm gonna keep covering Melo, A.I., and the Nuggets. I'll be recommending changes for the Nuggets and also trying to figure out a way to increase the odds that George Karl will retire or be fired. I'm going to hunt down the physical addresses and the e-mail addresses for the owner and the front office guys, for one thing, so I can write them directly.</div> That should be interesting. Keep us informed if they make any unique responses.
<div class="quote_poster">tremaine Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I hope you keep visiting in the off-season</div> sure, I will be here regularly and appreciate it if you keep us updated about a few things!