Denver Nuggets @ Portland Trailblazers

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<u><font color="LightBlue">Denver Nuggets</font> @ <font color="Red">Portland Trailblazers</font></u>

When: Friday, January 2nd
Where: Rose Garden
Time: 7:00 Local Time
TV: FSNW, NBALP

Records
<u>Denver:</u> 19-13
<u>Portland:</u> 15-15

Last 10
<u>Denver:</u> 5-5
<u>Portland:</u> 5-5

Previous Games

<u>Denver</u>
<ul>
[*]December 31, Lost 120-104 @ L.A. Clippers
[*]December 30, Lost 81-74 vs. Toronto
[*]December 28, Won 103-79 vs. Golden State
[/list]
Streak: Lost 2

<u>Portland</u>
<ul>
[*]December 31, Lost 78-71 @ Detroit
[*]December 29, Won, 91-87 @ New Jersey
[*]December 28, Lost 86-74 @ Cleveland
[/list]
Streak: Lost 1

2003-2004 Season Matchups

First meeting

Head Coaches

vs.

Jeff Bzdelik vs. Maurice Cheeks

Probable Starters

vs.

Andre Miller vs. Damon Stoudamire

vs.

Voshon Leonard vs. Jeff Mcinnis

vs.

Carmelo Anthony vs. Rasheed Wallace

vs.

Nene vs. Zach Randolph

vs.

Marcus Camby vs. Dale Davis

Injuries

<u>Denver</u>
G Jon Barry (back)
F Mark Pope (knee)

<u>Blazers</u>
G Derek Anderson
C Ruben Boumtje Boumtje

Sixth Man

<u>Earl Boykins</u>

<font size="1"><font color="Gray">Earl Boykins: Denver Nuggets</font></font>

This guard is having a career high year averaging over 10 points per game. No-one can really be sure what he will produce on the night, watch for him to be lurking around at the end of quarters, ready to pounce.

Stat Comparisons

ESPN

Keys to the game

<u>Denver</u>
<ul>
[*]Force Portland into the outside shot
[*]Rebound
[*]Minimise turnovers
[*]Get the ball to Carmelo
[/list]

<u>Portland</u>
<ul>
[*]Get to the charity stripe
[*]Force turnovers
[*]Slow the pace
[/list]

Jump's Prediction

Denver are coming off two bad losses. I expect them to look very hungry tonight running down every loss ball desperate to show that their previous form was not just fluke. Voshon Leonard and Andre Miller had good games againt the Clippers on Wednesday night. Watch out for either of them to pull something special out of the bag. Denver's frontcourt will have to step up tonight in an attempt to slow down the inside force of Zach Randolph and Rasheed Wallace. I expect a close game that could go either way. The score I predict will be within a 6 point margin.

 

[Rave]

I really like the look of this match, having Carmelo up against Randolph will be interesting if man to man is taken. Having Zone however with the likes of Nene and Andre for some second chance opportunities in my opinion would add to their victory. Voshon Leonard will be a big factor if he plays as well as he has been playing, sort of like Vin Baker.

 

[Trail_Blazer76]

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Magic Johnson:</div><div class="quote_post">I really like the look of this match, having Carmelo up against Randolph will be interesting if man to man is taken. Having Zone however with the likes of Nene and Andre for some second chance opportunities in my opinion would add to their victory. Voshon Leonard will be a big factor if he plays as well as he has been playing, sort of like Vin Baker.</div>

Actually Randolph plays the 4, so he will not be guarding Melo (by the way thanks for editing that part of your preview Jump). However, depending on Sheed's desire to win this one the match-up could be great. Blazers should win this one fairly easily, I'm worried that Boykins will light us up though. I wish we has guards that could play D.....

 

[Trail_Blazer76]

Woohoo! Sheed has 30 points at the end of the 3rd!! 4/5 from three. Apparently he took it hard to Melo!!

 

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<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Zach Randolph's free throws with 4:59 remaining cut the deficit to two, but Portland couldn't overcome Denver in a 106-96 lossFriday at the Rose Garden. Rasheed Wallace pumped in 30 points and Randolph finished with 19 and 14 boards.</div>

Recap
Box Score

<font size="1"><font color="Gray">Andre Miller was 4-for-6 from the field
on Friday night.</font></font>