Sunday, January 6, 2008

Nuggets vs. 76ers: Game 33 Preview

(Boulder-CO) Tonight the Denver Nuggets play yet another team that comes into this match-up not even coming close to scoring 100 points per game. And do I think that Philadelphia is going to be able to hold the Nuggets to their average points surrendered of 95.3 points? Only if AI or Carmelo gets lost on their way to the Pepsi Center!

Looking back on the trade that will always link these two teams, Allen Iverson is averaging just a shade over a half an assist less than Andre Miller while outscoring Miller 26.6 ppg to 16.1 ppg. And where is Joe Smith? And how is Jason Smith out of Colorado State University, my alma mater, working out for you? Do I even ask about Thaddeus Young?

Alright, enough of the antagonistic questions. Let’s take a look at how these teams stack up.

Right off the bat it occurred to me that the Nuggets will not have to worry about where Kyle Korver is because… he’s in Utah now! Granted, K squared was only averaging ten points per game while in Philly, but he was still one of those guys that could really do some damage to the Nuggets from the three-point line. Further down the roster I find, “The Joker”, Reggie Evans! Reggie is averaging an impressive 8.1 rebounds per game, but is still not an offensive threat with only a five point per game average. And if he thinks that he is going to come even close to his nightly average on the boards against the likes of Kenyon Martin, Nene, or (laugh) Marcus Camby than maybe Reggie needs to be reminded of the reasons why all three of the aforementioned used to get playing time before him.

Now, the bigger guns of the 76ers should give the Nuggets some concern because Andre Iguodala just scored a season-high 30 points to go along with six rebounds, three assists and four steals in Wednesday's loss to the Jazz. Plus, Iguodala is having a career year in scoring and has proven to be the difference between Philly’s wins and losses with the fulcrum being whether or not he shoots a high percentage. When the 76ers win, Iguodala has a shooting percentage of 48%, but when they lose Andre’s connection rate drops to just barely above 40%.

Andre Iguodala’s main scoring mate is Andre Miller. I mentioned before that Miller’s scoring average is 16.1 points per game (only a half point shy of a career-high), but what has got to be a disappointment to fans in Philly is his average of 6.3 assists. With the Nuggets, Andre was averaging better than nine dimes a game in the 2006-07 season which proves to me that a set-up man is only as good as the guys he is setting.

Overall, this game’s weight is actually much heavier than just one win or loss. The Nuggets have to immediately travel to Phoenix after tonight’s game to play the Suns tomorrow on the backside of a back-to-back set. With a win, the Nuggets carry over a four-game winning streak and an unbeaten feel in 2008. The plane ride will not be as long, the mood will be upbeat, and the food will taste better (not to mention Scott Hastings is buying…). But should the Nuggets lose, they will have to enter the lion’s den in the desert on little sleep with a somber feeling. Now, I don’t know about you, but I have a sixth sense that tells me that if the Nuggets can take care of business against the Sixers tonight that they are much more likely to go into Phoenix and beat the Suns to extend their current three-game win streak to five (by the way, the Suns lost last night to the Hornets). Lose tonight and the Nuggets Nation will most likely be looking at a two-game skid. And in this tight early divisional race with Portland and Utah every game is starting to count even though it’s not even February yet.

Let’s hoop, Nuggets Nation.

Go Nuggets!

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