January 30, 2007 12:00 PM

Chris Tomasson on the Denver Nuggets

lindaromana(Q) Do you think the Nuggets will win 41 games that is left on their schedule?
Chris_Tomasson(A) Thanks for the question and welcome to the chat. My prediction before the start of the season was the Nuggets would go 48-34. Obviously, I didn't predict the suspensions. But, on the other end, they got Allen iverson. So I'll stick with that prediction and say the Nuggets will go 26-15 in the second half

lt(Q) is it really possible to duplicate the 2005 secondhalf run, or should we be really be concentrating on 2007-2008?
Chris_Tomasson(A) I don't think it's possible to duplicate that run. The schedule was very favorable then. The schedule for this year's second half is rugged. There are 23 road games and 18 at home. They haven't even played the Suns yet, with three left on the docket. It will be hard for the Nuggets to catch Utah. But if they could get into the No. 5 hole and face Utah in the first round, they have a chance of winning. But it might be tough to win more than a round.

Mark_Wolf(Q) All right, THE question: You've seen Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony play together for a week. What are your impressions? Do either of them think they have to modify their game at all to accomodate the other?
Chris_Tomasson(A) I've said all along I think the two can play together, but it comes down to how the others on the team will mesh. Will they be willing to do the little things and sacrifice offense? However, another interesting situation surfaced last Friday at Utah. Iverson and Melo combined for 70 points and Marcus Camby got 21. That meant everybody else only got 20 in the 116-111. There also is a tendency for the other players to stand around and watch Iverson and Melo perform. That's something that also has to be avoided for the Nuggets to be successful.

lt(Q) any thoughts on why Melo gets lost on defense? Seems like he doesn't try sometimes.
Chris_Tomasson(A) Nuggets coach George karl is wondering the same thing. Karl wants Melo to just play consistent defense, even if it's just average defense. He seems to relax too much. But then he'll come up with a big play, such as he did late in the Seattle game last Tuesday when he stripped Ray Allen. Karl just wants consistency. Don't know why Melo hasn't been able to provide that. Maybe he rests at times on defense since he's working so hard on offense.

Mark_Wolf(Q) Since this is lunchtime I thought I'd share that I'm looking forwared to eating my crow. Think I'll go with Crow and Mushroom Stew - actual recipe; make sure you don't brown the crow while cooking them. It's my penance for scoffing at the Nuggets bringing in J.R. Smith. He's been productive and seems to be growing up. Being around him for half a season, what are your impressions?
Chris_Tomasson(A) He got off to a great start, but the suspension obviously didn't help his cause. But he's been fine since he came back. He knows he made a mistake. He's also buying into coming off the bench, when some wondered if he might. The key will be there will be nights when J.R.'s shot is not going down and the Nuggets will need more of a defensive presence in Yakhouba Diawara. If that happens and J.R. only plays, say eight minutes, how will be be?

Mark_Wolf(Q) You addressed part of this in a previous answer but what do the coaches think the key is for the Iverson-Anthony combo to be most effective? As you said, their teammates can't become spectators but is there anything specific they'd like to see Anthony or Iverson do? Do they want Anthony to take fewer outside shots? Iverson to penetrate and dish?
Chris_Tomasson(A) As for Iverson, they'd like for him to keep down his turnovers. With the talent on this team, he doesn't always have to make the spectacular play. As for Anthony, it's his shot selection. Coach Karl cringed when he jacked up a guarded 20-footer last Friday against Utah. With the offensive talent on this team, the Nuggets should get a good shot just about every possession.

lt(Q) what do you think are the reasons why the Nuggets collapses during teh 4th Q. Last year they were great closing games out, this year, it's different.
Chris_Tomasson(A) Most of it comes down to defense. They need to pick up their D in the waning moments. The Nuggets blew a lot of late leads early in the season. We'll have to see how they do with both Iverson and Anthony. They did blow a decent lead last Tuesday at Seattle, but were able to hold on at the end. But then they ended up losing an 11-point lead late in the third quarter in the Utah loss. Give the guys a few more games to play together, then we'll see if this problem continues.

Mark_Wolf(Q) When the Nuggets got Steve Blake in a trade, did they project him as a starter with Smith moving to the bench?
Chris_Tomasson(A) I don't think they projected him as an immediate starter. But he looked so good in the second half of his first game that Coach Karl figured he had nothing to lose by throwing him in the lineup Jan. 14 at Portland. He scored a career-high 25 points and then the Nuggets ran off five straight wins. So I don't think he'll be leaving the lineup any time soon even though the Nuggets dropped their last two.

Mark_Wolf(Q) Obviously they have to step it up defensively. How miserable was Karl after his team let Vince Carter have 40 points on Saturday?
Chris_Tomasson(A) Karl has not had a good last few days. In addition to shaky defense, he's exasperated at the Nuggets' inability to control their homecourt. They closed 19-1 (20-1 overall) two years under Karl. His Seattle teams were always very hard to beat at home. He can't understand why these Nuggets are just 12-11 at home, with seven of the losses to teams that currently have losing records.

Mark_Wolf(Q) Any difference watching Allen Iverson at this stage in his career than when you saw him in his mid-20s?
Chris_Tomasson(A) He says he doesn't have to score like he used to. He's got 20,000 career points and that's enough. He just wants to win. I believe him. He seems more willing to be a playmaker. As far as his speed, even though he's 31 I haven't seen him slow down.
Mark_Wolf(Q) What do you think the chances are for the Nuggets and the All-Star game?
Chris_Tomasson(A) I like the chances of Iverson and Anthony both making. Amare Stoudemire likely will be voted in as backup center. Then it will be up to commissioner Stern to decide on Yao Ming's injury replacement. I think it should be Marcus Camby, but that would be tough a team just over .500 having three All-Stars.

Mark_Wolf(P) Thanks to Chris Tomasson for his time and insight into the Nuggets as they begin the second half of their season.
Chris_Tomasson(P) Well, that's it. Thanks for all of the questions today. Definitely some good ones. It should shape up as an exciting second half of the season. If anybody has any more questions, fell free to send them to tomassonc@rockymountainnews.com and I'll consider them for my Nuggets inbox. Thanks again.