January 29, 2007 8:14 AM
Nuggets at midway: Iverson and Anthony need to lead the way
The Nuggets have the pieces. How they put them together for a second-half and playoff run will determine if Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony can combine be a formidable force for victory or merely a two-headed scoring machine.
Optimism is rampant, reports Nuggets beat writer Chris Tomasson in his midseason report:
Now, the Nuggets figure it's time to just play basketball. There is talk of duplicating the 32-8 close Karl fashioned when he took over two years ago."Once we start clicking the way we're supposed to, I think it's possible," said Anthony, who is No. 1 in the NBA in scoring with a 31.5 average but had his first half marred by one punch.
But even a sparkling second-half run might not be enough for the Nuggets to claim the Northwest Division. Utah (29-16) holds a five-game lead and a 2-0 season series lead on the Nuggets.
January 29, 2007
9:40 AM
Linda writes:
Do you think the Nuggets can win 41 games that are left in their schedule? I think they can. Anything is possible!
Keep in touch.
January 29, 2007
9:50 AM
Lee R Murray writes:
Basketball is a team game. Right now Melo needs to grow up. Who knows how long that will take. He is a selfish player. whenever he is in the game, everything comes to a stop. His teammates no longer rotate or penetrate the defense. No pressure is applied to the opposition. The so called running game is abandoned. Until Melo becomes a team player they have no shot, period.
January 29, 2007
12:09 PM
Le writes:
Melo is the problem. He wants to score first and het his points. I feel like AI is making an effort to be a team player (he still has his tendencies every now and then), but with Melo acting the way he is, not sure if AI will appreciate it. I can site an example int eh Seattle game when Melo stole the ball but did not pass it forward to Ai who was by himself. melo instead took it in byself. SELFISH.
January 29, 2007
12:56 PM
Michael Pitt writes:
I think that Denver could go 32-8, if they are healthy, passing well, +22 assists/game, and get at least 3 players in double figures each night besides Anthony and Iverson, then they could take any team in the league apart. As far as everyone who says that Anthony is selfish, there is a difference between being a teams top scorer and the teams only scorer, like TMAC, who has to have the ball in his hands every possesion, and Anthony, who is a great scorer. Also, I'm so sick and tired of all you losers out there constantly criticizing Anthony for everything that goes wrong, Nuggets lose, it's Anthony's fault, Fight at the Garden, it's Anthony's fault, you have the flu, it's Anthony's fault, why don't you jerks, like Lee Murray, get off the man's back for once?
January 29, 2007
2:06 PM
Lee Murray writes:
Mr. Michael Pitt I have great respect for Melo's abilities. He can be one of the best players to ever play the game.BUT until he learns to pass to open teammates and get open himself, by rotating and penetration he will be nothing but a lead weight around this teams neck.
January 29, 2007
3:01 PM
Anonymous writes:
Melo is a liberal stooge. Always has been, always will be.
January 29, 2007
11:57 PM
Steve Star writes:
I think the Nuggets are in real trouble. They lost tonight to a 16 win team. There are too many pieces missing on this team to even think about going 32-8, muchless 41-0! If they are not careful they could miss the playoffs altogether. They desperately need to retool and think about playing some D, because their offense alone is not nearly good enough to win on most nights. I'm beginning to miss the pre-Iverson Nuggets myself.
January 30, 2007
8:21 AM
Anonymous writes:
The secret to success is not at all that complicated. The Nuggets need to watch the teams that are doing well (Spurs, Phoenix, Dallas) and copy what they're doing. There is a common denominator with those teams: they pass the ball and play defense - no big secret! The Nuggets have the talent, but they are not doing what it takes to win. PLUS, If Karl can't figure that out/how to motivate this team, some fingers should be pointed his way as well!
January 30, 2007
12:30 PM
Luke writes:
Nuggets going 41-0?!?! DId you see how they played last night, are you kidding me. They get up 5 points and then give up 10 in a row to the lowly Bobcats. With the amount of talent on this team, they are one of the most underachieving teams I have ever seen. I am so sad, cause i was really looking forward to this whole Iverson-Carmelo thing happening. Where has it got us?, Well so far....nowhere. Some fingers need to be pointed Karls way cause im not so sure he's doing this the right way with these guys. He's gotta start getting back to his old ways of getting angry and pissed off, they need some motivation or a slap in the face. I dunno, im just dumbfounded from all of the talent we have on this team and theyre performing like this. WE need defense, defense, defense, thats all, but they cant seem to do it. Im sure we'll make the playoffs, but how far can we actually go with a group of guys like this. The way this season is going so far with these trades....more than likely another first round exit by the nuggets. Maybe next year?....once again
January 30, 2007
3:16 PM
Anonymous writes:
The Thuggets going 41-0...PUHLEEEZE!
That would mean that they have somebody on the team who can at the very least count to 41. Sorry! Wrong Answer! Thanks for playing!
January 31, 2007
10:13 AM
milloy36 writes:
They are leading us to nowhere.
February 1, 2007
10:22 AM
milloy36 writes:
Looks like the direction this team is heading will be 8-32