Nuggets at Mavericks!

[epicSocialism4tw]

Tuesday night at the AAC in Dallas. This should be a good game as these two squads played some great ones last season.

Mavs scouting report:

Dirk is the team. He is well on his way to having another brilliant MVP-type season. Outside of Dirk, the team is still trying to come together and will probably continue to struggle at times until about 3/4 through the season. Dirk is shooting well, rebounding well, and continuing to play improved man defense. He'll have a hard time keeping Martin away from the rim, and will struggle with Anthony's quickness in the post when they are matched up, but should get a couple of steals and a couple of blocks by playing passing lanes and providing weak side help defense.

Dallas is missing one of their top players in Stackhouse, who is out with an inflamed knee again.

Devin Harris is starting to show #5 pick-level contributions and production. He had his coming out party at the Spurs expense where he dominated the fourth quarter. You guys that enjoy basketball should watch him throughout the game. He looks to be a special player. He'll have mental lapses like most youngsters do, but his flashes of brilliance are superstar-worthy. He works really hard and is self-motivated and should be a top point guard within the next couple of seasons.

Josh Howard. This guy is undoubtedy the steal of the LeBron draft. He's an all-star level player and is completely unique in the way he effects the game. I guess that Shawn Marion is the best comparison. He's kind of like a Shawn Marion-lite with an attitude. He attacks the boards with ferocity, can slash to the rim, can hit the spot-up jumper, and plays solid perimeter defense. He's off to a solid start again this season.

Other noteables: DeSagana Diop is a great shot blocker. Not good, but great. When he subs in, he gets blocks and plays some excellent post defense. Keith Van Horn is playing really well off of the bench. Through six games KVH is the 6th man of the year. He has had a couple of awesome games thus far. Marquis Daniels is playing pretty well, but needs to make his contributions felt when the game is on the line a little more. Doug Christie is still hurt a little, but has really helped Dallas defend the perimeter. Dampier has played well, but is still mired in foul trouble. Darrell Armstrong is the best 3rd point in the NBA. I dont know how he keeps going, but he effects the game when he plays. Jason Terry is doing his thing. He needs to be more consistent, but he's still hitting big shots and scoring.

[RhymesayersDU]

Beat me to the post!

The showdown goes as follows: Nuggets4, Clockwork Orange, and Myself vs. You, Montag, and Maverick_7!

[epicSocialism4tw]

Originally Posted by RhymesayersDU

Beat me to the post!

The showdown goes as follows: Nuggets4, Clockwork Orange, and Myself vs. You, Montag, and Maverick_7!

You better box me out, because I'm hitting the offensive boards like Josh Howard!

Give us the Nuggets lowdown, Rhymesayers.

[RhymesayersDU]

We're not playing well.

We don't rebound, and we haven't gotten the running game going yet.

K-Mart sat the last game out with his knee, although I think he's playing against the Mavs. I guess the knee wasn't fully healed from surgury, which sucks. I guess he doesn't have the option to just sit until it's better, as I've heard he's getting pushed to play, and he always plays with heart, so I think he wants to play anyways.

We're still not shooting the 3 well.

Voshon was benched last game in favor of DerMarr Johnson, and I hope that sticks. Melo is playing better on defense and hitting the boards, but hasn't gotten his shot to fall yet. Although his post game is getting better every single game.

Camby is playing like a monster right now. Last week he averaged 19.3 ppg, 16.7 rpg and 5.00 bpg in three games over that span en route to being named Western Conference player of the week.

We can hang with you guys if you want to run, but if you guys slow it down, you'll be able to take us easily unless we just have one of those nights where we shoot the lights out. As far as our half court offense goes, we're either really bad or hitting every shot.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Originally Posted by RhymesayersDU

We're not playing well.

We don't rebound, and we haven't gotten the running game going yet.

K-Mart sat the last game out with his knee, although I think he's playing against the Mavs. I guess the knee wasn't fully healed from surgury, which sucks. I guess he doesn't have the option to just sit until it's better, as I've heard he's getting pushed to play, and he always plays with heart, so I think he wants to play anyways.

We're still not shooting the 3 well.

Voshon was benched last game in favor of DerMarr Johnson, and I hope that sticks. Melo is playing better on defense and hitting the boards, but hasn't gotten his shot to fall yet. Although his post game is getting better every single game.

Camby is playing like a monster right now. Last week he averaged 19.3 ppg, 16.7 rpg and 5.00 bpg in three games over that span en route to being named Western Conference player of the week.

We can hang with you guys if you want to run, but if you guys slow it down, you'll be able to take us easily unless we just have one of those nights where we shoot the lights out. As far as our half court offense goes, we're either really bad or hitting every shot.

Dallas will run at home. They will feed off of the crowd and push the ball. They can also score in the half-court game. It will depend on what Avery Johnson wants to do to develop the offense. It's still under construction.

Dirk is the key to the ignitor. If you can stop Dirk (very difficult to do), you can stop the Mavs offense right now. They lean on him pretty heavily to set everything up and to produce in the clutch. He's done a good job of producing under those terms as usual.

The defense is better. The switching is still off a bit, but the man defense is improved. Dont bring the ball into the lane when Diop is in there, because it will end up three rows back. This kid has zero offensive game (not sure why, he has good form on his shot, soft hands, and veteran awareness), but is a top-level defensive center. I guess Cleveland couldnt deal with his offensive ineptitude because he is a bona-fide NBA contributor.

[RhymesayersDU]

Originally Posted by angryllama

If you can stop Dirk

Uh yeah, I'll put that on my list of things to do right after "Beat Tiger Woods in a round of golf" and "win a foot race with tatum bell."

Hopefully it's close and hopefully no injuries anyways.

[Nuggets4]

Rhyme, you're kissing way too much Mav ass here.

[Montaq]

angryllama - Does Stackhouse start in place of Christie when he comes back? I think if Daniels started playing some tougher D he'd be the starter.

[RhymesayersDU]

Originally Posted by Nuggets4

Rhyme, you're kissing way too much Mav ass here.

Eh, you know, it just sucks right now that there's no in between for the Nuggets... When we win, we play really well, when we lose, we play like crap. Going into Dallas, where they rarely lose, I don't have a great feeling about the game.

Although post the infamous Andre blocking Dirk's dunk if you have it, that'll get things riled up.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Originally Posted by RhymesayersDU

Uh yeah, I'll put that on my list of things to do right after "Beat Tiger Woods in a round of golf" and "win a foot race with tatum bell."

Hopefully it's close and hopefully no injuries anyways.

Here's to no injuries.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Originally Posted by Montaq

angryllama - Does Stackhouse start in place of Christie when he comes back? I think if Daniels started playing some tougher D he'd be the starter.

Stackhouse will be the 6th man this season. It's prudent to bring him off of the bench for punch. He's easily one of the best players on the team, but playing him as a change of pace is a better idea than relying on Daniels or Harris to consistently produce off of the bench. He and Van Horn will be the best players in the league off of the bench.

Daniels is an odd bird. When he is on, you cant stop him. When he is off, he disappears. He needs to wake up out there and get into the game.

[epicSocialism4tw]

It's just about gametime, fellas! May the best team (Dallas) win!

[RhymesayersDU]

Great game, but too bad for us Nugget faithful that they lost!

[epicSocialism4tw]

Originally Posted by RhymesayersDU

Great game, but too bad for us Nugget faithful that they lost!

It seemed like the game no one wanted to win. Who would've guessed that a Dallas v. Denver game would be a defensive standoff with the winner making the last defensive play?

Diop is a man around the rim. 16 boards and 6 blocks in a reserve role.

Dirk was the man again. You could tell that his back is still hurting him though. He kept grabbing it while he was coming down the floor.

Andre Miller is a big time player. He has a unique style of play. He should have got the last shot for you guys.

I wish we still had Najera. That guy makes things happen when he's in the game.

Can't say a whole lot for Carmelo Anthony. He's got a bag of unbelievable skills but doesnt know how to use them yet. He wasnt even the 4th best player on the floor tonight. I think he needs an attitude adjustment. Marquis Daniels dominated him in the 4th. I love his game, but he's not a big time player yet. He doesnt know how to act late in the game when it's in the balance. He acts like he doesnt have to prove himself when he really does.

[Montaq]

I would say that it was a great game but it was really just a great outcome. The first half was sloppy by both teams. The third was played terribly by the Mavericks and the fourth was played horribly by the Nuggets.

[El Guapo]

good game!

Go Mav's!

[Nuggets4]

What a load of ****.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Someone tell me why Anthony cant get it done out there. Is it a common thing? Every time I see him play, I see flashes of brilliance and then he flubs it up. Does he just not have the cajones to get it done or what?

[RhymesayersDU]

Originally Posted by angryllama

Someone tell me why Anthony cant get it done out there. Is it a common thing? Every time I see him play, I see flashes of brilliance and then he flubs it up. Does he just not have the cajones to get it done or what?

Dude he literally put this team on his back his rookie year... last year was somewhat of a down year, but he still was the man and still hit all the big shots when we needed them.

He has the cojones, he's just putting his whole game together still. He'll get better as this season progresses.

[Nuggets4]

Wanna compare Melo and Dirk's stats at the same point in their career?

[epicSocialism4tw]

Originally Posted by Nuggets4

Wanna compare Melo and Dirk's stats at the same point in their career?

That doesnt matter right now. Dirk is easily the better player now. We saw that last night when he dominated the 3rd and 4th periods. I hope that Anthony can adjust his attitude and become a player that shows focus on the floor and not aloofness like he did last night and against the Spurs on natl. TV.

For what it's worth, here are the comparative stats:

Dirk's 3rd season (his rookie year was during the strike season):
00-01 .474FG% .387-3PT% .838FT% 9.2REB 2.1AST .96ST 1.23BLK 21.8PTS

Anthony's 3rd season thus far (still early):
05-06 .427FG% .077-3PT% .771FT% 5.4REB 3.8AST 1.13ST .50BLK 18.8PTS

Dirk looks pretty good in comparison then and looks like the more complete player now also. You are comparing Anthony to an all-NBA first teamer and the guy that came in 3rd in the MVP race last season. It's not a really fair comparison. Dirk is one of the top players in the NBA.

Anthony has all of the skills, but has no desire. I wouldnt say that he has no heart, but he lacks focus. He plays like he's procrastinating. His play is good, but he has alot of growing up to do. Marcus Camby is the best player on that team right now. I would say that Andre Miller is number two. Carmelo Anthony easily has the most potential, but he's not there yet. He cant dictate his will on the other team yet with consistency like the top players do. Until then, he's just another guy with potential. LeBron James has left him behind.

[RhymesayersDU]

I don't think there's any question Dirk is the better player right now, and nobody is bashing him, I don't think.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Originally Posted by RhymesayersDU

I don't think there's any question Dirk is the better player right now, and nobody is bashing him, I don't think.

Nuggets4 was under the impression that Anthony is a better player now than Dirk was in his 3rd season. I would say that Anthony has quite a bit more hype behind him that clouds the perception of his actual value on the floor. I'm not saying that he's not a good player now, Im just saying that he's not as good as the shoe ads and ESPiN would have you believe. Dirk has been a quality player for his entire career and has played tough and hard to get his team as far as he has been able to in the playoffs. Dirk had an amazing playoffs when his team went to the Western Conference Finals. He got hurt in the WCF, and the Mavs got dropped 4-2 to the eventual champion Spurs. If you didnt watch the Mavs play, you would think that Dirk is an afterthought in the NBA because of the lack of endorsements and media hype he gets compared to the other players in the league. From just watching highlights and endorsements, you would think that McGrady is better or that Carmelo Anthony or Yao or Dwayne Wade or Steve Francis or any of those guys are better than Dirk while none of them have near as impressive of a resume or have affected the game like Dirk.

Okay, there's my rant...I feel better now.

[Nuggets4]

I'm so ****ing sick of hearing about how Dirk is underappreciated in the NBA. Give me a damn break. Llama, you have to be the only person in the world that follows that thought process.

[epicSocialism4tw]

Originally Posted by Nuggets4

I'm so ****ing sick of hearing about how Dirk is underappreciated in the NBA. Give me a damn break. Llama, you have to be the only person in the world that follows that thought process.

Everyone in Dallas that actually watches the Mavs knows that Nowitzki is underappreciated by the national media. Last night you saw first hand what we have seen for years. Dirk is clutch, and has carried this team for years. He was the best of the big three and is still the best of the big three. Dirk is Hall of Fame material. No joke. You cant sweep a guy that revolutionizes the game under the rug.