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Nuggets hoping to change their luck. (5-21-03)
http://sports.espn.go.com/sports/gen...ageId=16918547


DENVER (AP) _ The Denver Nuggets haven't had much luck when it comes to the NBA lottery.

They're trying to improve their odds this time.

Armed with some of the good luck charms sent in by more than 50 fans, the Nuggets head into Thursday night's lottery hoping to land the No. 1 pick for the first time in franchise history.

``I thought it was a fun thing and our fans really enjoyed it,'' Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe said. ``We got so many great things from our fans and what's great about it is the interest they've shown. For the past 10 years, in the years before I got here, the level interest was not there. People are excited.''

The chance at landing LeBron James is the reason.

Syracuse star Carmelo Anthony and Yugoslavian center Darko Milicic are considered top-three picks, but James appears to be at the top of everyone's wish list. The 6-foot-8 high school phenom from Ohio is projected to be a star, the type of player who can lure free agents to a city and fans to the seats.

Nuggets fans made it clear who they want in the closing seconds of Denver's final game this season, chanting ``Bring on LeBron!'' as the players walked off the court.

``Obviously, there's a lot of pressure there,'' Vandeweghe said. ``It would be a pretty gutsy play not to take him. But having said that, there are a lot of good players and I think that you've got to weigh all the factors. You have to keep an open mind on a lot of things.''

Denver finished tied with Cleveland for the worst record in the league at 17-65, giving the teams the most chances (225 of 1,000) in the lottery. The Nuggets will draft no worse than fourth after winning a tiebreaker over Cleveland, but they don't even want to think about dropping again.

In eight previous lottery appearances, Denver has never drafted higher than projected and has dropped six times. Twice the Nuggets had the worst record in the league, but they dropped to the third pick in 1998 and were fourth in 1991.

To help the team's odds, the Nuggets asked fans to bring good luck charms to the final game against Houston and they've been collecting items ever since. The list includes a voodoo doll from New Orleans, a key from a Las Vegas casino, broken pottery and box of Lucky Charms cereal with James' face over the leprechaun.

Vandeweghe said the staff will vote on which items to take to New Jersey for the lottery.

``They (the fans) feel like this is their team and feel like they've participated,'' Vandeweghe said. ``I think the fans really feel they are a part of this now and that's the whole idea.''

It's already starting to work.

The Nuggets have sold 350 new season-ticket packages for next season. The team's ticket offices will be open Thursday night with several players on hand to talk to fans in case the team gets the top pick.

``We're going to do everything we can to make this successful, fun for our fans and give them a team that they can be proud of,'' Vandeweghe said. ``So I would say get your seats now, get the location you want while you can.''

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