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**Sliccat** · 04-17-2007, 11:20 PM

Quote:

As he casually scouted the San Antonio Spurs from his living room Sunday, Nuggets coach George Karl didn't bother taking notes.
Somewhere in his office, an extensive Spurs file already exists.

When San Antonio lost to the Dallas Mavericks on Sunday, it meant the sixth-seeded Nuggets would face the No. 3 Spurs in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs.

It will be a rematch of 2005, when the Spurs took their first step toward winning the NBA title with a 4-1 series victory against Karl and the Nuggets.

"There's no other team in the NBA I have more respect for," Karl said. "Gregg Popovich is a good friend and a great coach. Their organization has been a fantastic organization for almost going on 10 years. To move into that next level you're going to have to beat a good team."

The Nuggets saw their season-best eight-game winning steak snapped Saturday, but the recent surge allowed them to secure the West's No. 6 seed. A seventh-place finish would have meant a matchup against the Phoenix Suns, whose uptempo style and lack of a championship pedigree might have given Denver a better chance for advancement.

Karl insisted the Nuggets would not try to alter the seeding in any way late in the season. He preferred to focus on winning games and building confidence, letting the matchup take care of itself.

"Phoenix, (top-seeded) Dallas and San Antonio have elevated themselves above everybody else in the Western Conference and the NBA," Karl said. "We want to prove we can play on that level."

The Nuggets-Spurs series is expected to begin Sunday in San Antonio, but the teams first will play an exhibition game of sorts Wednesday at the AT&T Center.

Because Karl is determined not to tip his hand, Denver's top players - Carmelo Anthony, Marcus Camby, Allen Iverson and Nene - likely will see more bench time than playing time.

"I don't know how much our starters will be on the court Wednesday," Karl said.

The Nuggets team that takes the court for the playoffs will look much different than the one that faced the Spurs two years ago.

Anthony, Camby, DerMarr Johnson, Kenyon Martin, Eduardo Najera and Nene are the only remaining members of the 2004-05 squad. Martin is out for the season while recovering from knee surgery, and Johnson is not in Denver's regular playing rotation.

The Nuggets are 0-2 against the Spurs this season, but Karl believes both games require an asterisk. Anthony, the NBA's No. 2 scorer, was suspended for the first meeting Jan. 10, and Denver traveled to San Antonio for the first game after the All-Star break - a classic nightmare for coaches.

"It will be an interesting playoff series because in a lot of ways I don't think we've gone nose-to-nose with them this year," Karl said.

As was the case two years ago, the series will feature teams with contrasting styles. The Spurs lead the NBA in scoring defense (89.8 points per game), while the Nuggets are third in scoring (105.2).

"If we want to be successful, we want to play our style and try to get them into our style," Denver point guard Steve Blake said. "They're a veteran team that understand the game and will do anything to slow us down."

Blake, Iverson and Anthony will be the primary keys to Denver's offense as they try to push the ball in transition and penetrate the lane in the half-court offense.

Anthony has been double- and triple-teamed in each of his three career playoff series, but Iverson gives Denver a scoring option not available the past.

As for the Spurs, four of the five starters remain from 2005, led by All-Star forward Tim Duncan and guards Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili. Parker and Ginobili caused fits with their ability to get to the basket two years ago.

"Both teams like to drive the ball to the basket," Karl said. "The referees' whistle is going to be interesting part of the game."

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drm...486802,00.html

melo4life · 04-18-2007, 03:10 AM

I think that with AI and Steve Blake, we will do a better job then what we did in 2005. AI is another great scorer so if Carmelo gets double-teamed then we have AI or Blake open maybe, or Camby in the hole. I think we will be going to a 6 or 7 game series here.

melo4life · 04-18-2007, 08:48 PM

Awesome win today by the Nuggets @ San Antonio, the youngsters did really well, especially Reggie Evans, 19 points and 20 rebounds is an amazing effort. It looks like they are going to double team TD in the playoffs so hopefully he misses the shots he normally hits and we can win a few games.

jericho · 04-19-2007, 06:37 AM

Hard to deduce much from last night's game, but it's nice to know our scrubs can whoop up on San Antonio's scrubs. All rides on which Nuggets show up for this series. It's unlikely that they'll win, but it's not inconceivable to me if everyone stays healthy and as determined and cohesive as they've been the last dozen games.

melo4life · 04-19-2007, 05:33 PM

Well if our scrubs can beat their scrubs, then I think that the players we rested can beat the players that the Spurs rested... It's going to be a real battle, and don't look for the Nuggets to get sweeped because I think this series is going to 6 or 7 games, either way.

jericho · 04-20-2007, 09:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melo4life

Well if our scrubs can beat their scrubs, then I think that the players we rested can beat the players that the Spurs rested... It's going to be a real battle, and don't look for the Nuggets to get sweeped because I think this series is going to 6 or 7 games, either way.

I think you're right, and certainly HOPE you're right. I wouldn't even mind the Nuggets losing as long as they make a battle out of it, and extract some motivation to come in serious and determined next season.

Melo's Answer · 04-20-2007, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by melo4life

It looks like they are going to double team TD in the playoffs so hopefully he misses the shots he normally hits and we can win a few games.

You meant to put 4 games instead of few right?

Im pumped for the playoff to start first game is the most important gotta come out and hit 'em in the mouth. Lets go out and rock them Spurss

GO NUGGETS!!

melo4life · 04-20-2007, 04:16 PM

Yeah well 4 wins will be a lot better I can tell you, but if we are going to lose then it would be good to send it to at least a 6 game series, but I have faith in the Nuggets and I think we can win this one.

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