Denver Nuggets Skeptic

Manu Ginobili MVP Game 3

Manu Ginobili ensured the Spurs stayed on top, despite Tim Duncan's foul troubles. Spurs win, 86-78.

A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Words

Denver: Looking for Game 2 Respect, Or A Series Win?

(InsideHoops) Maybe they're feeling overlooked, but by Karl keeping Eduardo Najera out, I've got to believe that they're more interested in playing a HIGHLY physical game than doing everything they can to win Game 2.  Let me be clear: I'm not saying they're going to play to lose, but I think they're laying the groundwork to really punish Duncan, keep Camby healthy for the two Denver games and solve for Bowen's aggressive coverage of Carmelo.

If there's a win that comes out of it, great; otherwise it takes four battles to win the war.

Today in the NBA: April 27

(InsideHoops)

April 27, 1983: San Antonio guard Johnny Moore handed out 20 assists, at the time a Playoff record, in the Spurs’ 126-109 win over Denver. Magic Johnson and John Stockton now share the record of 24.

 April 27, 1998: San Antonio's Tim Duncan is named the Schick Rookie of the Year after receiving 113 of a possible 116 votes. Duncan, the first selection in the 1997 NBA Draft, averaged 21.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 2.51 blocked shots, while shooting .549 (706-for-1,287) from the field in 39.1 minutes per game.

Game 2 Injury Report

(ESPN)

Denver Injuries:
Eduardo Najera F Hand Questionable Wed. vs Sas. 4/27
 Mark Pope FC Hamstring Questionable vs Sas. 4/22
Voshon Lenard SG Roster Spot Will miss the postseason playoffs. 4/22
Luis Flores G Hamstring Questionable vs Sas. 4/22
 
San Antonio Spurs:
Devin Brown SG Back Out Wed. vs Den. 4/26
Radoslav Nesterovic IR Ankle Doubtful Wed. vs Den. 4/27
 Linton Johnson SF Ankle I-L. 3/30

Word of the Day: "Camby"

(ESPN) As we watch sports, players and the plays they make subtly get incorporated into the ways we think and speak. It's not just getting Trumped in the latest Qwest firings, as we watch NBA players come into their own during the playoffs, we can expect new aphorisms like:

Camby v. To reach things at will – grabbing some, swatting others away. As in, "You ever see Clinton work a cocktail party? He could Camby like nobody's business." (Marcus Camby, Denver Nuggets)

Ginobili adj. Dexterous, deft, versatile. As in, "Jeffrey Wright's performance in 'Angels in America' was perhaps the most Ginobili turn by any working actor in the last 10 years." (Manu Ginobili, San Antonio Spurs)

Posey v. To vanish off the face of the earth. As in, "Alice doesn't live here anymore; she Posied." (James Posey, Memphis Grizzlies)

Barkley: Equal Opportunity Offender

(MySanAntonio) Denver fans upset at Charles Barkley's comments on Sunday should get over it and take comfort in his comments about Tony Parker. "I thought it was very weird the way Tony Parker came in today," Barkley said. "He was very casual, hugging on his girlfriend a little bit. First of all, the Spurs are not the defending champions."

Parker's girlfriend is Eva Longoria of Desperate Housewives fame. Or maybe it's the other way around.

Anyway, Charles is a controversial guy and he likes it that way.

Time To Get Pumped: Video from San Antonio

One thing that the San Antonio media does better than Denver media is publish great video that brings the Spurs directly into the homes and offices of their fans. Here's some example of the hype leading to tonight's game.

Video: Barry: Expect a more aggressive Duncan
Video: Parker expects Duncan to play better
Video: Popovich on Parker's performance
Video: Parker on Charles Barkley's comments
Video: Parker: Nuggets were more "aggressive" in Game 1
Video: Barry: 'We're hungry to get out and play'
Video: Ginobili on pressure of winning Game 2
Video: Ginobili: 'We have to play tougher'
Video: Popovich talks about adjustments for today's game

Popovich: Parker Needs To Be Aggressive

(Denver Post) Coach Gregg Popovich is using the carrot rather than the whip to motivate point guard Tony Parker.

"I thought he gave great effort and did a good job of keeping us in our plays and doing what we wanted to do as far as offense is concerned. But he had a couple of shots he turned down. I'd like him to be a bit more aggressive offensively. We need to inject a little more offense, so he's probably going to look to be a bit more aggressive."

Hm. After the last quarter of play, I suppose there's always room for improvement.

Texas Road Kill

(Rocky Mountain News) Unlike former Nuggets coaches Larry Brown, Doug Moe, etc etc etc, NBA observers are wondering if there really is something to these Nuggets. They suddenly have become road warriors instead of road wimps. Doug Moe, a Nuggets assistant and former teach coach from 1980-81 to 1989-90.

"He doesn't say, 'OK, boys, we're now going to be a team that goes out and wins on the road.' . . . It's kind of a process, and that's what makes him a great coach. I can't imagine anybody having done a better job with this team."

If the Nuggets win, it would mark only the second time in team history they would have won consecutive road playoff games.