The Denver Nuggets barely managed to squeak into the playoffs and received tough new: They will be playing the Los Angeles Lakers.
Either that or play the Hornets, talk about a no win situation!
Anyway, I have decided to breakdown the matchups that will make or break the series.
Point Guard:
Derek Fisher 6'1 205lbs 11.7 PPG, 2.9 APG, 1 SPG
Anthony Carter 6'2 195 lbs 7.8 PPG, 5.5 APG, 1.5 SPG
Yes this may be the most meaningless matchup of them all to some, but this matchup will be key in which team is able to set and dictate the tempo first. Denver likes to play fast, Lakers like to a play medium tempo.
Both guards are exceptional perimeter defenders and can read the passing lanes with the best of them. It’s a draw.
Shooting Guard:
Allen Iverson 6’0 26.4 PPG, 7.1 APG, 3 RPG
Kobe Bryant 6’7 28.3 PPG, 5.4 APG, 6.3 RPG
Two of the most dynamic scorers in the league face off in this matchup. Kobe has seven inches on Allen, which makes me think Kobe will see a trio of defenders such as Carmelo Anthony , Linus Kleiza, and Eduardo Najera.
When Kobe torches Denver, the front office will be kicking themselves for not pulling the trigger on the Ron Artest deal at the deadline. Kobe wins this matchup.\
Small Forward:
Anthony 6’8 230lbs 25.7 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 3.4 APG
Walton 6’8 232 lbs 7.9 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 2.9 APG
Carmelo Anthony is among the game’s elite at the small forward position, combining a great athletic body, knowledge of the game, and great passing ability for his size. Carmelo handles the ball like a shooting guard and should have his way with Walton.
Melo, though, will face sure problems because of his latest run in with the law, and the Nuggets better hope his head is completely in the game and nowhere else. Carmelo wins.
Power Forward:
Lamar Odom 6’10 230lbs 14.2 PPG, 10.6 RPG, 0.9 BPG
Kenyon Martin 6-9 240 12.4 PPG, 6.4 RPG, 1.2 BPG
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Odom is an outstanding passer for a man his size, a great ball handler, and a threat to drive to the rim or step back and take the three. Lamar posesses the speed to blow past Kenyon at will, which will cause Marcus Camby to come over and provide weakside help, leaving Gasol open.
Kenyon Martin has had his best season in Denver and is slowly but surely regaining his game that he left in New Jersey on the operating table from several knee surgeries.
Martin is beginning to put the ball on the floor and create his own shot rather, than wait for tip-ins. Kenyon may become frustrated by Lamar’s length, and it will be key to see how Martin reacts.
Lamar wins. However, Odom has been known to slack off as a defender, allowing Dirk Nowitzki to repeatedly launch crucial three pointers on consecutive possessions, including a game tying basket that sent the LAL-Dallas game into overtime weeks ago.
Lamar Odom wins.
C Marcus Camby 6-11 235 9.1 PPG, 13.1 RPG 3.6 BPG
C Pau Gasol 7-0 260 18.9 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 1.5 BPG
Marcus Camby is the best shot blocker in the game today, as well as the best inside defender. An eraser, shot changer are other words used to describe the former UMass star, and he’s not too shabby on the offensive side, knocking down 10-20 footers, and throwing up a array of floaters.
Camby even knocks down the occasional three.
Gasol is versatile and has a variety of moves that will spell foul trouble for Camby. This will be a true test for Marcus to see if he really is the league’s best defender.
Bench
J.R. Smith 6-6 220lbs 12.3 PPG, 1.7 APG, 40.3% 3pt shooting
Jordan Farmar 6-2 180lbs 9.1 PPG, 2.7 APG, 37.1 3pt shooting
J.R. Smith is perhap's in the Top 5 of all 6th men in the NBA. Smith can come off the bench at anytime and provide three point shooting, and can put points on the board quickly, with ease. Smith has shot over 45% from downtown in the month of November and February including several 20+ games along the way. J.R. also has a field goal percentage of 46.1%.
Jordan Farmar has evolved into one of the Lakers' sharpshooters in only his 2nd year out of UCLA. Farmar is deadly from behind the arc and has been known to make the big shot. He's also a favorite of the game's best player Kobe Bryant.
J.R. Smith's size will create a probelm for Farmar, and his ability to stretch the floor will hurt the Lakers. J.R. Smith wins.
DJ Mbenga 7-0 255 lbs 2 PPG, 1.7 RPG, 0.6 BPG
Ronny Turiaf 6-10 249 lbs 6.6PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.4 BPG
Nene 6-11 268lbs 5.3 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 0.9 BPG
I stacked Mbenga and Turiaf against Nene because that's the only real big man the Nuggets have left.
DJ and Turiaf are energy players with medium to low offensive skill sets. Ronny is the better player of the two, with his ability to create a decent shot when given the oppurtunity. The frenchmen is also a good defender blocking shots but has a tendency to commit untimely fouls. Ronny is also a player that sometimes gets himself and his team into trouble with his elaborate and unnecessary celebrations. I wouldn't be surprised if he does a Superman on the sidelines after a Laker player dunks.
Nene has battled a testicular tumor and missed most of the games this season because of the condition. Denver is slowly but surely working him back into the rotation and getting him playoff ready. Nene has already showed signs of power and finesse moves around the basket, and he looks to dominate these matchups. Nene wins.
Linus Kleiza 6'8 245 lbs 11.1 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.2 APG
Vladmir Radmanovic 6-10 234 lbs 8.4 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 1.9 APG
Linus Kleiza is the man in Denver that all eyes were on at the trading deadline, and the man that all eyes will be on in this series and throughout the playoffs. Kleiza has been instant offense this season for Denver; like J.R. Smith sinking three pointers all year along. Including a 41 point game in a win against Utah in which he shot 50% from downtown, a 23 point game against Dallas (W) in which he shot 60% from behind the arc, and a 21 point games (L) against the Lakers in which he shot 50% from three.
Plain and simple, Linus can shoot from the three and it will be wise if the Los Angeles decides to play a 1-3-1.
Vladmir Radmanovic is a power forward who likes to take his game outside and is more comfortable outside the paint then in the paint. Vladmir will certainly help stretch the floor for L.A.L. but Kleiza has enough speed to hang tough with Radmanovic. Kleiza wins this matchup.
The Denver Nuggets win in 6 games, 4-2
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4 months ago
No kidding, you have to go deeper, and there are better matchups also, almost every other matchup, they are all farely equal, but this isnt one of the greatest.
from 4 months ago
Really like where? In what conference? These teams will provide the most firepower and has the most superstars put together of any series in the playoffs. Who are you going to watch, Boston and Atlanta? Everyone knows the Celtics are going to steamroll through the Hawks. Or are you going to watch the Spurs and Suns? Once again, Phoenix will find some new way to lose a series and Mike D'Antoni will be put on the hotseat.
4 months ago
I have to disagree. Phoenix and San Antonio will be the best first round matchup.
Phoenix got Shaq so they could contend mainly with San Antonio, and this is their chance to see if the trade was worth it.
from 4 months ago
Like I said before at the bottom of the page, The Suns are too predictable, this matchup is happening too soon, and the Spurs will run amuck all over Nash and Co.
from 4 months ago
Yes the first game of the Suns-Spurs series was exciting, but just like I said, the Suns are too predictable. Amare got into foul trouble, fouled out, which hurt Phoenix and they weren't able to stop San Antonio.
4 months ago
The Lakers are sleeping on Denver! But they should watch out. Denver might actually have a shot..Dont sleep ON DENVER!
Nice article sean
from 4 months ago
Sleeping on Denver? What gives you that idea? PJ never sleeps, not in the playoffs. And believe me, Kobe will be wide awake as will Gasol, Odom, Vujacic, Farmar and Fish. And Rony will be dancing with his eyes wide open. If the Nuggets believe that they can sneak one in on the Lakers, they had better wake up. But George Karl knows better than that. He knows the Lakers have come to play.
4 months ago
What a joke.
4 months ago
The Suns and Spurs matchup is occuring way too early in the postseason this year and it will ruin the fun of the NBA. Steve Nash will once again try to be superman and falter and Amare will get into foul trouble and the Big Cactus will be plagued by knee injuries. The Phoenix Suns are too predictable.
from 4 months ago
It's not way to early because the Western Conference was so loaded that every matchup is going to be fun to watch.
You forgot that San Antonio isn't 100% either. Manu Ginobli has that bad hamstring.
Plus Tony Parker as well.
Plus, key bench players Brent Barry and Robert Horry are hurt, too.
This is going to be a fun matchup.
from 4 months ago
I agree with Michael, and I actually have the Suns beating the Spurs. Shaq always seems to play his best when playing against Tim Duncan. Also, the Suns are 3-1 against the Spurs through the regular season.
4 months ago
Are you serious? denver wins 4 - 2. Lakers are 3 - 0 playing the Nuggets this year. I agree with Michael. The Suns and Spurs will be a good matchup.
And from the East, Cavs and Wizards
from 4 months ago
The Cavs and the Wizards? That series will be entertaining? The series will feature blowouts and only blowouts. Look at their regular season meetings, Washington 106-85, Cleveland 121-85, and Cleveland 90-89. See a trend. In each of the three games, one of the teams scored fewer than 90 points in all 3 meetings. So much for exciting.
4 months ago
A few things. 1)Fisher in not an "exceptional perimeter defender." He's smart and savy, but he's a very poor perimeter defender with extremely slow feet in his old age.
2)Luke Walton is not a starter.
3) You made no mention of the huge bench discrepancy. LA has exceptional depth.
from 4 months ago
I never mentioned or made any reference to Luke as being the starter, and how is Fisher not a exceptional perimeter defender? He's had over 9 1+ steals seasons in his career including being in top 7 in the league. Derek's hustle and intensity are another crudentials that he brings to L.A.L. that does not show up in the statbook. He's an aggressive and a very tenacious defender.
4 months ago
The Nuggets vs Lakers will be entertaining and have scores like
120 - 118
But the best series will definitely be the spurs vs suns. They have a history! It will be a burtal, physical game.
Even the wizards vs the cavs will be more interesting than Denver/Lakers series.
James vs agent zero and deshawn.....trash talking has been going on for sometime now!
from 4 months ago
Hey Rodge, read the earlier comment I posted about the Cavs-Wizards series.
from 4 months ago
Hey Rodge, read the earlier comment I posted about the Cavs-Wizards series.
4 months ago
Suns/Spurs = best 1st round matchup of the entire playoffs, NO DOUBT.
And I have the Suns winning.
4 months ago
How can it be exciting with a banged up Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker? Not to mnetion Robert Horry, and Brent Barry trying to get back into rhythm. Seeing the Spurs get blown out possibly? Even though they won't. The Spurs and Suns won't be fun to watch because its too soon and the best players in the series are injury plagued.
from 4 months ago
If you're a real round ball fan, the best match up is never too soon or too late. It is what it is - the MARQUIS match up. After 82 games, who isn't banged up? But these guys are NBA pros. They swallow their pain and get it on. They got game, Sean. And this is the match up. Denver and the Lakers? Exciting, yes. A great shooting game, yes. An offensive explosion, yes. But a great all around match up, no way. L.A in 5!
from 4 months ago
TP and Manu will be fine. This will be the best series because 1) the history. The Spurs have been the Suns nemesis for the last few years. The way the series ended last season gives this series more bad blood than any other matchup that will occur in the entire playoffs.
2) The Shaq trade rides on THIS series. If they win Steve Kerr will be a genius and Shaq will be vindicated.
3) The "Spurs are too old" notion will be put to the test. People have been saying this for years but maybe this is the year that grandfather time catches up with them. If so, is it the end of a dynasty? At the very least it means the first major restructure in San Antonio since Tim Duncan was drafted.
4) The window on both teams is infinitesimally small.
5) The great big men of the generation, each with 4 rings, each having participated in each of the last 9 NBA Finals, battling it out for legacy. And unlike other marquee matchups (Kobe/Melo, Arenas/Gil) these two guys will be battling it out on both sides of the court all game.
6) The Lakers and Nuggets have no history. No rivalry. And the Lakers are heavily favored. I can't believe you're calling the Lakers/Nuggets the best first round matchup of the playoffs. It will be the least exciting matchup outside of Boston/Hawks.
4 months ago
Bro, I saw your comment....that one is mine.
Manu is better and tony parker is playing crazy basketball these couple of weeks. Plus the suns have a shaq who can frustrate duncan. The series will be more intense and more competitive.
4 months ago
Regardless of entertainment value, Spurs and Suns will be the most competitive first round match-up. And I don't even know what to say about your conclusion that Denver wins in six. I'll keep it classy and say that Denver even making it interesting is unlikely. The lakers went 3-0 against them this year, and won by an average of 13 points. How you possibly got to this conclusion is just beyond my imagination.
Fisher is way more valuable than Carter, btw. He's got championship experience, and he's a lethal shooter this year.
Plus, the lakers bench might be the leagues best, even with all the injuries.
from 4 months ago
Yes it seems unlikely to the naked eye that Denver won't win, but do you believe in miracles? Let me just say this: Golden State 4-2 Dallas. Plus the Nuggets have more talent than Don Nelson's team last year.
4 months ago
Go Spurs Go!
Err...who to root for in this Lakers-Nuggets series. I can't stand Kobe and Odom and I think the Lakers are all hype. Gasol is the only player I like. On the other hand, Melo and AI are thugs and I can't root for them either. I do like Kenyon Martin, however. Hmmm...guess I have to go with the Nuggets.
from 4 months ago
Carmelo and Iverson are thugs? Tell me Dan, what team do you like?
from 4 months ago
Off the court, Melo just got arrested for DUI and has a history of being involved in illegal situations since he was growing up. I get Philadelphia TV stations, so everything that went on with Iverson, I got to see blow by blow and would never root for the guy. They may play clean on the floor, but I value off-the-court character much more than on-the-court.
People criticize Bowen and Ginobili for their physical play, but they are model citizens off-the-court. If it wasn't for the Spurs, I probably wouldn't even watch basketball anymore because off all of the negativity surrounding the game.
from 4 months ago
Dan you're flip flopping and your idea is completely unfair and biased. You agree that Bruce Bowen and Manu Ginobili are criticized for their on the court play, but you think they are saints because nothing happens off the court. You throw Melo and Iverson under the bus for what they did off the court. Your logic makes no sense and is stupid. If you're going to throw them in the stewpot, throw Manu and Bruce in their too. What happened in Anthony's and Allen's case occured off of the court and in their personal life. NBA Superstars do not get paid for their personal life, whereas they do by their actions on the court. What the 2 Spurs have done is an on the court action and they should be punished, not Melo and A.I. . What a player does in his personal life should not reflect on what he does on the court.
from 4 months ago
I beg to differ. Many organizations in all fields, major and minor, pay you to represent the organization well 24/7. People can get fired from their jobs for getting into trouble with the law. If I was a Nuggets' fan, I'd be ticked off that Melo was out gettin' drunk and risking his life and the lives of others by drunk driving. If I'm paying for inflated ticket places and overpriced merchandise b/c f his through-the-roof salary (another way players can be "thugs" by sitcking it to the fans in the wallet), he better be going home and getting his rest and if he has extra energy, he should be expending it on the floor or in practice (and we all know what AI thinks about practice...)
I don't know how a married person roots for Kobe Bryant knowing that he cheated on his wife and then bought her back with a huge ring.
from 4 months ago
So does can be players who stick it to fans wallets? So that means Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash, Pau Gasol, and Mike Miller are thugs too right?
4 months ago
I am not by any means a Laker fan but you can't deny that they are the dominant team in the first round match up. The Nuggets have lost three straight against them this year and unless the Nuggets have an exceptional shooting night; the Lakers will walk all over them. Lakers in 5.
As for the Suns and Spurs series being the most "exciting".....the spurs are never exciting. But I agree with the comments that said it will be the best match up BECAUSE of the injuries that the Spurs have.
Even though the East (besides the Celtics) blows this year; the Cavs v.s. Wizards is my pick to watch...I can just see King James taking a big fat shit on Gilbert Arenas. Seriously, what kind of gameplan is pissing off and motivating the opponents best player? James feeds off those comments.
4 months ago
My intramural team plays better defense then Denver. Denver has guys that make defensive plays i.e. Iverson getting steals and Camby getting blocks but they also get burned because they gamble too much and are always trying to make those plays. Even on defense all they are trying to do is make highlights. This series will be over in six games, but the Lakers will move on. AI and 'Melo are going to have to average 35 apiece for Denver to win.
from 4 months ago
Its not impossible for them to average 40 per game.
4 months ago
Marcus -
Unless your intramural team is Boston Celtics, the Houston Rockets, or any of the other 6 teams ahead of Denver in terms defensive efficiency, then I'll believe you. Denver can play some D, so don't be fooled by the high points per game average. That's just because Denver likes to play at a fast pace. Denver is currently 9th in the NBA in terms of points per 100 possessions, a much better metric than points per game. The stats are all right here. http://tinyurl.com/5hl3uk
from 4 months ago
Settle down Ben, it was just a statement of how pathetic Denver is on defense. I still don't think Denver's D is good enough to get them out of the first round of the playoffs. Lakers in 6.
from 4 months ago
Well, you've gone and done it now! I'm verrrryyyyyyy angry!
Listen, my point is this. If anything's going to fail, it's going to be the offense, which is worse than their defense in terms of efficiency. Kapeesh?
4 months ago
They mave have more talent but it is certain that the golden state have more heart...takes you far in the world.
from 4 months ago
It doesn't and it didn't take heart for Golden State to beat a inconsistent, bi-polar Mavericks team. All it took was three pointers and a Dirk Nowitzki imposter.
4 months ago
hahahah
Bro you just don't give up..
It doesn't take talent to hit three pointers and stop dirk? Dirk didn't stop himself, golden state did. It was dirk's mvp season and all of a sudden he starts to play bad against the 8th seed! joke....
Show some credit to the 2nd biggest first series upset in th eistory of basketball.
from 4 months ago
Golden State stopped Dirk? Now that's a joke. The worst defensive team in the NBA stopped the best player in the league last year, is that what your saying? Dirk has been known to choke. Did you watch the 2005-06 Finals? Nowitzki couldn't deliver against D-Wade and the Heat and since then he's been labeled a choke artist.
4 months ago
Yes, the worst team in the regular season stopped not only dirk but the whole team. They weren't good in the regular season but in the first round of the playoffs the played like the best team in the nba. There offense and defensive went storming up. Your are the first person i have ever heard say that dirk notwitzki is a choke artist.
4 months ago
So is it a deal Tim? If Denver beats the Lakers you add me as a writer, and if the Nuggets lose, I'll add you as one. This offer is open and goes to anyone who is interested by it.
4 months ago
I'm interested in it the offer.
from 4 months ago
O.K. Rodge I'll accept that offer, its a deal.
4 months ago
Alright bro, It's a deal then.
XD...
4 months ago
I think anyone who saw Game 1 today knows exactly which series will be the best :)
from 4 months ago
Exactly!!!
4 months ago
hahaha
It was just to obvious which one would be the best.
3 months ago
LA lakers are going all the way so is no point in posting comments on here!!
3 months ago
chicken nuggets are not going to win anything and i DeAndre says so!!!
from 3 months ago
I think you're a little late with that statement.
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