The Mavs return home after a three-game road trip tonight to face the Denver Nuggets (11-8) for the first time this season. The Mavs lost their last meeting with Denver in April in a putrid 75-71 slugfest in which the two teams combined to shoot 35 percent from the floor. The Mavs will look to clean things up a bit and improve to 9-1 at home this season.
Iverson and Anthony co-existing to produce big numbers
Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson had separate runs as team leader last year as Iverson came over by trade while Anthony was in the middle of a 15-game suspension for fighting. When Anthony returned, the situation was a little strange as the two of them were coming together as being team leaders of the same team at different times during the same season. But, the two of them co-existed and made the playoffs only to be quickly dispatched by the Spurs in the first round. Now, the two scorers are combining to average 50 points per game―the highest combined total of two players on a team in the NBA. Whether or not those two are good enough (or George Karl can coach well enough) to carry a defensively-poor Nuggets team past the first round remains to be seen.
Camby has been solid
Although Iverson and Anthony are the marquee names and perennial All-Stars, Marcus Camby is probably their most consistent player. He's the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and leads the league in blocks with 60. He's sixth on the team in points per game but is a monster on the blocks and will likely be standing in any Mavs' way who decides to slash into the middle. Although Camby may not be the best man-on-man defender, it probably won't matter against the Mavs since their post scoring threat is minimal. Don't be surprised if Camby blocks more than five shots tonight.
Not quite last night
The Nuggets gave the Lakers a run for their money last night, but ultimately came up short despite Allen Iverson's season-high 51 points. The Nuggets were unable to stop a late Kobe Bryant barrage and came up short 111-107. The valiant effort likely drained the Nuggets―especially Iverson. Of course, the Mavs put together quite an effort (in vain) in trying to stop Manu Ginobili last night, so both teams might come out a little sluggish.
Video evidence
- I told you, the man can block some shots.
- Back when Eddie Najera was a Maverick.
- We're gonna take Davey.
Random useless fact
Nenê used to go by a longer name, Maybyner Hilario. Nenê means "baby" in Portuguese.
-Scooter Hendon, Hoops Nerd
i knows the denver nuggets ... they're that team that beat up on the mavs thursday night.
Posted by: kane | December 07, 2007 at 01:47 AM