Percent Chance the Nuggets will win this game: 30%
Percent Chance the Nuggets will make the playoffs: 65%
Percent Chance the Nuggets will win a playoff series: 15%
Percent Chance the Nuggets will win 2 playoff series and reach the West finals: 0%
Percent Chance that George Karl will be fired or will retire no later than the end of this season: 40%
CURRENT ALERT STATUS: ORANGE ALERT
ORANGE ALERT description: Moderate damage is occurring to the season. The entire season is under serious threat, and you can just about forget about beating quality teams. Beating mid-level teams is difficult but not impossible under an ORANGE ALERT. About 2/3 of games against mid-level teams that would have been won will be lost under this alert. Even poor teams can sometimes beat an otherwise good team that is under this alert. Close to 1/3 of games against low level teams that would have been won will be lost under this alert. A good team has been reduced to something between a mid-level and a poor team when it is under this alert.
KEY FOR STARTERS
Position Number Name
Height Weight
PPG RPG APG FG% (Points, Rebounds, & Assists Per Game, Field Goal Shooting %)
Recent Highlights
NUGGETS PROBABLE STARTERS
Small Forward 15 Carmelo Anthony
6-8, 230
2007-08: 25.2 5.0 4.5 .446
Has scored 20+ points in all but two of the Nuggets 15 games so far this season. Collected a season-high-tying three steals (2nd time) in 34 minutes during the Nuggets loss at Houston on 11/24. With his 24 points at L.A. Clippers on 11/21, he has now scored 20+ in 11 of the Nuggets 12 games this season.
Power Forward #43 Linas Kleiza
6-8 245
2007-08: 10.5 3.9 1.1 .477
With his 14 points vs. Indiana on 11/27, he has now topped the 10-point mark seven times in 13 appearances.
Center #23 Marcus Camby
6-11, 235
2007-08: 9.6 14.8 3.3 .480
Currently leads the NBA in rebounds at 14.8 rpg and ranks second in blocks at 3.53 bpg. Is currently the only center in the NBA who is averaging at least 3.0 assists (Yao Ming is the next closest at 2.6). Scored a season-high 18 points to go along with 18 rebounds and three blocks at L.A. Clippers on 11/21.
Shooting Guard #5 Yakhouba Diawara
6-7, 225
2007-08: 4.4 1.7 1.1 .462
Denver is 7-2 (.778) this season when Diawara plays 14 or more minutes during a game (just 2-4 otherwise).
Point Guard #3 Allen Iverson
6-0, 165
2007-08: 23.7 3.1 7.3 .436
Pulled down a season-high seven rebounds vs. Indiana on 11/27, while it is the most he has had as a Nugget. With his two steals at Houston on 11/24, he has now had at least two steals in 10 of the Nuggets first 14 games. Led the Nuggets with 29 points (11-19 FG), nine assists and three steals in the loss at L.A. Clippers on 11/21.
NUGGET'S KEY OFF THE BENCH PLAYER
Shooting Guard #1 J.R. Smith
6-6 220
2007-08: 11.2 2.7 2.6 .410
Smith has been scoring solidly with multiple treys and multiple steals since he has re-earned a spot in the rotation, and since he has been spending more time at the point, he is also averaging four assists per over the last six games.
LAKERS PROBABLE STARTERS
Small Forward #10 Vladimir Radmanovic
6-10 235
2007-08: 9.4 2.6 1.5 .415
LAST GAME: Tallied 2 points and 2 rebounds in 14 minutes 11/27 vs. SEA.
NOTES: Ranks among league leaders in 3-point FG% (17th/.444) … Has posted 20 career
double-doubles and 33 career 20-plus point games … As a Laker, has scored in double-figures 21 times (one 20-plus point game), posted one double-double and led the team in scoring once.
Power Forward #7 Lamar Odom
6-10 230
2007-08: 13.2 7.4 1.7 .511
LAST GAME: Scored 20 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in 39 minutes 11/27 vs. SEA.
NOTES: Ranks among league leaders in minutes (37th/35.6) … Has posted 11 career tripledoubles and 186 career double-doubles … Owns 144 career 20-plus point games and 21 career 10-plus assist games … In 2005-06, was the only player in the NBA to average better than 14 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists.
Center #17 Andrew Bynum
7-0 285
2007-08: 11.1 10.1 1.4 .585
LAST GAME: Recorded his 8th double-double of the season with 12 points (5-of-7 FG) and a team-high 10 rebounds in 26 minutes 11/27 vs. SEA.
NOTES: Ranks among league leaders in rebounds (12th/10.1), FG% (5th/.585) and blocks
(25th/1.43) … Has posted 18 career double-doubles … Became youngest Laker to ever record a double-double (19 years, 11 days) 11/7/06 vs. MIN (20 points, 14 rebounds), beating out Magic Johnson (20 years, 75 days) … Has posted 37 career double-figure scoring games (one 20-plus), 21 career 10-plus rebound games while leading the team in rebounds 35 times and in points once.
Shooting Guard #24 Kobe Bryant
6-6 205
2007-08: 27.9 6.3 4.9 .455
LAST GAME: Passed Bernard King for 32nd on the NBA’s all-time scoring list with a game-high 35 points while adding 8 rebounds and 6 assists in 35 minutes 11/27 vs. SEA.
NOTES: Ranks among league leaders in points (2nd/27.9), assists (29th/4.9), FT% (26 th/.860), steals (11th/1.93) and minutes (20th/37.4) … Youngest player ever to score 10,000 – 19,000 career points … Scored a career-high 81 points (55 in second half) 1/22/06, second highest game and half point totals in NBA History … 21 career 50-plus point games ranks third all-time behind Chamberlain (118) and Jordan (31) … Has 86 career 40-plus point games, 108 career doubledoubles and 14 career triple-doubles.
Point Guard #2 Derek Fisher
6-1 210
2007-08: 12.3 2.1 2.9 .527
LAST GAME: Tallied 14 points on 3-of-4 shooting (8-of-8 FT), 4 rebounds and a game-high 8 assists in 31 minutes 11/27 vs. SEA.
NOTES: Ranks among league leaders in FG% (17th/.527) and FT% (3rd/.957) … Has posted 9 career double-doubles … Has scored 20-plus points 42 times in his career … Owns 13 career 10- plus assist games … Has pulled down 10-plus rebounds once in his career (3/12/98 @ LAC).
PACER'S KEY OFF THE BENCH PLAYER
Point Guard #5 Jordan Farmar
6-2 180
2007-08: 9.4 2.6 2.9 .485
For someone who has a great 3-point shot, Farmar has a high overall shooting average. His points per 48 minutes are impressive.
KEY MATCHUP 1: SMALL FORWARD
Carmelo Anthony
DENVER
Vladimir Radmanovic
LOS ANGELES
KEY MATCHUP 2: SHOOTING GUARD
J.R. Smith
DENVER
Kobe Bryant
LOS ANGELES
KEY MATCHUP 3: POINT GUARD
Allen Iverson
DENVER
Derek Fisher
LOS ANGELES
TEAM RECORDS COMPARED
LAKERS...............................NUGGETS
8-6 Win-Loss Record................9-6
.571 Winning Percentage..........600
5-3 Home Win-Loss Record........6-2
3-3 Road Win-Loss Record.........3-4
3-3 East Conf. Win-Loss Record...5-3
5-3 West Conf. Win-Loss Record..4-3
1-0 Division Win-Loss Record......4-0
w 1 Streak, L=loss, W=win..........L 2
TEAM STATS COMPARED
This is the Best Statistical Preview You Will find anywhere!
Definitions:
Offensive efficiency: Points scored per 100 possessions.
Defensive efficiency: Points allowed per 100 possessions.
Points Per Shot: Total Points/# of Field Goals Attempted
Adjusted Field Goal Percentage: Adjusted FG Percentage = [(Points - Free Throws Made)/Field Goals Attempted]/2.
ADJ FG% measures shooting efficiency by taking into account the total points a player produces through his field goal attempts. The intention of this adjustment is largely to evaluate the impact of three-point shooting.
LAKERS...................................NUGGETS
105.2 Points scored....................... 105.5
100.8 Points allowed...................... 100.3
111.0 Offensive Efficiency................106.6
105.4 Defensive Efficiency................100.1
1.33 Points Per Shot.......................1.26
.51 Adjusted Field Goal Percentage.......49
.467 FG% own............................. .449
.433 FG% opposition...................... .439
.355 3PT% own............................ .344
.347 3PT% opposition.................... .336
44.7 Total Rebounds per game...........44.7
41.4 Opposition Total Rebounds/game..47.9
10.7 Offensive Rebounds/game..........11.0
11.6 Opposition Offensive Reb/game...13.7
8.6 Steals Per Game.......................10.4
8.1 Opposition Steals Per Game..........9.3
4.4 Blocked Shots Per Game..............6.3
4.6 Opposition Blocked Shots/Game.....4.6
22.1 Assists Per Game....................23.0
23.6 Opposition Assists Per Game.......23.9
15.8 Turnovers Per Game.................16.7
13.6 Opposition Turnovers Per Game...18.8
1.40 Assist/Turnover Ratio.............. 1.38
22.0 Fouls Per Game...................... 22.0
23.8 Opposition Fouls Per Game.........24.7
NUGGETS INJURY REPORT
OUT: Chucky Atkins suffered a severe right groin strain at Phoenix on 10/25 and is expected to miss 6-8 weeks.
OUT: Nene suffered a torn ulner collateral ligament in his left thumb at Boston on 11/7 and underwent successful surgery on 11/9. He is expected to miss six weeks.
OUT: Steven Hunter underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his right knee on 11/16 and is expected to miss six weeks.
DOUBTFUL: Kenyon Martin did not dress vs. Indiana on 11/27 due to a right knee
bone bruise suffered at Houston on 11/24. He is questionable for tonight’s game.
PROBABLE: Linas Kleiza returned to the lineup vs. Indiana on 11/27 after missing two straight games due to a sprained left ankle. He is considered probable for tonight’s game.
LAKERS INJURY REPORT:
OUT: Kwame Brown (moderate ankle and knee sprains)
ON THE AIR:
Tonight’s game will be televised nationally on TNT with Kevin Harlan calling the action, Doug Collins providing analysis and Cheryl Miller reporting from the sideline. The game will also be broadcast on KKFN AM 950, with Jerry Schemmel doing the play-by-play and Jason Kosmicki hosting the studio courtside.
NUGGET'S KEYS TO VICTORY
Stay cool and confident. George Karl has lost all his confidence again so he is violating this key to victory. That makes it all the more important that the players stay confident. I’m going to keep including this key until the Nugget's players and coaches maintain their confidence more consistently. They also need to avoid the drama from having criticism and dirty laundry in the newspapers. And they need to avoid ugly off-court incidents. Yeah, I'm looking at you when I say that, J.R. Smith.
Carmelo Anthony, Linas Kleiza, and Eduardo Najera need to defensively rebound like hell. Camby needs help, obviously. The Nuggets are shorthanded at power forward and center due to injuries to Kenyon Martin, Nene, and Steven Hunter. Unless Martin makes a miracle appearance, 2 of 3 power forwards and one of the two centers will not be available for this game. Unless Anthony, Kleiza and Najera hit the boards big time, the Nuggets are probably toast in this game. Against Indiana, Iverson and Anthony Carter helped out big time on the boards, but you can't expect your guards to do that kind of rebounding on a nightly basis.
Play somebody. George Karl is going into his shell again, afraid that his players will do who knows what and dishonor the sport of basketball. In this game, it is very likely that Kleiza and Najera will get good playing time again. Unless at least two players among Yakhouba Diawara, Bobby Jones, and J.R. Smith get at least 18 minutes, the Nuggets are limiting their chances to win by having too few players out there who might surprise. The Nuggets keep getting surprised by reserves, so why the heck are they denying themselves the same chance that one of their reserves will have a surprise game?
LAKER'S KEYS TO VICTORY
Double team Melo or Iverson, usually Melo. There is a reason most teams do this. You want to double Melo unless Iverson is killing you, in which case you probably should start doubling Iverson and going for steals off him. Also, you should always try to get Melo into foul trouble, because the reward is huge if you succeed.
Penetrate the paint for what should be easy scores. With just Camby and Kleiza available among power forwards and centers, the Nuggets are a team that is ripe for the pickings inside if there ever was one.
Offensively rebound like hell. This goes nicely with key to victory #2, and should be very achievable due to the Nuggets being devastated with big man injuries. Even before the injury to Kenyon Martin, the Nuggets were gradually getting more and more slack in defensive rebounding, and now it might be almost as easy as taking candy from a baby unless Melo, Kleiza, and Najera rise to the occasion on the boards.
PREDICTIONS
The Nuggets right now have the worst front court in basketball even though they have Marcus Camby. Iverson and Anthony Carter helped keep the Nuggets in the game against Indiana by crashing the boards. The more they can repeat that the better, but Najera, Kleiza, Diawara (if he is playing), Jones (if he is playing) and especially Carmelo Anthony are going to have to rebound more.
Phil Jackson has once again produced more from less. In sharp contrast to Karl, he has several reserves in top notch form. Jackson has, for example, an 11 minutes a game guard from Yugoslavia named Sasha Vujacic who can hit 3's and makes, along with PG Derek Fisher, almost every single free throw. More likely to surprise the Nuggets, though, is PG Jordan Farmar or PF Ronnie Turiaf. Fortunately for the Nuggets, SF Radmanovic is not a good rebounder. But if PF Lamar Odom, C Andrew Bynum, and Turiaf get into gear, the Nuggets will most likely succumb to second chance Laker scores while being denied numerous second chance scores of their own.
DON'T TICK ME OFF MORE THAN USUAL GK
Call at least one early, unscheduled time out in response to a Laker run. I'm just asking for one.
