| 01 March 2009
(Denver-CO) The Denver Nuggets have traveled tonight to take on the Indiana Pacers at Conseco Fieldhouse. The previous time these two teams met, Denver was able to easily handle Indiana at the Pepsi Center, 135-115.
Tonight should be no different.
The Pacers are without their primary offensive weapon, Danny Granger, who is also the sixth overall scorer in the NBA this year with a nightly average of 25 ppg. And while the basketball fan in me is sadden by missing one of the few opportunities per year that I have to watch Granger because I appreciate the comprehensive offensive game he brings. The Nuggets fan in me couldn't be happier. Granger torched the Nuggets the first time these two teams met for 36 points.
But do you remember the other reason why the first meeting between Indiana and Denver was significant?
Carmelo Anthony broke his hand (or should I say had his hand broken by?) on a play with Jeff Foster.
In that game the Nuggets handed out 38 assists led by Chauncey Billups' game-high eleven dimes. Carmelo finished with nine assists and Anthony Carter seven as nine different Nuggets peppered the Pacers to death with a fast paced, fast breaking attack. In addition, three different Nuggets scored more than 20 points in that contest with six Nuggets reaching double-figures.
The only problem Denver faced in that 20-point blowout was slowing down the Pacers, who still average over 104 points per game. Denver was torched in the second period for 42 points (a season-high point total for one quarter) and only went into the half leading, 74-70. This time around they won't have to worry about Granger, but his slack has been picked up by a former Nugget draft pick, Jarrett Jack. Since Granger's foot injury, Jack has stepped up his offensive output from his season average of 11.8 to 20.2 points per game. Indiana's other scoring threat is Troy Murphy. The former Notre Dame star is averaging the double-double line of 13.6 points and 11.7 rebounds per game, but he too has increased his averages to 18.8 points and 15.0 boards while recording six straight double-doubles with Granger on the sidelines.
Jack and Murphy's scoring aside, this a game the Nuggets need to win. On the momentum of two straight wins over the Hawks and Lakers it would be a shame for Denver to drop a game to a 25-36 team like Indiana. The Pacers allow the fourth highest points per game to be scored on them, but even so, should not be taken lightly - especially at home where they are a very respectable 18-11 overall this season.
My final note on this game concerns Carmelo Anthony. 'Melo absolutely loves playing the Pacers for some reason. In his last six games against the Pacers he is averaging 30.2 points per game while also handing out 4.3 assists and grabbing 5.5 rebounds. I'm expecting a huge game out of Anthony because the Pacers just don't have anyone, sans Granger, that can handle him.
So, feed 'Melo the ball and get out of the way. Train 15 is coming through!
Go Nuggets!
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