| 02 April 2009
(Denver-CO) I’m taking the high road today and will not be taking jabs at the Jazzholes (OK, one - sue me!) of whom will be visiting Pepsi Center tonight. The best Jazz blog on the Interwebs is True Blue Jazz so if you’re going to the game or laying any money on it I suggest you go over there and do you’re homework. And, if you can, be sure to punch CB Jack in the kidney for me.
Seriously though, this is a big game. The Nuggets may have clinched a playoff birth for the sixth straight season with their last win over the Knicks, but without holding onto the divisional title and earning home court in the first round that means nothing as the past five years have shown us. Point being the Nuggets need home court advantage worse than Amy Winehouse needs a more supportive brassiere. The Nuggets lead Portland by 1 1/2 games in the division, while third-place Utah (46-28) is 2 1/2 back with Denver in currently seeded second overall in the grand scheme of things. With a win tonight, Denver sets Utah a FULL GAME back in the division standings and surely puts a few tears on Deron Williams’ pillow.
As for the Jazz… I’m not sure there has been a team in recent memory so strong at home while being so feeble on the road. Utah has compiled a 32-6 record at Energy Solutions Center this season, but against many of the same teams on the road have only posted a mark of 14-22 while losing five of their last six. I guess it’s true when they say things are “different” in Utah… I say this because there really isn’t that much difference in the Jazz’s performance away from the ESC statistically.
However, the Nuggets may be peaking just at the right time. Winners of nine out of their last ten games, Denver is starting to look very formidable. Carmelo is back to his offensive exploitations, Chauncey is putting his efforts towards managing the team with less of the scoring burden weighing him down, J.R. Smith is showing signs that he is in fact the player we all thought he could be, and Kenyon Martin is showing signs that he’s finally getting close to 100% health. Not to mention the steadfast contributions of Nene, Anthony Carter, and the rest of the Denver role players like Bird, The Perfect Stranger, and Dahntay Jones.
And weighing even more heavily in the Nuggets favor than their timely blossom is their remaining schedule. The Nuggets still have four of their remaining seven games at home, where they've won a season-high six straight and 13 of 15, and only three of their last seven, including tonight’s game with Utah, are against teams with .500 or better overall records.
Plus, the home team has won each of the previous three games played this season between the Jazz and Nuggets. If history has a way of repeating itself the Nuggets should win this game. They have all the stars aligned for the Pepsi Center to go nuts tonight from opening tip to final buzzer. With that being said, I’m predicting, better yet demanding, a victory tonight. While it wouldn’t be a disaster if the Nuggets lost this game, it would leave a slight crack in the backdoor for Utah to still somehow manage to pull out the divisional title.
Time to latch it shut.
Go Nuggets!
Seriously though, this is a big game. The Nuggets may have clinched a playoff birth for the sixth straight season with their last win over the Knicks, but without holding onto the divisional title and earning home court in the first round that means nothing as the past five years have shown us. Point being the Nuggets need home court advantage worse than Amy Winehouse needs a more supportive brassiere. The Nuggets lead Portland by 1 1/2 games in the division, while third-place Utah (46-28) is 2 1/2 back with Denver in currently seeded second overall in the grand scheme of things. With a win tonight, Denver sets Utah a FULL GAME back in the division standings and surely puts a few tears on Deron Williams’ pillow.
As for the Jazz… I’m not sure there has been a team in recent memory so strong at home while being so feeble on the road. Utah has compiled a 32-6 record at Energy Solutions Center this season, but against many of the same teams on the road have only posted a mark of 14-22 while losing five of their last six. I guess it’s true when they say things are “different” in Utah… I say this because there really isn’t that much difference in the Jazz’s performance away from the ESC statistically.
However, the Nuggets may be peaking just at the right time. Winners of nine out of their last ten games, Denver is starting to look very formidable. Carmelo is back to his offensive exploitations, Chauncey is putting his efforts towards managing the team with less of the scoring burden weighing him down, J.R. Smith is showing signs that he is in fact the player we all thought he could be, and Kenyon Martin is showing signs that he’s finally getting close to 100% health. Not to mention the steadfast contributions of Nene, Anthony Carter, and the rest of the Denver role players like Bird, The Perfect Stranger, and Dahntay Jones.
And weighing even more heavily in the Nuggets favor than their timely blossom is their remaining schedule. The Nuggets still have four of their remaining seven games at home, where they've won a season-high six straight and 13 of 15, and only three of their last seven, including tonight’s game with Utah, are against teams with .500 or better overall records.
Plus, the home team has won each of the previous three games played this season between the Jazz and Nuggets. If history has a way of repeating itself the Nuggets should win this game. They have all the stars aligned for the Pepsi Center to go nuts tonight from opening tip to final buzzer. With that being said, I’m predicting, better yet demanding, a victory tonight. While it wouldn’t be a disaster if the Nuggets lost this game, it would leave a slight crack in the backdoor for Utah to still somehow manage to pull out the divisional title.
Time to latch it shut.
Go Nuggets!
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