Storms over Denver
Iverson and Anthony sure to explode
Of the St. Louis American
How do you replace the loss of 30 points a game in your offense? The Denver Nuggets had a simple answer. They just traded for 30 more points a game.
With young star Carmelo Anthony beginning to serve his 15-game suspension for his role in fight night in the Garden two weeks ago, the Nuggets made the deal for veteran star Allen Iverson, who comes over to Denver after 10 exciting and tumultuous years in Philadelphia.
When Anthony returns to the lineup, the Nuggets will have the NBA’s top two leading scorers. They will have two dynamic talents who can create instant offense and bring crowds to their collective feet. Denver is also the home of two of the most temperamental stars in the league. A young one and a veteran, not to mention a temperamental coach in George Karl.
It’s a potentially combustible mix, but one I’m looking forward to watch. To be frank, I’ll be rooting like crazy for this duo to make it work because it would mean tons of excitement in Denver, plus it could make the Nuggets a dangerous player in the loaded Western Conference playoffs. Anthony has already developed a penchant making clutch shots, plus he’s a offensive weapon on the perimeter or in the low post. Iverson’s ability to take and make shots throughout his career is well documented. With the Iverson-Anthony combination putting up the points in Denver’s uptempo system, they may not be a NBA title contender right away, but I don’t think many teams would be looking forward to a first or second-round playoff match-up with them down the road.
The two players had a chance to be teammates at the 2004 Olympics in Athens. Believe it or not, Iverson was the voice of leadership and maturity while young guys like Anthony brooded and feuded with USA coach Larry Brown (that’s nothing new).
Anyway, fasten your seat belts and hang on.
Rain by Arenas
The Gilbert Arenas West-Coast tour has been a smash hit in late December. The Washington Wizards shooting star led his team to three victories in the first four games of a difficult West-Coast swing. Arenas started the trip with a sparkling 60-point performance in a victory over the Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant. It’s pretty difficult for Kobe to score 42 points in a game and get upstaged in his own house, but that is what happened as Arenas rained jumpers all over the Staples Center.
Said Bryant after Arenas’ shooting spree, “He doesn’t seem to have much of a conscience. I haven’t gotten used to that mentality of just chucking it up there.”
It sounds like some serious playa’-hatin’ of Kobe’s part, but considering his reputation for gunning, Gilbert should take Kobe’s jab as a huge compliment.
The 60-point explosion was just the beginning for Arenas. After a pedistrian 30-point effort in a victory over Sacramento, he erupted for 54 points to lead Washington to an overtime victory over Phoenix, snapping the Suns’ 15-game winning streak in the process.
For the season, Arenas is averaging more than 30 points a game.
Big men go down
The playoff chances for two teams took a big hit after injuries sustained to a pair of talented International big men. The major injury took place last Saturday when Houston Rockets’ center Yao Ming went down with a broken bone under his right knee in a loss to the Los Angeles Clippers. Yao will miss the next six weeks. The7’5″ center was enjoying his best season as a pro, averaging 27 points and nine rebounds a game. With Yao dominating the inside, the Rockets were still able to maintain a winning record without perennial All-Star Tracy McGrady in the lineup. McGrady has missed the last several games with back spasms.
Also on the shelf with a knee injury is 7’0″ center Nenad Krstic of the New Jersey Nets, who will miss the remainder of the season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament injury to his left knee. The underrated Krstic was averaging 16.4 points, seven rebounds while shooting 52 percent from the field. He was a perfect and productive compliment to New Jersey’s Big Three perimeter trio of Jason Kidd, Vince Carter and Richard Jefferson.
Spike, eat shoe
On NBA Draft night in 2005, I can still remember the reaction of the hometown New York Knicks fans, and specifically screen writer and Knicks Superfan Spike Lee, when league commish announced that St. Louisan David Lee was taken with the 30th and final selection in the first round by the Knicks. Most of the crowd booed while Lee had this “what in the world are they doing?” look on his face.
I remember throwing a shoe at Spike Lee on the television while yelling, “you have no idea what kind of player you’re getting.”
Spike and the rest of the Madison Garden faithful now have an idea. After watching the second-year player from Chaminade perform, David Lee is now a fan favorite and rightly so. Lee is getting significant minutes this season and he’s making the most of them. He is averaging 11 points, 10 rebounds and nearly two assists a game. In an overtime victory over Utah last weekend, Lee has 17 points and 20 rebounds, including a perfect outlet pass to halfcourt that led Stephon Marbury on the way to a lay-up at the final buzzer for the victory.
Two nights later, Lee had 19 rebounds against Charlotte, including a spectacular tip-in at the buzzer to give New York a dramatic two-point victory. The 6’9″ 245-pound Lee is one of the league’s most unique talents. He is a great athlete, a tremendous passer, a tireless worker on the boards, and a player who’s equally effective around the basket with both hands.
It’s time for Spike to break out with that David Lee jersey when he sits courtside. He doesn’t even have to change the last name.