In just over an hour from now....

by drawingjeremy on Dec 23, 2007 7:33 PM PST

we may just be tied with Denver for 1st in the division. There's still a lot of game to go, but right now it's half time and Sacramento is clearly in control of the game out scoring the Nuggets in both of the first two quarters (31 to 23 in the first and 34 to 28 in the second), having a halftime lead of 15 (66-51). Camby is playing, KMart is not. Iverson is having a really flat night 2-10 from the field with just 2 assists. Melo is having a good night spare 5 turnovers. Artest is having another really great outing (17 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 steals at the half). Denver has not been smaller than 10 points since roughly the 9 minute mark of the 2nd quarter. There was a time towards the close of the quarter that Denver did bring it back to just 10 down, but then Sacramento went on a 6-0 run to finish off the half, so the momentum was with Sacramento going into the break.

Still lots of time left, but Denver will have to really change the momentum of the game if they want to dig out of the 15 point hole they are in. I'm honestly not too hung up on grabbing that first place spot at this point in the season, but if we do it will feel good... another accomplishment on the road to building a dynasty... being in 1st place in our division about 1/3 of the way into a season is no small accomplishment. Denver's upcoming games are against the Bucks at home (12/26), the Warriors away (12/28), and the Warriors at home (12/30), and San Antonio at home (1/3).

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I'll put this game on the radio as I really love to hear when George Karl and AI get beat. I am ok with the rest of the nuggets, but those guys drive me up the wall.

by jonestr on Dec 23, 2007 7:48 PM PST reply actions

You're welcome

hopefully Sacramento can hang on, Denver came out of the break fighting.

by drawingjeremy on Dec 23, 2007 7:52 PM PST up reply actions

hoefully

I think Sacto is a lot like us in that they have a tough time holding a lead.

Maybe that hasnt been us recently, but I rarely feel that we are like SA where we can get up by 20 and then cruise to victory. This probably reflects more about my apprehension with this team that it does there actual ability to put games away.

by jonestr on Dec 23, 2007 7:54 PM PST up reply actions

Yeah, I hear ya

Fortunately, they are also like us with regards to their home vs road winning record (and this is in ARCO, a tough place to win games... like we are again becoming). The Kings are 8-4 at home and only 3-10 on the road this season. They seem to have gotten Denver back into a less productive mode now.

by drawingjeremy on Dec 23, 2007 8:00 PM PST up reply actions

Arco

I hear they are having a hard time selling tickets, just like the Rose Garden had in previous years, but it seems that they are becoming competitive again and the fans are coming back.

It is so awesome to be in a town with a rowdy crowd, what an advantage.

by jonestr on Dec 23, 2007 8:10 PM PST up reply actions

It's huge.

by drawingjeremy on Dec 23, 2007 8:16 PM PST up reply actions

What in the weird?

Sacto uses 1 guy for the radio? Where is their token idiot? We have Antonio Harvey who is one of the bigger idiots in the league. The idiots union should really get on Sacto as they are keeping a well paying job from a deserving idiot.

by jonestr on Dec 23, 2007 7:59 PM PST reply actions

Good call.

by drawingjeremy on Dec 23, 2007 8:02 PM PST up reply actions

We'd be first place

We have the tie-breaker.

by robrun2 on Dec 23, 2007 8:05 PM PST reply actions

Thanks for saying that...

I was just talking with a friend of mine in Boston about that this afternoon. How does that work? Is it whoever has the better home record? I can't remember.

by drawingjeremy on Dec 23, 2007 8:15 PM PST up reply actions

I think

it is based on the season series. If that is tied I forget what they go to.

I think we were involved in some tie breaking scenarios in 03-04 when we were almost tied with Denver for the 8th seed. There was a lot of talk about who would get it in case we were tied in record, but LAL did us the favor of beating us in an amazing overtime game to make the decision easier.

But I think season series will be the deciding factor and I believe we are up 2-1 at this point?

by jonestr on Dec 23, 2007 8:22 PM PST up reply actions

That makes sense

Yes 2-1 thus far.

by drawingjeremy on Dec 23, 2007 8:28 PM PST up reply actions

one advantage

of being tied for first is that it might give the blazers additional motivation vs seattle, who i really hope we don't in any way overlook.

ignacio

by ignacio on Dec 23, 2007 8:18 PM PST reply actions

True that

That team has some firepower and some ability to break a zone. This may not be the cakewalk that it appears on paper.

by jonestr on Dec 23, 2007 8:23 PM PST up reply actions

I sure hope we don't underestimate them.

I also hope that being tied in first or not doesn't change how our guys play... that would be another step in the right direction.

by drawingjeremy on Dec 23, 2007 8:27 PM PST up reply actions

I imagine

There is always some extra motivation when a McMillan led team plays Seattle. Also, Roy does not appear to be a guy that takes teams lightly and his and JJack driving skills should be put to good use against a team with no proven shot blocker (Robert Swift...hmmm). Should be a good game, but I will just have to watch whatever ABC is showing, but at least I will finally get to watch some games instead of just listening. Radio is not doing that ball movement justice.

by jonestr on Dec 23, 2007 8:35 PM PST up reply actions

Thanks for starting this post

It was like a mini open game thread, but with people responding to others comments and thus making a nice dialog rather than a ridiculous littany of uncorrelated posts.

by jonestr on Dec 23, 2007 8:40 PM PST reply actions

You're welcome,

it was fun... now to drum up some food!

by drawingjeremy on Dec 23, 2007 8:44 PM PST up reply actions

Put this in the right diary:

Stinks to be Udrih if they don't pull this off! Ouch!

by drawingjeremy on Dec 23, 2007 8:40 PM PST reply actions

and Brad Miller

by drawingjeremy on Dec 23, 2007 8:40 PM PST up reply actions

Wow!

Tough call - I'm not sure if Denver won it or Sacramento lost it...

You've gotta make your free throws!!!

by webted on Dec 23, 2007 8:41 PM PST reply actions

I'd say Sacramento lost between the two.

Oh well... we're still right there. We may take that spot within the next few games.

by drawingjeremy on Dec 23, 2007 8:42 PM PST up reply actions

damn it

WTF Brad Miller. Those free throws were as embarrassing as your cornrows.

I begrudgingly like Kleiza.

by jonestr on Dec 23, 2007 8:41 PM PST reply actions

Carter and Kleiza

Why are those guys hitting game winners.

I remember a few years back when Iverson hit a game winner, and they said that it was the first of his nba career. That really surprised me as I thought he would be Kobe like.

by jonestr on Dec 23, 2007 8:43 PM PST reply actions

JR Smith

just talked to the radio announcer about Portland. It was hard to hear what he said as he has a serious case of marble mouth.

by jonestr on Dec 23, 2007 8:43 PM PST reply actions

It would have been nice...

to have first place in the NW Division, but if Denver would have lost of Sacramento, would that have taken away from the strength of our last win, being that Denver was just on a losing streak?

I'm leaning towards yes, but only slightly. Maybe 60/40.

I'm not stubborn, just obstinate

by T Darkstar on Dec 23, 2007 9:01 PM PST reply actions

remember when

during the summer there were all those predictions that kevin durant would score 40 against us for years as revenge for portland not drafting him #1?

what's his shooting percentage? i know at one point it was 38% but i think it's come up some.

ignacio

by ignacio on Dec 23, 2007 9:10 PM PST reply actions

True

That may have been media hype more than anything. Also, we fair pretty well against these revenge scorers, i.e. Gilbert Arenas.

Until that kid starts taking it inside I will not be that high on him. If he starts scoring early we should just make James Jones or someone body the crap out of that kid. That would probably rattle him.

by jonestr on Dec 23, 2007 9:43 PM PST up reply actions

does anyone else think

outlaw is the perfect defensive matchup for durant?

he'd give up a tiny bit of quickness but durant isnt strong enough to go inside...durants game is predicated on how long he is and the fact no one who can stay with him can block his shot...outlaw may be able to do both as he has similar height and wingspan and is still naturally a 3 IMO (as is durant)

by DominicanAvenger on Dec 24, 2007 12:03 AM PST up reply actions

Perhaps Sacramento Wished They Had Outlaw?

Kleiza hit the game winning jumper...

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=271223023

by ladygonegrey on Dec 23, 2007 10:10 PM PST reply actions

I imagine

They would just rather have the best Kmart in the league back. Kevin Martin,

by jonestr on Dec 23, 2007 10:16 PM PST up reply actions

now I see

The block.

Right

by jonestr on Dec 23, 2007 10:16 PM PST up reply actions

We would have been #3 in the west

Dang Jeremy, you jinxed it. It's like saying "nice putt" before its actually in.

We would have been the #3 seed in the West as we have beaten the Nuggets 2 out of 3.

by TallTimber on Dec 23, 2007 10:13 PM PST reply actions

Yeah but, if I hadn't said anything and they won

I couldn't have felt the glory of having the clairvoyance to predict the outcome half way through. What kind of fun for me would that have been? I'm all about the glory.

Plus I think we've now found a new strategy to guarantee that the Blazers never lose another game... ever... with this power that I hold in my hands. I'm all about the glory.

by drawingjeremy on Dec 23, 2007 10:22 PM PST up reply actions