Game 13: Portland Trail Blazers Vs Denver Nuggets | Where Greg Oden Is Done & Blazers Need A Win
November 18, 2010 — PDXPIPELINE——————————————
Related: Portland Trail Blazers Information + Win TICKETS
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By Andy Popp
GAME 13: Blazers vs Denver Nuggets
November 18, 7:30PM; TNT
Portland Trail Blazers Schedule here
Good news is that the Blazers are back at home. Bad news is that they're playing a tough divisional game against the Nuggets and Greg Oden's going back under the knife.
SOME WORDS ON GREG ODEN
You know it's bad when Deadspin commenters are feeling for somebody. There will a lot of people looking for answers in the wrong places (FIRE JAY JENSEN!! WHY DIDN'T WE DRAFT KEVIN DURANT!!!). I choose remain optimistic when it comes to Greg Oden. As bad as I feel about this mess, he has to feel worse... or maybe he really likes running in a pool. It's hard to say at this point.
IMPOSSIBLY OPTIMISTIC SPIN
Greg Oden and Brandon Roy both have successful knee surgeries. The Blazers plummet to the bottom of the league, subsequently take the #1 pick in the lottery. Draft Harrison Barnes. Roy and Oden make full recoveries. Blazers go on to win many titles.
Even with Carmelo Anthony being upset about his situation in Denver (he told the Nuggets his going to walk when his contract expires at the end of the year), he is still one of the premier scorers in the league (Kevin Durant and Kobe Bryant are right there with him). Expect both Nicolas Batum and Wes Matthews to have their hands full. How much those two are able to slow down Anthony will go a long way in deciding the outcome of the game.
Crazily, Shelden Williams is starting at power forward for the Nuggets. I assume that's because they want some offense from Al Harrington off the bench. If that's not why, the birds are shining and the sun is chirping and it's time to start panicking.
The Nuggets on paper.
Starting five: Carmelo Anthony, Nene, Chauncey Billups, Arron Afflalo, Shelden Williams(??????)
Off the bench: Al Harrington, Gary Forbes, Ty Lawson, J.R. Smith
MISCELLANEOUS NOTES
- You can find everything you never knew you wanted to read about Greg Oden and his knee problems at blazersedge.com
- The Nuggets were embarrassed by the Indiana Pacers last week in a 144-113 loss. The Pacers 54 3rd quarter points made for near perfection. Watch it here.
- Friend of mine says it's time to start calling Greg Oden “Jurassic 5 games a season.” Ha.
- RIP Four Loko. Pour one out as you bump this.
STRATEGY
Build off the defensive effort against the Grizzlies. Attack defensively and crash the boards. All 5 Nuggets on the court at any given time crash the boards. The Blazer's are going to need to adjust to this to prevent this game from getting out of hand early.
LET'S GET RICH
To date: 5-3-1.
Blazers -2.5 tonight on national TV. I'll take 'em.
TRADE ME
Rudy Fernandez.
NEXT 5
Utah
New Orleans
@ New Jersey
@ Philadelphia
@ Boston
BOTTOM LINE
Though to say how the Blazers will react tonight on national TV. Everyone involved with the Blazers, from top to the players to the fans is in desperate need of a win tonight … hopefully they deliver one.
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More Portland Trail Blazers Information on Pipeline here
Andy Popp is a Portland native that loves sports and beer. You can contact Andy Popp at either andypopp@gmail.com or BlazersPipeline on Twitter. When he's not at PDX Pipeline, you can find him at lowposts.com.
