(AP Photo/David Zalubowski) The Nuggets went through another 53 minutes of basketball with the Utah Jazz tonight with a less favorable outcome than Monday nights victory over the Portland Trailblazers. It was apparent early in this game that the play was going to be physical and that the tougher, both mentally and physically, team was going to emerge the winner. And it pains me more than you know to report the Nuggets lost, 118-115, to the foul happy Utah Jazz.  read more »

One of the most interesting things about the NBA for me is how much of an effect a truly elite player can have on a franchise. The NBA is the only professional league in which almost the entire fortune of a franchise can be driven by one player. My belief in The Superstar Theory was initially established after reading the wonderful article on 82games.com by Dennis Gallagher . A similar three part study was done on NBADraft.net by Robert W. McChesney ( Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3 ). Both authors come to similar conclusions.  read more »

He just questions the method sometimes used by Griz owner Michael Heisley, who Cuban communicates with as a friend. Asked to elaborate on his critical comments regarding the Grizzlies' decision to unload Pau Gasol for essentially draft picks and salary-cap relief, Cuban reiterated that the Griz could have received more for the skilled 7-footer.  read more »

(Boulder-CO) With Caron Butler, All-Star, questionable tonight after missing four of the last six games with a hip flexor injury the Nuggets should be able to assist Washington lose their sixth straight game- a season-high skid. Plus, the Nuggets need to start a new winning streak at Pepsi Center after losing to the Jazz in overtime (cringe) on Wednesday night. The Nuggets are a stout 20-6 at home so far this year while the Wizards are only 9-13 on the road.  read more »

Four years ago, Kevin Martin averaged 2.6 field goal attempts and 1.2 free throw attempt per game, for a scoring average of 2.9 pts. per game.

Three years ago, Kevin Martin averaged 7.6 field goal attempts and 3.1 free throw attempts for a scoring average of 10.9 pts. per game.

Two years ago, Kevin Martin averaged 13.3 field goal attempts and 7.1 free throw attempts for a scoring average of 20.2 pts. per game.

Last year, Kevin Martin averaged 15.0 field goal attempts and 9.5 free throw attempts for a scoring average of 23.7 pts. per game.

For Martin's career, if you take his shot attempts and free throw attempts and add them together, it comes pretty close to matching his scoring average.

In the 15 games that Ron Artest did not play last year and Kevin Martin did, he averaged 28.7 points pers game, which would have been good for 2nd in the NBA in scoring, behind only LeBron James. Martin actually finished 6th in scoring (7th if you include non-qualifier Dwyane Wade).  read more »

There isn't a player on Jazz that I don't like - except for maybe Harpring(untalented and uses aggression bordering on thugery to make up for it) and Okur(don't like his playing style), but they aren't like the Nuggets, who have two players in Kenyon Martin and Carmelo Anthony that I despise.(I watched both of their losses to Sacramento and Seattle and giggled my head off)

I love the clever play of Ronnie Brewer.  I still have residual fondness for Andrei Kirilenko when he helped my fantasy team a ton a few years ago.  Paul Millsap is an incredible story and everything I'd want in a backup - or even starting - big.  Deron Williams is a joy to watch.  Boozer, if not exciting, is easily appreciated for all the things he does.  Their offense is amazing.  read more »

(Boulder-CO) Heres a new word for us all to learn: Nuggetish : [ ngg - et - ish ] adj - Pertaining to the Denver Nuggets (one of the most exciting teams in the NBA) and the manner in which they wait to put the strangle hold on their opponents until the second half. Im not even going to go into all the reasons why I think the Nuggets played such a poor first half against the Mavericks because the only thing that matters is how the Nuggets continue to destroy their opposition in winning efforts down the stretch of this regular season. My overall reason for such a position is the lack of significance it has to how talented this team is and how far they will potentially go if, and when, they make the playoffs.  read more »

(Boulder-CO) Marcus Camby and Eduardo Najera were game-time decisions that didnt suit up for the Bobcats, but worry not, Nuggets Nation, because the rest of the Nuggets banded together to avoid breaking their home winning streak. Steven Hunter started in the place of the precautious Marcus Camby (sore knee) and Eduardo Najeras (sore rib) bench spark was filled by the ever fiery Linas Kleiza as the Nuggets won their eighth straight home game against the Bobcats, 117-101. In the first half, the Nuggets were trailing the Cats by ten after the first 24 minutes conclusion.  read more »

(Boulder-CO) Tonights, 117-93, loss made me realize the Denver Nuggets are at a crossroads. This season can go two different directions at this precise juncture. Veer one way and the Nuggets have all the excuses they need to slide out of the playoff picture. Veer another and they could choose to make this year a springboard for bigger and better things to come in the future. Either way, the Hornets proved to me that they are indeed, For real by trouncing the Nuggets right from the word go. In the first half, Denver was absolutely exploited by the crisper New Orleans Hornets. Chris Paul was slicing the Nuggets interior defense to ribbons and finished the first half with eight points, nine assists, and six rebounds.  read more »