Maybe Bret Bearup said it best recently in regards to the Nuggets’ likely first-round series with the San Antonio Spurs. The Nuggets consultant and owner Stan Kroenke’s right-hand man stated: “You got to beat somebody to get somewhere.”
In each of the Nuggets’ three consecutive playoff appearances they have seemed to face their biggest nemesis in Minnesota (2004), San Antonio (2005) and the Los Angeles Clippers (2006). Based on games this season, the nemesis trend could continue in 2007 against San Antonio. Nuggets forward-center Nene said he’d rather play Phoenix.
The way the Nuggets’ confidence is right now, they believe that beating the Spurs, or anyone for that matter, is possible.
“That’s what we’re here to do,” forward Carmelo Anthony said. “We can win (more than) one game against Dallas, San Antonio and Phoenix. We put our sneakers … on just like they do.”
Denver has victories over Dallas and Phoenix this season. The Nuggets are 0-2 against the Spurs, but one loss was without a then-suspended Anthony. San Antonio is the only team among the top five in the West that Denver has not beaten. The Nuggets and Spurs finish the regular season Wednesday in San Antonio.
The Spurs have all-stars in Tim Duncan and Tony Parker and a sixth-man-of-the-year candidate in Manu Ginobili. But what’s more intimidating than the three San Antonio superstars is the team’s defense.
San Antonio entered Friday as the only team allowing fewer than 90 points per game (89.8) while owning the third-best field-goal percentage defense (.441) and is second in 3-point percentage defense (.329). The Nuggets entered Friday averaging 105.2 points. But in the losses to San Antonio, Denver averaged 81.5 points on 42 percent shooting.
Keys to beating San Antonio include great defense from Nene on Duncan and stopping Parker and Ginobili from driving the lane. Much easier said than done. But the biggest key for the Nuggets will be figuring out a way to get their intimidating fast break revving. San Antonio entered Friday 32-4 when holding teams to fewer than 100 points and 2-10 when allowing teams to score more than 100.
Beating San Antonio will be the biggest challenge of Anthony’s four-year career and the biggest for Allen Iverson since he and the Philadelphia 76ers tried to beat the Los Angeles Lakers in the 2001 Finals. Are the Spurs the favorite in this likely series with Denver? Yes. But is it out of the realm of possibility for the Nuggets to compete and beat them? No.
Don’t forget what Bearup said. If the Nuggets can beat somebody like the Goliath Spurs, they might just get somewhere.
Think globally
China forward Yi Jianlian recently arrived in Los Angeles for predraft training under the watchful eye of his agent, Dan Fegan. The 7-foot, 230-pound Yi, who can speak some English, could be the highest international player drafted.
Houston Rockets all-star center and China native Yao Ming told Reuters: “(Yi) needs more muscle, that’s for sure. Although he doesn’t shy away from physical contact, he can get disrupted by rough play and struggles to maintain his position as opposing defenders tend to push him out.”
Washington Wizards fans should keep an eye on 6-foot-10, 232-pound Oleksiy Pecherov. The 18th overall pick in the 2006 draft scored a season-high 15 points and got 14 rebounds off the bench for Ukraine BC Kyiv in its win over Azovmash Mariupol on April 4.
Expect the Wizards to buy out the 21-year-old’s contract and put him on the roster next season.
Footnotes
NBA referee Jim Clark’s son Landry, 21, tragically died in his sleep of unknown causes early Thursday morning at his father’s home in Aurora. The former Colorado student was three weeks from being inducted into the Army Special Forces and will have a funeral Thursday in Austin, Texas. … LeBron James’ former agent, Aaron Goodwin, is hot again. Goodwin will represent Texas forward Kevin Durant and Florida forward Al Horford in the June 28 draft. Durant is a top-two pick candidate, while Horford is top 10. Goodwin was able to get James $135 million in endorsements in two years. … Also, Florida center Joakim Noah has signed with agent Donald Dell and Bill Strickland. Dell used to represent Noah’s father, Yannick, when he starred in tennis. … Don’t be surprised if a Nuggets-Spurs series does not start until Sunday, April 22. The AT&T Center is hosting Cirque du Soleil’s “Delirium” show Friday and Saturday night. … While Nene has said he would not play for Brazil’s national team at the Olympic qualifying tournament Aug. 22-Sept. 22 in Las Vegas, word is those close to him believe his mind can be changed. … Expect Nuggets newcomer Von Wafer to be the focal point of the summer-league team. With a solid summer, he could have a good shot at making the Nuggets’ roster for next season. Ricky Sanchez and 2005 second-round pick Axel Hervelle, who plays for Spain’s Real Madrid, could get a strong look for next season’s roster, too. … The Colorado 14ers’ playoff game against Albuquerque will be televised on NBATV on Wednesday night.
SPOTLIGHT ON …
RACE FOR THE WEST’S FINAL TWO PLAYOFF SPOTS
Background: The Nuggets locked up the sixth seed in the Western Conference with their recent hot streak. That leaves the race for the final two West playoff seeds to the cooling Los Angeles Lakers, the late-arriving Los Angeles Clippers and the playoff-thirsty Golden State Warriors. There will be a lot of pressure for Kobe Bryant to get the Lakers there. The Clippers are under pressure to achieve as the most disappointing team in the NBA this season. And the Warriors are fighting a 12-year run of not making the postseason.
What’s up: The Lakers are in the seventh spot with a half.game lead on the Clippers and the Warriors. The Lakers (40-40) have games at home against Seattle today and Wednesday at Sacramento. The Clippers (39-40) have home games against Sacramento today and New Orleans on Wednesday, and a road game Tuesday against Phoenix. The Warriors (39-40) have home games against Minnesota today and Dallas on Tuesday and are at Portland on Wednesday.
What’s next: The underachieving Kings and young Portland have a chance to play the spoiler. It’s hard to gauge nonplayoff teams in games this time of year. By the time the Clippers play Phoenix, the Suns will be resting players because they are locked in the West’s No. 2 spot ahead of San Antonio or will need the win to stay ahead.
Spears’ take: My sentimental pick is the Warriors. It’s been a long time since they’ve been in the postseason and the Bay Area fans deserve a taste of the playoffs. Plus, the Warriors would be an interesting first-round matchup for Dallas. The Clippers have the best path to land one of the two coveted West spots and are finally playing well. Imagine how wild it would be for the Lakers to not make the playoffs after being a safe bet two weeks ago.
EYE ON THE DRAFT
SMITH KEEPING OPTIONS OPEN
While Colorado State junior forward Jason Smith has not hired an agent, he recently interviewed three: Mark Bartelstein, Andy Miller and Jason Levien. Smith has until June 18 to decide whether to stay with the Rams or go pro. Bartelstein emphatically denied a “bad rumor” he has signed Smith, but Bartelstein is a strong front-runner to sign the all-Mountain West Conference selection if he stays in the draft.
Bartelstein has one of the larger client lists, including P.J. Brown, Danny Granger, Brad Miller and Maurice Williams. Smith’s brother, Aron, is handling the draft process very quietly. While doing interviews with the media could help his profile nationally, the Kersey kid has shied from talking on the record locally or nationally.
One NBA scout said Friday he projects Smith as a mid-first round pick and says Smith is only hurting himself by not talking to the media.
“I’m not saying he should talk to every Tom, Dick and Harry, but his story needs to be told,” said the scout.
Good memories
Eric Sebastian, director of media relations, has been with the Nuggets for 13 years. What he considers the top five Nuggets games of his tenure:
April 10, 2004: Beat Portland 110-100 in OT to keep first playoff berth in nine years alive. Melo hit jumper to force OT.
Feb. 4, 1996: Beat Chicago 105-99 to end the Bulls’ 18-game winning streak. Bulls went on to win 72 games that season.
April 10, 2006: Beat Portland 110-98 to clinch first division title since 1988.
April 23, 1995: Beat Sacramento 102-89 in regular-season finale. Winner advanced to playoffs.
April 9, 1998: Beat Sacramento 128-103 to win 10th game of season and avoid worst all-time record. “We were so happy to avoid the record you would have thought we won the championship.” – Sebastian
Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-954-1098 or mspears@denverpost.com.
