Here we are at the fourth weekend in December. If you haven’t noticed the incessant commercials and mall-store music, this is when the holiday season finally arrives — and, with it, all the familial and friendly traditions and earned downtime from an otherwise hectic year.
But don’t tell that to the Nuggets, Avalanche and Broncos.
For the three active big-league teams in Denver, this weekend is like any other. Games, games, games. And we don’t mean the fun kind.
It’s division weekend around town, with standings implications and professional pride on the line.
• For the Nuggets, two tough road games highlight the final days before Christmas. Today, Northwest Division-leading Denver travels to Portland to take on the Trail Blazers at 8 p.m. (airing on Altitude2). In recent seasons, that would hardly be worth worrying about. But the Blazers, behind emerging guard Brandon Roy, have won nine games in a row through Thursday, vaulting them to second place in the division, one game behind the Nuggets.
Then on Sunday, the Nuggets go to California to take on Sacramento at 7 p.m. (Altitude). True NBA tests are handed out in April and May. But if the Nugs are to make waves in the Western Conference, it’s the San Antonio Spurs that have set the bar.
• The Avalanche, too, will see two tough tests. The first, a home faceoff with the New York Rangers today at 7 p.m. (Altitude), will feature two teams in opposite conferences with similar seasons so far. Both teams are hovering at the top of their respective divisions. And both have the potential to break out.
Then on Sunday, the Avs welcome rival Vancouver at 6 p.m. (Altitude2). The Canucks are one of the teams the Avs are jousting with atop the Northwest Division.
• The real holiday kicker has the Broncos, who were eliminated last week from playoff contention, playing a Monday game at AFC West champs San Diego at 6 p.m. (ESPN and KCNC-4). While not playing for the postseason, Denver will be playing for pride. But just who are the Scrooges at the league office who stuck the Broncos out of town on Christmas Eve? Does the NFL really need to play on Christmas Eve? Bah, humbug!
Fortunately, the local schedule is silent for Dec. 25. But just wait until the following week. The New Year won’t be without distractions, either.
AROUND TOWN
Gill has been a Net gain for 14ers.
Rough life, being jerked around as an NBA journeyman. Aurora Central High School graduate Eddie Gill knows it all too well. On call with the New Jersey Nets, Gill has already been up and down from the NBA Development League’s Colorado 14ers to the Nets and back again this season. An open season for jet lag. But good news for the 14ers, who rode Gill’s triple-double (19 points, 11 rebounds and 12 assists) in a big win over division-leading Austin on Tuesday. The 14ers this weekend will have a chance to overtake the top spot, with two games. Colorado travels to Anaheim to take on the Arsenal tonight. Then the 14ers host the Albuquerque Thunderbirds on Sunday in Broomfield. Two wins could see Colorado leapfrog over Austin at the quarter-season mark.
STAY ON THE COUCH
Isle bet it’s a high-scoring affair.
Boise State’s trick-filled overtime upset of Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl last season has still not diminished in memory as one of the best-ever college football games. And while Boise State’s matchup this season against East Carolina in the Hawaii Bowl likely won’t reach the same stature, count on it being entertaining nonetheless. The Broncos-Pirates game in Honolulu has an over-under of 70 points — one of the highest over-unders this bowl season. So expect a shoot-’em-up affair. East Carolina, coached by Skip Holtz, will be making its second consecutive postseason appearance after Holtz three years ago inherited a team that had lost 22 of 25 games. The Pirates, 10 1/2-point underdogs, are primed for the upsetter label Boise State stole last year. The game airs Sunday at 6 p.m. on ESPN.
GET OFF THE COUCH
Now we’ve got Sol!
Sol Vista, near Granby, opened this week to a 22-inch base and packed powder. That means all 26 major mountains are open for skiing, boarding, shoeing, skating, whatever. And the snow is deep. Through Wednesday, Wolf Creek had a 92-inch base and Silverton 70 inches. And most of the other major runs were deeper than 30 inches. Get it while you can has become the mantra.
WHAT WE’D LIKE TO SEE
A.I. boosts Nugs to A+ in fun
Sure, the Nuggets have nearly identical records in the 83 games before and after Allen Iverson arrived on the roster. But what can’t be measured is the team’s entertainment value. The Nugs are clearly more fun to watch with Iverson around. If all things are equal, and Iverson wants to stay in Denver, the Nuggets would be wise to keep him around until he retires — for the sake of fun and competitiveness.
WEAK IN REVIEW
Suspensions are Music to bettors’ ears
The Florida State football team did all of us in a college football bowl pool a favor this week after the Seminoles said they will suspend as many as 25 players from its Music City Bowl game against Kentucky. Florida State caught cheating? You don’t say! The wagering line was quickly suspended on the announcement, but for bettors locked in on the Wildcats as a 2 1/2-point favorite, Bobby Bowden says, “Happy Holidays!”
