Charlotte Bobcats and Atlanta Hawks.
The mere mention of those teams can conjure up thoughts of “automatic victory,” and given their recent history, rightfully so.
But take another look this season.
This isn’t the most difficult road trip the Nuggets will face. However, this duo of back-to-back games, beginning tonight, is dangerous. It doesn’t mean the games aren’t winnable for a Nuggets team trying to prove it ranks among the NBA’s elite.
But Charlotte and Atlanta are two of the more-improved young teams.
Charlotte features two of the league’s most dynamic players: the well-known Jason Richardson and the under-the-radar Gerald Wallace. The two combine to average 40.7 points, 11.3 rebounds and 3.4 steals per game for a team that is 11-11 at home, and recently beat the Boston Celtics and pushed the Detroit Pistons to overtime before falling 103-100 on Saturday.
“They’re starting to play good basketball,” Nuggets coach George Karl said. “They’re playing very well against good teams.”
Karl added that Richardson is “pretty explosive right now.”
After a victory Sunday over Chicago, the Hawks are 11-8 at home. Led by guard Joe Johnson (21.5 points per game), the Hawks also have one of the NBA’s best all-around players in forward Josh Smith.
Center Al Horford has played solid in his rookie season, and Marvin Williams is starting to realize the potential that made him the No. 2 overall pick of the 2005 draft.
“The road trip’s important,” Karl said. “Both games are winnable. We’ve definitely got to go out and get at least one of them, then hopefully come back and continue that good success at home.”
Deserving Melo?
The final all-star voting results aren’t due for another 10 days, but Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony is in prime position to be voted a starter by fans.
And if that happens, he has no doubts that he has earned it.
“I think so,” Anthony said. “I’ve been through a lot. For me to be able to sit here and talk about being the second forward in the West, and not being on the list that might not make it, that just makes a person feel good.”
At the last update, Anthony was second behind San Antonio’s Tim Duncan among Western Conference forwards. Paper balloting has ended. Online votes are still being taken until Sunday. All-star starters will be announced Jan. 24.
Chris Dempsey: 303-954-1279 or cdempsey@denverpost.com
NOTEBOOK
Nuggets: There were no updates on the condition of Nuggets forward Nene. The team expects to know more in the next couple of days. . . . Guard Allen Iverson hosted a party at a Charlotte- area Jillian’s on Sunday night. Guests included Bobcats players as well as members of the NHL’s Carolina Panthers. . . . Guard Anthony Carter has had 11 or more assists in three of his past four games. . . . Carmelo Anthony has had eight double-doubles in his past 14 games.
Bobcats: The Bobcats could get a couple of injured players back for tonight’s game. Guards Raymond Felton (sprained ankle), Jeff McInnis (strained right quadriceps) and Derek Anderson (bruised right knee) missed the team’s past game, a 103-100 overtime loss to Detroit. McInnis and Felton could play tonight.
