Game 5 Scouting Report

Game 5 vs. Denver (4-0)

Projected Starting Lineup

1.  Chauncey Billups | 6’3″ | 202 lbs. | 35.8 MPG | 23 PPG | 6.7 APG | 43.1 FG | 48.1 3 | 88.2 FT

Strong physical guard with a knack to knock down the big shot.  He is terrific at using his size to get his defender off balance, and then he can rise above them to get a shot off.  Also a great passer and defender.  Lost some speed with age.

2.  Anthony Carter | 6’2″ | 195 lbs. | 22.5 MPG | 4.8 PPG | 3.3 APG | 38.8 FG | 42.9 3 | 100% FT

Starting until J.R. Smith returns.  A decent shooter and average defender.

3.  Carmelo Anthony | 6’8″ | 230 lbs. | 36.5 MPG | 34.5 PPG | 6.5 RPG | 50 FG | 45% 3 | 85% FT

Playing the best basketball of his life right now.  He has put up some big numbers against good defensive teams.  Likes to work in the post, but is a good jump shooter and can take the ball to the basket.

4.  Kenyon Martin | 6’9″ | 240 lbs. | 35 MPG | 10.5 PPG | 6.5 RPG | 50% FG | 0% 3 | 25% FT

Hey, this guy looks familiar.  Still crashes the boards hard and plays very physical.  Can hit from 15 every once in a while.  If he is on, he will be a pain to stop, because he will start pump faking, taking one dribble, and going hard at the basket.

5.  Nenê | 6’10” | 250 lbs. | 35 MPG | 14.3 PPG | 9.8 RPG | 55.8% FG | 0% 3 | 63% FT

Nene is a tough guy inside, but he has a nice touch and a polished post game.  Even though he’s not a great leaper, Nenê is a terrific athlete for a center. He’s fast afoot and extremely quick when making moves at the basket, which is the main reason his foul-drawing rate is so high.  He is a better help defender than a on the ball defender.

Bench

F/C.  Chris Anderson | 6’10” | 288 lbs. | 22 MPG | 6.3 PPG | 7 RPG | 47% FG | 0% 3 | 82% FT

A high energy guy who gets the crowd going or shuts them up (on the road) with his big blocks and dunks.  He is a great rebounder, and he really gets the fast break going, and if he doesn’t he is usually finishing them.

G.  Arron Afflalo | 6’5″ | 215 lbs. | 19.8 MPG | 6.3 PPG | 1.8 APG | 45.5% FG | 40% 3 | 100% FT

Arron Afflalo seems to be the Nuggets younger, longer, and more athletic version of Dahntay Jones.  He can also play a little better on offense instead of Jones.  Actually if you look at 82games.com opponent PER figures and plus-minus data, they say that Afflalo is a better defender.

G.  Ty Lawson | 5’11” | 195 lbs. | 19.5 MPG | 9 PPG | 2.3 APG | 50% FG | 40% 3 | 85.7% FT

Lawson’s game translates well to the pro level despite his height because of exceptional athletic indicators.  As a Tar Heel, Lawson was a very efficient scorer and dynamic playmaker who excelled in Roy Williams’ frenetic style. As such, he’ll fit right in with the Nuggets.

G.  Joey Graham | 6’7 | 225 lbs. | 10.8 MPG | 4 PPG | .3 APG | 50% FG | o% 3 | 85.7% FT

Graham rebounds well for a small forward and is a great finisher at the rim, but he generates few blocks or steals.  He doesn’t have a solid outside game either.

F.  Malik Allen | 6’10” | 255 lbs. | 8 MPG | 4 PPG | 1 RPG | 50% FG | 0% 3 | 0% FT

A PF who doesn’t really go inside and he ends up settling for a good amount of jumpers.

G/F.  J.R. Smith | No Regular Season Stats: Suspended
F.  Johan Petro | No Regular Season Stats: 4 DNPs
G.  Renaldo Balkman | No Regular Season Stats: 4 DNPs

Offensive Tendencies:

This team likes to run, and they have the personnel for it.  They use Carmelo in ISO sets on different spots in the court.  They do it on the low block and at the high post.  They also run the pick and roll for Billups a good amount.

Defensive Tendencies:

After what seems like years of pleading from coach George Karl, this team is finally starting to play defense.  They got a few good off the ball shot blockers, and they like to go for those blocks, using them to start fast breaks.

Keys To Victory:

Find a way to stop Carmelo.  If we let Carmelo get his, we can’t let anyone else go off.  Allow everyone but Carmelo/Billups to shoot the three.  Without J.R. Smith (suspended), this team is lacking a consistent shooter from 3.  Close hard on everyone and let Brook handle them if they get past the outside defender.