Post by Swishand1 on Nov 14, 2007 4:32:42 GMT -5
Nuggets VS Sonics Preview
Round 1
Past games: Nuggets 3-1 Sonics
Player Match ups
PG
Nuggets-Allen Iverson 24.4 PPG -4.9 RPG -8.6 APG -2.0 SPG
Sonics- Chris Paul 20.6 PPG -5.8 RPG -7.4 APG -1.6 SPG
Definitely the closest matchups of the series, both players are gifted point guards. While the young Chris Paul likes to pull up for the jumper, the experienced AI prefers to use his moves to get into the paint. Both are great handlers and defenders so it will be very interesting to see who performs better.
Advantage: Nuggets, but just by a bit. While it may seem that Chris Paul is the better player (stats), Allen Iverson’s stats show differently. However, playing alongside great shooters like JR Smith and Dirk Nowitzki may have boosted his APG.
SG
Nuggets- JR Smith 20.5PPG -5.9RPG -4.9APG -1.7SPG
Sonics – Damien Wilkins 8.9PPG -4.0RPG -1.5APG -1.1SPG
After guard Delonte West was traded to the Denver Nuggets, the Sonics were left with Damien Wilkins as their starting shooting guard. Although Damien Wilkins is a serviceable player, JR Smith is easily the better player. JR Smith had a breakout season after his shooting improved greatly in the offseason and was rewarded with more plays being set for him.
Advantage: Nuggets- JR Smith is a better shooter and defender, expect him to get big numbers against Wilkins.
SF
Nuggets-Ron Artest 23.8PPG -8.2RPG -3.5APG -2.6SPG
Sonics- Kevin Durant 21.1PPG -8.1RPG -3.1APG -1.4SPG
A great player with a lot of upside, Kevin Durant has been everything the Sonics wanted him to be when they drafted him in 2007. Artest played absolutely great for the Nuggets this season, averaging career highs for SPG, PPG, RPG and FG%.
Advantage: Nuggets-KD is good, but Artest is better than him in almost every statistic. On a side note, Artest averages 33.5 PPG against the Sonics this season!
PF
Nuggets-Dirk Nowitzki 13.8PPG -10.7RPG-2.6APG -1.3SPG -1.5BPG
Sonics- Jeff Green 16.6PPG -7.6RPG -2.2APG -1.0SPG -1.1 BPG
Dirk was a big disappointment for the Nuggets this season. He averaged only 13PPG as the Nuggets main option. Needless to say, he was in a number of trade rumors and he may be dealt in the offseason. Jeff Green’s numbers have also gone down, and both teams are looking for their forwards to step it up.
Advantage: TIE- Jeff Green has similar stats to Dirk, but he hits more shots. However, Dirk is easily the better all round player, doing a bit of everything for the Nuggets.
C
Nuggets-Marcus Camby 9.8 PPG-12.5 RPG -2.2 APG -1.2 SPG -3.4 BPG
Sonics- Saer Sene 5.6 PPG 6.0RPG 0.8APG 0.5SPG 2.4BPG
Marcus Camby, a former DPOY will absolutely dominate at the defensive end. Big advantage for the Nuggets, the SG and C positions are the Achilles heel of the Sonics. Sene is a pretty good defender though, but Camby is better.
Advantage: Nuggets-Expect Camby to intimidate Sene on both ends of the court.
Bench
Nuggets- Key Bench Players: Delonte West, Nene, Von Wafer
Sonics- Julius Hodge, Andre Blatche, Johan Petro
The Nuggets have a relatively weak bench for a 70 win team. On the other hand, the Seattle Supersonics has one of the best benches in the league, with good scorers like Kinsey, Boykins etc.
Advantage: Sonics, although they do get quite a lot more minutes than those in the Nuggets
Key Factors
Kevin Durant-How well can he play under Artest’s famous lockdown defense?
Power Forwards- Both players (Green and Nowitzki) played worse than the previous season. If one of them steps up, it could determine a game or two.
Ron Artest- He plays great against the Sonics; can he continue this in the series?
Prediction
Nuggets in 4
The Nuggets are a 70 win team… but don’t expect them to blowout the Sonics for every game. The sneaky Sonics might be able to snatch a win, after all they did it once in the regular season.
Round 1
Past games: Nuggets 3-1 Sonics
Player Match ups
PG
Nuggets-Allen Iverson 24.4 PPG -4.9 RPG -8.6 APG -2.0 SPG
Sonics- Chris Paul 20.6 PPG -5.8 RPG -7.4 APG -1.6 SPG
Definitely the closest matchups of the series, both players are gifted point guards. While the young Chris Paul likes to pull up for the jumper, the experienced AI prefers to use his moves to get into the paint. Both are great handlers and defenders so it will be very interesting to see who performs better.
Advantage: Nuggets, but just by a bit. While it may seem that Chris Paul is the better player (stats), Allen Iverson’s stats show differently. However, playing alongside great shooters like JR Smith and Dirk Nowitzki may have boosted his APG.
SG
Nuggets- JR Smith 20.5PPG -5.9RPG -4.9APG -1.7SPG
Sonics – Damien Wilkins 8.9PPG -4.0RPG -1.5APG -1.1SPG
After guard Delonte West was traded to the Denver Nuggets, the Sonics were left with Damien Wilkins as their starting shooting guard. Although Damien Wilkins is a serviceable player, JR Smith is easily the better player. JR Smith had a breakout season after his shooting improved greatly in the offseason and was rewarded with more plays being set for him.
Advantage: Nuggets- JR Smith is a better shooter and defender, expect him to get big numbers against Wilkins.
SF
Nuggets-Ron Artest 23.8PPG -8.2RPG -3.5APG -2.6SPG
Sonics- Kevin Durant 21.1PPG -8.1RPG -3.1APG -1.4SPG
A great player with a lot of upside, Kevin Durant has been everything the Sonics wanted him to be when they drafted him in 2007. Artest played absolutely great for the Nuggets this season, averaging career highs for SPG, PPG, RPG and FG%.
Advantage: Nuggets-KD is good, but Artest is better than him in almost every statistic. On a side note, Artest averages 33.5 PPG against the Sonics this season!
PF
Nuggets-Dirk Nowitzki 13.8PPG -10.7RPG-2.6APG -1.3SPG -1.5BPG
Sonics- Jeff Green 16.6PPG -7.6RPG -2.2APG -1.0SPG -1.1 BPG
Dirk was a big disappointment for the Nuggets this season. He averaged only 13PPG as the Nuggets main option. Needless to say, he was in a number of trade rumors and he may be dealt in the offseason. Jeff Green’s numbers have also gone down, and both teams are looking for their forwards to step it up.
Advantage: TIE- Jeff Green has similar stats to Dirk, but he hits more shots. However, Dirk is easily the better all round player, doing a bit of everything for the Nuggets.
C
Nuggets-Marcus Camby 9.8 PPG-12.5 RPG -2.2 APG -1.2 SPG -3.4 BPG
Sonics- Saer Sene 5.6 PPG 6.0RPG 0.8APG 0.5SPG 2.4BPG
Marcus Camby, a former DPOY will absolutely dominate at the defensive end. Big advantage for the Nuggets, the SG and C positions are the Achilles heel of the Sonics. Sene is a pretty good defender though, but Camby is better.
Advantage: Nuggets-Expect Camby to intimidate Sene on both ends of the court.
Bench
Nuggets- Key Bench Players: Delonte West, Nene, Von Wafer
Sonics- Julius Hodge, Andre Blatche, Johan Petro
The Nuggets have a relatively weak bench for a 70 win team. On the other hand, the Seattle Supersonics has one of the best benches in the league, with good scorers like Kinsey, Boykins etc.
Advantage: Sonics, although they do get quite a lot more minutes than those in the Nuggets
Key Factors
Kevin Durant-How well can he play under Artest’s famous lockdown defense?
Power Forwards- Both players (Green and Nowitzki) played worse than the previous season. If one of them steps up, it could determine a game or two.
Ron Artest- He plays great against the Sonics; can he continue this in the series?
Prediction
Nuggets in 4
The Nuggets are a 70 win team… but don’t expect them to blowout the Sonics for every game. The sneaky Sonics might be able to snatch a win, after all they did it once in the regular season.
