New Orleans Hornets Denver Nuggets Game 2 Predictions
Written April 22, 2009 by Jason Lowry
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If there was one team in the Western Conference that sent a message, it was the Denver Nuggets, who jumped all over the New Orleans Hornets in game 1 of the opening round series. The Nuggets won the game with ease, pulling away 113-84. The Nuggets first round woes are looking very bright after the first game, as Chauncey Billups has brought a new kind of life into the city of Denver. Billups was money all game against the Hornets, finishing with 36 points and 8 assists. The Nuggets won with only 13 points from star forward Carmelo Anthony, but they got outstanding performance off the bench from J.R. Smith, Linas Kleiza, and Chris Anderson. For the Hornets it wasn’t pretty at all, Chris Paul finished with an expected 21 points and 11 assists, but that was pretty much it for scoring. David West had just 12 points on 4-16 shooting and Peja Stojakovic shot the ball much better than West, but had just 13 points, and no other player for the Hornets scored more than 8 points. We know that Chris Paul and company are better that they showed in game 1, but health looks like a concern for this team. Here is a look at what I think each team has to do to win game 2, plus my prediction on who wins this game against the spread.Â
What the Hornets have to do to win: The team needs a lot to change in game 2 if they are going to go into Denver and steal a game on the road. Paul has to not only be more of an offensive threat, but he has to do a better job at guarding Billups. For all the hype Paul gets for his steals, its time he gets down and plays some tough physical defense. The Hornets also need West to get off to a much better start in game 2, and they need James Posey to be a little more productive off the bench. Posey was just 1-5 for 2 points in 21 minutes of play. It’s unlikely this team shoots worse than 37% in game 2, so you have to like this game to be much closer than the first one. Health has to be a concern for this team, as it looks no where near the form of the 2007-08 team that looked good enough to win the finals. A win in game 2 and the Hornets could be right in the thick of things for an upset in the first round, and then who knows what can happen once they get going. Bet New Orleans +5.5 at Sportsbook.com.Â
What the Nuggets have to do to win: The Nuggets have to come into game 2 prepared for the Hornets to do whatever it takes to slow Billups down, so that means guys like Anthony and Kenyon Martin could be due for big games. The bench play was very good in game 1, but many expected their bench to be much better than that of the beat up Hornets, so they will need a similar performance in game 2. With that said the Nuggets should do whatever they can to keep Billups going, as this guy knows what it takes to win big game, and it doesn’t look like the Hornets can keep up with him at all. This team had an easy game in game 1, and needs to expect this game to be much harder and closer. This series is not over, as the Nuggets need this game to keep home court advantage. Bet Denver -5.5 at Sportsbook.com.
My Prediction: Hornets +5.5. I know this may be a surprise to some, but this Hornets team is no where near as bad as it was in game 1. Paul has shown the ability to take over playoff games, and I think game 2 is just the spot for that to happen. The Hornets weren’t supposed to win game 1, and know a win in game 2 is just as big as a win in game 1. I think the game goes down to the wire, with the Hornets stealing the game on the road to even the series at 1-1.
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One Response to “New Orleans Hornets Denver Nuggets Game 2 Predictions”
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like the nuggets all the way in this one.
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