Chris Marlowe's New Blog Entry entitled Josh and Masai Strike Again June 27th Blog Entry on altitude.tv

Here is Chris Marlowe's New Blog Entry entitled Josh and Masai Strike Again June 27th Blog Entry on altitude.tv:

Think Batman and Robin, Jordan and Pippen, Marlowe and Hastings!

Better yet…Josh Kroenke and Masai Ujiri.

First, the dynamic duo got a boatload of players, draft choices and three million dollars in the Carmelo Anthony deal. All that was missing was the beads.

Then, in last Thursday’s NBA Draft, the Nuggets’ brain trust pulled off another stunner. Utilizing patience and a cool game plan, Josh and Masai wheeled and dealed, acquiring Kenneth Faried, the nation’s leading rebounder, Jordan Hamilton, a 6’8”, 20 year old sharpshooter from Texas, Nigerian jumping jack Chukwudiebere Maduabum, and old friend Andre Miller.

Faried is the “banger” the Nuggets have needed for awhile. In his four-year career at Morehead State, Kenneth collected more rebounds than anyone in NCAA history including Tim Duncan. His secret? Like Dennis Rodman, he goes after EVERY single rebound. I see him backing up Nene at the power forward position and getting 15 - 20 minutes a game.

Jordan Hamilton has a chance to be a star in the NBA. He shoots the rock, can torch defenders one-on-one, and is a good rebounder for a wing. Prior to the draft, Hamilton was considered a potential lottery pick. According to reports, Jordan slipped to 26 because of “coach-ability” issues and “wandering defense”. If he can hit it off with George, and dial up his effort on D, Jordan could be the steal of the draft.

Did I mention that Andre Miller is back in town? I for one am very happy he is. Not only is Andre a good scorer, a great passer, and a tough hombre, he calls me “Mr. President”. With Obama now in office, we’ll have to see if I still get the call. I almost forgot…Andre is durable…having played all 82 games in a season 7 times. Masai says that Andre can be our Jason Kidd! Sounds good to me.

Chu-Chu Maduabum is a project. He also is a youngster loaded with talent. He’s 6”9”, has a 7’3” wingspan, and can jump well over 12 feet. Masai told me that he thinks Chu-Chu could develop into a Serge Ibaka type player in a couple of years. If that’s true, “the train” will be well worth waiting for.

Bottom line: The Nuggets got a rebounding machine, a wing with top 10 talent, a kid with intriguing potential, and a veteran point guard who throws great lob passes, and will make everybody better.

Grade: A

A Link to the 2011 NBA Free Agent Tracker on NBA.com

Here is A Link to the 2011 NBA Free Agent Tracker on NBA.com:

2011 NBA Free Agent Tracker on NBA.com Link

Youtube Video on Nick Charles Tribute

Here is the Youtube Video on Nick Charles Tribute:

Reminder of the Live Nuggets Draft Press Conference at 2:00 PM

Here is a Reminder of the Live Nuggets Draft Press Conference at 2:00 PM on Altitude TV:

Don't forget to watch the Live Nuggets Draft Press Conference at 2:00 PM on Altitude TV.

Sports on Today Schedule Image

Here is the Sports on Today Schedule Image:

Grades Denver received from the national media

Here are some of the Grades Denver received from the national media:

Sam Amick, CNNSI.com

Grade: B-plus

The Nuggets had a need for another rugged rebounder and defender, and they filled it with Moorehead State's Kenneth Faried (No. 22). He is expected to be a long-time pro who cleans the glass in ways that few guys can, but his ceiling doesn't go far beyond that. They weren't alone in their interest here, as Portland was also very high on Faried at No. 21 but opted for Duke guard Nolan Smith.

Jordan Hamilton (No. 26 via Dallas), meanwhile, is a case of prioritizing the talent and acquiring a decent asset. He doesn't fit with the Nuggets' roster that is heavy at the position, but could be traded into something that does if need be.

Chad Ford, ESPN.com

Grade: B

The Nuggets had a busy night. Not only did they trade Raymond Felton for Andre Miller, but they ended up with three draft picks.
I won't factor the Felton/Miller trade into their draft grade. (I'll let John Hollinger pick that one apart.) But I love Kenneth Faried. He's got great energy and can really rebound the basketball. Faried probably won't be a star -- he may not even be a starter. But given his relentless enthusiasm for playing defense, it's hard to see how he doesn't stick in the league.

Jordan Hamilton is a bit harder to fathom. I like the value. But on a team with Danilo Gallinari and most likely Wilson Chandler, a restricted free agent this summer, I'm not sure how he ever gets into the game. As for Chukwudiebere Maduabum ... he's a big-time project.

Jeff Goodman, CBSSports.com

Grade: B-plus

The biggest noise made by the Nuggets was the deal in which they acquired Andre Miller for Raymond Felton. I like that deal -- and also am a fan of the team's two first-round picks. Faried is a junkyard dog, and Hamilton is the polar opposite -- a skilled offensive player who has no desire to defend. Hamilton is worth the roll of the dice at 26.

Mike Misek, NBADraft.net

Grade: B

Raymond Felton wasn't really needed in Denver, as the Nuggets already had a quality point guard from North Carolina in Ty Lawson on the roster. They managed to get some talent in return for Felton, receiving the expiring contract of Andre Miller and the rights to Texas sharpshooter Hamilton from the Blazers. Hamilton is a natural scorer with a lot of potential in this area, though he doesn't figure to get a lot of playing time next year unless Wilson Chandler leaves. The Nuggets also picked up Faried, who is easily the best rebounder in the draft and could be the eventual successor to Chris "Birdman" Andersen. Nuggets GM Masai Ujiri drafted countryman Maduabum, who has the nickname "Chu Chu" which makes him worthy of being drafted, alone.

A Link to the Nuggets Draft Night Press Conference June 24th Nuggets.com Video

Here is A Link to the Nuggets Draft Night Press Conference June 24th Nuggets.com Video:

Nuggets Draft Night Press Conference June 24th Nuggets.com Video Link

Masai Ujiri ready for first draft as Nuggets executive VP June 22nd Article on Nuggets.com

Here is the Masai Ujiri ready for first draft as Nuggets executive VP June 22nd Article on Nuggets.com:

Depending on the activity, five minutes can seem as quick as Ty Lawson or as slow as Zydrunas Ilgauskas.
At some point Thursday evening, the Denver Nuggets will officially go “on the clock” during the 2011 NBA Draft, and there will be precious few seconds to waste.

Nuggets Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Masai Ujiri and team President Josh Kroenke will take stock of the available talent, consult with a team of advisors and scouts, and then decide which young player to add to Denver’s roster.

“It goes fast because phones are ringing and everything is going crazy,” Ujiri said during a break from draft preparations this week. “People are trying to make deals and people are trying to call you and figure out different things. You are trying to do different things in a short amount of time. It’s pretty cool.”

As an international scout with the Nuggets from 2003-07 and a front-office executive with the Toronto Raptors from 2007-10, Ujiri has played a role in several NBA drafts. This one will be special because it is his first since returning to Denver last August.

“I’m really excited about this draft,” he said. “Scouting is what got me in this business. I love it. I eat, drink, talk it every day. It’s definitely an exciting time.”

The Nuggets hold the 22nd pick Thursday, and all options are open. They could trade up, down, stand pat or get out of the draft altogether. Whatever happens, Denver is certainly prepared.

Ujiri spent several days overseas scouting international players last month, and the Nuggets brought in 29 college players for workouts and interviews at the Pepsi Center in June.

“You always pound yourself to keep doing your due diligence,” Ujiri said. “You always wonder if you’ve done enough, so you keep going as much as you can. It’s going to end on Thursday, so you give it your all.”

Scouting director Mike Bratz, highly respected scout Herb Livsey, advisor to the executive VP Pete D’Alessandro and scouting coordinator Dan Tolzman have all seen their share of airport gates, hotel lobbies and dimly lit gymnasiums over the past several months.

“I enjoy the process,” said Bratz, a former third-round draft pick who played nine NBA seasons. “It is a real busy time, but it’s something you work towards all year. It’s a fun night, a very hectic evening, but I think we’ll be happy when it’s all done and we’ll have a good player.

History has shown that All-Star talent can be unearthed well beyond the draft lottery.

The Who’s Who list of undervalued draft picks includes Scott Skiles (22nd in 1986), Sam Cassell (24th in 1993), Derek Fisher (24th in 1996), Andrei Kirilenko (24th in 1999), Gerald Wallace (25th to Sacramento), Tony Parker (28th in 2000), Kevin Martin (26th in 2004), David Lee (30th in 2005), Gilbert Arenas (31st in 2001), Carlos Boozer (35th in 2005), Monta Ellis (40th in 2005).

This year’s draft has been criticized as lacking superstar talent outside the first few selections, but rarely does a team count on drafting a superstar with the 22nd pick anyway.

Whether the players are acquired through the draft or via trade, the Nuggets coaching staff is known throughout the NBA for its ability to develop young talent. Examples include Arron Afflalo, Dahntay Jones, Linas Kleiza, Ty Lawson and J.R. Smith.

The candidates to join that list include forwards Tobias Harris (Tennessee), Kenneth Faried (Morehead State),Jordan Hamilton (Texas), Tyler Honeycutt (UCLA) and Jordan Williams (Maryland), along with guards Charles Jenkins (Hofstra), Travis Leslie (Georgia) and Iman Shumpert (Georgia Tech).

All six worked out at the Pepsi Center, including two visits by Harris and Leslie.

“It might not be a superstar heavy draft, but there’s some good players,” Ujiri said. “Let’s focus on the positives and make this a good draft rather than focus on the negatives and say it’s a bad draft. That’s a good approach to have.”

While the Nuggets have plenty of depth at the point guard and center positions, Ujiri, Bratz and coach George Karl agree that overall talent will carry more weight than team needs when it comes time to make a pick.

“I think it will come down to best talent available most of the time,” Ujiri said.

“I think our roster basically is a roster that says take the best player available,” Karl said.

“I like picking the best player available,” Bratz said. “Hopefully you can fit him in some way with your team. You want to look at your team needs as well. If there’s a guy there where it’s close and the player that can fill what you need on your team, I think you have to strongly consider that.”

That discussion is coming soon.

It will be held as the phone rings, the draft board is consulted and the seconds quickly tick away.

NBA commissioner David Stern will then walk to the podium in New York and say, “With the 22nd pick, the Denver Nuggets select …”

Stay tuned.

A Link to the Nuggets Draft Night Memories June 21st Nuggets.com Video

Here is A Link to the Denver Nuggets Draft Night Memories June 21st Nuggets.com Video:

Denver Nuggets Draft Night Memories June 21st Nuggets.com Video Link

Sports on Today Schedule Image

Here is the Sports on Today Schedule Image:

A Rundown of Nuggets late first round draft picks from Andrew Feinstein of DenverStiffs.com

Here is A Rundown of Nuggets late first round draft picks from Andrew Feinstein of DenverStiffs.com:

1982

With the 19th pick, the Nuggets drafted Rob Williams from the University of Houston, missing out on Ricky Pierce by one spot and missing out on Paul Pressey, drafted 20th overall. Williams, who as a rookie showed up in training camp out of shape, was so beloved by then-Nuggets head coach Doug Moe that Moe labeled the rookie "a fat, little hog." After two forgettable seasons, Williams was out of the NBA for good and has since been nominated to be in the Denver Stiffs Hall of Fame.

1983

With the 15th overall pick in a draft with little depth, the Nuggets selected Howard Carter from LSU one pick after the Blazers selected Clyde Drexler. Also a Denver Stiffs Hall of Fame nominee, Carter lasted as long in Doug Moe's NBA as Williams did: two forgettable seasons.

1985

With 15th overall pick for the second year in a row, the Nuggets drafted center Blair Rasmussen from the University of Oregon, proving once again that you can't coach size. It's easy in hindsight to point out that the Nuggets passed on Joe Dumars to draft Rasmussen, but no one knew that Dumars would be a future Hall of Famer. Rasmussen will have to settle for a spot in the Denver Stiffs Hall of Fame.

1986

Holding a pair of late first round picks, the Nuggets drafted Mo Martin 16th and Mark Alarie 18th. In other words, the Nuggets had two chances to improve their roster and missed them both. Soon after Alarie was drafted, Scott Skiles, Mark Price and Dennis Rodman were selected.

1988

Coming off one of their best NBA seasons, the Nuggets had the third-to-last pick in the draft and took Pittsburgh's Jerome Lane 23rd overall in a relatively weak draft. Lane was an immediate fan favorite, but was out of Denver in four years and out of the NBA in five.

1989

The Nuggets again found themselves with the 15th overall selection and this time drafted Stanford's Todd Lichti, one spot behind Tim Hardaway. Even though Lichti's NBA career was cut tragically short by a horrendous car accident, he would never have been the player that Shawn Kemp turned out to be...who just happened to be drafted two selections later.

1991

In addition to drafting Mutombo and Macon, the Nuggets picked up the 18th overall selection - Kevin Brooks - in a trade with the Milwaukee Bucks that was consummated on or around draft night. Brooks was an immediate bust, but so were the others drafted around him, including Denver Stiffs Hall of Fame nominee Mark Randall who was drafted 26th overall and now catches basketballs for Rocky.

1994

Drafting 13th overall in 1994 was a non-lottery selection as the NBA had 27 teams back then. And in 1994, the Nuggets made one of their best non-lottery picks ever by selecting Michigan's Jalen Rose after Rose was passed over for Sharone Wright, Lamond Murray, Eric Montross, Carlos Rogers and Khalid Reeves. Unfortunately, the Nuggets weren't able to take advantage of Rose's best years as a pro as Denver would trade Rose in one of the worst trades in franchise history just two years later.

1995

Holding the 15th overall pick for the fourth time in 12 years, the Nuggets drafted Brent Barry - making it three white guys drafted in four tries with the 15th pick. Barry was never meant for Denver, however, as he was drafted for the Clippers in a trade that sent him, Dele and Rogers to the Clips for the second overall pick, Antonio McDyess.

1996

Perhaps the darkest hour in Denver Nuggets draft history happened in 1996. Holding the 10th overall selection, then team president Bernie Bickerstaff (whom the "Bernie Bickerstaff Lifetime Achievement Award" has been named after) determined that there were no players worth selecting after the first nine picks. So Bernie traded the pick - along with Rose and Reggie Williams - to the Pacers for the 23rd overall pick, Mark Jackson and an aging Ricky Pierce. Not only did Bernie miss out on Kobe Bryant, Peja Stojakovic, Steve Nash and Jermaine O'Neal (drafted 13th, 14th, 15th and 17th, respectively) but he added insult to injury by selecting Greece's Efthimios Rentzias at 23. It would later come out that Bernie had never seen Rentzias play live in person prior to the draft and, in fact, only yours truly saw Rentzias play live in 1996 when I watched this Greek Stiff play a few ineffective minutes off the bench against Brazil in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Amazingly, Rentzias found himself playing 35 games for the 76ers in 2002-03, the only NBA games he ever appeared in.

1997

In addition to selecting Battie fifth overall and swinging a draft day deal for Danny Fortson (selected 10th overall), the Nuggets maneuvered to have Seattle draft the University of Minnesota's Bobby Jackson 23rd overall for Denver in exchange for two second round picks (one became Rashard Lewis, but there's no way Denver would have nabbed Lewis in the second round). Jackson was a steal at 23, but was shipped to Minnesota the following season in a complicated deal that brought Chauncey Billups to Denver for the first time and cost the Nuggets their fifth overall pick in the 1999 NBA Draft.

1998

After then team president Dan Issel botched the third overall pick by selecting LaFrentz, Issel drafted Nebraska's Tyronn Lue 23rd overall and immediately traded Lue plus Battie to the Lakers for Nick Van Exel, a good trade until Issel overpaid to re-sign Van Exel and Van Exel led a team revolt against Issel several years later.

1999

In one of Issel's rare good moves, he selected Xavier's James Posey 18th overall, a move dubbed a "steal" by most experts on draft night. Posey would go on to have a productive NBA career - and become an integral part of two championship teams - but he was traded out of Denver in 2002.

2000

Having mortgaged the Nuggets future thanks to an assortment of boneheaded trades, Issel had no lottery pick in 2000 and instead traded the Nuggets' 2001 first round pick in order to draft Auburn's Mamadou N'diaye 26th overall. N'diaye spent some time in Denver but never appeared in a single game, and was traded midway through the 2000-01 season along with Keon Clark and Tracy Murray to Toronto for Kevin Willis.

2002

With the draft now being overseen by Kiki Vandeweghe, Vandeweghe whiffed big time with his selection of Tskitishvili fifth overall and to this day "Skita" is regarded by most as the worst fifth overall pick in NBA history. But in addition to drafting Skita, Vandeweghe drafted Frank Williams 25th overall for the Knicks as part of the Nene/Camby for McDyess trade, a masterstroke that (almost) made up for the Skita disaster.

2004

Of all the non-lottery players drafted by the Nuggets over the past 30 years, only one has been selected to an All-Star team and that is Jameer Nelson, selected 20th overall by Denver. Of course, Nelson was drafted for the Magic in exchange for a 2005 first round pick that became...

2005

...Julius Hodge, drafted 20th overall, was so bad that he found himself in the Denver Stiffs Hall of Fame only four years later. The Nuggets would also draft Georgia Tech's Jarrett Jack 22nd overall in 2005, only to trade Jack on draft day for Linas Kleiza, drafted 27th overall by Portland. Considering he was the 27th pick in the draft, Kleiza goes down in history as one of Denver's best late first round draft selections. It should be noted, however, that David Lee was drafted 30th overall in 2005, after Hodge, Jack and Kleiza.

2009

Having shed themselves of first round picks from 2006 through 2008 in an effort to clear cap space, the Nuggets management team of Mark Warkentien, Rex Chapman and Bret Bearup made a great move in 2009 to get back into the draft when Minnesota drafted North Carolina's Ty Lawson 18th overall in exchange for Denver's 2010 first round selection. If the early returns on Lawson's career are any indication, the diminutive point guard could some day become Denver's best ever late first round selection.

A Link to the Nuggets Father's Day Wishes June 18th Nuggets.com Video

Here is A Link to the Nuggets Father's Day Wishes June 18th Nuggets.com Video:

Nuggets Father's Day Wishes June 18th Nuggets.com Video Link

Chris Marlowe's New Blog Entry entitled The NBA Finals...Postmortem on altitude.tv

Here is Chris Marlowe's New Blog Entry entitled The NBA Finals...Postmortem on altitude.tv:

Dallas Coach Rick Carlisle said that Dirk Nowitzki is a top ten player of all time. He’s not, but he’s pretty damn good!

How good? Better than Karl Malone, Kevin McHale, Bob McAdoo, and Elvin Hayes. But not as good as Larry Bird.

Doesn’t it seem like only yesterday (2009) that Kenyon Martin was hammering Dirk out of bounds and the Nuggets were cruising to an easy playoff win over Dallas?

By the way, I heard that K-Mart tweeted his old New Jersey pal Jason Kidd congratulations after the game 6 clincher.

As an aside, I called some of Jason Kidd’s college games at Cal. He was a man amongst boys then. He was picked 2nd overall in the 1994 NBA Draft. Remember who was the number one selection? Give yourself a cookie if you said Glenn “Big Dog” Robinson”.

After 3 games, Dallas was down 2-1 and LeBron James was doing a great job covering guard Jason Terry in 4th quarters. The “Jet” was asked about it…remember what he said? “Lets see if LeBron can do it for all 7 games!” Turns out he couldn’t.

As a matter of fact, I believe that James covering Terry in 4th quarters was one big reason LBJ couldn’t deliver late. He was too tired.

By the way, don’t “hate” LeBron James. Hate is too strong of a word. Dislike him, be sick of him, find him objectionable, disapprove of him, detest, loathe, abhor, can’t stomach…all good. But hate? No. Save that emotion for ruthless dictators, lying politicians, and no good parents.

The unsung hero of the 2011 NBA Finals? How about Mavs center Tyson Chandler. All he did was rebound, play defense, dunk lobs and gave Dallas a ferocious interior presence it never had before.

After the series was over it was easy to point out the most glaring weakness of the Miami Heat this season. They didn’t have a first rate point guard!

Just imagine Steve Nash on that team. How great would they be?

Finally, the Mavs win gives hope to all the “teams” out there looking for an NBA Title.

And somewhere in the universe David Hasselhoff is still singing.

Denver Nuggets Three Day Free Agent Mini Camp Participants List

Here is the Denver Nuggets Three Day Free Agent Mini Camp Participants List:

F Joe Alexander, 6-8, 230, West Virginia

G Alan Anderson, 6-6, 225, Michigan State

F Gustavo Ayon, 6-10, 250, Mexico

C Eric Boateng, 6-10 260, Arizona State

G Matt Bouldin, 6-5, 210, Gonzaga

G/F Rodney Carney, 6-6, 200, Memphis

F DeMarre Carroll, 6-8, 225, Missouri

F Tony Gaffney, 6-9, 215, Massachusetts

F Mickael Gelabale, 6-7, 190, France

G J.R. Giddens, 6-5, 210, New Mexico

G Orien Greene, 6-4, 210, Louisiana-Lafayette

G Cedric Jackson, 6-3, 190, Cleveland State

F Ivan Johnson, 6-8, 230, Cal. St. Bernadino

F Tyrese Rice, 6-0, 180, Boston College

F Kim Tillie, 6-9, 205, Utah

Photos from the Dallas Mavericks Championship Parade

Here are some of the Photos from the Dallas Mavericks Championship Parade:

Jason Terry, Dirk Nowitzki and Jason Kidd at the end of the parade.


Mark Cuban tweeted this photo of himself and his family reflected in the Larry O' Brien NBA championship trophy.


Mavericks team founder Don Carter tips his hat to the cheering crowds.


The Mavericks victory parade moved through downtown Dallas.

Julie Browman's New Blog Entry entitled On The Road With Julie on altitude.tv

Here is Julie Browman's New Blog Entry entitled On The Road With Julie on altitude.tv:

With the Nuggets and Avalanche in the books, the summer is a good time to take a little R and R to gear up for next season. Some like to work on home projects, some like to just lounge around in their backyard. I prefer to board an airplane, or get in a car and head out of town. So I figured this summer, I would share some with you some of my favorite spots. I’m no Rick Steves, but I can give you a couple of interesting suggestions.

I just recently came back from the beautiful town of San Francisco. If you want to get out and follow the Rockies, this would be the road trip to be on. AT&T Park is absolutely beautiful. Apparently the signature food at the ballpark is garlic fries…all 948 calories of them. (We have those at Coors field too…and they are AMAZING) And a Coors light? $8.50!!! Let’s be very glad we live in Denver. And, if you’re looking for a Nuggets trip or an Avs trip to go on next season, just hit the Golden State game or the San Jose game. San Francisco is just a quick car ride away.

One of the best parts about San Francisco is the cable cars to take you up and down the steep hills. Worst part about my trip, the cable cars weren’t working. All the better to work off all of the great food you will eat. If you are a fan of food, this is a great city. There is fantastic Italian cuisine in North Beach, and Chinatown is always bustling. I ate dinner in Chinatown, but was not brave enough to try anything but Lemon Chicken. I need to order something more adventurous next time! If Chinese and Italian don’t float your boat, there is a Starbucks on every corner!

A couple of things to see when you are there. There’s the Fisherman’s wharf area where you can walk around and look at the great scenery. One warning. There is a man that is disguised as a tree that WILL jump out at you and scare the living daylights out of you as you walk along the wharf. He’s been doing this for years, and still makes people jump about three feet in the air. After being totally scared and humiliated in front of other people walking around, you can look up and see the Ghirardelli chocolate factory. No longer does it make chocolate, but if you love the stuff, it’s a must see.

And finally, you may want to end your trip at the Buena Vista café. It is known as the first place in the United States to serve Irish coffees. They serve 2000 of them a day. On second thought, you may not want to end your trip there!

Next up, in July, I am headed to Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park where apparently they have a bungee jump and a canyon swing. Can’t wait!!!

A Link to the Darvin Ham Interview June 13th Video on Nuggets.com

Here is a Link to the Darvin Ham Interview June 13th Video on Nuggets.com:

Darvin Ham Interview June 13th Video on Nuggets.com Link

Chris Marlowe's New Blog Entry entitled Wednesday's Nuggets Workout...A Report on altitude.tv

Here is Chris Marlowe's New Blog Entry entitled Wednesday's Nuggets Workout...A Report on altitude.tv:

Wednesday, the Denver Nuggets worked out 5 legitimate, potential draft prospects at the Pepsi Center.

Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, Masai Ujiri, was kind enough to give me permission to watch the entire session.

Here are some of my observations and opinions.

When I arrived at 9:45 AM, the five potential Nuggets were taking physical tests administered by Assistant Strength Coach Matt Fria and Assistant Trainer Dan Shimenski.

Jump testing was first up...

JuJuan Johnson, Purdue, touched 12 feet even.

Kenneth Faried, Morehead State, jumped 11’11”.

Tyler Honneycut, UCLA, cruised to 11’6”.

Klay Thompson, WSU, hit 11’1”.

Tobias Harris, Tennessee, jumped but I didn’t get his height…he was listed as number 14 but was wearing # 25 and I was momentarily confused. (I found out later that he thought the # 14 jersey was way too big…thus the change).

After the jump training, the fellas did the jump box, off and on as fast as you can go for 30 seconds, a cones shuttle drill, an 80 foot sprint, then another 80 foot sprint with the ball. The final physical test was to dunk 10 basketballs as fast as you can, picking them up from alternating red boxes (in the lane).

Believe me, after that last drill, the guys were puffing and dripping!

After the testing, Nuggets Assistant Coaches Adrian Dantley, Melvin Hunt and Chad Iske supervised a variety of one on one, two on two and three on three competitions.

After watching an hour of scrimmaging, the player that impressed me the most was Tyler Honneycutt of UCLA. He’s a solid, 6’8” wing, who can shoot, handle, and dish. Tyler’s feel for the game was very real. He has a long wiry frame and looked to be a tough defender. And he should be, after playing for UCLA Coach Ben Howland in Westwood. The thing I liked the best about Tyler, however, was his motor. The kid played all out, all the time.

They say the rebounding is the skill that translates best from college to the NBA. If that is true, Kenneth Faried of Morehead State is going to be a big help to some team on the boards. He led the nation in rebounding as a senior at 14.5 per game, and went after every miss like a tiger. Could the Nuggets use a stud like this kid? Absolutely! The concern about Kenneth would be his offense. He doesn’t appear to be much of a scorer outside two feet, and was a 58% FT shooter in college.

The other interesting kid in the workout was Klay Thompson of Washington State. Klay is the son of former NBA star Mychal Thompson, and was a four-year star for the Cougars. My evaluation: this guy can shoot the lights out! The form, the release, the arc of his jumper was perfect. To me, he is a guy who could contribute right away.

Tobias Harris, from Tennessee, looked like a very good all around player, but didn’t appear to have any special NBA skill. Still, in the scrimmages Tobias was very effective, scoring, rebounding and defending. Also, at 6’8” he seems like a “tweener” to me. Right now he’s a small power forward who aspires to be a small forward. Can he make the transition? Maybe, but teams will have to decide if they have the time to wait.

Finally, Purdue’s JuJuan Johnson was a bit of a disappointment. As a 6’10” first team All American, I expected a lot more. He’s talented, has a pretty good jump shot, but didn’t play hard when I was watching. When matched with guys like Honneycutt, Faried and Harris, the lack of all out effort was concerning.

All in all, it was fun to get a first-hand look at some youngsters who could be Denver Nuggets one day. Will any of these guys make it to the Mile High City? Tune into the NBA Draft, June 23rd to find out.

2011 NBA Finals Game Schedule for Tonight

Here is the 2011 NBA Finals Game Schedule for Tonight:

Sunday June 12th

Mavericks at Heat at 6:00 PM on ABC (2011 NBA Finals Game # 6)

Youtube Video on Last Night's Heat at Mavericks (2011 NBA Finals Game # 5)

Here is the Youtube Video on Last Night's Heat at Mavericks (2011 NBA Finals Game # 5):

2011 NBA Finals Game Schedule for Tonight

Here is the 2011 NBA Finals Game Schedule for Tonight:

Thursday June 9th

Heat at Mavericks at 7:00 PM on ABC (2011 NBA Finals Game # 5)

Youtube Video on Last Night's Heat at Mavericks (2011 NBA Finals Game # 4)

Here is the Youtube Video on Last Night's Heat at Mavericks (2011 NBA Finals Game # 4):

2011 NBA Finals Game Schedule for Tonight

Here is the 2011 NBA Finals Game Schedule for Tonight:

Tuesday June 7th

Heat at Mavericks at 7:00 PM on ABC (2011 NBA Finals Game # 4)

Youtube Video on Last Night's Heat at Mavericks (2011 NBA Finals Game # 3)

Here is the Youtube Video on Last Night's Heat at Mavericks (2011 NBA Finals Game # 3):

2011 NBA Finals Game Schedule for Tonight

Here is the 2011 NBA Finals Game Schedule for Tonight:

Sunday June 5th

Heat at Mavericks at 6:00 PM on ABC (2011 NBA Finals Game # 3)

Sports on Today Schedule Image

Here is the Sports on Today Schedule Image:

Youtube Videos on 2011 NBA Finals Games 1 and 2

Here are the Youtube Video on 2011 NBA Finals Games 1 and 2:

2011 NBA Finals Game # 1 Youtube Video

2011 NBA Finals Game # 2 Youtube Video

Youtube Video on Shaquille O' Neal Tribute

Here is the Youtube Video on Shaquille O' Neal Tribute:

Chris Marlowe's New Blog Entry on Altitude.tv entitled NBA Finals Game 1 Rewind

Here is Chris Marlowe's New Blog Entry on Altitude.tv entitled NBA Finals Game 1 Rewind:

First things first...

I think Miami is going to win the series, but I am pulling for Dallas...

I like the announcing trio of Mike Breen, Mark Jackson, and Jeff Van Gundy. But why does JVG wear black-rimmed glasses in the on-camera stand-up? Not a good look for him...

First Quarter....

Joel Anthony guarding Dirk Nowitzki is an early surprise...Miami may have to go to LeBron sooner than later...

I expected Shawn Marion to start guarding LeBron, but the Matrix is on D-Wade instead.

Miami’s defense is terrific early. Dallas has just 8 points in the first 7 minutes of the period.

Dallas' defense is pretty good too...Van Gundy points out that 4 Mavs starters are defensive oriented. Everybody but Dirk.

Mike Bibby has missed three jumpers already...Breen says he is shooting just 27% in the postseason.

Back to back 3’s for Jason Kidd! Amazing how J-Kidd has transformed his game late in his career. Heat up 13-12 with 3:22 left in first. Dirk gets an early rest.

LeBron hits a long 3…is it my imagination or is the “King” now a bonafide three-point threat? Looks that way to me.

Sideline reporter Doris Burke gives her first report and she too is wearing black glasses! Yikes. 16-15 Miami.

Jason Terry hits the deck hard on a dunk attempt. It’s James 2nd foul. Should Coach Erik Spoelstra take him out? Announcer Mark Jackson says “leave him in…he’s the best player on the planet”.

The first quarter ends with Miami leading 17-16 and both teams shooting 29%.

2nd quarter...

My favorite player, JJ Barea enters the game. JJ killed the Lakers, dribbled around and through the Thunder, and dates Miss Universe. A young Marlowe in the making!

Former Grizzly Mike Miller is in for Miami…better block him out. For a guard MM is a tiger on the offensive glass.

Miami just missed another free throw...uh oh. Tie score at 22.

Seems to me that Dallas is missing a lot of easy shots...

James with an easy layup…he has 10 points to lead all scorers.

Miami up 27-26 with 5:40 to go until halftime.

Dirk can’t throw a pea in the ocean right now. Yet, Dallas trails by just 1.

Wait…he just made one! Tell Scott Hastings I do have magic powers!

James and Bosh each have 2 fouls, but the Heat lead by 4.

Dirk makes 2 more shots…he now has 13. It’s raining peas in the ocean! Udonis Haslem guarding him now.

Marion scores…Mavs on a 7-0 run...up 41-38.

Thank goodness it’s halftime....I’m hungry....44-43 Dallas....

3rd Quarter...

Dirk misses a layup, then swishes a jumper, Stevenson hits a three and the Mavs have an 8-point lead. T.O…Miami!

Good beer commercial…guys with hot bikini clad women in the grocery store playing volleyball!

Boy the Heat are fast! 4 quick points out of the timeout.

Tyson Chandler picks up his 3rd foul. Coach Rick Carlisle immediately takes him out and puts in Haywood.

Hey, they just showed Dallas owner Marc Cuban for the first time. The announcers were giving him credit for a generous payroll.

Another commercial…my daughters will be stoked…the new “Harry Potter” movie is coming out soon!

Overall, Miami is doing a good job on Dirk…he is just shooting 5-14 from the field.

57-All with 2 minutes left in 3rd.

If Dirk can’t find the range soon Dallas is cooked.

Interesting stat…just 4 FT for Nowitzki at this point.

James goes “Bang” at the buzzer! Miami leads by 4 after 3.

4th Quarter...

Dirk has 17 through 3 ....I say he needs 15 points in the 4th for the Mavs to have a chance...

Dirk with a driving lay up...now he needs 13...

JJ Barea is 1-8 in the game…Miss Castle Rock is on deck!

The Heat are on a 17-9 run dating back to the end of the third quarter. Miami by 6.

Dallas has gone cold....Jason Terry had 12 in the 1st half…none in the second. Miami's defense is stifling...

James picks up his 4th foul....it probably doesn’t matter...

The Heat have 16 offensive rebounds...as Hastings says, “that’ll kill ya pilgrim”!

OK...4:25 to go, Miami up by 7...in this low scoring affair the lead feels like 17.

Wade hits a three...the Mavs get a bucket...LeBron throws one down and is fouled...

Dirk makes 2 free throws…has made all 12 free throws in the game and is 132-142 in the postseason. 85-79 Miami, with 1:36 remaining.

LeBron, Wade, Bosh…too much to handle down the stretch.

Miami wins it by 8 and continues undefeated (9-0) at home during the playoffs.

Game 1 in the books… Game 2 a must win for Dallas.