Melo Out, Nuggs Still Up

Melo is out. Again. But unlike the pre- A.I. era when a Melo injury meant dropping several games in a row, the Nuggets responded with a respectable 3-2 record over the five- game Melo-less stretch.

What is a team to do when their All-Star starter is on the bench? Well for the Nuggs it’s easy, just call on the other All-Star starter, Mr. Allen Iverson. A.I. has stepped it up in Melo’s absence, averaging 27.4 points per game and 7.0 assists over the five-game stretch.

Defense has also decided to show up this past week, lead by the ’07 Defensive Player of the Year, Marcus Camby. The big man is averaging 3.86 blocks per game, which leads the NBA. Those are Mutombo- like numbers, bringing back the Nuggets D of old.

With Denver's 106-102 victory over Memphis last night, the Nuggs (27-18) move to a half-game out of first place in the division. Looking ahead with Melo listed as day-to-day, the entire team needs to keep focus as they take on:

• A struggling Charlotte (18-28) team on Saturday
• A hot Portland (26-19) on Monday
• Division leader Utah (28-28) on Wednesday