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Denver Nuggets 2006-07 Season Preview

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10/20/2006 - (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Star forward Carmelo Anthony is ready to become an All- Star and try to get Denver past the first round of the playoffs. The Nuggets have been eliminated three straight years in the opening round of the postseason.

Denver finished 44-38 and captured the Northwest Division crown in the 2005-06 campaign. Even though the Nuggets were the third seed in the Western Conference playoffs, they did not have the home-court advantage and were eliminated in five games by the Los Angeles Clippers, who won 47 games during the regular season, in the opening round of the playoffs.

The twenty-two-year-old Anthony had his best season as a pro. The Syracuse product averaged a team-best 26.5 points and collected 4.9 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 80 contests. He had an excellent summer playing ball for the United States in the World Basketball Championships at Saitama, Japan.

Center Marcus Camby averaged 12.8 points and team-best 11.9 rebounds in 56 games, while point guard Andre Miller played all 82 regular-season contests and dished out a club-high 8.2 assists per game. Power forward Kenyon Martin was suspended by the team during the playoffs for conduct detrimental to the team. Martin, who registered 12.9 points and 6.3 boards in 56 games during the regular season, had issues with head coach George Karl.

During the offseason, Denver re-signed forward/center Nene to a multi-year contract. Terms of the deal were not released, but reports from the Denver Post had the deal worth $60 million over six years.

The 6-11 Nene has played in 213 games for the Nuggets during his four-year career. He has averaged 10.7 ppg and 6.2 rpg and had his best season in 2003-04, averaging 11.8 ppg and 6.5 rpg in 77 games. Nene appeared in just one game last season, as he suffered a torn ACL in his right knee at San Antonio on November 1, 2005.

Denver also acquired athletic guard J.R. Smith, who will be entering his third year in the league, in a trade from Chicago and veteran forward Joe Smith in a deal with Milwaukee. Power forward Reggie Evans, who averaged 5.2 points per game and 8.7 rebounds in 26 games with the Nuggets last season after being acquired from Seattle in a four-team deal in February, also re-signed with the club.

The team also exercised their option on the contract of Karl on October 10th. Karl originally signed a six-year contract with a team option after the third season. He is under contract through the 2009-10 season.

Anthony is the cornerstone of this franchise and is ready to be mentioned with the elite in the NBA. However, he has to rise to the occasion in the playoffs and help Denver earn its first series victory since 1994 when the Nuggets shocked Seattle in round one.

BACKCOURT

Denver's backcourt is led by the 30-year-old Miller. He is a solid lead guard who does everything well. He is not spectacular and flashy like some of the other point guards in the league, but he gets the job done and gives a Karl a floor leader who usually makes good decisions.

J.R. Smith will get a chance for a fresh start in Denver. Originally selected out of St. Benedict's Prep by the Hornets in first round (18th pick overall) of 2004 NBA draft, 21-year-old J.R. Smith has posted career-averages of 9.2 points, 2.0 rebounds and 1.5 assists in 131 contests. The Nuggets are hopeful that he can reach his potential with them.

Earl Boykins averaged 12.6 points and 3.0 assists in 60 outings last season. The 5-5 Boykins gives the Nuggets a nice backup at the point and he will also play alongside Miller at times. Denver is looking for 6-7 Julius Hodge to step up and contribute in his second year in the league.

FRONTCOURT

Anthony is the leader and the teams best player. He is coming off a great season and is primed for an even better 2006-07 campaign. His all-around game is becoming complete and he has continued to improve as his career has progressed. This talented forward is ready for the challenge of trying to lead the Nuggets to the next level.

Camby, Evans, Martin, Nene and Joe Smith give Denver depth up front. The Nuggets are athletic up front and should be solid on the boards. Camby and Martin provide defensive intensity and can get out in transition which makes the Nuggets very effective in the open court, while Evans, Nene and Joe Smith will do their damage in the low post.

The Nuggets strength is their frontcourt. With the emergence of Anthony and if injuries don't creep up, Karl has to feel good about the prospects of his front line.

OUTLOOK

This is Anthony's year to become an All-Star and get the recognition that he deserves. If they stay healthy, the Nuggets should win 45-48 game and that will be good enough to earn them their second straight Northwest Division title. However, the real test will be in the postseason.

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Problem with Bears?

Chicago, IL - New Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler and star linebacker Brian Urlacher shot down reports of a rift, saying they're simply not true.

"There's nothing between us," Cutler said Thursday, when he reported to training camp. "I just want to put that to rest. There never has been anything between us."

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Urlacher added: "I never said what I was quoted as saying and that's it. I have a lot of respect for Jay. I think Jay knows that."
Former Bears receiver Bobby Wade caused a stir when he told Minneapolis radio station KFAN-AM that Urlacher used a profanity while questioning Cutler's manhood during a conversation in Las Vegas last weekend. Wade, who now plays for the Vikings, said Urlacher used a profane version of the word "wimp" during the interview that had to be edited out.
go radio station WSCR-AM also reported that Urlacher had to be restrained from confronting Cutler during organized team activities.
"I wouldn't go face-to-face with Brian, anyway," Cutler said. "No, that's never happened. I've hung out with Brian away from the facility numerous times and we've always gotten along."
Urlacher, noting he was limited by a groin injury, denied the reports in an interview with the Chicago Tribune and did it again when he reported to camp.
"I didn't practice this summer, so I don't know how I would fight the guy if I didn't practice," Urlacher said. "We have no problems. I'm excited about football starting. I'm excited to have him as our quarterback."
Why would Wade say that?
"I don't know," Urlacher said. "Maybe he's jealous because we have a good quarterback now."
Cutler said the first he heard of any friction was when he got a call from Urlacher to clear the air. Urlacher, however, said he had already taken several calls from teammates wondering if the reports were true when Cutler phoned.
"He called me and I said, What's up (expletive), what are you doing?'" a grinning Urlacher said, uttering the same word he allegedly used with Wade. "It's so dumb to me that this even got to this point, but it did and then here we are."
better place after going 9-7 and missing the playoffs for the second straight year. They have a franchise quarterback for the first time in decades after acquiring Cutler in an offseason trade with Denver. But there are questions about his attitude following a fallout with Broncos management and new coach Josh McDaniels.
His critics include former Bears coach Mike Ditka and former Indianapolis and Tampa Bay coach Tony Dungy, one of Smith's mentors. Smith, however, said Cutler has been a model teammate so far while denying any animosity with Urlacher.
"There's no issue with Jay and Brian, except Brian and Jay are both excited about being teammates for our club this year," coach Lovie Smith said. "No more than that. We can't spend a whole lot of time on something that isn't true. I have talked to the players. Whenever something comes out, you have to address it, but it's a non-issue."
In some ways, Cutler is getting a second chance in Chicago, an opportunity to repair his reputation.
Smith said another quarterback - Michael Vick - deserves one, although he doesn't see it happening with the Bears, who lack an experienced backup. The former Atlanta Falcons star, who served a 23-month sentence for running a dogfighting ring, said Thursday he is getting close to signing with a pro football team.
"A second chance, like everyone in society who has paid their debt to society," Smith said. "He deserves a second chance. As far as we're concerned, we like this team that we have right now."
Particularly the new quarterback.
"Me and Brian have been on a good relationship since I've been here, and I expect it to continue that way," Cutler said.

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NCAA Football Betting : USC's reward: Top spot in Top 25

NEW YORK (AP) -By staying away from the cupcakes, Southern California earned itself a slim new ranking.

No. 1 always seems to fit USC.

Southern California jumped two spots to No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 on Tuesday, rewarded by voters for opening the season with a dominant performance on the road against a BCS conference opponent.

Georgia and Ohio State, the preseason Nos. 1 and 2, respectively, started their seasons with glorified scrimmages at home against FCS (formerly I-AA) teams. USC, however, traveled across country to face Virginia and could not have been more impressive in a 52-7 victory.

Georgia fell to No. 2 and Ohio State to No 3.

"We realize that rankings so early in a season are certainly fluid. But rankings do help establish a pecking order for things later in the season," USC coach Pete Carroll said in a statement. "As for moving into the No. 1 spot, it's nice to know that people think highly of our team."

Since reaching No. 1 on Dec. 7, 2003, the final-regular season AP poll of that season, USC has been No. 1 in 39 polls, by far the most of any team during that time.

"Some have said the voters are taking our schedule into consideration," Carroll said. "Our philosophy has always been to schedule outstanding opponents. We need to play challenging games like we just did, traveling across the country to open the season at Virginia. Games like that bring out our best and make us stronger as a team."

The latest voting was close. USC received 21 first-place votes and 1,539 points from the 65-member media panel. Georgia had 20 first-place votes and 1,506 points. Ohio State got 15 first-place votes and 1,497 points.

"I'd say we've evolved as pollsters," said Stewart Mandel of SI.com, who moved USC up to No. 1. "In the past, voters just kind of automatically moved teams up and kept teams where they were if they won."

Georgia beat Georgia Southern 45-21 on Saturday and Ohio State opened with a 43-0 win over Youngstown State.

"There's a bit of a growing backlash for the amount of teams that open with I-AA cupcakes," said Mandel, whose book "Bowls, Polls and Tattered Souls" chronicles college football's controversies. "To see a team [USC] go on the road and play a New Year's Day bowl team from last season, and not only play them but destroy them, how could you not reward that team?"

USC also jumped past Georgia to No. 1 in the USA Today coaches' poll, which has the same top five as the AP poll.

"It's definitely a privilege to be No. 1. But it's not heartbreaking to me if we drop," Georgia offensive lineman Josh Davis said. "It doesn't matter right now what we're ranked. What matters is our next game and right now, that's Central Michigan. The only time the polls matter is in December. That's when the polls matter."

While the Bulldogs opened easy, their schedule ultimately should be as difficult as any team's. Georgia's big nonconference test is at No. 15 Arizona State on Sept. 20. The Bulldogs also face six Southeastern Conference rivals that've been ranked in the first two polls.

As for Ohio State, the Buckeyes play at USC on Sept. 13 before getting into the Big Ten schedule.

But of the teams in this week's top 10, USC and Texas are the only ones that don't play an FCS opponent, and the Trojans are the only team that doesn't play a team from a non-BCS conference.

Get the latest 2009 BCS Championship odds at MySportsbook.com.

The last team to drop from No. 1 after a victory was USC last season. LSU jumped from No. 2 to No. 1 when it beat Tulane 34-9, the same week the Trojans edged Washington 27-24 on the road.

The last preseason No. 1 team to lose the top spot after winning its opening game was Florida in 2001. The Gators beat Marshall 49-14, but preseason No. 2 Miami opened with a 33-7 victory over Penn State and the Hurricanes jumped to No. 1 with Florida slipping to second.

The next four teams in the new Top 25 stayed the same: No. 4 Oklahoma (two first-place votes), No. 5 Florida (five first-place votes), No. 6 Missouri (one first-place vote), No. 7 LSU (one first-place vote) and No. 8 West Virginia.

No. 9 Auburn and No. 10 Texas each moved up a spot, taking advantage of Clemson's big drop. Clemson, ninth in the preseason, fell out after losing 34-10 to Alabama on Saturday.

Also falling out after losses were Virginia Tech, Pittsburgh and Tennessee.

Moving into the rankings were No. 21 Fresno State, No. 22 Utah, No. 23 UCLA and No. 24 South Carolina.

Alabama moved up 11 spots after its big victory over Clemson.

The second 10 started with No. 11 Wisconsin, followed by Texas Tech, Alabama and Kansas. BYU and Arizona State were tied for 15th. Rivals BYU and Utah are both ranked for the first time since 1996.

South Florida was No. 17, ahead of Oregon, Penn State and Wake Forest at No. 20.

The final five were all the teams to move into the ranking, except for Illinois, which dropped four spots and tied South Carolina for No. 24.

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