I'm about to take off for tonight's game but I wanted to jot down a few thoughts first.

This should be a fantastic game with many playoff implications. The Nuggets are 2 games back of the 8th seeded Golden State Warriors. The Suns were the # 1 seed in the West before acquiring Shaq. They have gone 4-3 since and have slid to the 5th seed.

Phoenix's struggles defensively have been well documented. The Suns have given up 110 + points in 5 of the 7 games since Shaq's arrival. Denver is the 4th highest scoring team in the NBA. Look for Iverson or Anthony...maybe both...to have a HUGE scoring night. I'm sure you're thinking, duh, they're two of the NBA's best scorers but the Nuggets have struggled mightily against opposing guards since Marion was traded to Miami. Shawn allowed the Suns to hide Steve Nash on defense. The Suns no longer have that luxury. The Suns have been TORCHED by Kobe Bryant, Rudy Gay, Chris Paul, and Andre Iguadola.

In a game filled with stars like Steve Nash, Shaquille O'Neal, Amare Stoudemire, Grant Hill, Allen Iverson, Marcus Camby, and Carmelo Anthony, I think the outcome will be decided by Kenyon Martin. Stoudemire has blossomed since Shaq's arrival in the Valley of the Sun. Kenyon is one of the few players who has the size AND athleticism necessary to defend Amare. We'll see if he's up to the task.

Well, that's all I've got for now...