Allen Iverson News

For five years, that’s the best thing Denver Nuggets fans have had going for them. via Pueblo Chieftain

Chris Tomasson of the Rocky Mountain News offers an A.I. quote, who reacted to being benched for the final 11 minutes of the game. via Netscape

“We will not discuss individual names of candidates at this time.”

Several Denver Nuggets players were stranded on the highway for about a half hour Sunday when the team bus broke down on the way to Staples Center for a playoff opener against the Los Angeles Lakers. via Charlotte Observer

“We still had a chance. We just gave up in the end. … When they make their runs, we bend. And when they get certain calls, we tend to break.”

Ever heard a player say: “Well, in the fourth quarter, we were losing big, so we lost our composure and started arguing calls and, sure enough, we were able to bounce back and pull out the victory.” Probably … via Deseret Morning News

“I think he didn’t feel he had a role”

Larry Brown wants one more stop on his nomadic coaching career. Brown resigned as Philadelphia’s executive vice president Thursday with the intent to pursue a coaching job at the NBA or college level. via CBS SportsLine.com

The layups and dunks just kept on coming for the Los Angeles Lakers in their playoff opener against Denver. via Pueblo Chieftain

“We just love being around each other and having fun.”

The Denver Nuggets have made the first adjustment in the playoff series against the Lakers, with Linas Kleiza expected to start in Wednesday’s Game 2 at Staples Center. via Los Angeles Times

Pau Gasol established playoff highs with 36 points and eight assists and also hauled down 16 rebounds as the Los Angeles Lakers turned back Denver 128-114 in the opening game of their first-round series. via KFOR-TV Oklahoma City

“It wasn’t scary; it was just a little frustrating”

Several Denver Nuggets players were stranded on the highway for about a half hour Sunday when the team bus broke down on the way to Staples Center for a playoff opener against the Los Angeles Lakers. via Fort Worth Star-Telegram

“Our monastery has a half-court”

Wearing a red cloak and bouncing a basketball, Chenang Doje heads to the court in the backyard of his monastery after his Buddhism studies. via People’s Daily

Joy Division isn’t the only one that’s trying to get the timing just right for a special-edition Zune . via CNET News.com

“Obviously, personnel is a different thing entirely. When you have [Iverson] and [Anthony], those two guys are tough to replicate.”

The Lakers’ first-round playoff matchup against the Denver Nuggets started to take shape today. via Los Angeles Times

“Hopefully it means we understand that if we play the way we’re capable of playing, we can beat this team”

In the words of coach Phil Jackson, the Los Angeles Lakers set themselves up for success by entering the playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the West.

What does that really mean?

Not that much.

‘You can throw a blanket over the first six teams in this conference,’ Jackson said Thursday, referring to the fact that those six were separated by only three games at season’s end.

Dallas and Denver weren’t bad either, giving the West a full complement of eight playoff teams with a minimum of 50 wins. So the Lakers realize that starting with the Nuggets, they figure to have a tough time no matter who they meet in the postseason. Read more

“It’s going to be great for NBA fans all across the world.”

Shaq and the Suns vs. the Spurs. Kobe Bryant head-to-head against Allen Iverson. via New Orleans Times-Picayune

Line of the Night: Only 3 games yesterday, but one of them was the epic showdown between the Nuggets and the Warriors for the 8th playoff spot in the West . via Give Me The Rock