(Denver-CO) Good morning, Nuggets Nation. After a month long hiatus, I am returning to cover the rest of the regular season and the Nuggets' pending playoff run. My initial intent was to return after the All-Star break, but such a comeback wasn't possible. Please accept my sincerest apologies for leaving the blog abandoned for such a lengthy duration.

I have teamed up with Don from With-Malice for a quick and fun interview to get you ready for today's afternoon meeting of the Western Conference's top two teams. The rest of the regular NBA season should be crazy as we get ready to make our March Madness Picks with Tournament Projections right around the corner.

So with no further delay, let's get ready for today's great match-up!

Here are five questions I needed Don to shed some light on for me:

1. Is there any other team in the Western Conference that strikes as much fear in L.A. as the Nuggets? Be honest.
Ha!  No need for the "be honest".  It's a 'no'.  Dallas don't scare me, and Utah?  LA've had their number for a while.  But the Nuggets have the pieces to win against LA in a seven game series.  They're tough, but I'm hoping that Ron Artest puts some steel in LA's backbone come playoffs... and maybe fangs.  Yeah... fangs'd be good.  Claws too. 
The only thing for me is that I still see Denver as somewhat fragile mentally.

2. Have you noticed any diminish in Kobe's hunger since winning a championship without Shaq?
Not as yet.  I don't think he's trained harder in the off-season than last.  Added to his game, and is just as ferocious as ever.  To be honest, I think Kobe has his eye on bigger things than a comparison with Shaq.  Worth noting: Shaq's never won a championship without a HoF-worthy swingman.

3. Ron Artest: Biggest upside and most cringe worthy aspect?
Ron Artest: freakishly strong and tenacious defender.  The biggest upside is that his opponents never know when he's going to do the unpredictable and decapitate someone and do an "Alas, poor Yorick..." with the head.  Most cringe-worthy? His team-mates never know when he's going to do the unpredictable and decapitate someone and do an "Alas, poor Yorick..." with the head...

4. What do you feel is the Lakers most vulnerable area?
I think LA play best when they're moving the ball, and not waiting for Kobe to do something special.  When they're all just in the moment.  It gets dangerous (for LA) when they sit back and rely on Kobe.  True, part of that's on Kobe, but the large part is that the team gets passive, and waits too much for him to initiate. 
I don't buy the PG-woes that "supposedly" ail LA.  Sure: it's not a strength, but LA's damn strong in most areas on the floor, and if everyone (on both LA and their opponent) is playing at 100%, then LA wins.  The thing about LA is that because they're strong through positions 2-5, people look at the 1 (which is merely average) and declare it a weakness.

5. Chances Khloe Kardashian plays any minutes this season?
She's not?  Who the hell's #7?

Don also needed clarification from me on a few things Nuggets related, but to read my answers to his questions head over to With-Malice before the game.

1. At times Denver have looked damn good, at other times pretty damn ordinary.  Please explain.
2. Another writer at With Malice thinks that the most important player on the Nuggets is Kenyon Martin (not that he's the best tho').  Do you agree?
3. What the hell is a "lark bunting" any way?
4. Denver match up well with LA, but my perception is that the Nuggets biggest weakness is their mindset.  Has anything happened that could change my mind?
5. My game prediction is that at some stage during the game, DJ Mbenga reveals a massive "I love Kiki Vandeweghe" tattoo on his back, just prior to clothes-lining JR Smith.  What game prediction do you have?

Go Nuggets!

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