Some daily links for your reading pleasure, after the jump ...
-The Denver Post's Benjamin Hochman has a nice feature story on the Nuggets title quest.
The team huddled around its quarterback, a long drive on the horizon. After Tuesday's Nuggets practice, Chauncey Billups spoke softly about the quest that begins tonight: the team's elusive search for an NBA title, beginning with a home game against Utah.
-Kate Hedlin of Hoopsworld has some nice quotes in her preview of the Nuggets vs. Jazz ... that takes place tonight in Denver at 8:30 p.m.
"You've got to prove yourself all over again," said Billups, who has advanced to the conference finals each of the last seven years dating to his first season with the Pistons in 2002-03. "You can't feel like it's automatic that you're going to be good just because you've got the same players. If you feel like teams are going to lay down because you made the Western Conference finals, you're in for a real long season."
-Mark Kiszla discusses Nene's importance this season.
Here's the belief of Denver front- office executive Rex Chapman: "Nene is quicker than all the centers. He's more athletic than all the centers."
-Chris Tomasson of AOL's Fanhouse talks with George Karl about son Coby Karl and his chances of hanging on to his roster spot with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
George Karl, the coach of the Denver Nuggets, doesn't understand why the Cavaliers might sign guard Antonio Daniels, which could result in his son being waived after making Cleveland's opening-day roster.
- Brett Pollakoff of AOL's Fanhouse discusses the Lakers win and the champs picking up their rings. (Oh ... what could have been!)
The Lakers' opening-night opponents, the Clippers, had the option of watching the ring ceremony on the court, but chose instead to use the time a bit more productively.
"Stretching," Dunleavy said, when asked what the team would be doing. "Yoga."
-A couple days old, but Travis Heath of Hoopsworld offer some nuggets on the Nuggets.
"Ty Lawson is going to be this year's Renaldo Balkman," Denver Nuggets George Karl said to me with a smile as he left the postgame podium on Tuesday.
The coach was throwing a little jab at your friendly neighborhood columnist in reference to my persistent stance last season that Balkman deserved more playing time. And the coach was right in his assumption that I believe Lawson deserves to be in the rotation heading into this season ..."
