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NUGGETS WORKING ON BACKUP PLAN.(Sports)

Rocky Mountain News (Denver, CO) November 12, 1999 | BeDan, Michael Byline: Michael BeDan Special to the News The Denver Nuggets won’t soon forget that chaotic span in their season opener with Phoenix, the spree when the reserves made it clear coach Dan Issel had assembled the proper starting five.

Among the second unit’s notable contributions in that game:

* Five turnovers in 2 minutes.

* A six-point lead turned into a one-point deficit.

The backups were back on the bench before Issel’s face had time to reach its climactic crimson hue. The ramifications were clear: If Nick Van Exel, Ron Mercer, Raef LaFrentz, Antonio McDyess and James Posey could not play 40-something minutes every night, the Nuggets were toast.

Three games later, the picture is cloudy. The second unit has improved. Nuggets reserves have outscored opponents’ reserves in each of the past two games. In Denver’s second game of the season, a 95 – 83 loss to Portland at the Rose Garden, the Trail Blazers’ bench outscored Denver’s 28 – 21.

“They’ve been better,” Issel said Thursday. “They’ve brought energy to the game. With Ryan (Bowen) getting more minutes, with (Posey) coming off the bench (against Atlanta), the way Keon (Clark) played against Atlanta — I think ever since that first game they’ve been much better.” Two things complicate matters tonight when Portland visits the Pepsi Center (7, Fox Sports Net). The Trail Blazers (4 – 1) might be the deepest team in the league — “They can start their whole second unit, and they would be just as good,” Issel said. go to site nba schedule 2012

And Van Exel is bound to run out of gas if backup point guard Cory Alexander doesn’t start contributing. Van Exel has played 46 and 43 minutes, respectively, in Denver’s two victories.

“Nick can’t play that many minutes for the entire year,” Issel said. “But the schedule has been pretty kind to us early on. Our games have been pretty spread out. We’ve only had the one back-to-back. After Monday’s (victory over Atlanta) we’ve had three days off. But once we get into a more realistic NBA schedule, there is no way Nick can play that many minutes.” Alexander has known that since the Phoenix débâcle.

“We are not talented enough to go out and beat people with five guys every night,” he said. “As a second unit, we need to go in there and give (the team) a boost. We need to give our starters a chance to win at the end.” In limited time, Alexander has not been able to hold up his end. He did not score in 5 minutes against Atlanta. He scored four points and committed three turnovers in 12 minutes against Vancouver. He scored a season-high nine points in 14 minutes against Portland. In 37 total minutes, he has five assists and four turnovers.

Issel said he likely will have to give Alexander more minutes in hopes something will click.

“I’m hoping Cory will be able to come in and give us 6 or 7 minutes a half,” Issel said. “When the schedule becomes more like an NBA schedule, he’ll have to give us those kind of minutes.” Don’t expect to see that tonight. In fact, don’t expect to see any of the reserves very long if the Nuggets can keep things close with Portland. Three off days since Monday’s game will allow Issel to work his starters overtime if necessary.

“We’ll just have to read that and see what happens as the game goes on,” he said. “If we can stay with them and have a chance to win, we’ll certainly do that. We don’t have any back-to-backs this whole next week.” And they still don’t have a new owner in place, which means rookie point guard Chris Herren will stay on the injured list until Issel can get clearance to make a deal or waive Alexander. Which means Alexander will have to step up or Van Exel will have to continue to be an ironman.

“I hope I don’t have to play this many minutes throughout the season,” Van Exel said. “But if I have to, of course I’m going to do it.” INFOBOX BLAZERS AT NUGGETS When — 7 tonight.

Where — Pepsi Center.

TV / radio — Fox Sports Net. KKFN (AM-950).

Injuries — Denver: George McCloud (ankle) is questionable. Popeye Jones (back), Chauncey Billups (ankle) and Chris Herren (wrist) are on the injured list. Portland: Brian Grant (knee), Gary Grant (hamstring) and Nikita Morgunov (ankle) are on the injured list. go to site nba schedule 2012

Trail Blazers notes — Portland (4 – 1) is coming off its first loss since the playoffs last season. The Blazers won all eight preseason games and the first four regular-season games before losing 92 – 87 Tuesday at Utah. Win or lose, Smith has been great on offense. He scored 21 first-half points in the loss to Utah and leads the Blazers with 19.8 points a game and is shooting .554. He scored a game-high 22 points against Denver last Friday. The Blazers have won five of the past seven matchups in Denver, including four in a row. Portland started Wallace at center in a 95 – 83 victory in the teams’ first meeting this season. Wallace scored only two points, but Sabonis scored 10 in a reserve role. The Blazers led by as many as 24 points in that game and forced 21 Nuggets turnovers.

Nuggets notes — Denver (2 – 2) has won both of its games at the Pepsi Center, a 107 – 102 overtime win over Phoenix and a 115 – 100 victory Monday over Atlanta. Plagued by turnovers in their first three games, the Nuggets committed only seven against the Hawks. LaFrentz had a breakout game against Atlanta, scoring 24 points and adding five blocks. Denver shot a season-best .476. Van Exel is coming off a 23-point, 20-assist performance. LaFrentz led the Nuggets with 17 points against Portland last Friday. McDyess is nearly recovered from the sprained right ankle that has limited his offense so far this season. “I think Portland will see a little different player than they saw (in Portland),” Issel said. McDyess scored 11 points on 3-for-8 shooting in 28 minutes in the first meeting.

BeDan, Michael

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