Nuggets vs. Pistons

                                                                                         

Denver -4 vs. Detroit

The blockbuster trade of the NBA season which largely sent Chauncey Billups to Denver from Detroit in exchange for Allen Iverson will be on full display as the teams involved meet up for the first time this season on Friday night.

While Iverson was not around the Mile High City long enough to gain much emotion over this game, his counterpart still has many friends left on the Pistons. Chances are that this game will not have as much meaning for Billups as the rematch in about two months at the Palace of Auburn Hills.

It is hard to argue long-term value of the trade as Iverson is not signed after this season. If the Pistons chose to let Iverson go, it will be seen simply as a move to dump salary and possibly to rebuild the aging core of Detroit on the fly. But Denver has no buyer's remorse with Billups whatsoever.

Denver is in the rarefied air of a 25-12 start, the best in their over 30 year history in the league. Billups had no problem getting used to the environment as he is from Colorado and the Nuggets got the true point guard they have been pining for for years.

Detroit (21-12), on the other hand, is just recently seemed to find their groove. The team sputtered in the first few months with Iverson, but has seemingly found their rhythm with a recent seven-game winning streak. That streak was broken Wednesday night as the Pistons lost in Portland 84-83.

Billups helped the Pistons to arguably their best stretch in franchise history as he led them to six straight trips to the conference finals, the longest streak since the Lakers in the early 1980's.

Once again Carmelo Anthony will be missing for the Nuggets as he recovers from a broken hand.

Not that it matters much as the key cogs of both teams have swapped sides, but Detroit has dominated Denver in recent years, going 8-2 in the last 10 and has won four straight. The Nugget's last victory came in March 2006 in Denver.

InSpin.com

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