Denver at Houston

As of this writing we are still trying to verify the fact that Denver had multiple pairs of track shoes shipped to Washington for their game with Washington tonight. This should be about as up and down a game as you will see in the NBA, and the oddsmakers can only post the total so high. If Washington has any defensive presence at all it this season it has come from Etan Thomas or Brendan Haywood (62 combined blocks). The problem is neither will be on the court tonight as they are both suffering from injuries. The only other center options for Washington are Darius Songaila or Michael Ruffin. But whait! They are both out as well. This means an already willing to run Washington team is going to have to play small, with no defensive presence at all. Denver will bring its run-and-gun show in for what should be an entertaining high scoring affair. These teams have met six times in the last three years with all six going over the total, and each year the total has been beaten by more points. This is all before Denver installed this new offense. Normally totals this lofty require both teams to shoot the lights out of the basketball. That is not the case with these two. Denver has gone over 120 on 47% shooting, and has been to 109 shooting 43% and 44%. Washington scored 109 vs. Houston shooting less than 40%. Washington has also given up 116 @ 47.5%, 111 @ 47%, and 115 @ 45.9%. Denver has given up 113 @ 46%, and 117 @ 45%, so these teams don't need big shooting nights to put up points. Two teams that don't have the word defense in their vocabulary, both willing to run, makes this game an OVER!