Nugget Nuggets

Originally Published: Apr 21, 2011 5:18 PM CDT

-Nuggets guard Afron Afflalo says he expects to play in Game 3 with the Thunder Saturday in Denver.  He missed games 1 and 2 with a hamstring problem.  Afflalo will likely help defend Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook.  Although with Afflalos defensive help, the Nuggets allowed Durant to score 44 points against them last Christmas Day.

-In the meantime guard J.R. Smith told reporters at Nuggets practice Thursday that theres a "strong possibility" he wont sign with the team next season.  Great timing as always for J.R.  Smith played only 6 minutes in Wednesdays Game 2 loss by the Nuggets.  Wait, it gets better Nuggets fans.  The Nuggets had a team meeting on Thursday and Smith said the team didnt have "a pulse" as they regrouped at Pepsi center.  "No one was really into it," said Smith.  No doubt Thursdays comments will earn Smith even less playing time. 

Part of me wants to say that Smith is engaging in a bit of gamesmanship and setting a trap in hopes of luring the Thunder into becoming overconfident.  But nothing in Smiths past indicates to me that hes capable of playing such mind games.  Smith is just frustrated and not enough of a team guy to keep his mouth shut and thats a disaster for Geore Karls club.