How do you contain a scoring threat like Stephen Curry? If you're the Denver Nuggets, maybe you impede him a little bit -- after all, Curry's not exactly the largest guy on the court. Good physical play is an effective part of many game plans, but Warriors coach Mark Jackson thinks the Nuggets were going a little too far, claiming that they targeted Curry's left ankle, which he sprained in Game 2. Whatever the Nuggets did, it worked -- they've given themselves new life in this closely fought series.

• DoylePhil: "Mark Jackson is simply protecting his best player. It's tough not to respect that. Steph Curry is your guy, go ahead and stand up for him."
• johnnytsunami212: "obviously he's just trying to get the calls next game and get his team pumped by playing the "everyone's against us" card. he doesn't believe any of this nonsense, he's just being a smart coach"
• erock1987: "Physical yes...dirty no...it's the playoffs. The nuggets finally showed they wanted to win a game. Players no a days are soo weak that a little shove or some "extra" contact is considered dirty. Nuggets made a statement. They weren't just going to roll over and let curry bury them again."
• duke_blue123: "Golden State has been the physically dominant team through the first 4 games. Denver finally retaliates with more physical play and they are accused of being dirty? If anything was dirty it was that cheap shot to the throat from Bogut to Faried."
• McDirty21: "Denver players are classless. All of them were playing dirty the whole night. I agree with Jackson."
• Cappiethedog: "I watched the game. I'm rooting for Golden State. I didn't see anything out of the ordinary."

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Which team will win the Nuggets-Warriors first-round playoff series? (Warriors lead 3-2)

•  
  54%
  Warriors in 6
•  
  22%
  Warriors in 7
•  
  24%
  Nuggets in 7

(Total votes: 80,846)

You have to go back to 1991-92 to find a Warriors team that came out to play like this year's squad at the start of an NBA season. Golden State's two-point win at Miami was its fifth straight victory -- and all have come on the road. Klay Thompson has emerged as a scorer, Stephen Curry is healthy and David Lee has five consecutive 20-point, 10-rebound games. But the Warriors' biggest advantage might be their ability to make key plays late, as ESPN Stats & Information explains. Is Golden State riding a hot streak that's bound to level out, or is this a team to be reckoned with in the West?

• mrink1074a: "I'm a Bulls fan, but the Warriors are a fun team to watch. It's like watching an updated version of Run TMC."
• lutch57: "A lot of talent on the Warriors. They move the ball and play team Defense like the Spurs. And if Bogut ever gets healthy they'll have a top 5 center as well."
• neighbordave22: "miami DID play their A game last night and still lost on their home court, because the warriors are THAT good."
• Sasa Jelisavac: "Way to go Warriors.... Lee really showing what a quality player he is, and my only question here will be: Are Lakers watching this?"
• BayAreaSportsFan16: "This was a huge win for the warriors. As impressive as starting a road trip 4-0 was I think there were still some doubters since it was against 3 bad teams (detroit, washington, charlotte) and 1 winning team that's starting to slide (New Jersey). But now that they've beaten the World Champs in their own house I think we can say the Warriors are now a legitimate quality team."

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• Rank 'Em: Who are the best players and weakest links for Team USA?
• Vote: Will Team USA win gold in the FIBA World Championship?
• Quiz: How quickly can you name all 12 players on the roster?

It wasn't so long ago that Rajon Rondo was on top of the world. Now he's missing the worlds. His Celtics came up just short against the Lakers in the NBA Finals, but Rondo's overall playoff excellence helped land him at No. 4 when more than 10,000 SportsNation judges ranked the NBA's best point guards in July. And considering the three guys ahead of him -- Chris Paul, Deron Williams and Steve Nash -- either elected not to play for Team USA this summer or weren't eligible by virtue of their general "Canadian-ness", he seemed like a lock to be one of the stars of the show.

The catch, of course, is that as the United States beat Greece on Wednesday in its final exhibition, Rondo wasn't even there. Rondo withdrew from the team Tuesday, shortly after he himself admitted he was on the bubble to make the final cut. So did Rondo realize his game wasn't the best fit for the international game and graciously save Team USA the trouble of cutting a player? Or did he quit to save himself the embarrassment of being cut?

“

There was no need for him, everything he can do Rose can do as well, plus Rose even hit the clutch free throws (last weekend against Spain). Sure Rondo is a better defender, but he is a gambler defensively and we don't have the bigs like KG and Perkins to cover for his mistakes when his steal attempts fail. Rondo is always timid at crunch time b/c he is afraid of shooting clutch free throws.

” -- doomgunner

“

I think Rondo just didn't like being benched. I mean, he has been a starter for years now. Some guys cannot handle going from playing all the time to not even logging in 1 minute, I think it's a shame. I still don't think he should have quit though.

” -- Vampire_Face

“

Rondo knew he wasn't the best fit for international play and has a few other things to do, so he bowed out and spared the coach the heat of making the cut. This is a team of hungry players, and he's not one of the hungriest. Billups is already there to provide the wily veteran presence. It was just a rational decision. I guess being rational is too weird to understand anymore.

” -- The Pragmaticist

“

Coach K is overrated. and Colangelo can't be trusted. Both are snakes, Rajon gave them a way out. I hope they appreciated it. A DNP? You've got to be kidding me.

” -- zeppyled

• Vote: Which players should make the final cut for Team USA?
• Vote: How would the Lakers fare against Europe's best team?

It seems unlikely the newest incarnation of Team USA will produce any NBA free-agent madness on par with Dwyane Wade, LeBron James and Chris Bosh hatching plans for a takeover. That is, unless you get worked up about the idea of Tyson Chandler and Eric Gordon joining forces with Danny Granger.

It's not quite the 1998 team of CBA rejects and European-based nobodies that somehow won bronze in place of NBA players otherwise occupied with a labor dispute, but the American side Mike Krzyzewski will lead in the FIBA World Championship doesn't look like dream material. We've got Kevin Durant, which might be enough all on its own, but Carmelo Anthony, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Chris Paul and Dwyane Wade are among the high-profile players sitting out this round of international play.

With O.J. Mayo, Tyreke Evans, Gerald Wallace and JaVale McGee out of the picture, what would your final 12 look like out of the 15 remaining candidates?

• Guards: Chauncey Billups, Stephen Curry, Eric Gordon, Rajon Rondo, Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook
• Wingmen: Kevin Durant, Rudy Gay, Danny Granger, Andre Iguodala
• Big men: Tyson Chandler, Jeff Green, Brook Lopez, Kevin Love, Lamar Odom


“

Wow, this is the first time I have seen the full roster and I have to say it is very lackluster. Who came up with this list of players? I wont be surprised if this team fails to capture anything.

” -- atlbravefalconsince1986



“

Everybody please relax. Coach K knows what he is doing. It is unfortunate that we do not have anyone better at Center than Brook Lopez and Tyson Chandler. Why isn't D. Howard playing? If I were Coach K I would cut Granger, Westbrook, and Green. I would cut Chandler too if I had my druthers, but we can't enter play with only one center.

” -- KinKeezie

• Vote: Which rookie guard is most fun to watch? | Will the Bucks finish the Hawks?
• Chat wrap: NBA Insider John Hollinger talks playoffs
• More from ESPN.com: TrueHoop collects reaction to the Bucks' win in Game 5

It appears Tyreke Evans will be the NBA's Rookie of the Year. After Brandon Jennings scored 25 points to lead the Bucks to a 3-2 series lead against the Hawks, it also appears he might be the most significant rookie playing in May. Possibly deep into May.

Which is to say, the debate about this year's rookie class isn't nearly over. Well, other than Hasheem Thabeet. We can all agree that isn't working out so well.

Evans isn't a controversial pick as rookie of the year. ESPN's TrueHoop Network went that way in overwhelming fashion when it handed out awards. After siding with Jennings early and Stephen Curry in March, SportsNation concurred at the close of the regular season. But when it comes to looking beyond rookie season? That is another story ...

Ben (NYC)

Who makes their teammates better the best? Jennings, Evans, Curry, Rose, Rondo, Westbrook??? I say Curry.

David Thorpe

Today Rondo, tomorrow probably Curry or Jennings. Full transcript