European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - April 18, 2007, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Stars and stripes wednesday april 18 2007 Orr i o lightning sabres Sharks take 21 leads in series Page 35 melding instead of melting nuggets finally jell As Iverson embraces being Mentor for Melo by Arnie Stapleton the associated press first it looked As if Allen Iverson had traded one dysfunctional team for another in the first months after leaving Phil Adelphia for Denver Iverson was part of a Rol thedice lineup in constant flux be cause of injuries illnesses trades and sus much like the team he left behind in Philly after 10 turbulent seasons with the franchise that made him the no 1 Overall pick in 1996 the nuggets were both Over whelmed and underwhelming and for the first time in his career Ai want the last one introduced before games at least when a swollen Elbow and sprained ankle allowed the fou time scoring Champion to suit up at All even when carmelo Anthony returned from his banishment for fighting the nug gets did Well just to hover around 500 George Karl tried anything he could to Jolt the team into a rhythm he called out Anthony publicly moved Iverson to the Point experimented with every imaginable lineup it All seemed like a recipe for another meltdown instead Iverson never known for his de sense kept preaching stops to his team mates and kept telling anyone who would listen How blessed he and his family Felt for the Chance to Start anew in the Rockies and How he wanted to finish his career in Colorado 3 i liked the situation i was in Iverson said i Felt i was in a better position than i was in Philadelphia so i never lost Hope or lost focus because i Felt the Day that wed be playing Good basketball would come in just Happy that its now that were headed into the playoffs the re hot nuggets will open against san Antonio with a roster that includes a healthy Nene Iverson Anthony and Steve Blake with Linas Kleiza Eduardo Najera sue Allen Iverson right is Happy for a fresh Start in Denver after a decade in Philadelphia Here Iverson reacts with Marcus Camby second from left who lifts Steve Blake in his arms after Blake scored against the hornets on april 13 carmelo Anthony is at left and or Smith rounding out the rotation i think the says the limit Iverson said As Long As we take it one game at a time and Trust in each other play on the defensive end and play unselfishly then everything will be All right my whole thing what Ive been saying since i got Here is that a team has got to beat us four times in a playoff series and id like to see that Hap pen the 6foot tattooed bundle of Energy never had anybody to take the scoring Load off him in Philadelphia despite a series of attempts with the likes of Chris Webber Toni Kukoc Matt Harpring Keith Van Horn and Larry Hughes in Denver Melo is the Man and Al is Content to be his Mentor and serve As his Wingman see melding on Page 39 just As cubs Start winning ail Star of a diving catch Page 37 Reynolds picked As replacement for Bzdelik Page 34 Carter has triple double As no 7 seed Page 38 ii 027664 463149