Woody: Excellent question. I'm sitting here thinking ? I'm through. I think double-teaming Kobe Bryant.

In the Lakers' victories, he constantly distributed the ball early to the other players as soon as the second Nuggets defender jumped him. Once he got Derek Fisher and Pau Gasol, particularly, involved, then he had more freedom and took over.

I would have covered Bryant as the Nuggets did against Dirk Nowitzki. Let him get his 30, 40 or 50 and lock down the other guys.

I also believe the Nuggets backed away from their hardball defense in the last couple of games. I don't know whether they got tired of being called punks and thugs, or they thought they could beat the Lakers in straight-up finesse Basketball. But, as I wrote after the first game, the series really was over. They should have won that game, and they would have won the series. The longer it went, the more the Lakers adjusted, and the Nuggets didn't.

The Nuggets had the Lakers in Game 1, but needed a bigger lead, and they wouldn't have had to worry about an inbounds pass to beat them. They let it slip away, actually, in the third quarter when they had a real chance to pull away.

The Nuggets had a great year, though. Nobody should be that disappointed.

They were almost up, but it wasn't to be. And they were so flat in the final game. You could tell in the first five minutes, they had nothing left. There's next season, with a little bit more help (particularly with that $10 million salary exemption, free-agent signing in the Marcus Camby deal) from another big man who can score.

No shopping K-Mart. I think that it is time for the Nuggets and Kenyon Martin to have a parting of the ways. Do you agree?

Walter Williams, Carson, Calif.

Woody: Not at all. He was no help for a couple of years, and he and George Karl had troubles. But I was very impressed with K-Mart this year. He has come all the way back from serious knee surgery, and I thought he was an integral part, particularly on defense, of the Nuggets' success.

I know. You don't like his jumper. Not even his mother could like that ugly shot. I like K-Mart professionally and personally, and I'm sure he'll be back.

He's not the perfect power forward, of course, but he's no longer a distraction or disruption.

Enjoy your meal, sans Broncos. So, Woody, I'll be in Denver for Turkey Day, and I'm contemplating taking in the Broncos vs. G-Men night game. Thoughts? Anything you're seeing makes you believe these "new" Broncos will be in the race this season? I'll be looking for your answer whilst enjoying another hefeweizen.

Don P., Kaiserslautern, Germany

Woody: Bring a hefeweizen with you for me. Or maybe not. I don't know what it is, a beer or a brat or a chance encounter with someone from Sweden.

What was the question? Oh, I remember. The answer is no. Enjoy whatever you eat on Thanksgiving, and enjoy the experience at the stadium.

But, despite what my friend Mike Klis, the Broncos beat writer for The Denver Post, claims, the Broncos won't win nine games and overtake the Chargers. Four or five, or six at the most. They'll be going through a tough stretch when you come to town. Maybe take in a Nuggets game.

Say no to collaring Vick. What do you think about the Broncos picking up Michael Vick? I know you are not a fan of problem players, but he is likely to behave (heavy debts and still on thin ice). We could get him cheap and play the odds on the comeback ($750,000, one-year contract, maybe?).

Charles Sommers, Denver

Woody: Not a chance. I was a gigantic supporter of Vick. Dan Reeves believed in him, and when Vick got his Falcons to the NFC championship game, I thought he would have a great career. Just can't pass with efficiency. I did a column months ago about his prison stay and got an e-mail from an official at Leavenworth who told me Vick was staying in the less-secure barracks and not in prison. So it wasn't that tough for him.

In regard to the NFL, somebody will give him a chance, and I'm not opposed. He has served his time. Ex-convicts should be given another opportunity, especially, in Vick's case, if he pays off his creditors, who deserve their money (in most cases). I'm guessing Oakland or Dallas. They seem to be toxic-waste dumps for problem players. Denver's had enough problems with Travis Henry and Brandon Marshall. Credit due. Wasn't it great to see Carmelo Anthony playing tough defense in the playoffs? It seems like this is the year he finally "gets it." Should we credit George Karl or Chauncey Billups for Melo's transformation?

Dennis, Highlands Ranch

Woody: Credit Chauncey, credit Karl and credit that Allen Iverson is gone. Anthony followed Iverson on and off the court too much. The experience in the Olympics; having a kid; getting older; understanding what it would take for him to join Dwyane Wade and LeBron James as special players out of his draft class; listening to and respecting Karl more, particularly his defensive philosophy this season; and the addition of Chauncey, who was almost like an older brother ? All those things added up to Carmelo becoming a man, if not the man, in the NBA.