2008-09 NBA Preview: Denver Nuggets

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Denver Nuggets

2007-08 Record: 50-32

Cool 2007 Stat: Allen Iverson is always full of awesome stats. This season, he became the oldest player (32) to average 26 points, 7 assists and 41 minutes a game.

Anticipated Starting Five

PG- Chucky Atkins
SG- Allen Iverson
SF- Carmelo Anthony
PF- Kenyon Martin
C- Nene Hilario

Bench: Anthony Carter, J.R. Smith, Linas Kleiza, Renaldo Balkman, Steven Hunter

Biggest Strength – Scoring

Denver had the 3rd and 4th leading scorers in the league, and they both shot over 45% from the field (45.8 for AI and 49.2 for Melo).  That is pretty damn good offensively.  Factoring in J.R. Smith off the bench and these guys are still going to put up some points.  Have some prolific scorers also makes it much easier for Denver’s other players to get good shots as well.  But I’d like to point out the potential loss they will have with Camby gone. He is a good screener and an even better high-post passer (lobs to Melo).  Those are skills I don’t think Nene is as strong in. Unless Nene can make up for that by being a consistent scorer in the post, losing defensive-minded Marcus Camby will hurt Denver in the half court offense more than many may think.

Biggest Weakness – Defense

Who controls the paint now that Marcus Camby is gone?  Denver basically gave away a guaranteed 3-4 blocks per game, 1 steal per game and countless other shot alterations per game.  Camby covered up a lot of weak perimeter defense and mistakes, and I am not confident Nene is capable of filling his shoes.  They also lost the 2nd best rebounder in the NBA last season who also happens to be a strong outlet passer after defensive rebounds.  This team is clearly going in the wrong direction.  They will score points, but even worse than last season, they will continue to lose games 115 – 129.

Key Player in ’08- Nene Hilario

Without Camby, this team’s frontcourt is laughable. The two starting forwards have missed a combined 282 games in the last 3 years. If either of them gets injured, they have only Steven Hunter and Renaldo Balkman backing them up. The key on this team this year is Nene playing 82 games and playing up to his potential. He appeared to break out during the 06-07 playoffs when he went for 15 points, 8 rebounds and even 2.5 assists per game. But he never got off the ground last season, and if he doesn’t again this year, it’s going to be a long one for the Nuggets.

Their Thaddeus (exciting player 22 or under) – J.R. Smith, 22

At 22, Smith can shoots the lights out and has enough athleticism that he can do this. Yet, even at this young age, he’s already been pigeon-holed as a 3-point specialist with attitude problems. But some 3-point specialist he is. Smith has hit 43 more 3-pointers before the age of 23 than any other player in NBA history. The question is, can he develop himself? Can he expand his game to the point that he can be a go-to scorer and not just a role player? He’s certainly got time to do it, the question is whether he has the drive.

Pete’s 2008 Outlook: 4th place, Northwest division / 11th place, Western conference /20th place, NBA

The Nuggets are my second favorite team after the Sixers because they have Iverson, but I think that they are going to completely implode this year. They had a bad defense with Marcus Camby, and they are going to be awful without him. Melo is already on edge because they inexplicably tried to trade him. Iverson will be frustrated because he hates losing. George Karl isn’t really great at handling these kinds of situations. I have them at 11th, but I think it could be worse, especially if they dump Iverson mid-season. After Melo and Iverson, they don’t have enough to compete.

Dannie’s 2008 Outlook: 3rd place, Northwest division / 10th place, Western conference /20th place, NBA

Denver doesn’t make the playoffs for the first time since the ‘02-’03 season.  That is sad for me to say because I always root for Allen Iverson.  And I honestly wouldn’t put it past him to will Denver into the playoffs even if it is just to lose another 1st round match-up with the Lakers.  No one player is going to replace everything Camby brought to the defensive end.  It starts with each individual player committing to and playing much better defense.  Their run-and-gun, play very little defense style hasn’t been a winning formula and won’t be this year either.  The only way this team has any shot of success is to start getting it done on defense as a unit.  Honestly I have no idea who the leader is on the team.  You would think it’s Melo, but I would put my money on it being Iverson.  So for me the key is Anthony stepping up and becoming a real leader.  If Melo wants to keep the Nuggets’ playoff appearance streak since he got there alive, he needs to set the tone with his aggressiveness and effort defensively.

Philly Connection: Allen Iverson

I miss watching Iverson play every day, but I think we traded him at the right time. Iverson is one of the greatest Sixers ever and left with the following ranks in team history: 2nd in points, 1st in points per game, 3rd in assists, 2nd in steals, 1st in turnovers, 6th in games played, 1st in 3-pointers and 9th in defensive rebounds. He’s currently 33 and has 22,988 points, 5,228 assists and 1,876 steals. If he plays 2 more seasons at 22 points, 7 assists, and 2 steals per game and then 2 seasons at 17 points, 6 assists and 1 steal per game, and let’s say 70 games a year, he would finish with 28,448 points, 7,048 assists and 2,296 steals. That would put him 5th all-time in points (behind Abdul-Jabbar, Malone, Jordan and Chamberlain), 13th in assists (just ahead of Bob Cousy) and 6th in steals. Oscar Robertson is the only player who is top 15 in all 3 categories.

October 2, 2008