NBA Off Season Preview: Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are in a super awkward position. Like really awkward. If it wasn’t a few Trevor Ariza steals in the Western Conference finals, the Nuggets would have gone to the finals in 2009. On a dark and stormy night in Los Angeles last season, Chauncey Billups went nuts from the three point line and destroyed the Lakers. It looked the Nuggets were the team to beat in the West, but sadly, George Karl had to leave the team for cancer treatment and well, the team went through the motions for the reminder of the season.
After a summer of Carmelo Anthony wants to be trade rumors/stories, what exactly do the Nuggets do? Aside from the addition of Ty Lawson, Al Harrington and Arron Affalo, it’s pretty much the same squad that nearly got them to the Finals. Besides losing Karl for the last bit of the 2009-2010 season, Kenyon Martin was out of the line up (and may not even be back until January 2011).
So, what do the Nuggets do? Cut bait, trade Melo and start building a team around the speedy Ty Lawson and preparing for the future? Or do the Nuggets just wait it out with Melo and make one last great stand like the gang at the end of Sam Peckinpah’s The Wild Bunch? Go out in a blaze of glory (via Jon Bon Jovi)? Or do they just wait until January or February and figure, if it’s not working then, do the Nuggets blow up the team and start from the scratch?
Carmelo Anthony leaving Nuggets wouldn’t cripple or set the Nuggets back at least seven years like LeBron did when he left the Cavs, but it would be to their advantage to trade him while they can and get some building blocks for the future. That is if Melo wants to be traded.
There’s a lot of ands, ifs and buts with the Nuggets this season, but they should be a competitive team, if they want to be. Tough and physical….they’re kind of an odd ball team in the finesse Western Conference and they’ve been at top of the conference ever since Chauncey joined the team.
Predictions & Fun Facts
- If the Nuggets start shitting the bed in January, Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups will be on the trading block. However, no trade will actually happen.
- J.R. Smith will star as a velociraptor in a stage adaptation of Jurassic Park
- Twitter: @JR_Swish,@CarmeloAnthony, @LiLNugget03
- Site: Round Ball Mining Company
- The Birdman will get another tattoo
And for no reason, here’s the Denver Nuggets’ Mascot on a motorcycle:
