It's that time of the year again. The magical start to the NBA season. The Denver Nuggets enter the '13-'14 season with a lot of question marks because a lot has changed after an amazing regular season, finishing with 57 wins last year.
1. The Nuggets were ONCE AGAIN eliminated in the 1st Round of the Playoffs (link to my post about the elimination/off season)
2. The GM of the Year moved to Toronto for tons of money
3. The Coach of the Year, George Karl, was fired (link to my passionate response)
4. Denver did next to nothing during the off season (link to my angry response)
5. The rest of the Western Conference bulked up like they're getting their beach bods ready for the summer (Example: The Spurs, Thunder, Clippers, Rockets, Grizzlies and Golden State all got considerably better or stayed about the same)
So what does this season have in store for the Denver Nuggets? I can tell you this much: in the words of Andre Miller (when asked if the Nuggets will repeat a 57 win season), "Nah man, you know that won't happen again."
What must happen for Denver to be a top-6 team in the West:
1. Ty Lawson must average at least 19 points on 50% FG shooting, 8 assists and 2 steals per game.
It's time for Ty to take the next step.
Enough is enough, Ty. It seems for about 3 seasons now it's been "his time to shine". Averaging 16.7 points, 6.9 assists and 1.5 steals per game last year, he's been close. But this year has to be the one where he makes that extra jump and everyone says, "Wow, Lawson deserves to be an All-Star." I say deserves because unfortunately in the point guard-heavy Western Conference, chances he becomes an All-Star are very unlikely.
2. JaVale McGee must average a double-double.
It's clear that everyone's favorite big guy is going to see plenty of action this season. But what will McGee do with his opportunities? Denver's success of this season depends highly on his ability to take advantage of his freakish athletic abilities and get as many rebounds and dunks as possible. Averaging a double-double should not be that difficult if he sees 30+ minutes per game.
3. Kenneth Faried must be traded.
I'm sorry Denver fans, I just don't see it. Faried is an undersized power forward with extremely below average defensive and offensive skills. His amazing effort and rebounding ability can never be overlooked, but neither can his absence on the defensive side of the ball. While his stock is as high as it is, it's time to sell sell sell for a star. Faried will demand a high price when his rookie contact is up, and he just isn't worth the money. (Expect a post elaborating on this point in the near future)
4. There must be a new sheriff (or sidekick) in town.
The Denver Nuggets have about 5 players that have always had the potential to be good, but have been put in George Karl's "dog house". This is no insult to Coach Karl, every coach has players they love and players they don't. But with first year coach Brian Shaw taking the reins, a new, no-name legitimate role player (or starter) must emerge from this young group. Calling Evan Fournier, Jordan Hamilton, Quincy Miller or Anthony Randolph.
5. Wilson Chandler must play at least 70 games.
Chanlder has to stay healthy.
Chandler is an all-around player who can effectively guard 3 positions, rebound, handle and score the ball inside and out. But he has dealt with several injuries in his short stint in Denver. Last season he only played 43 games. When healthy, Chandler can often be the best player on the court. He has the talent, but will he be able to showcase it? With a knee injury to forward Danilo Gallinari, it is essential that Chandler stays healthy. But already being declared inactive due to injury for the first game of the season is no way to start.
What will happen: 1. Nate Robinson will legitimately contend for the 6th Man of the Year award.
I initially HATED the Nate Robinson signing. But it's undeniable how explosive and effective he can be when it comes to scoring. The big question is whether or not he will be able to play defense and keep himself from any silly antics on the court. But there is a good chance, after having literally no respectable offers after a career season last year, Robinson will play with an huge chip on his shoulder and put up some impressive numbers.
2. JaVale McGee will be on "Shaqtin' a Fool" at least 5 times.
With all the minutes he'll be getting, there is no doubt that McGee will make many... McGee-like mistakes. It's always fun and games to point them out. But hopefully there will also be lots of impressive dunks and blocks to combat those silly plays. Here is a compilation for good measure though.
3. Danilo Gallinari will play less than 35 games this season.
Although he has said his injury wasn't as severe as first believed, Gallinari has been injury prone his entire Denver career. A knee injury isn't anything to mess around with and Denver management will be very cautious to let him play. Especially when they have so much depth to use instead.
4. Randy Foye will be in the top-15 for 3-point field goal percentage.
Here's a fun graphic.
Foye was one of the most efficient 3-point specialists with Utah last season. With players like Lawson, Andre Miller, Chandler, McGee, JJ Hickson, Timofey Mozgov (I hope) and McGee all demanding defensive attention in the paint, there will be plenty of opportunities for Foye beyond the arch. Chances are he will take advantage of them. Expect early struggles to eventually be ironed out as he gets used to a new system. 5. The Denver defense will allow over 100 points per game, again.
The already defensively-deficient Nuggets lost their best defensive player in Andre Iguodala (he's dead to me forever) over the off season while adding no help. The 23rd ranked defense last season has no where to go but up on the defensive side of the ball... in all the wrong ways.
Prediction
I've seen some silly things from basketball analysts saying that Denver is in great danger to not make the playoffs this season. Don't buy any of that crap. Although the Nuggets aren't as good as last season's squad on paper, the season still needs to play itself out. I mean, we all know what happened to the Lakers last season... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA... woah, excuse me. Lost myself for a second.
Denver still has an explosive offense and a lot of depth. Defense will be key. There is no way that the Nuggets will have many "great possessions" on defense where everyone guards their man forcing a bad shot and nabbing the rebound. BUT, if Denver can manage to contain offensive attacks by forcing turnovers with almost reckless intensity and active hands, things might look good.
Record: 45-37. Good for 7th in the Western Conference. Unfortunately, Denver will be knocked out of the 1st Round again... *sighhh* Hey, but it'll be a heck-of-a-series...
It's time to dig in, Nuggets fans. The season is here!
The first newcomer of the list. Welcome to Denver. For a brief moment during the '09 NBA season, it seemed as if JJ Hickson's success as an NBA player was largely due to LeBron James. As a member of the not-good-enough Cavaliers teams led by the "Chosen One", Hickson was able to propel his energetic style of play into trade value and was shipped off to Sacramento for a first round draft pick. But after an absolutely abysmal 35 games with the Kings (4.7 points per game, 5.1 rebounds a game and 0.37 FG%), his contract was bought-out. Although it was clear his athletic ability was there, it seemed as if his success was drastically helped by playing alongside the best basketball player in the world.
Hickson eventually signed with the Portland Trailblazers in the 2nd half of that same season... and then this happened:
He was immediately cast to the spotlight and the spring in hist step was back. Hickson finished that season with the 'Blazers averaging 15.1 ppg, 8.3 rpg and a 0.543 FG% in 19 games. In short, much better.
Last season, Hickson was able to show that his short half-year success was not a fluke and had arguably his best professional year (12.7 ppg, 10.4 rpg, 0.562 FG%). He was an absolute double-double monster and an iron horse, only missing two games all season long. Not only was he able to bring down rebound after rebound, his hustle and highlight dunks were always huge energizers for a team full of exciting young talent.
For good measure, here is another monster dunk that shows his worth as an energetic physical specimen:
'13-'14 Season Outlook
It could be argued that JJ Hickson was the biggest off season acquisition for the Denver Nuggets this past year. He put up amazing stats, brought the house down with jaw dropping dunks and has never been known to disrupt a locker room. So why is he ranked so low? Hickson does not fit in the current roster.
Let's repeat what we've attributed to Hickson: great rebounder, energetic, highlight dunks and fan favorite. Wait, did that just describe Kenneth Faried...?
Does Hickson fit with this roster?
JJ Hickson is pound for pound Faried 2.0. Which also means he is small for his position and is also a very bad on-ball defender. With a starting front court of Faried and JaVale McGee, will Hickson be playing off the bench? Yes, it is true that his work ethic is largely better than so many other NBA players, but there is only so much work ethic can do. Size does matter. It is very difficult for this 6'9 energy ball to be guarding 7'2 NBA centers that can simply out muscle and out height (?) him.
With so many bigmen on the roster, it is a little difficult to see where he will eventually fit. Size will become a huge deficiency in Denver and his ability to pump-up a crowd will inevitably be trumped by his inability to defend and compliment players like McGee, Faried, Randolph, Timofey Mozgov (I still believe in him) and Darrell Arthur (who is not on this list).
But it is intriguing to see what such a player can do in a fast pace offense in Denver. In a run-and-gun style, Hickson can be good for 2-3 fastbreak dunks a game. He also has a solid 17-foot jumper and can stretch the floor a bit for a team that has so many inside options. The question remains whether or not he will be able to mesh well with a team with 4 other people who play his position.
Prediction
JJ Hickson is no doubt one of the more likeable players in the NBA. He is a team player and comes up with highlight reel dunks almost on a nightly basis. It's frustrating that such a player is now on a roster with so much depth at his position. How will Coach Shaw spread the minutes? Will Hickson get enough to be in a groove for the year? Chances are that Hickson will have flashes of brilliance, getting a crowd to ooh and ahh at his physical feats. He will come down with double doubles quite consistently bringing energy and enthusiasm every night. But as the year progresses, it will be clear the this current roster was not created to play together. What does this mean? (A traaaade? I'll expand on this later.)
After the worst season of his career, Anthony Randolph partly believed he'd never see substantial playing time in the NBA ever again. Averaging 3.7 points per game and 2.4 rebounds per game in just 39 contests, the 6'11 power forward was lost in a Denver Nugget's roster with extreme depth at all positions.
Plain and simple, Randolph was a no-show all year. He scored a season high of 18 points against the Portland Trailblazers during the last week of the regular season and managed to hit double digit points only three other times during the whole year. He has always been known as a freak athlete and a player with a high ceiling but there were far too many boneheaded plays and lapses on defense to make him a viable option. This placed him into a cycle of inefficiency and spotty playtime for the entirety of the season.
'13-14 Season Outlook
Much like Evan Fournier, Randolph has now been given the best possible coach for his situation. A coach (Brian Shaw) that will allow all players to develop and maximize their potentials while also making mistakes along the way. Randolph was actually not originally on the 10-in-10 list until very recently.
Randolph has the potential to put up big numbers.
During the preseason, he has found substantial playtime as one of the bigger surprises of training camp. What's even more surprising is that Coach Shaw has been giving Randolph a lot of minutes as the team's small forward.
How will his offensive game translate? Signs point to a positive outcome. Coach Shaw claimed that Randolph has actually been "our most consistent outside shooter throughout camp." Although this may be hard to believe, it honestly can't be much worse than his inside post game last season. He was constantly out-muscled down low and could never hold his own on the low block. Maybe it is likely that his outside shot is a much more lethal weapon. Although he has shot 1/10 on 3-point attempts so far this preseason (yikes).
Any defense? This could be the biggest problem for Randolph. He was never a solid on-ball defender on the post and played the role of off-ball rim defender, much like a poor man's JaVale McGee. He's too weak to play down low, but also could be a step slow guarding faster small forwards in the league like Chandler Parsons or Gordon Hayward (watch video below). But his length at 6'11 is intriguing.
If he is able to develop a consistent outside jumper and defend his position well enough to stay on the floor, this could be a big year for Anthony Randolph. He's always had the talent to be a solid NBA player but has never put it all together. From goal tending shots when they're a few inches above the rim to trash talking Yao Ming and getting absolutely smashed (I'll give you all my love if you get this reference), Randolph has yet to minimize his mistakes to maximize his playtime.
Prediction
Anthony Randolph is Anthony Randolph. Although it is an interesting idea to play him at the 3 and make the lineup huge, the Denver Nuggets will eventually have to take minutes away from him because of his mistakes and questionable shot selection. Unless your name is Dirk or Kevin Durant, it's never a good idea to be over 6'10 and not have a polished inside game. But Randolph has proven to be too much of a defensive liability and prone to offensive mistakes. He'll start off hot but fade back to old habits and lose minutes by each game.
It was an odd season for Evan Fournier. Picked out of France as the 20th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft, Fournier was seemingly unused for about 90% of the season. Most Denver fans were undoubtedly confused whether or not they should be angry or rejoicing over the selection. What is his position? Why do I not know him? What is he good at? How do you even pronounce his name? But the young French sensation put on his working cap and went straight to training camp ready to prove his worth as a solid NBA-talent deserving of his 1st Round selection.
Unfortunately, one man stood in the way of his playtime: George Karl. It's not like Fournier did anything particularly horrible in the beginning stages of his NBA career, but something about rookies and George Karl have never mixed. This landed the French rook' on the bench for the large majority of his first season.
Fournier lit it up to end the '12-'13 season.
The statistics for his first-year campaign are nothing to look at (5.3 points per game, 1.3 assists per game, 0.49 FG%) but the numbers are skewed. Evan only made appearances in 29 of the first 73 games of the year while tied to the chains of Coach Karl. In those games he averaged a measly 7.7 minutes per game, 3.1 points per game and 0.7 assists per game. But after a few late season injuries to key starters Danilo Gallinari and Ty Lawson, Fournier was given his chance to shine. And that he did.
In the final nine games of the season, all of which Fournier saw action, he averaged 12.3 ppg, 2.7 apg, 0.52 FG% in 22.8 mpg. While the Nuggets were in a dead tie with the LA Clippers and the Memphis Grizzlies for the 3rd, 4th and 5th seeds for the Playoffs, Fournier was playing his best basketball. He not only produced, but he produced on a big stage.
'13-'14 Season Outlook
So what happened after Fournier's rise to the top? He slightly struggled at the start of the Playoffs, and the short leash that George Karl had the rookie on was pulled. He found himself at the end of the bench before the series against the Golden State Warriors was even over.
Fournier has offensive potential.
But the acquisition of new coach Brian Shaw is essentially a Godsend for Evan Fournier. A coach that preaches development and competition regardless of pay, Shaw will definitely give Fournier more opportunities than George Karl ever gave him. This year will give a much better indication of what type of player he is set to be.
It's been an awkward transition to the NBA for Fournier. He is a tall guard (6'6) with decent handles, he can shoot, can aggressively drive to the basket and is solid from the free throw line. But it's still unclear if he can create his own shot, protect the ball against faster and more athletic NBA defenses or defend his position well enough to earn valuable minutes. Even his role on the team has been awkward to determine. This Denver Nuggets roster has no shortage of depth so finding out whether or not Fournier should start or come off the bench has been difficult.
In all honesty, he's Rank #9 because of his questionable role. The talent is there. But will Coach Shaw give Evan Fournier the opportunities to maximize his potential? And the bigger question that remains is whether or not he will take those opportunities to prove he is capable of being a player that deserves considerable minutes.
Prediction
Evan Fournier will be given multiple early-season opportunities to show his worth as an NBA player. His ability to shoot the 3 and drive the ball will allow him to average double digit points through the first month of the season. But his inability to do much of anything else other than score the basketball will force him to come off the bench. Fournier will be a very effective bench player, occasionally scoring 18+ points here and there. By the end of the season he will have proved that he has an offensive game worthy of starting in the pros. Also, he will immediately change his #94 jersey to a much more appealing number (I hope).
Welcome! This is my newest and most ambitious project for the J.Nam Sports Blog, the 10-in-10 Player Profile. I plan to write about (who I think) the 10 most important active players are for the Denver Nuggets this season in the next 10 days. This will lead up to my season preview and the first game of the year for Denver.
NOTE: This list is for the most IMPORTANT players, not BEST. This isn't a ranking system for who is better or has the most potential, although rankings will be pretty indicative of that. Also, I will leave Danilo Gallinari out of this list because he is currently injured and won't be able to play at the start of the season. I'll probably do a separate profile on Gallo when he is set to return.
Let's get started!
Rank #10: Andre Miller
'12-'13 Season Summary
Last year was a long season for the 37-year-old Andre Miller. After signing a fresh contract worth $12 million guaranteed over 3 years, Miller had the worst season of his career averaging career-lows in points (9.6 ppg), rebounds (2.9 rpg) and averaged the lowest assists per game since his rookie season (5.9 apg). I know statistics don't always tell the whole story, but Miller might have also had his worst decision-making season as well. Too often did he convince himself he was the best offensive option on the court and take a questionable shot or drive to the rim against three defenders. The heartbreaking 3OT game against the Boston Celtics does a good job displaying his offensive deficiencies last season.
Just one season removed from his resurgence as a Denver Nugget, where a back court involving him and starting point guard Ty Lawson was heralded as one of the best change-of-pace guard tandems in the country, Miller experienced a considerable regression. But why?
It's pretty simple: Andre Miller plays like an old man. Unfortunately, now he is becoming old. His tricks in the low-post that once elevated his game are now getting slower, more predictable and easier to dismiss. This has forced him to compensate by taking more jumpers (have you seen his shooting stroke?) and by making poor decisions via driving against several defenders and trying too many spin moves when he convinces himself he is still 25. '13-'14 Season Outlook
Miller is still an intriguing piece to the weird hodgepodge of players Nuggets President Josh Kroenke has formed. He really is the only player on the roster who is comfortable playing slow. But he may be getting too slow.
But one thing is certain. With high flyers like JaVale McGee, Kenneth Faried, Anthony Randolph and even Nate Robinson, there will lobs for days. Miller is without a doubt the best lob-thrower in the entire NBA and even though he lacks the same offensive punch he used to provide, he can still get a crowd on its feet with his dazzling half court alley oops placed to perfection.
Perfect lob
His veteran leadership is also going to be important on such a young team. And even though he is showing his age as of late, Miller is still the best post player the Nuggets have. Which is understandable, sad, and hilarious all at the same time. But with the addition of streaky point guard Nate Robinson late in off-season, it is a little confusing what will happen to the slow-pace veteran.
Also, Miller's slow moving feet often make him a huge liability on defense. This does not help his stock being on a team where defense is a huge question mark. Regardless of if he plays well or not, Denver's defense will still be full of holes and their offense will still be fast. It's more a question of whether or not Andre Miller will be able to add anything with his seemingly contradictory playing style to the rest of the roster.
Prediction
Andre Miller will have an awkward start to the season where his abilities will be smushed in with the other Denver players. He'll have a few flashes of greatness but the coaching staff will soon realize he just won't fit in the current roster. He will either be traded for absolutely nothing or will find himself disgruntled and at the end of the bench by the halfway point of the season.
Rankings: #10: Andre Miller #9: Evan Fournier #8: Anthony Randolph #7: JJ Hickson #6: October 25th #5: October 26th #4: October 27th #3: October 28th #2: October 29th #1: October 30th
It has been an... interesting(?) offseason for the Denver Broncos to say the least. After winning the AFC West in back-to-back seasons (a moment of silence for Tim Tebow's NFL career), Denver's ambitions of winning the Super Bowl were quickly dismantled by the pesky Ravens and that dastardly Joe Flacco.
It was a play seen over and over again for Denver fans: Safety Rahim Moore overplaying a Flacco hail mary pass that inevitably landed into wide receiver Jacoby Jones' hands as time expired.
Look away Denver fans.
But the NFL is a relentless league that continuously cycles through season after season, and so the Broncos had to move on and hope for a better 2013/2014 campaign. The offseason/preseason was filled with unnecessary team drama, arrests, drug test failings and even suspensions... wait, what do you mean that was only Von Miller?
*sigh*...just... *sigh*
Preview:
The Denver Broncos go into Thursday night's affair against the reigning NFL Champions without their two best pass rushers from last season in Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil. The former is serving a six-game suspension after failing a drug test and the latter is playing on the opposing team after an odd fax machine issue. Denver also has to endure a preseason injury to HOF cornerback Champ Bailey who will also not be suiting up Week 1. To say the least, the defensive side of the ball for Denver seems a little shaky.
But there is still room for optimism in Denver. By all accounts, star quarterback Peyton Manning has looked sharper, stronger and more poised for success in his second season as a Bronco. It'll be interesting to see how PFM (Peyton F'ing Manning) will improve on his 4,659 yard 37 touchdown season. Being arguably the greatest regular season quarterback of all time, hope seams to be mounting.
No Ray or Ed for Baltimore this season.
The Baltimore Ravens have also seen plenty of change on the defensive side of the ball. Defensive end Paul Kruger, outside linebacker Dennell Ellerbe, and two leaders for many years in safety Ed Reed and middle linebacker Ray Lewis have all moved on from the Championship defense. Many fans and analysts have speculated that this once stout "D" will never be the same, but that is foolish. The Ravens filled those spots with players like Chris Canty, Elvis Dumervil and the very underrated safety from Oakland, Michael Huff. Although none of those players bring the same leadership as Reed or Lewis, they are extremely capable and strong enough to hold down the fort.
The position that Baltimore fans should be worried about is the quarterback aka Joe Flacco. The voodoo magic of Ray Lewis is now gone. His "NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST ME" post game speeches are nonexistent. And familiarity is lacking. Will Flacco prove his worth as an "elite" quarterback. Can he show the world that the playoffs were not a fluke, that he is a top 5 QB and that he is now the leader in Baltimore? Will Flacco not only be able to shoulder the on-field pressure of statistics and touchdowns while also shouldering the void in the locker room left by Ed Reed and Ray Lewis? Only time will tell, but this first game will be a big indicator of things to come for the Ravens.
Three Keys to the Game:
#1: The Denver Defense's response without its stars. Raven's wide receiver Torrey Smith absolutely torched Champ Bailey last season in the Divisional Playoff Round. So it might not be the worst thing in the world that the future HOF corner will have to sit this game. The loss of pass rush may hurt more. The Broncos are losing 29.5 sacks and 12 forced fumbles between Dumervil and Miller, those are some serious numbers. Can Derek Wolfe, Robert Ayers and Shaun Phillips put enough pressure on Flacco throughout the duration of the game? And will the defensive backs contain the Baltimore wide receivers? (queue Rahim Moore)
Will Montee Ball emerge as a RB1?
#2: The Denver running game. There is no clear RB1 for the Broncos. Although the fumble-happy Ronnie Hillman will take the official start, backups Montee Ball and Knowshon Moreno expect to receive plenty of touches. Regardless of who is getting the handoffs, the running game will have to be strong in order to open up play action passing and pass protection.
With that said... #3: Pass Protection. Every player loves versing a former team. But how about versing a former team, after a weird contract snafu in which you were taking a decent pay-cut, in the VERY FIRST GAME of the season? In short, there is no doubt that Elvis Dumervil will arrive in Denver with his engines revving to go. Protecting Manning is of the utmost importance in all games. Will the injury/experience-battled Denver O-Line provide enough protection? Terrell Suggs, Chris Canty and Dumervil sure hope not.
Prediction:
Like mentioned earlier, it has been a weird offseason for Denver fans. But more importantly, it has been a long offseason. Fans should be rejoicing at the sign of real regular season football. In the end, this game will be much closer than most people think. Joe Flacco is the real deal, and the absence of Von Miller and Champ Bailey will be apparent from the first snap of the game. But the no-huddle offense led by Peyton Manning will also be very difficult for the Raven's defense to handle. Points will be put up on the board like a basketball game; especially early.
As the 2013 NBA Off-Season is slowly coming to an end, it is now time to recap what the Denver Nuggets were able (not) to do. First I want to recap how the Nuggets did on the suggestions I gave in my "Denver Nuggets Off-Season Plans (Part 1)".
1. Offer Andre Iguodala the exact same contract that Ty Lawson received last offseason. Result: Let's call it a wash. The Nuggets didn't offer Iggy an absurd amount of money, but he left anyways. Can I mention that I feel completely betrayed he left for the Warriors? What a joke... 2a. Trade for a "star player". Result: Mmm. Nope. Didn't listen. 2b. Trade Kenneth Faried for that star. Result: Seems like the Nuggets are surrounding the team around Faried now. 3.Pursue Kyle Korver like he is LeBron James. Result: Hahahahahahahahaha... Nope. 4. Look for a new back-up point guard. Result: Nate freaking Robinson. I don't even know what to say. 5. Demote Kosta Koufos. Result: Kinda? Koufos was traded on draft night for Darrell Arthur. Another 6'9 power forward. *sigh* So taking into account that new Denver GM Tim Connolly could not have gone more opposite of what I had suggested for the Nuggets, it's now time to assess what has happened. But before I begin I'm just going to be honest. I believe that with the roster currently assembled, the Nuggets will ALWAYS be a 6-8 seed team in the playoffs never amounting to anything great for at least the next five years. Coaching Change Brian Shaw:It was only a matter of time before one team gave Phil Jackson's apprentice, Brian Shaw, a chance at a head coaching job. Now the Nuggets new coach has to back up all the talk with performance. Coach Shaw is someone who is interested in player development which should excite Denver fans. George Karl NEVER gave rookies or young players a chance to make a name for themselves, except Kenneth Faried. Here's to hoping that either Jordan Hamilton, Evan Fournier or Quincy Miller have a breakout year under the tutelage of Brian Shaw.
Some happy individuals. I'm not. Not at all.
He also seems to be focused on creating a more half-court offensive mindset in Denver which is something that has been lacking for... well, ever. Although I think it is important to change the offensive culture in Denver I don't believe that the Nuggets currently have the personnel to do so. I mean, can anyone see JaVale McGee posting up at all? Also, I fear that Denver is just a stepping stone for Shaw who has had a longtime home in Los Angeles. Call me crazy but I think most coaches would prefer LA over Denver. And I think Los Angeles just wasn't ready to give a rookie coach the reigns in the mess that is the Lakers at this moment. I can't see Shaw being in Denver for over his current 3-year contract. Grade: B+ Draft/Draft Night Trade Acquisitions Erick Green: The Nuggets traded the Draft's tallest player in Rudy Gobert (7'2) for Erick Green, the NCAA's leading scorer last season (25.0 ppg). Green is an intriguing player but his limited size (6'3) and lack of a passing game will make him a role player at best. But his scoring ability is something to be excited about. Still, giving up all that size in Gobert really is a head-scratcher.
Grade: C+
Darrell Arthur: Denver also traded beloved big man Kosta Koufos on Draft Night. Although it stung to see Koufos go, it seems that it is finally time to see what JaVale McGee is capable to do as a starter. But what Denver got in return for the former starting center isn't something to be overly joyful about. Darrell Arthur is a 6'9 power forward who is not overly proficient at anything. He is an above average defender, average offensive player and a below average rebounder. His stats last season looked like this: 6.1 ppg/2.9 rpg/0.451FG% in 16.4 minutes per game. It seems that size is not important to Denver.
Grade: C-
Joffrey Lauvergne: Who? All I thought of when I heard his name was:
All I do is rage when I see this face...
And this did not make me happy.
Grade: I have no idea.
Free Agency JJ Hickson: It has become completely obvious that Denver thinks small-ball is the way to go after signing Kenneth Faried 2.0 as their first big Off-Season acquisition. JJ Hickson was nothing short of solid last season for the Portland Trailblazers averaging a double-double per game (12.7 ppg and 10.4 rpg). But he is still a 6'9 center. There is no getting around that fact. He is an absolute source of energy, the ball seems to always bounce his way and he is good for three to five highlight dunks per year. Sound familiar?
Denver officially has two Kenneth Farieds and this is not necessarily a good thing. An undersized athlete can only get an NBA team so far. But constantly going to battle with shorter less physical players is an equation for failure. Part of me feels that Hickson will surprise me and show me that energy and hustle is greater than height. For now, I can only wish for that. But taking into account that his contract is only for around $5 million per year, he's not an expensive risk.
Denver's top acquisitions. Hickson (left) and Foye (right)
Grade: B-
Randy Foye: I actually am excited for the acquisition of sharp-shooter Randy Foye. He can handle the ball on occasion and knows his role on the floor: shoot 3's. This is something that Denver sorely missed last season, so adding Foye doesn't hurt. The former Utah guard averaged 10.8 ppg while shooting .410 beyond the 3-point arch for the 2012/2013 season. Those are solid numbers. This may be the move that proves to be most worthwhile for Denver. But Foye is by no means a shutdown defender and doesn't seem to have a huge passing prowess.
Grade: B
Nate Robinson: The newest addition to the Denver Nuggets comes in the shape of a 5'9 lighting rod known as Nate. After a one-year stint with the Chicago Bulls where Robinson thrived under the coaching of Tom Thibodeau, Nate is now taking his talents to the Rocky Mountains. This move means a couple things for Denver fans.
Can Nate thrive in Denver?
1. Andre Miller is now officially done with the Nuggets.
2. DENVER DOES NOT CARE ABOUT SIZE OR DISCIPLINE!
Nate Robinson is short. Wow, I know. News Flash. But he also has no sense of a good shot. Every
shot is a good shot for Nate "The Great". I know how dynamic he was at times for the Bulls. I lived in Chicago for the past year. I witnessed the amazing playoff stretch he had which included the 23-point 4th quarter performance against the Brooklyn Nets. I also believe Robinson had a very under-the-radar regular season averaging 13.1 ppg and 4.4 apg. But he is the definition of streaky and has a highly flammable attitude. Part of me worries how a rookie coach will be able to handle that. Let's fill in the blank people: Nate Robinson + JaVale McGee = _____________.
Grade: D+
Denver has compiled a roster of small high energy players. After new coach Brian Shaw mentioned that his offense will be centered around the half-court, the front office then went to acquire a team made for the fast break.
Height is also a huge concern for Denver. Here are some alarming numbers:
Average PG height: 5'10 (at best)
Average PF height: 6'8.5
Not to mention a 6'9 center (JJ Hickson)
It'll be interesting to see how this weird misfit group will work together next year under a first-year coach. But part of me worries this off-season has set Denver back several years.
Wow, here it is folks! My first ever MLB post. I have avoided writing anything about the MLB because I feel completely inadequate writing about baseball but we'll see how this goes!
The NL West, as a collective whole, has been nothing short of lackluster this season. The Arizona Diamondbacks, Los Angeles Dodgers, Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants hold a combined 0.480 winning percentage at about the halfway point of the season. When trying to describe this division, the word mediocre comes to mind.
But nonetheless, I would like to examine each NL West team with great scrutiny. Or something like that. And predict what I see for the future.
Arizona Diamondbacks (50-45)
Current Position: 1st Place
End of Season Position: 2nd Place
Let's all take a moment to acknowledge the lone plus-.500 NL West team. That's right ladies and gentleman, to earn 1st place in this train-wreck of a division all you have to do is be five games above even. To contextualize this record, the Diamondbacks would be good for 5th in the AL East. But hey that's not their fault!
Arizona has been the definition of average all season long. But they've been consistently average. At one point the team was nine games above .500 (34-25) but have since experienced a slow-and-steady decline to the dreaded .500 mark.
Bottom Line: The Diamondbacks are currently ranked 16th in batting average, 14th in on-base percentage and 26th in homeruns. Average to below average run support. They also are 10th in ERA and 13th in WHIP. Almost every category you find the Diamondbacks right around the middle of the pack. They deserve credit for being consistent, but they simply won't be able to hold 1st place being this average.
Los Angeles Dodgers (47-47)
Current Position: 2nd Place
End of Season Position: 1st Place
On June 19th the LA Dodgers were a dismal 29-40, but have since gone on an impressive 18-7 stretch (yay math!). The arrival of the freakazoid Yasiel Puig has been an absolute breath of fresh air in such a boring division. The man has been an absolute force to be reckoned with, batting .391 with 8 homers and 19 RBI's to match in his first 38 MLB games. But the player lost in Puigmania has been shortstop Hanley Ramirez who has batted .386 with 8 homeruns and 25 RBI's in 39 games since returning from the disabled list.
Puig has been nothing short of amazing so far
It's clear the Dodgers have the most raw talent of any team in the NL West, and quite possibly the National League as a whole. But inconsistent play has been an issue for LA all season long.
Bottom Line: LA has run into its fair share of injuries and on-the-field struggles, but the team with a bottomless bank account seems to be putting it together for the 2nd half. Along with the arguably the best pitcher in baseball, Clayton Kershaw, the Dodgers have put themselves in solid position to win the soft NL West.
Colorado Rockies (46-50)
Current Position: 3rd Place
End of Season Position: 4th Place
The Blake Street Bombers have been a pleasant surprise. After finishing an embarrassing 64-92 last season, the Rockies currently are only four games under .500. Taking into account that this squad really didn't improve at all over the off-season, it's been great to see a group of players really buy into new manager Walt Weiss and succeed in every definition of the word based on previous expectations.
The Rockies have been a pleasant surprise.
What is most surprising is that along with the expected offensive firepower that comes with the Coors Field territory, the pitching has also been solid. Starters Jorge De La Rosa, Jhoulys Chacin and Tyler Chatwood have combined for a 23-12 record and a 3.17 ERA. The trio also averages about 6 innings pitched per outing. I haven't even mentioned the outstanding season Rox Reliever Rex Brothers has
had.
Bottom Line: I just listed all the great and positive things the Rockies have accomplished thus far, but still have them finishing 4th. I just don't trust the pitching yet. I wish I did but I don't. The Rockies have to prove their worth in the consistency department because All-Stars Troy Tulowitzki, Carlos Gonzalez and Michael Cuddyer can't pick up that load. Until then, the Rockies stay under .500. But there are definitely things Colorado can be excited for.
San Francisco Giants (43-51)
Current Position: 4th Place
End of Season Position: 3rd Place
This has been a weird season for the Giants. The team batting power is as absent as always. Holding the 28th spot in HRs. But their pitching has been strangely below average as well. San Fran. is currently ranked 20th in team ERA and 16th in WHIP. A team that has always boasted a stout pitching staff has experienced underwhelming play from former ace Tim Lincecum (never mind the no-no he just threw).
What is more worrisome is that Matt Cain has been absolutely below-average with an alarming 5.06 ERA and a 5-6 record through 19 starts. For a team that often struggles to give pitchers run-support, the pitching has not been spectacular. It seems that the ace torch has been passed to 23-year-old Madison Baumgarner (10-5, 3.02 ERA).
Bottom Line: The pitching has been bad and the batting has been average, but there is something about the Giants and late season pushes. What the Rockies have not proved (consistency), the Giants have
Will the Giants celebrate again in October? Not likely.
proven twice over the last three seasons. I see veteran leadership and timely play bumping this team to the middle-of-the-pack region in the MLB by October.
San Diego Padres (42-54)
Current Position: 5th Place
End of Season Position: 5th Place
The Padres have just been all-around bad. There is no way going around that. Here are some rankings for you.
Batting: 23rd in batting average, 23rd in on-base percentage, 25th in slugging percentage.
Pitching: 25th in ERA, 27th in WHIP, 27th in opponent batting average.
In other words: yikes.
Bottom Line: I don't want to add insult to injury but it really seems like the 2010 season where San Diego finished 90-72, one game behind the wildcard position, was the last time the Padres will have a chance to be in the playoffs for a long time. When your batting order headlines a man batting .229 (Chase Headley), something is wrong.
Here is a new idea I wanted to tinker with a little bit! It is a vlog about sports. Just interested to see how it works! Thanks so much for you viewership and support!
Do you remember when you were a child, and you always needed something new regardless of what you already owned?
In your head you'd think, "I know I have the new Gameboy but I want that kids handheld black and white Tetris game! Why? Because it's not mine."That stupid and illogical thought process is something a child should go through, not an NBA front office. But the Denver Nuggets just reacted out of spontaneous panic. After being knocked out of the playoffs by a lower seeded Golden State Warriors team (or should I say the Golden State Steph Currys), the Nuggets pressed the panic button because of something they thought they didn't have. A winning playoff coach.
When former Lakers coach Mike Brown was fired this season after a 1-4 start, George Karl was interviewed by ESPN for his opinion. "It's a bad day for basketball, it's a sad day for coaching. It's drastic and dramatic, and I'm sure we haven't heard the last of it." Karl was right. Unfortunately the drastic move was made by his own (former) organization. On the heels of losing GM of the Year Masai Ujiri, the Nuggets fired Coach of the Year, George Karl.
What does this firing mean for Denver going forward? No one will trust the organization, including it's own players.
Immediately after the firing, players took to Twitter.
One example:
So we lost a GM now a coach what's next!?
— Kenneth Faried (@KennethFaried35) June 6, 2013
So the players, which I last remembered are kind of important to a basketball team, are already doubting the situation they are in. Trust is essential to team chemistry. Especially for a young team like the Nuggets. And that's been completely destroyed. I could go deep into how this completely derails the psyche of a young team but I think it's pretty obvious what it could potentially do.
No coach will trust the organization.
In a statement issued by Nuggets president Josh Kroenke he said, "I could not have more respect for [Karl] as a person or a coach."
Ohhhhhhhh. So THAT'S how you treat coaches you "could not have more respect for"? That must make all the coaches absolutely thrilled to come work for you. Coaches will feel safe to play for the Nuggets after they fired a man who just won COY, made nine straight playoff appearances and owns a .622 regular season winning percentage, right? (hint: sarcasm)
No coach will feel safe with this job. They'll constantly be looking over their shoulders wondering how much they'll have to accomplish before they're safe from being canned.
My face exactly when I learned Karl was fired.
Who is better?
Please, someone answer. Which available coach is better than George Karl? Who can put the Nuggets in a better situation than it's been in? I recently put out a Facebook post that the Nuggets should make a run at Lionel Hollins, the current Memphis Grizzlies head coach. I still mean that. But other than him and maybe Phil Jackson (who will decline an offer to coach the starless Nuggets), who is better? And even those situations I'm not sure about. I just don't see it.
Closing thoughts.
I can hear it already, "Justin, he was given NINE years and never made the finals! He had plenty of time and just couldn't do it. It's time for a change! Karl sucks!" Karl had about two seasons with this team. Only Ty Lawson is the remaining member of the Denver Thuggets team that made the Western Conference Finals. EVERYONE ELSE IS NEW! They were just starting to put it together. Yeah they got upset, but we just saw the Warriors make a VERY interesting series with the San Antonio Spurs as well. And where are they now? Oh yeah, the Finals.
So as he's just beginning to get things going with this team, Denver fires him. Some of you might say, "Even two years is too long. He didn't get out of the first round with this team." Well you know what I say to you? It's that kind of sick, twisted and spoiled win-now mentality that will never allow a team to develop without making ridiculous changes out of impatience.
Did the OKC Thunder magically just work out? No, there needed to be time for Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook to mature into the players they are now. They still haven't won it all yet.
It even took the Big Three in Miami a year to get it together! And that was with the greatest player in the world, LeBron James!
This move really scares me. It could be the first domino in many terrible things to come. I could see Denver going into a tailspin and eventually turning into the team that always "could have been" but always stuck to mediocrity. Always the 6 or 7 seed being knocked out of the first round. Sound familiar? What improvements can be made from firing Karl? What situation is better for right now or the future?
This knee-jerk reaction can haunt the Nuggets for many years to come.
After I posted my last blog entry, the Denver Nuggets
managed to lose in the 1st Round of the NBA Playoffs (again) and
make me look like a complete fanboy idiot who knows nothing about basketball. I'll admit, I WAS DEAD WRONG. I'M SORRY!
A tough end to a promising season. (NBA)
In summary: the last four weeks have not been fun.
And now the Nuggets are officially in offseason mode, a
shocking and harsh reality.
On the day I post this entry (May 9th) Denver GM
Masai Ujiri was given “Executive of the Year” honors. So what am I
(comically) going to try and do? Tell him what needs to be done to push Denver
into Championship contenders. I’m not saying I know everything, but if I was
given keys to the Denver Nuggets car I have a pretty good idea of what I’d do
with some of the situations facing the Nuggets during the offseason (in no
particular order).
1. Offer Andre Iguodala the exact same contract
that Ty Lawson received last offseason.
*I know that Iguodala has a one-year player option left on
his contract for about $15 million, but it’s been reported that he is going to
opt out of that and explore free agency. I’m going to assume that’s what will
happen.*
I'm going to go out on a limb and say that Iggy was definitely the biggest
disappointment this season. When Denver traded for him I expected an incredible shift in culture. That just didn’t happen.
Don’t get me wrong, I love what Iguodala brings to the game. I even bought his jersey! But is he worth $15 million? Absolutely not. Ty Lawson received a four year
$48 million contract extension last offseason and I’d be comfortable signing Iguodala to an identical contract. Anything more and Denver should
really be hesitant. What message would they be sending to the team if they gave
Iguodala more? That he is more valuable than Ty? No way.
I have a nice little Bill Simmons-esque exercise to put Iggy into perspective. Here are
some per-game averages of three players this past season:
Player A is Andre Iguodala. Player B is the Houston Rockets' Chandler Parsons. And Player C is former Denver Nugget Arron Afflalo. Both Afflalo and Parsons made significantly less money than Iggy this past season and produced very similar numbers. Obviously there are some situational differences involved in each players' case. For example: Afflalo plays on the Orlando Magic, he's basically is star compared to the rest of that roster. But the statistics are very telling of a players production story. And Iguodala's depicts a story about a very overpaid player.
Iggy's abismal .574 FT% is just not worth $15 million. And neither is his (extremely) overrated defense. No way, no how. If he demands anything more than Lawson's contract, I'd let him walk.
2a. Trade for a "star player". I'm going to be flat out honest here: Ty Lawson is a star. I don't care what anyone else tells me. He's proved it. He's made clutch shots, taken over games, and been a model point guard. But the NBA community has it wrong. You don't need a star to win an NBA Championship. You need at least two. With the exception of having a future Hall of Famer.
Let's look at the last five NBA Champions:
2012- Miami Heat (LeBron James and Dwyane Wade... and I guess Chris Bosh... Lol.)
2011- Dallas Mavericks (Future HOF player Dirk Nowitzki)
2010- L.A. Lakers (Future HOF players Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol... and Bynum... and Odom)
2009- L.A. Lakers (Future HOF players Kobe Braynt and Pau Gasol... and Bynum... and Odom...again)
2008- Boston Celtics (Three Future HOF players in Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen)
No one can tell me one star is necessary to win a championship. An NBA team needs multiple. Look at how much OKC is currently struggling with just Kevin Durant. Golden State (darn them) would be a legitimate NBA Championship Contender if they had another "star" player alongside Steph Curry. Right now they're just an upset machine.
It pains me to say it but Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Kenneth Faried, JaVale McGee, and yes... Andre Iguodala are NOT stars. Productive starters? Absolutely. Stars? Nope.
2b. Trade Kenneth Faried for that star.
"OMG NOOOOOOOOOOOO WHY WOULD YOU TRADE THE MANIMAL?!?!?!" -says everyone. Well, that's exactly why.
There is this idealized vision of who Kenneth "the Manimal" Faried is. Yes, he's a hustler. He's a fighter. He's a coaches dream. And boy can he jump. His hair is just beautiful. When he pumps up the crowd I realize what love truly is. Okay folks, take off the fanboy/fangirl glasses.
He is also a horrific offensive half-court player. Probably the worst on-ball defender on the team. He's undersized and can't make a free-throw to save his life. It's pretty unanimous around the league that this guy can become a future star, but I'm betting that he wont.
Right now is the perfect time to package him in a deal for a star. Teams love him, and he's still young and affordable. So who would I want in return? Minnesota Timberwolves' Kevin Love.
A good friend of mine recently sent me an article written by the Denver Post's Mark Kiszla. He suggested Denver Trade McGee and Faried for Love. I did a little bit of research on this matter and it seems like there is legitimate interest from Denver for Love.
Kevin Love in Denver could be deadly. (Getty Images)
Love has been in and out of injuries the past two seasons. The risk is there. But the reward is plentiful. On a bad day, he is still a better defender and rebounder than Faried or McGee. He holds the record for consecutive double-double games with 53. Had the first 30-30 (points and rebounds) in 28 years. His size is preferable. And oh, he also owns an NBA 3-Point Contest Champion trophy. Wait, what?? This trade alone can push Denver into that NBA Finals discussion.
***Just a quick note to you JaVale McGee lovers out there. Anyone who says McGee deserves more play time is right. He did deserve more than 18.1 minutes per game. JaVale should've had about 20 minutes per game. Look guys, McGee is McGee. If you give him too much time on the floor he turns into the guy everyone knows and loves to make fun of. Do you honestly think George Karl is that stupid? To not play a freak-of-nature like JaVale McGee more if he deserved it? If he could keep it together for that many minutes??
McGee playing 20 minutes per game is likely to do things like this:
McGee playing the 30+ minutes per game everyone seems to think he deserves is likely to do things like this:
3. Pursue Kyle Korver like he is LeBron James.
If any of you guys don't know who Kyle Korver is, let this YouTube video give you a quick rundown:
I was fooled. I thought that having players with 3-point shooting capabilities was good enough. Gallo, Ill-Will, Corey Brewer and even Iggy. But shooting a team .343 3PT%, good for a horrendous 25th in the league, just doesn't cut it. Teams need players that can actually make 3's down the stretch, not just have the ability to. There is a difference. Anyone can take shots. But it's something different to have a proven career of knocking down trey after trey.
Korver was 2nd in the NBA this season in 3PT% at .457 (2.6/5.6 per game). He is also a career .419 3PT% shooter. That is a proven track record. Denver absolutely needs someone who can consistently make a 3-point shot. Not someone who thinks they can. *cough cough* Corey Brewer.
Kyle Korver will be an unrestricted free agent this upcoming off-season which is great news for Denver. Atlanta will have financial trouble keeping both him and Josh Smith. Reports say that a sign-and-trade deal involving Korver is likely. This is great news for a Denver Nuggets team that constantly brags about its depth. Atlanta needs the free cap space and short contracts, Denver can offer that. I would gladly ship any mix of Corey Brewer (who is also an unrestricted free agent), Kosta Koufos, Jordan Hamilton, Evan Fournier, Anthony Randolph and a conditional draft pick for Korver's range.
4. Look for a new back-up point guard.
Let's take a moment to thank Andre Miller for allowing us to avoid a sweep at the hands of the Golden State Warriors.........
Okay, are you done? Because now he's gotta go. I love Miller. When I first started watching the Nuggets about 10 years ago he was my favorite player. But his age has caught up to his decision making, and I'm sick and tired of watching him think that he's 23 years old and play like he's 50. Denver can't just wait around for a 20 point 10 assist game every 15 games and use that to justify his spot on the team. He has been much more consistently bad this season.
Shane Larkin, anyone? (Yahoo!)
Ideally this player would be someone who could knock down a shot and change the pace once Lawson takes a rest. i.e. Denver doesn't need a player like Nate Robinson. Free agency doesn't look too promising. D.J. Augustin or Devin Harris could be available, but they're not exactly ideal. I'd like to draft the back-up.
Shane Larkin of Miami would be nice. He's explosive and has proven to have a nice handle. But his stock is a little high for Denver's spot. That might mean trading up or trying to find a gem later in the draft.
5. Demote Kosta Koufos.
Denver showed it's biggest weakness in the series against Golden State. If a team has a strong and capable center, they can just demolish the Nuggets in the paint. Andrew Bogut and Festus Ezeli exposed Denver. The Steph Curry show was the highlight, but the unsung hero award goes to Bogut.
All things considered, Koufos wasn't horrendous this season. He averaged 8 points and 7 rebounds per game on 22.4 minutes. Solid numbers. But Koufos proved to be too weak down low. Just because you have the body doesn't mean you have the ability. He was often bullied and seemed scared to finish around the rim against bigger, stronger more athletic centers. McGee isn't the ground and pound center, and Koufos proved to be incapable of that as well.
No more Koufos, please. (NBA)
I mean come on, does anyone remember an outstanding highlight of this guy during the season? One? I can't, and I watched just about every game. Not to mention he completely disappeared during the playoffs forcing McGee into the starting lineup. That is simply unacceptable.
Personally, I'd let Mozgov get a year as the starting center (see my earlier post "The Mozgov Effect". I would LOVE to sit through practices and see why Mozzy has been benched all season long, but maybe my idea of him is just nonexistent?
If a deal involving Kevin Love actually happened, that would mitigate this problem. But assuming that doesn't happen, I'm not really sure what else to do with this position. Legitimate centers don't come around often, and if Denver were to acquire one they would be locked and loaded. Hey, maybe Greg Oden can do something nice? Hahahahahahahaha......
Denver's roster, as-is, over-performed this season. I fully believed that was possible and it happened. But I would love to see some more improvements. No team is perfect, and I'm tired of getting knocked out in the first round.
