2008-09 Denver Nuggets

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

ideal line up - AI/JR/Melo/Kmart/Nene ( Sure, AI isn't a PG by any means but JR needs to start and the only way that happens is if GK slides AI to PG and forces AI to look for his shot second)

Likely line up - AC/AI/Melo/Kmart/Nene (GK's manlove for Carter is sickening)

Back ups - Atkins/JR/Kleiza/Balkman/Birdman

Reserves - D Jones/Weems/Hunter


ESPN had them winning 39 games and in 10th spot. Most people have them around 10th-11th in the West.

What do people here think?

[Matchman]

a run-and-gun team that will play worse defense than the Suns if thats even possible

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

I think their D will be a bit better than last season. If Nene is healthy then it will make a big difference because his D is MUCH better than Camby's D.

I can't wait to see Nene vs Camby :smokin

[manufor3]

no one really cares

[21_Blessings]

I think their D will be a bit better than last season. If Nene is healthy then it will make a big difference because his D is MUCH better than Camby's D.

Maybe straight up post defense, but you just don't replace 3-4 blocks a game camby got you. Overall, Camby is the better defender. Put down the Sativa.

[JamStone]

Nene is capable of playing better post defense than Camby because Nene is much stronger and has better base strength to hold his position. But, he doesn't have Camby's quickness, energy, or hustle. What Nene gives you in post defense, he gives you nothing in intangible defense like blocks, steals, altered shots, deflections, and clogging the lane. With a scrambling up-and-down style the Nuggets play, having a solid post defender is not more important than an active and mobile last line of defense that Camby provided. Last year the Nuggets could have been the worst defensive team in the league since the late 80s where teams didn't really play defense. Without Camby, they are not going to get better at defense.

[Bruno]

Denver should rebuild, they are going nowhere with this roster. Anthony, Nene, JR Smith and Kleiza is a quite good young core.
Their best interest is to trade Iverson for picks and/or prospect and to try to trade Martin for a player with a cheaper/shorter contract.

The AI gamble has failed.

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

no expectations = no disappointment :lol I'll enjoy following them as usual but this season i won't expect much.

[ducks]

who will take ai though

[JamStone]

One of the few teams I think "might" (no guarantee) take a chance at trading for Iverson is Chicago if they could unload Larry Hughes contract in the deal. Larry Hughes and Drew Gooden for Iverson?

[Sissiborgo]

Nene must play good defense sense they lost one of the best defensive players in the nba....

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

ewwww no way. Hughes has a horrible contract with one year left after this and AI is expiring. Id rather let him expire than take back garbage.

[JamStone]

Most good (playoff) teams don't need an extremely undersized shooting guards that dominate the ball on offense and can't help on defense, even with his contract expiring. Iverson is one of my favorite players in the league and has been for over 10 years. But, he's just not a tradable asset with that contract even with it expiring.

[mogrovejo]

They need a PG if they want to have any chance of making the POs. I don't understand why they aren't looking at Livingston. Carter is barely good enough to be a 3rd string pg currently.

I think their defence can improve from last season. I think that their perimeter defence can improve, not that they know there's no Camby to cover for their gambles. Anyway, I think Karl is a very good coach, so I'm biased.

[21_Blessings]

The AI gamble has failed.

Wasn't really a gamble, more like a rental that brought in increased revenue. Their team was just as bad, actually worse, with Miller. It's not like they had to mortgage their future.

[tlongII]

38-40 wins sounds about right. Hopefully Nene is fully recovered from his cancer surgery.

[Tully365]

If Iverson and Smith start, that's a backcourt completely disinterested in defense. There's no glue on this team. Three guys that each need to shoot way too much, a power forward who's not nearly as good as he thinks he is, no defense, a bloated payroll.... I'd start from scratch-- trade everyone for young players and draft picks. A.I. is like Vince Carter-- fun to watch for the casual basketball fan, but not a winner.

[Allanon]

If the Nugz were in the East, they'd be a top 5 seed.

But unfortunately, being in the even tougher West means another long year for the Nugz.

[ShoogarBear]

I think the Nuggets are just biding time until the inevitable Melo trade. Not this year, but maybe in the next 1-2.

[baseline bum]

I can't see them anywhere near the playoffs... maybe .500 if Nene comes back healthy, but if he isn't 100% and playing like he did in the Spurs series of 07, they'll struggle to be mediocre.

[m33p0]

my crystal ball says the nuggets will be broken up by the end of the season and coach karl will be blamed.

[timtonymanu]

i say they come in 9th. they'll get 37-41 wins.