Thoughts on the Nuggets after tonight?

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

I don't get to watch any of the Nuggets, so im looking for some objective opinions. I'm not wanting to hear from a heap of newbs who just want to bash opposing teams and blame the refs.

I know the Spurs are without 2 of their big 3, and of course the Nuggets had the upper hand coz of that fact.

Do you think the Nuggets are ore dangerous with Billups? Are you surprised by Nene and Kmart's play? Are the Nuggets playing the right style of ball to get past the 1st round?

And of course add any more comments you want to :toast I just want to get an idea of what my favourite team looks like, and its better coming from opposing fans rather than some homers who think JR is the second coming of MJ :lmao

btw, please smash the Jazz :flag:

[SpursFanFirst]

I didn't watch them as closely as I did the Spurs, but I will say that Billups was a very nice addition.
I've always enjoyed him with the Pistons, and now I think he makes the Nuggets a more dangerous team.

[I Love Me Some Me]

Not easy to tell against a depleted Spur's roster.

I think you play the Lakers this week, and that will give you a better idea.

[xtremesteven33]

NeNe has improved by leaps and bounds this year. A consistent shooter to go along with a toughness at getting the boards. A solid big man for the Nuggets.

Carmelo hasnt really shown signs of improvement. I can probably give credit that he has matured since last year but that probably it.

Billups makes this team an NBA team. With Iverson they were an AND1 squad.

As far as defense goes, they are SLIGHTLY better than last year. Dont get me wrong they still suck at defense but i see a LITTLE (which still may be an overstatement) bit of improvement on the defense. Not in the paint but more in the perimeter.

[Killakobe81]

I think they look good and am REAL nervous with having to play them on the 2nd night of back 2 back so I'm not sure that the Lakers game is an accurate barometer ...
BUT I really like Chauncey he ALWAYS kills the Lakers and is a real point gaurd ...
NENE looks MUCH better than LAST year so does KMART
Anthony and JRSmith seem inconistent but are the most explosive scorers on the team the Nuggs have been what HOuston SHOULD be (so far)

[Oh, Gee!!]

billups gives them some leadership and defense. they've improved with the trade.

[I. Hustle]

Freakin Chauncey makes them dangerous. It is hard to tell without Tony and Manu so I can't wait to play them when we are 100% but yeah Billups makes them dangerous. If 'Melo wasn't such a me first player they would be scary as hell.

[tav1]

Agree that Billups makes them better. I still don't think they can win a title though. But they're closer.

[mrspurs]

Your shots win in. Our shots didnt. Thou Ill give the nuggets credit for showing up and playing some defense. Something I hadnt seen a Karl team do. Oh and you had your starting line up at the end of the game. Thats truely a Karl team. And why in the end, it always comes back to haunt him and whatever team he coaches.

[xtremesteven33]

As long as Karl is coach this team will not get to the Finals...heck not even the 2nd round.

[NuGGeTs-FaN]

If 'Melo wasn't such a me first player they would be scary as hell.


Actually you'll notice he is much less selfish this season. Tonight he led all players with 7 dimes.

Perfect example was when he and Kmart were 2 on 1, Kmart got it to Melo and Melo drew the defender and passed it back to Kmart for the bucket. In the past Melo would have gone all the way and tried to get the bucket.

[YoMamaIsCallin]

I thought the Nuggets had a great shooting night, and that's all. Their defense is still terrible. Anthony is still completely overrated. He made a bunch of jumpers which he usually doesn't.

Despite the Nuggets' torrid shooting, the Spurs hung with them pretty well.

I think the foul they didn't call for Tim, and his subsequent tech, was a big turning point.

If the Spurs had had Ginobili and Parker, they would have torn up the Nuggets. The Nuggets can't deal with them at all.

George Karl is a moron. Why did he leave all his starters in at the end?

[hater]

they will be a better reg season team with Billups. But IMO they will be one of the weakest West playoff teams.

only beat Spurs by 10? not impressed

[planaria]

I thought the Nuggets had a great shooting night, and that's all. Their defense is still terrible. Anthony is still completely overrated. He made a bunch of jumpers which he usually doesn't.

How can the "defense still terrible" and be the 5th best in the NBA so far at same time?



George Karl is a moron. Why did he leave all his starters in at the end?

Actually we´re up by 19 points to go, when the Spurs had a mini run (8x2 in 2 minutes), what actually avoid Karl to use the Denver´s bench (one of the worst of the NBA).

But less than 2 minutes after, we´re up by 18 points again and the three starters left went to the bench.

Then, with 1:43 to go the Spurs started to run the score until cut the difference to 10 points.

I really cant understand why are you complaining about it.

[SenorSpur]

Trading Iverson is addition by subtraction. Having Billups automatically strengthens the defense and improves the PG position.

Nene looked very good. Carmelo's still a dominant offensive force. I do wonder if his Olympic experience has taught him the meaning of defense, rebounding and playing without the ball. K-Mart even looked stout defensively.

Overall, there was better ball movement. They're a very athletic team and their defensive pressure was better, at times, than before. However, they still don't play very smart.

[Ed Helicopter Jones]

Denver's good...probably a one and done playoff team this year.

[dbestpro]

Very hard game to size up. The refs took both teams out of any rhythm and throughout the game it looked liked both teams would rather be somewhere else. Not a good game for a fan of either team (homers excluded).

Denver does show nice athleticism. Perimeter defense is vastly improved while the interior defense has a lot of work. If Denver could get Carmelo interested on playing defense and slamming the boards this would be one of the most dangerous teams in the west. His lack of effort is infectious and often shows with the other bigs Nene and Martin.

I still see them as a back end playoff team with a first or second round exit unless Carmelo learns how to play off the ball.

[NugzFan]

As far as defense goes, they are SLIGHTLY better than last year. Dont get me wrong they still suck at defense but i see a LITTLE (which still may be an overstatement) bit of improvement on the defense. Not in the paint but more in the perimeter.

:lol

[NugzFan]

Freakin Chauncey makes them dangerous. It is hard to tell without Tony and Manu so I can't wait to play them when we are 100% but yeah Billups makes them dangerous. If 'Melo wasn't such a me first player they would be scary as hell.

me first? he averages the 3rd most apg of all NBA sf.

[JamStone]

The Boston win was a more telling game than the Spurs game. In the Celtics win, they showed poised and composure and made plays late in the game. That's the game to evaluate the Nuggets more so than against the Spurs in their current state. Billups definitely brings some leadership, stability, and tempo to their game plan. Lakers will be a daunting task, but no more than Boston should have been on the road, and they passed that test. Nene has been a beast so far this season. He needs consistent touches. I noticed that some times he'll get 12-15 touches and in other games 6-7 touches. Their lack of depth in the frontcourt is what will really hurt them going forward and (looking way ahead) in the playoffs when they face some of the bigger teams.

The Iverson-Billups trade has worked out really well so far for both teams. Billups brings structure and leadership to the Nuggets, and that's what they really needed. And, Iverson bring back some passion and shot-making to the Pistons team that had become complacent. Plus, the Pistons have coaches and some players with discipline and poise to counter some of Iverson's freelance play. So far, a win-win trade for both sides.

[NugzFan]

I thought the Nuggets had a great shooting night, and that's all. Their defense is still terrible. Anthony is still completely overrated. He made a bunch of jumpers which he usually doesn't.

does anyone here watch nba games outside of the spurs?

our d is terrible? thats been a myth even last year (our D was average then - just our pace was high). right now we are 5th in defensive fg% - interpret it how you will but in no way is our defense 'terrible'


Despite the Nuggets' torrid shooting, the Spurs hung with them pretty well.

we shot 46% - thats 'torrid'. we were up 21 after 3. thats 'hanging around'?

you have strange definitions.


If the Spurs had had Ginobili and Parker, they would have torn up the Nuggets. The Nuggets can't deal with them at all.

ooooh...you're a homer!

makes sense now.

[NugzFan]

they will be a better reg season team with Billups. But IMO they will be one of the weakest West playoff teams.

only beat Spurs by 10? not impressed

the game's final margin was not indicative of how close (or not close) the game was.

[lefty]

Well, I think that since AI left, their HI has improved

[Mr. Body]

If their bench comes thru, they'll be a tough out. Not top tier, but surely a playoff team.

[TheProfessor]

Interesting how one piece can transform an entire team. I really enjoy watching the Nuggets now.

[Mr. Body]

I think the Answer on Detroit may actually help them, too. They needed a slight shake-up.

[YoMamaIsCallin]

our d is terrible?

yes. and it's not a stats thing. I watched them play. They really don't defend as a team.



ooooh...you're a homer!


The last thing I am is a homer. Check your history. The Spurs in a playoff situation have beaten the George Karl nugs very handily twice -- the Nugs won only one game in both 2005 and 2007. That is why I say they can't handle Ginobili and Parker.

[xellos88330]

IMO, The Nuggets looked pretty solid out there. It is still the beginning of the season, but Nuggets fans should like what they have seen from the addition of Billups. I think they are a team that can accomplish alot, but I am not sure if they can do that this year. The west is still strong as ever, and I have no idea who will come out on top.

[ClingingMars]

ooo, we have a Nuggets troll! (not you Nuggets-Fan, you're the shiz)

-Mars

[planaria]

yes. and it's not a stats thing. I watched them play. They really don't defend as a team.



The last thing I am is a homer. Check your history. The Spurs in a playoff situation have beaten the George Karl nugs very handily twice -- the Nugs won only one game in both 2005 and 2007. That is why I say they can't handle Ginobili and Parker.

We´re not in the top. Our bench is very weak.

But yes...our defense is better than a year ago after the trades. And yes...they´re defending as a team. Not perfectly, but so what? No team in the NBA is playing perfect defense right now and we´re at least playing the 5th best defense in the league.

It´s hard to argue with the points allowed per posession stat.

At least we do have two really nice trade exceptions to spend if Kroenke think this team is good enough for a good run in the playoffs.

[hoopdreams11]

Billups adds a lot to their team, however Martin and Melo still look like they are playing defense with their hands instead of their feet. This magnified in playoff basketball when Kobe, Manu etc. attack the rim their two top players end up on the bench in foul trouble.

[Spur-Addict]

I'd give Nene more post looks, but that's just me.

[SpurYank]

Most impressive for me was the play of Nene. Add Billups and the improved play by Martin, and the Nuggets are going to give some team a hard time n the playoffs. They are definitely a better team without Iverson. Their defense will remain a problem.

As for the spurs, their play was an embarrassment. I keep looking for a trade for Udoka and Thomas. Bruce is so inconsistent, he may need to go, too.

[sexinthatsx]

The spurs are doing just fine. The fact that our starters are doing so well just makes it even better for the fact that once manu and TP comes back, our bench will be even deeper than ever. Even though we lost by 10 to the nuggets, we're on right on track

[temujin]

The Nuggets have two of the not so many basketball players in the NBA, in Billups and Anthony.
The supporting cast is adequate and JR Smith is likely to improve up to the point when he might even fulfill his potential to become a basketball player himself.

The Billups-for-Iverson trade should have been evaluated by the league, as Popovich asked for the Gasol for Nothing trade last year.

The huge problem with the Nuggets is the coach.

It is safe to say that they will win preciously nothing with this guy.

[NugzFan]

yes. and it's not a stats thing. I watched them play. They really don't defend as a team.


boy its lucky teams keep missing all those shots then. we certainly didnt have anything to do with it.



The last thing I am is a homer. Check your history. The Spurs in a playoff situation have beaten the George Karl nugs very handily twice -- the Nugs won only one game in both 2005 and 2007. That is why I say they can't handle Ginobili and Parker.

those were different nugget teams.

[NugzFan]

ooo, we have a Nuggets troll! (not you Nuggets-Fan, you're the shiz)

-Mars

eh, call it what you want but i havent insulted the spurs, any fans or said anything wrong. jsut clarifying stuff about the nuggets for people who dont know/understand.

[Jahivah]

Second best team in the west. That isn't saying much given that the Lakers are so far ahead of everyone else. I thought the Rockets would have rivaled them but the "big three" has been coming up small.