Denver Nuggets Preview

Hello,
We have finally made it to the most important team I will cover.

DENVER NUGGETS

Key Additions: Andre Iguodala (trade), Anthony Randolph (FA)

Key Losses: Arron Afflalo, Al Harrington, Birdman

Projected Starting Lineup:
PG: Ty Lawson
SG: Iguodala
SF: Danilo Gallnari
PF: Kenneth Faried
C: Kosta Koufos

Role Players: Andre Miller, Wilson Chandler, Javale McGee, Corey Brewer, Randolph, Timofey Mozgov, Jordan Hamilton

Comments: I will try, most likely unsuccesfully, to keep this as unbiased as possible. The Nuggets have succesfully transitioned from the Melo era to a new team filled with athletic and fast players that will play at one of the fastest paces the league has seen. The Nuggets don't have any real post players, or any deadly shooters, but every single player can score at the rim, draw fouls, and share the ball. Everyone I know that isn't a Nuggets fan enjoys watching them play because of the up-tempo style and defense leading to offense game George Karl likes to play. Another cool thing about the Nuggets is that  outside of Andre Miller and Iguodala, all the other players have room for a lot of improvement, and it is very likely that all of these players (Lawson, Gallo, Chandler, and Mcgee especially) could take huge steps in their game this year. If they do, then the Nuggets become a real threat. If not, they will get a mediocre seed and a likely first round exit once again.

Ty Lawson is the PG, and surprisingly the only player left from the 2009 Western Conference Finals team. He is one of, if not the, fastest player in the NBA, and he can blow by anyone to the basket. He can also finish well at the rim, as he is strong and fearless. With an improving jumpshot, he has to prove he can be the consistent threat every night. He also needs to learn how to play defense against the likes of Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul, and Tony Parker. If he finds his consistency, he could find himself on an all-star team in the coming years. Like this type of game (my personal favorite from last year) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6F0eknSMb3g. Andre Miller is a savvy backup. He isn't fast anymore, and his jumpshot is awkward, but he finds ways to score, and can honestly make some passes that no other point guard in the league can make. I fear that his age will soon show, but in the few preseason games I watched, he seemed just fine, and primed for another solid season. It will be interesting to see if he cracks the 4th quarter lineup. My bet is he will, Karl likes to play with 2 PG's at times.

Andre Iguodala is the big difference maker this season. The Nuggets wanted an upgrade at SG (especially on the defensive end), so they got AI, even if it meant that Howard goes to the Lakers. Like all the analysts have said, AI is a great fit for Denver, as he plays great defense, is athletic, and passes very well in transition. Denver is the best team in the fast-break and AI will only add to it. I hope he doesn't settle for too many 3's, and I do wish he was better come crunch time, but his all-around game will suit this team well. I will talk about Corey Brewer here even though he is a SF, but the Nuggets just have a lot of wing players. Brewer, even with his stick legs, is a good defender and very fast in the open court. From what I have seen he has drastically improved his shot, which should help him fend of Jordan Hamilton. Hamilton didn't get much time last year, but this guy has the potential to light it up and be the new JR (and my new favorite player). As long as Brewer is making useful contributions, it will be hard once again to justify Hamilton's playing time.

Danilo Gallinari, I believe, is the key to the Nuggets this year. He began last year showing remarkable improvement. He didn't take as many 3s, was passing well, attacking the basket, and actually playing very good defense as well. An injury caused some setbacks, and he was one of the reasons we didn't beat the Lakers. Without Afflalo, or Harrington, much of the outside shooting is going to depend on Gallo, and he must answer the call. Also, if there is one guy I want to take and make a shot in the clutch, it would be him. If he can score close to 20 points a game, the Nuggets will be very good. Wilson Chandler is the backup, and after playing most of last year in China, played 7 games before getting injured. Hopefully, he can be back to his usual self, which is a solid defender, and a good mid range jump shooter. The Nuggets need his scoring off the bench that Harrington provided last year.

I was in Israel for the draft in 2011, and I remember telling my friends there that I would be ecstatic if Faried somehow fell to the Nuggets. I believe that guys with unlimited energy and athleticism can always find their way to useful minutes. It took a bit of time, but after this dunk (which I was in attendance for), http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cWTrOWOl1Ws he made his way into the starting lineup and never looked back. He is a high energy guy that can play 30 min a game, rebound very well, and his offense isn't all that bad. Look for him to average a double-double this year. I am not sure how much playing time Randolph will get, but he is technically the backup PF. He is kind of like Javale Mcgee in that he has all this potential, but can't put it together. One day he will get 25-11, and the next 4-1. With the Nuggets only paying him 2 mil a year, this is a great risk, and I do hope he can find his way to some minutes, because he probably is the best "post" player the Nuggets got.

People unfamiliar with the Nuggets will be surprised that Kosta Koufos is the starting center. Well, he is, and will be on Wednesday. The theory behind it, is that Koufos is solid fundamentally, meaning that he can score inside, set good screens, and follow the system. He is also a good rebounder. Karl wants the stability in the starting lineup, and the energy off the bench. McGee brings the energy off the bench. And while he may have his mental issues, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5RdCiKL290, his potential is that where he has the ability to outplay an Andrew Bynum (game 5 was my second favorite game of the year) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDqQuB_aPak. Also, Karl loves to play Andre Miller with McGee as he think that brings out the best. Either way, the end of game lineup will have McGee in it. Most likely it will be Lawson, Miller, AI, Gallo, and McGee with the potential of Faried or Chandler being in there if they are hot.
And lastly, there is Timofey Mozgov. He is so big and clumsy, but he actually can put together a few good minutes of offense at a time. Between the 3 7-footers the Nuggets have, all of whom are solid shot blockers, they Nuggets should have the muscle to keep up with the Lakers and Grizzlies.

And as a final paragraph, I would like to, purely as a Nuggets fan, share my theory that the Nuggets would beat the Heat in a 7 game series. I was in attendance at the one Nuggets-Heat game last year, and the Nuggets just ran them out of the building. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SBEl2mHNkSkYes, it was at home, and Wade got injured late, but here is what I like about the matchup. The Nuggets are the one team that runs faster and smarter than the heat. The Nuggets, with Iguodala, Chandler, Brewer, and Gallo, have solid wing defenders that can slow down LeBron and Wade. They have rim protectors, and a player that no one on the Heat roster can cover (Lawson). I would tune into those Nuggets-Heat games this year, maybe you will see my point.

Anyway, the Nuggets have the potential to gain home-court in the first round if all their players are only slightly better than last year. They have the potential to get a top seed if some of the players make large strides. I implore you to watch the Nuggets this year, they will be the most entertaining team to watch (even if it is just making fun of Mozgov).

Next Up, Atlanta Hawks