2011-2012 Denver Nuggets sure to be among NBA elite

The 2012 Denver Nuggets have set themselves up to not only take advantage of a strange NBA season that is shortened due to the lockout and will force teams into an uncomfortable schedule of back-to-back and back-to-back-to-back games, but also to be a perennial playoff force for the foreseeable future.

Thanks to wise front office moves, starting with the Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups trade towards the end of the 2011 season the Nuggets moved towards quickly rebuilding a franchise that had talent but had reached the pinnacle of what it could accomplish as it was currently constructed.

Though the Nuggets lost their lone star player in Anthony, they managed to add depth, youth, talent and size at a reasonable price. They grabbed raw but talented seven-foot centers Timofey Mozgov and Kosta Koufos promising forward Danilo Galinari, and guard Raymond Felton, along with financial flexibility that they did not have while they were consistently a luxury tax team. Thanks to this deal they now have financial freedom to pursue deals at their leisure, as well as re-sign key players without climbing further up the luxury tax scale.
But following another first-round playoff exit in 2011, the Nuggets front office was looking for answers and was not content to stick with the status quo. Draft night wheeling and dealing saw them trade Felton, but landed the team veteran guard Andre Miller, as well potential laden forwards Kenneth Faried and Jordan Hamilton.

At the start of the season, the front office further secured the future of the franchise by not only resigning their own free agents, immensely talented forward Nenê and up and coming guard Arron Afflalo, but also trading future draft picks to Dallas for reportedly unhappy guard Rudy Fernández and rarely used reserve guard/forward Corey Brewer. So far, that trade has looked like a steal for the Nuggets, as Fernández is showing play-making ability and Brewer is quickly picking up minutes with his effort on both ends of the court.

Yes, the Nuggets have bucked the trend have become one of the few teams going against the current NBA model of having multiple "stars" on their roster, but they moved towards a roster of players who get it and have a "high basketball IQ". For a long time the Nuggets were thought of as strictly a "finesse" team that didn't always battle for rebounds and didn't always put in a consistent effort on the defensive end. There were numerous voices being heard in the locker room, and many "me first" type guys. Well those days are over.

This team is coachable, they buy in and believe the message Coach George Karl preaches. They don't have the potential cancerous figures looming in the locker room like they once did. Gone are the "knuckleheads" and in come the guys who are willing to work with one another to accomplish what is truly best for the team.
So can this roster help the Nuggets make an impact in the star driven NBA? The answer is a resounding yes. So far in this new season, the Nuggets are playing team basketball, sharing the ball on offense and locking down teams on the defensive end of the court.

Because of the compressed schedule this season, teams will be forced to rely more on the depth of their bench, and early on it appears that the Nuggets have one of the deepest benches in the NBA. They are well conditioned, and built to run opponents up and down the floor, something most teams will not want to do when playing a schedule that forces them to at times play five games in six nights. Couple that with the fact Denver plays with a home altitude advantage and teams will be weary coming to the Mile High City in 2012.
With the depth, size and talent this Nuggets team has, as well as the fact that they are playing a more team oriented style of basketball; they have potential to seriously climb the Western Conference playoff ladder. There is likely to be a changing of the guard at the top of the Western Conference, teams like Denver, Oklahoma City and Portland, who rely more on youth taking the places of older teams like San Antonio, Los Angeles and the like. So settle in, enjoy the ride and don't be surprised to see the Nuggets make a hard push to secure one of the top 3 spots in the West. This is sure to be an exciting time to be a Nuggets fan!

Prediction Time:
Predicted Record: 50-16, good enough for #2 seed in the West
All-Stars: Nene, Ty Lawson
Predicted Outcome: Western Conference Finals

Evolution

Anyone who was a wrestling fan around 2003-2005 is sure to remember when the biggest names in the game came together to form a super group (stable) that dominated WWE programming for years. Evolution was an idea to mix the best of past, present and future. The group began when Triple H, a champion and occasional fan favorite but usual heel joined forces with long time veteran Ric "Nature Boy" Flair. The two existed as a duo until they decided to infuse some new blood into their experiment and brought in relatively unknowns Dave Batista and Randy Orton. As soon as the 4 joined forces, they were pushed as the ultimate heels, the guys that every fan loved to hate. They had it all, they did it all, they took what they wanted and they dominated anyone who dared question them. Evolution, as they begin calling themselves, was a Ferrari while the rest of the WWE roster were Ford Pintos. As Ric Flair could possibly say, they were limousine ridin', jet flyin', kiss stealin', wheelin' dealin' sons-of-guns...WOOOOO!

These days I am starting to see something similar in professional sports and it is soon coming to an NBA arena near you....

The Miami Heat

The Heat are Evolution, just minus the ring or steel chairs. As soon as LeBron spurned Cleveland,  Bosh escaped Canada, and they united with Pat Riley and D-Wade, they became the heels. They became the team everyone loves to hate. 

RIC FLAIR

A.K.A:

PAT RILEY

 The Nature Boy was the veteran of the group. Wise, experienced, Flair didn't do much physically within the group but he helped pick the players. He saw potential in the trio of younger guys and worked hard to bring them together. Feared by many, hated by all, his 16 titles proved he knew what it took to win a championship as well as keep one. 

Riley took this role within the HEAT. He personally picked the pieces, playing puppeteer behind the scenes to orchestrate the building of the HEAT "dynasty". An experienced vet, a multiple time champ, Riley too knows how to win a title and is sure to live by the motto to be the man, you have to beat the man.

TRIPLE H

A.K.A:

DWYANE WADE

Other than Flair, Triple H was the only member of Evolution to have ever won a title prior to joining forces. He was the lynch-pin, the undeniable leader and there was never any question that Evolution was his baby and it was his team. The other members followed his lead, did what he said and believed he would lead them down the path to glory.

Wade was the only member of the Big 3 who had won a title prior to the group forming. There is no doubt that he is the leader and that the HEAT are his team. He knows what it takes to be a champion and the other members are simply following his lead.

RANDY ORTON

A.K.A

CHRIS BOSH

Early on in Evolution, many wondered why Orton had been included. He was obviously less talented than his counterparts, mainly due to inexperience. Randy was the first member of the group to be expelled. When the group felt he had outlived his usefulness, he became expendable. 

Early on after the forming of the HEAT, many wondered why Bosh had been included. While talented, he is not considered on the same level as Wade or James. When things didn't start well for the HEAT, it was widely rumored Bosh would be expendable and would be the one to go if the team needed to make changes.

DAVE BATISTA

A.K.A

LEBRON JAMES

Many fans openly questioned why Batista, a talented individual on his own, would join a group like Evolution. It appeared as though he was willing to sacrifice personal glory and fame to play second fiddle to Triple H. 

When the HEAT was first formed, many people hated Lebron for joining the other superstars in Miami. Why would a talented individual sacrifice a promising career to play second banana?

Eventually egos played a role in the demise of Evolution and one can sumise that something similar will happen to the HEAT. Orton and Batista eventually got tired of being told what to do and not being held back. Something similar could eventually happen to the HEAT. How long is it before Bosh and Lebron get tired of not being "the man"? 

The Worm to the Hall?

 On Tuesday the National Basketball Association released their list of nominees for the Naismith Hall of Fame class of 2011. The class is highlighted by Reggie Miller, but also includes Chris Mullin , Mark Jackson, Bernard King, Dennis Rodman, Maurice Lucas, Jamaal Wilkes, Rudy Tomjanovich, Cotton Fitzsimmons, Tex Winter, Spencer Haywood, Maurice Cheeks, Ralph Sampson, Bill Fitch, referee Dick Bavetta, Rick Pitino,Chet Walker, Don Nelson, Arvydas Sabonis and Sarunas Marciulionis.


Looking over this list, it is pretty easy to see who stands the best chance at getting in and who might struggle to make it.

 For example, Reggie Miller is almost assured a spot, seeing as he took and made more three pointers than anyone in NBA history, he had an 18 year career playing for the Indiana Pacers, was a five-time All-Star, and won Olympic gold in 1996.

 Rudy Tomjanovich had great success as a collegiate and professional player, as well as coaching the Houston Rockets to back-to-back NBA titles.

Don Nelson had a successful career as both a player and coach. He is first place on the all-time NBA wins list with 1,333 wins and his up-tempo style of play can still be seen in the game today.


It is obvious that there is a lot of talent in this class that is deserving of being recognized as a Hall of Famer. So what about Dennis Rodman? Is he deserving of a spot in the hallowed halls? Does he deserve to be looked upon as one of the best ever to play the game? The Hall of Fame is for the best players, not just for the good or the average. Does "Worm" qualify?

I say yes.


Looking past the tattoos, bizarre hair and even more bizarre behavior, we see that Rodman was a standout defensive player and one of the best rebounders ever to step foot on the court. He was NBA All-Defensive first team seven times, All-Defensive second team once, and NBA Defensive Player of the Year twice. He was a ferocious rebounder, is ranked #22 all time in NBA rebounding and led the NBA in rebounding for seven straight seasons. Pretty impressive accolades. And that isn't taking into account his five championships, two All NBA third team nods, or two All-Star appearances.  

Of course, Rodman certainly has his detractors as well. His career scoring average of 7.3 PPG could be used as a reason to keep him out. That scoring average would rank him second to last for all players currently inducted. But voters would have to realize his best contributions weren't on the offensive side of the floor. There was never a doubt that Rodman was a defensive force and a rebounding machine. Each year he was almost a guarantee to make the All-Defensive team. And it’s hard to think of him not pulling down double-digit rebounds on a nightly basis while frustrating his defensive assignment.

Probably the biggest thing that is potentially damaging to his Hall of Fame candidacy is himself.

Rodman was plagued by strange behavior including but not limited to ever changing hair color, tattoos, piercings, wearing a dress, marrying himself, and threatening to come out for his final game nude.  He was also involved in some ugly on-court incidents, including kneeing an opponent, head butting a referee and kicking a cameraman.

There were off-court issues as well, including arrests for DUI and domestic violence. But as shown with players in other sports such as Michael Irvin, and Lawrence Taylor, off-field incidents don't always cast a negative light on a candidates eligibility.

So with everything taken into account, did Dennis "the worm" Rodman do enough during his career to be enshrined in the Naismith Hall of Fame? The answer has to be yes. The Hall of Fame is for the best, and honestly Rodman was the best at what he did. He is possibly the greatest rebounder to ever play in the NBA, or anywhere for that matter. He was a unique player, a  sometimes volatile combination of personality and showmanship that attracted fans whenever he was on the court. His contributions to the game of basketball cannot be denied and his spot in the Hall is well deserved.

George Karl

As if his recent battle with throat and neck cancer wasn't enough, it is now being reported by the Denver Post that Denver Nuggets Head Coach George Karl is battling blood clots in his legs and lungs.




The Post quoted a blog said to be written by George's partner, Kim Van Deraa, where it is stated that Coach Karl was rushed to a Denver area hospital because "His leg was extremely swollen and he was having trouble breathing..."



In the same blog, it is noted that Coach Karl also had to have some procedures to install filters to catch any clots that break loose. He is said to be in the ICU, so his situation my be closely monitored. "We're not sure when he'll be released or when his radiation will continue. We're hoping both occur — since it would mean he's gotten through the scare of the blood clots and we don't want to add any weeks onto the schedule of radiation."



Because of these latest setbacks, it is said to be highly unlikely that Coach Karl will be seen on the Nuggets bench until at least the playoffs. Please take your time getting better Coach Karl! Everyone in Nuggets Nation is behind you!

Have the Nuggets found their "1/2 a body"?

We'll start with the good news. The Denver Nuggets might have found a big man to give them some size and help them compete with the Lakers for Western Conference dominance. The best news, they didn't have to spend anything to get him, as he was on their roster the entire time. Kenyon Martin missed the Nuggets game last  night and was replaced in the lineup by 7'0 Johan Petro. The team put Petro at center and moved Nene to power forward to give them some size in the post. Honestly, Petro didn't look too bad. He managed 6 points, 2 assists and grabbed 10 rebounds in 20 minutes. Not bad for a guy who spends most of his time riding the pine. So have the Nuggets found the "half a body" that George Karl has been clamoring for? It is possible. Petro is not going to get 10 rebounds every  night but he provides some size and can certainly do some good things. He is a little slow footed on the defensive end, but against Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum, the Nuggets wouldn't need him to be the fastest guy on the court.

Nuggets fans should hope that George Karl begins to give Petro more minutes leading up to the playoffs, especially with the starting lineup. Give him some confidence and let him establish some rhythm.

Now on to some bad news...

It is being widely rumored and speculated that the Nuggets will be without their "glue guy" Kenyon Martin for the remainder of the season and possibly through the playoffs. Numerous sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity, are saying that the "knee tendonitis" that has sidelined Martin recently is possibly a tear of his patellar tendon. It is expected that Martin will soon be meeting with doctors and specialists to determine the severity of his latest injury and the amount of time he could potentially miss.

This is the worst possibility for the Nuggets, who failed to acquire front court help and size at the NBA trade deadline. Kenyon Martin is the driving force behind the Nuggets defensive effort. He is the "quarterback" on the defensive side of the court there is a noticable difference from when he is on the court to when he is not. While Kenyon was considered a cancer for some of his Nuggets tenure, the last two years have signaled a change in his attitude. He has gone from being a bad seed to being an emotional leader. Though his play may never equal the huge salary he is receiving, he is finally playing like the guy that Kiki Vandeweghe thought he was getting. A Denver Nuggets team without Martin means another year of finishing without a championship. Nuggets fans should hope and pray that this latest set back is just a temporary problem. That in the near future they will see #4 back on the court, grabbing rebounds and slamming in put backs.

Thunder Smashed

The much ballyhooed matchup between two of the best and highest scoring small forwards in the NBA turned out to be more fizzle than flash. Coming off some of his worst shooting games in recent memory and on a day when he wasn't feeling well, Carmelo Anthony finally found his jumper and helped lead the Denver Nuggets to a 119-90 thrashing of the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Early in the day, Melo was complaining of exhaustion and dehydration and had to be given IV fluids at the morning shootaround. Whatever was in that IV woke Carmelo up and it was clear by game time that he was feeling much better. By halftime the Nuggets were nursing a nine point lead and Carmelo was an impressive 8-11 from the floor. He wound up finishing 11-19 with 30 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists.

Carmelo's counterpart, Kevin Durant, saw tough defense from the Nuggets and played what can best be described as his worst game this season. The Nuggets switched defenders on Durant, put big men on him when he was in the post and always had a help defender in his path when he tried to drive to the basket. The methods clearly bothered Durant, who saw his 20+ PPG scoring streak end with a 5-14 night, good for only 19 points. As a team, OKC could only manage 32.5 percent from the field, which is the lowest a Nuggets  opponent has shot all season.

The game was close early on, but the tide turned when the second half opened. The Nuggets blew the game open in the 3rd quarter, outscoring their opponent 31-12 in the third quarter and not looking back for the remainder of the game. Denver got back to a team game passing the ball very well, resulting in 30 team assists. They also outrebounded the Thunder 49 to 45 and dominated in the paint, outscoring OKC 50 to 18. This win proves that Denver is not sliding as some would like to suggest and it also proves Oklahoma City is a good young team but they are not yet an elite team.

All in all, this was a solid win. But are we surprised? This is what Denver does to good teams, especially in their building. It was kind of funny to watch ESPN recap the game this morning, especially since they decided not to mention that the Nuggets have dominated the top teams in the league this year. Instead they went the method of showing how badly OKC has struggled with the top tier teams in the NBA.  It baffles me that ESPN just cannot give the Nuggets props, which is just sickening. There are teams outside of Cleveland and Los Angeles that have a chance of winning a title but they decide the only teams and players worth mentioning reside in those two places. I guess it is hard to cover anyone else when you have your nose so far up the collective asses of Lebron and Kobe and your lips firmly planted on their backsides.

And while we are on the subject of ESPN, can we all please make a concentrated effort to not keep calling Kevin Durant "The Durantula"? I love Durant and believe he is going to be a huge star in the very near future but his ESPN created nickname sucks. Durant is not an arachnid, he is not any type of large spider, and last time I checked he doesn't have eight legs. I am disgusted each time I hear the ESPN morons going on and on about Durantula..It is stupid, please please please let it just die.

Pau Gasol...Geico Caveman...Seperated at birth?

I think so...

I think he wants to grab her by the hair & drag her back to his cave...

Pau & Marc taking in a game....

So the Lakers have a puppet and a caveman. Is this basketball or Sesame Street? Man I hate L.A. Nothing would please me more than seeing them run right out of the playoffs by the Nuggets