Looking Up in Denver [SI Article]

[Shady08]

They yielded in the first round (again) without much of a fight last spring, and they surrendered their lone defensive star in a trade that sent Marcus Camby to the Clippers for no value in return. The Denver Nuggets looked like a lost franchise, and Carmelo Anthony looked like he was going down with them.

Nice read....

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/w ... ml?eref=T1

[SnakefromHell]

I think we're very good, definitely surprising people, although I have to say I'm not really that surprised. I thought we were still a playoffs team without Billups... now we're a smarter and much more efficient and defensive team with him, we're definitely playoffs team unless there's a major injury to key players.

But I'm not gonna be naive to think we can win it all... I think we'll make noise in the playoffs, but in the end... we're just small and we need a skilled big man (legit 7 footer that plays in the paint and on both ends) to have a chance at a championship.

Right now, I think the most we can do is a WCF appearance.

If we can trade for Kaman without surrendering key players (Melo, Billups, Nene, KMart, Balkman, Carter... yes I think both Balkman and Carter are key players)... use Camby's exception to get Kaman, then we'll have a realistic chance.

[DNIsLeGiT]

Carter and key player in the same sentence ahead of jr smith and linas klieza?, snake i agree with most of what you were saying but that right there just stood out to me.

[SnakefromHell]

I think if they play they way they have been so far... both J.R. and Kleiza are expendable... Carter certainly can be replaced... but at this point against his salary he's a pretty good backup PG to have.

I would trade J.R. in a package for Chris Kaman.

[geevesjr]

I would trade J.R. in a package for Chris Kaman.

Kaman is hogwash - I think he's in the garbage can right now under some banana peels and my moms leftover liver & onions.

What's wrong with our bigs right now? Ever since Nene was given the starting C, his confidence has expanded ten-fold. He can post up anyone, he can run the court, and last night in SA he was wetting nylon like a swisher sweet. Not to mention, his post D is, at the very least, exceptional. I truly think he's playing with a chip on his shoulder this year.

And even though K-Mart has an eternal hickey behind his right ear, he's been playing rough 'n tough D all year! Poor Duncan needed a box of puffs last night, cuz K-Mart was really getting under his skin.

And the Birdman is self-explanatory - he beats peoples' sh**, and fights for boards. Hopefully he comes back soon.

So, snake, I think that trading J.R. (whose basketball I.Q. is beginning to improve, and whose natural athleticism could blow the lid on ANY arena ANY night) would be a silly decision, especially for the abominable Kamanator.

[legendarywalton]

I think if they play they way they have been so far... both J.R. and Kleiza are expendable... Carter certainly can be replaced... but at this point against his salary he's a pretty good backup PG to have.

I would trade J.R. in a package for Chris Kaman.

Maybe I don't know Kaman's game that well, but is he the piece that wins us a championship? I realize that our lack of size at the 5 will kill us in the playoffs, especially when you need to limit a team to one possession. Offensive efficiency and defensive rebounding are really the two weaknesses on this team right now.

I'm wary of trading JR, especially now that Chauncey is tutoring him. He's already improved a tremendous amount in 8 games. What kind of player will we have on our hands in another 70 games?

[MHZ]

Let's also keep in mind the absolute bargain we're getting JR Smith at financially. There's no reason to trade that contract.