The state of the denver nuggets(merged topics)

[dockingsched]

whats wrong with this team? they're currently out of the playoff picture and just got drilled by the team they hope to catch up. they seemingly get the least amount of performance out of some of the best talent in the league. obviously theres something wrong here. do they need a coaching change? player overhaul? or is it time to blow it up?

i personally think they need to get rid of allen iverson and get players that truly complement melo. that along with a new coach too.

[DaFan334]

coaching or the lack there of is the biggest issue in my opinion. A team with 2 of the top scorers in the league, should have no reason to get stagnant on offense, but with no plays actually being called, they do.

[RoyceDa59]

They lack defense and chemistry, and they play in a ridiculously hard conference.

[floris_]

They need an actual pg because Iverson isnt great at getting his teammates involved.

[Rooster]

They need depth, as well as a SG with handles, an outside shot and defence. I see three guys on that team (gee, I wonder who) and the rest smack of mediocrity.

[tkb]

They lack defense and chemistry, and they play in a ridiculously hard conference.

They are the 5th most effective defensive team. They get a lot more crap about their defense than they deserve IMO.

[theTHIEF]

they have 2 guys who i think might be concerned about #'s a bit too much...Melo and AI will get their points, and they leave the scraps for the rest of the team. if that is how they are going to run, they need a third potent scorer, or they need to re-work their scheme and add a PG and some defense off the bench, i don't think their starting 5 defense is really all that bad, but they need to stop teams from scoring on them when their reserves are out there.

I'd say adding a solid PG is #1, someone that can create and not get abused by opposing guards...the TNT guys the other day said it best, if you don't have a PG in the western conference, you don't have a chance...

i might be lambasted for this, but i feel that anytime JR Smith if one of your big guns off the bench, you might be in trouble...the guy just shoots and shoots and shoot...

Injuries arent helping them either, Nene is really hurting them, they could really use a capable big off the bench, Camby is the man, but he wont be around forever and he can only do so much on his own...

Kenyon Martin, had he of worked out and continued to play like he did before he signed with them, he would have been a perfect addition to that team, but it just didn't work out...he's playing decent right now, but not like he did, and that is horrible for multiple reasons, especially financially...

i also think there is a lapse in team chemistry, leadership and attitude...there are some bad attitudes on that team and it could be one of the main aspects which is hindering them from excelling...

Karl is a good coach, but I have heard that he shows little faith in his guys and is constantly throwing guys under the bus...which is hurtful...

i like Kleiza a lot...

[G35]

I don't know what the Nuggets problem is. How can you have Camby, AI and Carmelo and not be in the playoff's. How do you not beat the Rockets without Yao.

I do think they have to make a decision on AI and Melo, it doesn't seem to be able to take them to the next level. Of course it's Melo who is the future. Iverson becomes a 22 million dollar tradeable piece next year which is a silver lining but he might be harder to trade than Shaq. I don't know many teams that think a 33 year old 6ft SG is the final piece to a championship........

[a-rod]

Denver is very athletic team, but they lack the most basic fundamentals, they can

[Alex_De_Large]

They are a better version than the Nets representing the West.
Richard Jefferson and Vince Carter = Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson.
the rest of the team is better the one of Denver thanks to Marcus Camby, but Nets have better young players and obviously a better future.

[aznkillabeezZz]

their record is pretty good, its just the competition in the west is tough this year.

[aznkillabeezZz]

imo, ai has been very good this season. But not against the rockets. I don't know what happened to him lately. Before midseason he played like an allstar.

[black06eclipse]

Colorado.

[NetsForce]

Step 1: Get rid of George Karl
Step 2: Get rid of AI (don't get me wrong I love the guy and he's tried to change his game to fit into a team-first philosophy but make no mistake the Nuggets should be CARMELO's team he should be the first and last option on offense)
Step 3: Play some defense

It really disgusts me how Melo's talents are being wasted in Denver, he's basically been transformed into a one-way player when he was such a good two-way player in college...

Karl's mindgames also can't be good for the long-term development of that team.

[Blame Rasho]

The problem has always been Karl... his teams have always dissapointed so why are we surprised. His Sonics teams lost as a 1st seed, his Bucks imploded, and even with people being gimpy and out... they are out of the playoffs? They have too much talent to not be in the playoffs. Hell,if they played Melo like how they play TD in the post... the Nuggets would significantly better. It also doesn't help that they don't have any real dependable 3 point shooting and that they have gimpy bigmen locked into big contracts.

[Ballings7]

Denver has to get more balanced (they don't play traditional, disciplined defense nearly enough), have a more healthy Nene, and seriously improve the 3PT shooting. Very surprised they haven't improved their 3PT shooting by now, since 04-05, the oppurtunities have been there in FA, at least.

They can't keep playing as they've been playing in order to take the next step as a team. Their style lacks diversity offensively, and the typical way of playing defense. Meaning, staying with your man, contesting shots, rotating. They don't defend in the legitimate way as a regularity. George Karl has said they're "schizophrenic defensively". Obviously that doesn't mean forcing TOs, gambling, because that's their strength. The problems are the reliance is too much on doing that, and lack control in doing it.

opp. offensive rebounds: 13.2 #3

opp. 3PM: 7.7 #1

opp. points in the paint: 39ppg #20

They can't play at their pace in the playoffs unless it's against another up-tempo team (Suns (they still do run a lot), Warriors), because of the way the playoff game is. All the pace-factors are diminished.

The collective performance, on the court, has not reflected the "defensive efficency" rankings.

This is why I don't respect Denver defensively. They showed they can (despite some noticable problems still) defend pretty well in 2005 and 2007 against the Spurs. But overall they're an inconsistent defensive team, are lacking some personnel defensively (mainly on the wings), and play defense less than they do. Thus, as a whole, not really a passable defensive team.

Assuming AI's going to stay around, they have to get somebody at PG who can defend two-guards, can make open shots consistently, and can handle and pass. Like an Eric Snow, a big guard. Anthony Carter, Chucky Atkins aren't going to get it done as AI's back-court partner, let alone in general. They're spot starters and bench players.

Denver has to become a more balanced team to make that jump as a title contender.

[Blame Rasho]

I think a guy like Marco Jaric or a prime Brent Barry would be a good "fit" with Melo and AI. Hell... depending on the draft they might get OJMayo would does fit the bill with his shooting and ball handling skills.

[sackings916]

They need a PG, period. When Anthony Carter is your starting PG what can you expect

[dockingsched]

a guy like steve blake was the perfect fit.

[Blame Rasho]

a guy like steve blake was the perfect fit.

He is a craptastic defender. He never been real starter material.