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....Andre Miller rather than Allen Iverson?

It seems that way to me.

They'd still have no chance of beating the Lakers.

Yes. they wre a much more dangerous team, when they could run a an alley-oop to perfection every time down the court

I've never liked the idea of AI in Denver.

Why I love AI: He has as much heart as anybody in the league. Not many "superstars" are willing to give up their body the way he does. He'll take the hits, get back up and go right back at you. He'll dive on the floor for every loose ball and he never stops competing. How many guys can you honestly say that about? How can you not respect that?

Why I hate AI: He can do some really stupid **** both on and off the court. I don't think he's a bad person or has bad intentions, and I don't think he's selfish. But sometimes it seems like he just doesn't get it. He could average 20 & 10 if he wanted and I think his team would be better off if he did. But that's just not his game and never will be.

Bottom Line: As much as I love AI it's very difficult to build a team around him. I do think it can be done, but it should be more in that Philly mold with defensive minded role players, not by putting him with another superstar scorer on a poor defensive team. That was a mistake.

Would i be bold for me to say that Melo is a bigger problem than AI here?

Because honestly, thats how I feel about Denver right now.

Imagine Andre Miller back with a healthy K-Mart. It'll be highlight after highlight just like Kidd-K-Mart 4 years ago.

^^ I agree with you, but who would Denver get rid of first, AI or Carmelo?

I think Denver should trade Carmelo for Hinrich and Artest and just try to win now, ala Miami but that will never happen.

I think Karl kind of ruined what Carmelo had the chance of being. He basically took 'Melo's defensive instincts and threw them out the window... I'm surprised Melo's offensive efficiency hasn't hit the **** yet either...

This is a tough one. Their offense used to be more diverse but now it's just AI and Melo taking turns one on one if they're not on the break. The lack of lob-plays has really hurt Camby's offense too..

That said, it's hard to argue against the AI deal since they won 50 games this year..

Surely Denver are in a fairly ruinous situation with regards to the cap? I don't see how they can afford to give Smith or Kleiza new contracts whilst they've got 5 contracts that may as well be max.

Kno wrote:Would i be bold for me to say that Melo is a bigger problem than AI here?

Because honestly, thats how I feel about Denver right now.

I agree completely... I thought it was kinda funny that the blame went to AI just because he's older and previous attitude problems... the guy is a warrior through and through... I'd love to have AI on the W's.

^^ AI on the Warriors would give you the most unbalanced roster in the league, but I think you would score about 150 points a game

I think htye would be, its funny that there 3 and 4th best scorers play the same position as there 1st and 2nd best scorers. Iverson would look good in an offense like Orlando or Portland or Toronto, I think him and Anthony are a little repetative.

Denver cant play as a Unit .

Scalabrine wrote:I think htye would be, its funny that there 3 and 4th best scorers play the same position as there 1st and 2nd best scorers. Iverson would look good in an offense like Orlando or Portland or Toronto, I think him and Anthony are a little repetative.

In Orlando is actually one of the few places where I think Iverson would thrive.

Whether it's AI or Melo's fault is practically a moot point. I think it has more to do with the overall make up and chemistry of the team than any one person, but more to the point Melo isn't going anywhere.

Each guy would be better served playing with a more well rounded compliment; somebody to help move the ball around and defend. Then again if the rest of the guys on the Nuggets were better compliments to their stars then maybe we're sitting here talking about how brilliantly that traded worked out.

The Nuggets biggest problem is they simply can't stop anybody. Part of that falls on Melo & AI to be sure, but you also have to look at Karl, the front office and the rest of that roster.

Denver is just a victim of it's surroundings. Any other year they would be at the very least a 5th seed as a 50 win team. They would of matched up against a more equal team in the first round and would of surprised no one if they advanced. This year it's just a jungle in the west and although Denver is very talented. The other western teams made moves to elevate their competitive advantages over the rest. Again, throw denver in the East and they're being thrown in for consideration for the Eastern Conference finals with the pistons and the celts. I don't think they're as bad as everyone is making them out to be. They just got matched up against the lakers who are better than them. But if they would of played houston, dallas, utah, even the Hornets, I think they would of had a shot of beating them.

Denver just has some sustained, significant issues they have to address in order to leap up a level as a team.

Hunter wrote:I've never liked the idea of AI in Denver.

Why I love AI: He has as much heart as anybody in the league. Not many "superstars" are willing to give up their body the way he does. He'll take the hits, get back up and go right back at you. He'll dive on the floor for every loose ball and he never stops competing. How many guys can you honestly say that about? How can you not respect that?

Why I hate AI: He can do some really stupid **** both on and off the court. I don't think he's a bad person or has bad intentions, and I don't think he's selfish. But sometimes it seems like he just doesn't get it. He could average 20 & 10 if he wanted and I think his team would be better off if he did. But that's just not his game and never will be.

Bottom Line: As much as I love AI it's very difficult to build a team around him. I do think it can be done, but it should be more in that Philly mold with defensive minded role players, not by putting him with another superstar scorer on a poor defensive team. That was a mistake.

He avg 26 points and 7 apg....3 shy of 10. I dont think iverson is their problem, their problem is not playing any defense. Iverson gets 2.0 spg. I think anthony needs to step up his defense and be able to gaurd shootin gaurds as well as power fowards.

They have so much talent. It just doesn't mesh well. They just don't get it.


And it falls (at least to me) on the coach.