What in the Hell Can the Nuggets Do?

[JayMKE]

2nd apron should be done away with, its primary effect has been kneecappping Denver and Milwaukee

[manlisten]

Given how those ancillary pieces played in that series against the Suns is how I came to that conclusion. Yes they still finished the regular season as a defensive juggernaut, but I guess I just place a much higher value on having guys like Green and Rondo in a playoff setting that who they ultimately settled on. Schroeder was a no-show against Phoenix and they just didnt have anybody capable of slowing down Book who Danny would have been a great option for. Yes AD injured his groin, but CP3 also hurt his shoulder in G1 and was limited the rest of the series.

I don't the reasoning for bringing up the Cavs and Thunder The playoffs is where we judge contending teams and from the what we've seen so far, they should be much better once that times comes around.

They played well enough to take a 2-1 lead. Expecting them to reach the finals without AD is something, but not reasonable or realistic. In no way was it a "fumbled" season if they looked just as good or better than the year before when healthy. It's laughable to think Danny Green was the difference between winning and losing that series. Caruso is an all defensive guard and had nothing for Booker.

I never said I expected them to make the Finals without AD and Caruso wasn't defensive caliber in 2021. It isn't laughable at all with Danny still on the team, maybe they don't actually start Drummond and benefit from his two-way play. Anyways i'd rather not derail this Nuggets thread any longer.

The main point is that Rob couldn't help himself to not tinker with a championship formula/team and the moves in 2021 were just the beginnings of him completely dismantling the core of what made the 2020 championship team great.

You said that a team with Alex Caruso had nobody capable of slowing down Booker. He didn't become a great defender only after leaving the Lakers. The Suns went to the Finals and your argument is that the Lakers would've beat them without their best player if only they had Danny Green who never played as well as Schroeder did in that series who you also called a no show. There's nothing to talk about here so yes let's move on

[phanman]

They played well enough to take a 2-1 lead. Expecting them to reach the finals without AD is something, but not reasonable or realistic. In no way was it a "fumbled" season if they looked just as good or better than the year before when healthy. It's laughable to think Danny Green was the difference between winning and losing that series. Caruso is an all defensive guard and had nothing for Booker.

I never said I expected them to make the Finals without AD and Caruso wasn't defensive caliber in 2021. It isn't laughable at all with Danny still on the team, maybe they don't actually start Drummond and benefit from his two-way play. Anyways i'd rather not derail this Nuggets thread any longer.

The main point is that Rob couldn't help himself to not tinker with a championship formula/team and the moves in 2021 were just the beginnings of him completely dismantling the core of what made the 2020 championship team great.

You said that a team with Alex Caruso had nobody capable of slowing down Booker. He didn't become a great defender only after leaving the Lakers. The Suns went to the Finals and your argument is that the Lakers would've beat them without their best player if only they had Danny Green who never played as well as Schroeder did in that series who you also called a no show. There's nothing to talk about here so yes let's move on

You keep making assumptions after assumptions. Me saying they were disappointment doesn't mean I think they would have made the Finals. Even if they did beat the Suns, that doesn't necessarily mean they would have beat the injured Nuggets or Clippers either. I stand on the fact that yes Caruso did become much better defender after his Lakers tenure as he became more adjusted to the league and earned more playing time under Billy Donovan. Schroeder was just bad trade, I can't believe your actually trying to defend him while trying to **** on Danny, the ultimate 3-D ROLE player to slot next to LeBron.

[TunaFish]

For those saying that the Nuggets should trade Jokic, you can stick that suggestion where the sun don't shine.

The Nuggets have a core four that is outstanding except when one of them, in this case Murray, is not performing up to standards. It could be that Murray is injured, which he frequently is and of course he is currently out with a hamstring issue. Despite this, the Nuggets have given him an extension that makes it impossible to trade him until the off season. Same with Gordon who has also missed some time and has been extended. Murray always starts out slow so he may yet become the force that justifies the contract extension.

The only player possibly available with a large enough contract to have a major trade impact currently is MPJ (aka Michael Porter Jr.). The question is whether he is available and so far it doesn't appear so. After all, big wings who are 3 point scoring threats are hard to find. That is not to say he can't have a bad game or a bad quarter as everyone does but his impact is obvious and it is highly doubtful that the Nuggets will trade him. They are certainly unlikely to take back a group of bench players and give up a core piece.

None of the remaining players on the roster outside the core four are moving the needle in trade negotiations.

The Nuggets will do nothing except wait for Murray to recover is my guess. Of course if some team should waive a top end scoring threat that Denver could move to the bench then that would change the take.

[Vampirate]

Jokic and Aaron Gordon are pulling their weight, MPJ is doing what he's known to do, Christian Braun has performed well.

1. They have lost depth.

2. Jamal Murray is being paid as a star that's not performing like one.

The Nuggets just simply can't contend with Jamal at his current level with the lack of depth.

The Nuggets need to hope Murray has a bounce back season next year simply.

[Wolfgang630]

The main problem is JAMAL MURRAY at the end of the day. If you don’t have a real number 2 playing like a real number 2 you will NEVER win a championship. He is first and foremost the issue. Then the bench and 3 point shooting which falls on Calvin and Malone after that.

[Saints14]

They’re finally giving Jalen Pickett some opportunity and he’s shown promise

[LeBronSpaghetti]

The only way their season can be saved is if Michael Malone can do three things:
1. Fix Jamal Murray
2. Fix the defense
3. Pull a rotation player out of his ass

Great coaches have the ability to do number 3. Pop did it. Spo does it all the time. Malone on the other hand is building a reputation of burying legit rotation players on his bench and watching them blossom as soon as they leave Denver. He needs to figure that **** out and fast.

[wco81]

2nd apron should be done away with, its primary effect has been kneecappping Denver and Milwaukee

That's intentional.

Silver doesn't want franchises winning multiple titles within a decade. He wants parity and believes the NFL gets much bigger ratings because of parity in that sport.

So the CBA makes it difficult to keep good players together, as well as for superstars to team up.

The question is why the players union agreed to it. The aprons not only make it less likely for teams to accumulate several max/supermax players, it also makes teams reluctant to pay out a lot of medium level salaries, so that is why the Nuggets lose Brown and KCP in successive off seasons.

The non superstar players should have voted against the CBA or pressure the union negotiators to not agree to this apron structure.

[Ugly0598]

The only way their season can be saved is if Michael Malone can do three things:
1. Fix Jamal Murray
2. Fix the defense
3. Pull a rotation player out of his ass

Great coaches have the ability to do number 3. Pop did it. Spo does it all the time. Malone on the other hand is building a reputation of burying legit rotation players on his bench and watching them blossom as soon as they leave Denver. He needs to figure that **** out and fast.

He’s a douche and a crybaby compared to Popovich.

[CodeBreaker]

Make jamal fix his sht, that's just it.

[MrBigShot]

2nd apron should be done away with, its primary effect has been kneecappping Denver and Milwaukee

That's intentional.

Silver doesn't want franchises winning multiple titles within a decade. He wants parity and believes the NFL gets much bigger ratings because of parity in that sport.

So the CBA makes it difficult to keep good players together, as well as for superstars to team up.

The question is why the players union agreed to it. The aprons not only make it less likely for teams to accumulate several max/supermax players, it also makes teams reluctant to pay out a lot of medium level salaries, so that is why the Nuggets lose Brown and KCP in successive off seasons.

The non superstar players should have voted against the CBA or pressure the union negotiators to not agree to this apron structure.

Maybe the players themselves are in favor of parity too? Nobody likes it when 3 superstars team up.

Bruce Brown and KCP got paid elsewhere.

[Onlytimewilltel]

2nd apron should be done away with, its primary effect has been kneecappping Denver and Milwaukee

That's intentional.

Silver doesn't want franchises winning multiple titles within a decade. He wants parity and believes the NFL gets much bigger ratings because of parity in that sport.

So the CBA makes it difficult to keep good players together, as well as for superstars to team up.

The question is why the players union agreed to it. The aprons not only make it less likely for teams to accumulate several max/supermax players, it also makes teams reluctant to pay out a lot of medium level salaries, so that is why the Nuggets lose Brown and KCP in successive off seasons.

The non superstar players should have voted against the CBA or pressure the union negotiators to not agree to this apron structure.

Maybe the players themselves are in favor of parity too? Nobody likes it when 3 superstars team up.

Bruce Brown and KCP got paid elsewhere.

Bingo

[wco81]

2nd apron should be done away with, its primary effect has been kneecappping Denver and Milwaukee

That's intentional.

Silver doesn't want franchises winning multiple titles within a decade. He wants parity and believes the NFL gets much bigger ratings because of parity in that sport.

So the CBA makes it difficult to keep good players together, as well as for superstars to team up.

The question is why the players union agreed to it. The aprons not only make it less likely for teams to accumulate several max/supermax players, it also makes teams reluctant to pay out a lot of medium level salaries, so that is why the Nuggets lose Brown and KCP in successive off seasons.

The non superstar players should have voted against the CBA or pressure the union negotiators to not agree to this apron structure.

Maybe the players themselves are in favor of parity too? Nobody likes it when 3 superstars team up.

Bruce Brown and KCP got paid elsewhere.

Maybe.

But what the new CBA will do is lower salaries for middle and lower salary players because they added more thresholds, like these aprons, which have the effect of making teams spend less.

[nomansland]

2nd apron should be done away with, its primary effect has been kneecappping Denver and Milwaukee

That's intentional.

Silver doesn't want franchises winning multiple titles within a decade. He wants parity and believes the NFL gets much bigger ratings because of parity in that sport.

So the CBA makes it difficult to keep good players together, as well as for superstars to team up.

The question is why the players union agreed to it. The aprons not only make it less likely for teams to accumulate several max/supermax players, it also makes teams reluctant to pay out a lot of medium level salaries, so that is why the Nuggets lose Brown and KCP in successive off seasons.

The non superstar players should have voted against the CBA or pressure the union negotiators to not agree to this apron structure.

Just wait until it starts kneecapping a championship Lakers or Knicks team. The rules will change again.

[nomansland]

The only way their season can be saved is if Michael Malone can do three things:
1. Fix Jamal Murray
2. Fix the defense
3. Pull a rotation player out of his ass

Great coaches have the ability to do number 3. Pop did it. Spo does it all the time. Malone on the other hand is building a reputation of burying legit rotation players on his bench and watching them blossom as soon as they leave Denver. He needs to figure that **** out and fast.

The Nuggets still have to prove that they can do it multiple games, but they did all of that tonight. Watson and Strawther were great, even D'Andre Jordan was good. Murray played very well, especially on D. And the defense was excellent overall, delivering the munder.

[um.]

uhhhhhh

we back

[Astaluego]

They would have to wait for the offseason...but do you think a trade from J.Murray to the RAPTORS for Quickley/Agbaji/Olynyc has legs...? It's a downgrade of star talent for Denver...but they would get the depth they need and the defense should improve a lot

[og15]

2nd apron should be done away with, its primary effect has been kneecappping Denver and Milwaukee

Yea, I don't think the NBA will be making the decision on it's effectiveness based on the first few seasons. You would only really be able to assess it after teams have had time to adjust. This would just be chalked up to growing pains.

Certainly no one would think that you just make drastic cap changes and then there's no issues as you put it in place.

2nd apron should be done away with, its primary effect has been kneecappping Denver and Milwaukee

That's intentional.

Silver doesn't want franchises winning multiple titles within a decade. He wants parity and believes the NFL gets much bigger ratings because of parity in that sport.

So the CBA makes it difficult to keep good players together, as well as for superstars to team up.

The question is why the players union agreed to it. The aprons not only make it less likely for teams to accumulate several max/supermax players, it also makes teams reluctant to pay out a lot of medium level salaries, so that is why the Nuggets lose Brown and KCP in successive off seasons.

The non superstar players should have voted against the CBA or pressure the union negotiators to not agree to this apron structure.

Just wait until it starts kneecapping a championship Lakers or Knicks team. The rules will change again.

The owners vote for this stuff. It wasn't a unanimous vote by the owners as far as I know, but obviously some benefit more for this and some wouldn't want it.

The deal is 7 years and therw is an opt out in 28/29, so at minimum they have to have this for 4 more seasons.

[Alatan]

They would have to wait for the offseason...but do you think a trade from J.Murray to the RAPTORS for Quickley/Agbaji/Olynyc has legs...? It's a downgrade of star talent for Denver...but they would get the depth they need and the defense should improve a lot

Hell no. Murray is an albatross but so is Quickly but at least Murray has his moments of glory and he has chemistry with the team. The rest are scraps and depth without star power doesnt win championships.