2011-2012 roster compared to 2013-2014.

[youngthegiant]

Denver Nuggets 2011-2012

Finished with a record of 38-28( translates to roughly 47-35 in a 82 game season)

2011-2012 Roster (games played), players in red were non-factors in the season.

Ty Lawson(61)
Arron Afflalo(62)
Danilo Gallinari(43)
Kenneth Faried(46)
Javale Mcgee(20)
Al Harrington(64)
Corey Brewer(59)
Rudy Fernandez(31)
Kosta Koufos(48)
Timofey Mozgov(44)
Chris Anderson(32)
Jordan Hamilton(26)
Wilson Chandler(8)
Julyan Stone(22)
Andre Miller(66)

Analysis: Our upcoming roster for next season is very similar to the one from two years ago. When we had this roster we were seen as an up and coming to team, but with the loss Andre Iguodala, analysts have labeled us fringe playoff team...... granted teams have gotten better, the 2011-2012 roster is exactly the kind of season that could be had this year. A calculated 47 wins and that season was full roadblocks and hurdles, Gallo was injured, Chandler was out for pretty much the whole season, Faried was a rookie and still learning the ropes, Nene was traded, Javale didn't have time to build chemistry with the team. I remember that Gallo, Harrington, and Afflalo were all banged up when the playoffs came around but still managed to take a tough Lakers squad to 7 games. So how does our current roster compare and why can't they have this type of season again....

2013-2014 Roster

Ty Lawson
Wilson Chandler
Danilo Gallinari
Kenneth Faried
Javale Mcgee
Andre Miller
Nate Robinson
Evan Fournier
Randy Foye
Jordan Hamilton
J.J Hickson
Darrell Arthur
Anthony Randolph
Timofey Mozgov
Quincy Miller

Analysis: Right off the bat we won't have Gallinari to start the season but we will have a healthy Wilson Chandler who is back to 100%. Ty Lawson has considerably improved from the 2011 season and he aims to finally target for an all-star spot this season. Kenneth Faried has been improving marginally, he is looking to add a mid-range jumper and have a more well rounded game. Javale Mcgee is the biggest ? for this season, I'd like to call this put up or shut up season, if we see no growth, Javale will likely be traded. Do I expect Javale to become a 20 and 10 center.........no. I would be happy if he can average 14/8 and 3 blocks a game with some improved defense. The biggest difference between the 2011 roster is that we no longer Big Al, Afflalo, Brewer. All these guys were big pieces in that season. Chandler could replace Al in scoring and stretching the floor but Gallinari must return first, Fournier has potential to be better than Afflalo but Afflalo is currently the better player, both Foye and Fournier will replace his scoring but his defense will be missed, neither of these players are as good as Afflalo defensively. Brewer was an energy bunny that will be irreplace by any sf/sg on this roster but we did sign Nate Robinson, who is even more explosive than Brewer on the offensive end. Other additions include J.J Hickson and Darrell Arthur...two players we could have greatly used in the Lakers series in 2012. In time this roster will be better than our 2011 team but the question is when and how long. Brian Shaw will be making changes and it may take a good chunk of the season for the team to find chemistry.

[corona]

neither of these players are as good as Afflalo defensively.

pretty much all advanced stats say afflalo was a below average defender, fwiw.
DRAPM he was a -1 in his years with denver, and a -2 last season with orlando
11-12 and 10-11 the nuggets were defensively better with him off the court

statistically speaking, he's andre miller/corey brewer-esque.

foye's certainly not better, but if fournier becomes average and puts in the effort, he'll be fine.