Gotta be the altitude

[skywalker33]

Has anyone else noticed this ? RealGMers who “try” to evaluate people who play for or work for the Nuggets really diminish their value UNTIL the leave Denver, then they become increasingly more valuable. Now that TC has signed with MIN, he’s now recognized as top 5 NBA Exec in the league. Seems like he was JAG who got lucky in the draft.

Gary Harris was thought of as negative value before we traded him away yet now he’s a solid defender who could be a nice FA acquisition. Seen it happen with quite a few former Nugget players, they’re perceived value increases immensely once they are no longer part of this organization so gotta ask, is there something in the rarified air that allows Coloradoans to see true talent for who they are ?

[The Rebel]

People don't really watch the Nuggets so they have no idea what is going on with the team. Even in the playoffs this year I saw Denver "fans" in long arguments with people that had no idea that we lost more than Murray and MPJ to injury. Dozier allowed the lowest shooting percentage on the team last year, and was clearly our best poa defender, but yet you would never know it because the national media never talked about it so even Denver fans don't know.

Fact is it goes way back as well. Even a lot of the old timers started following the league in the 90s with Jordan, very few know the history of the Nuggets nd think of them as the team in the 90s that won 1 series and had their parent company go bankrupt. When a Nuggets player started getting national hype we either never even offered him a contract (Mutombo) or watched their career get ruined by injury (Phonz). In a weird way some actually hold it against us that we got a lot of coverage in the 90s,specifically due to the history of the 70s and 80s when we were a very good team for a long time.

I have had arguments with guys who swear that the Nuggets were never relevant nationally in their history before Melo, not realizing that we were pretty clearly the 2nd best Western Conference team throughout the 80s and a top 3 team the last few years of the ABA.

The thing that really bugs me about all the message board treatment of the Nuggets is how many Nuggets fans refuse to stand up against the disinformation and trashing of our players. We know damn well who is good and what they are good at, but I see so many Nuggets fans that are afraid to even try to educate people it is kind of sad.

[TunaFish]

Issel, David Thompson and Bobby Jones (whose trade later lead eventually to Alex English) were pretty good and competitive. The problem for the Nuggets has always been the supporting cast, that and injuries (thinking of Calvin Natt, et al). In the seventies Larry Brown pulled a "Houdini" move leaving the team but the acquisition of Alex English was the real deal and would lead the Nuggets to their best record.

Just like Jokic, English was a low pick who blossomed into something special. Denver has a history of missing out on important draft picks but they have been lucky at times as well. Yet, here we are with an MVP second round pick and two injured max contract players who should fully recover.

The possibility of Jokic meshing with Gordon, MPJ and Murray is tantalizing.

Maybe this time the altitude will have some real importance.