Right Spread-Wrong Team

(AP Photo/Gary Malerba)

(Boulder-CO) It was disappointing to watch the Nuggets not execute like I mentioned in my preview because this one was there for the taking. Like I predicted, the game was extremely tight down the stretch, but due to poor decision making, lack of execution, and too many fouls led to the Nuggets losing tonight by three, 109-106.

Both teams played well in spurts and equaled each other’s output in the first three quarters. In the first, Denver came out lethargic and only managed to score 20 points as the Pistons put 29 on them in return. George Karl started an unorthodox line-up of Yakhouba Diawara, Linas Kleiza, Marcus Camby, and Stacey Augmon with point guard Chucky Atkins seeing his first preseason action and the Nuggets looked out of sync. On the other hand, the Pistons started their usual five of Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton, Antonio McDyess, Tayshaun Prince, and Rasheed Wallace and had no trouble getting into a rhythm early. However, Denver did managed to put together a better second quarter, matching the Piston’s 34 points in the period, and in doing so kept things reasonable going into the second half.

In the third, Denver managed to make up the nine points they fell behind by in the first quarter by outscoring the Pistons, 25-16, largely in part to a tremendous turnaround on the defensive end. Marcus Camby’s impact on the boards,(he had ten huge rebounds alone in the quarter), started it all and the rest of the Nuggets really turned the heat up on the Pistons to tie things at 79 going into the final quarter of play.

The final minutes in the fourth were where the game was decided and it was a lack of execution and poor decisions that resulted in the Nuggets taking the L. For instance, with 90 seconds remaining and the Pistons leading, 103-102, J.R. Smith had a lay-up swatted by Jason Maxiel, an offensive foul resulting in a turnover, and a loose ball frustration foul all in the matter of about 30 seconds. Now J.R. isn’t solely to blame for the Nuggets loss, but this terrible stretch was the straw that broke the camel’s back and it allowed the Pistons to take control of the game because it gave them two free-throws, (which they made good on), and put the Nuggets in an immediate foul situation. And credit has to be given to the Pistons for stepping up to the line and knocking down their final four free-throws to ice the game in the final 20 seconds.

Offensive leaders for the Nuggets were Anthony Roberson with 22 points, Bobby Jones with 17 points, and Von Wafer with 16 points, respectively. Both Roberson and Jones also each passed out four assists and Marcus Camby grabbed a game-high 16 rebounds. It should also be noted that J.R. Smith, while finishing with 13 points, missed all four of his three-point attempts and in doing so has missed the last 23 threes he has attempted carrying over to last season’s playoffs.

The DNP list for the Nuggets was long with Carmelo, Kenyon, Eduardo, Nene, and AI all not entering the game. Denver is now 2-1 in preseason play and faces the Bucks in Milwaukee on Tuesday night.

Go Nuggets!

Nuggets vs. Pistons Preseason Preview

(Boulder-CO) The 2-0 Nuggets will face the 1-2 Pistons tonight at the Palace in Auburn Hills. The big stories tonight will be if J.R. Smith plays or if the feud between he and George Karl continues, Von Wafer’s play both offensively and defensively, and how many assists Allen Iverson finishes with.

The J.R. situation intrigues me in so many ways. First, you would think that after the kind of off-season that J.R. had he would want to just focus on basketball and nothing else, but somehow he has found a way to lock horns with Karl again. Only this time, the Nuggets have far more mature options as far as who they can play at the reserve shooting guard position and because of so J.R. could easily find himself sitting at the end of the bench if he is not careful.

Related to this is the pleasantly surprising play of Von Wafer. Von scored 17 in the Nuggets first outing and followed that up with a ten-point showing against the Trailblazers. While neither game was statistically monstrous, Von showed that he can help this team quite nicely in a reserve role and if his defense can continue to improve he will almost certainly lock himself into the good graces of Karl and the coaching staff. A tremendous opportunity is in front of Wafer and I hope he can seize it.

Another bright spot for the Nuggets has been the unselfish play of Allen Iverson. His first showing was a seven assist, eleven point outing and in his second showing he went for 17 points, four rebounds, and four assists. AI is getting the Nuggets started early in the shot clock and his penetration is leading to a lot of buckets both on the dish and the drive. I’m loving the way Iverson is meshing with ’Melo, Camby, and Linas Kleiza because he isn’t trying to individually force things, but instead is allowing his teammates to get involved and they are rising to the occasion. Major kudos are due to AI so far in this preseason.

As far as a prediction on tonight’s game, I’m thinking that the Nuggets probably have not forgotten about Rasheed Wallace’s 60-foot heave that forced overtime the last time the Nuggets were in Motown. And while I think the game will be close, (which the Nuggets need at this point to work on their fourth quarter execution), I’m calling a victory by three over the Pistons.

Be sure to check out these fantastic Pistons sites for an in-depth look at tonight’s opposition.

Need4Sheed
Detroit Bad Boys

Go Nuggets!

More on the J.R. Smith Situation

(Boulder-CO) According to one of my inside sources, there was indeed a, “difference of opinions” between Coach George Karl and guard J.R. Smith during a Nuggets practice and said incident led to J.R. being benched for Friday’s game against the Trail Blazers.

Now, I’m sure that there will soon be more to this story from the mainstream media, but the main question that I have is how long will J.R. and Coach George Karl continue to be at odds? Other less important inquiries are will J.R. play against the Pistons on Sunday and will George Karl speak through the media on the matter in the next few days to come?

Only time will tell, but I have a feeling this story is just in its infancy.

Nuggets Roll Portland in Boulder

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

(Boulder-CO) The Denver Nuggets start their preseason off 2-0 after tonight’s, 118-102, victory over the Portland Trailblazers. In a game that I knew the Blazers were offensively outmatched in, at one point in the fourth quarter Denver led by as many as 27 points after the starters had long been put away. Important to also keep in mind was how Denver was without the services of forwards Nene, Martin, and Najera or guards Chucky Atkins and Anthony Carter.

The big story though is how J.R. Smith did not log a single minute of play in tonight’s game. I talked with a few Nuggets insiders this morning and not a single one of them mentioned any kind of injury J.R. might have sustained in practice or in the last contest, so I’m wondering if there may be something else going on behind the scenes, but more on that later…

The big offensive story from my area of emphasis tonight was the play of Linas Kleiza. LK scored 19 points on 6-11 shooting including 6 of 7 from the free-throw line, passed out three assists, and grabbed two boards in 26 minutes of action. Linas also played some pretty solid defense both on and off the ball. His counter part, Von Wafer, while not playing as effectively as Kleiza or scoring as much played as good if not better than on Tuesday night against the Clippers. ‘Nila started tonight’s game and finished with ten points, two assists, two rebounds, and no turnovers in 22 total minutes played. I think that this game was just as solid as Wafer’s first game because his defense was much better despite still committing four fouls. And in his defense he did pick up a couple of those fouls helping out teammates on penetration and did so in a fashion that prevented easy Portland scores.

Another area that I really like for the Nuggets so far is the high percentage they are shooting from the free-throw line. Denver has started this preseason shooting 80.4% from the charity stripe, including tonight’s collective, 35-42, including no player missing more than two attempts. This is just another area in which the Nuggets can improve on from last season because in many cases this is an area that can also translate into a few more regular season wins from tight games here and there that are won and lost at the line.

And as with no effort at all, Carmelo once again led the Nuggets in scoring with 22 points to go along nicely with his seven rebounds, five assists, and three steals. Sometimes it seems like ‘Melo is pretty much unstoppable offensively, but it is his passing and willingness to hit the boards that proves there is a continued maturation process still going on with the Nuggets fifth year star. More and more, even ranging back to this past summer’s FIBA games, ‘Melo has been rebounding with an increased regularity.

The next Nuggets preseason game is on Sunday in Detroit against the Pistons, but until then I’ll be keeping my ear to the streets and talking to some people who might be able to shed some light on the situation as to why J.R. didn’t play tonight.

Go Nuggets!

Nuggets vs. Blazers Preseason Preview

(Boulder-CO) The game will be a little bit different due to being in the smaller confines of the Coors Event center in Boulder, but I do not expect the Nuggets to have any problems with the Trailblazers. Even though they will be without Nene, Martin, Carter, and Najera, I feel that the core of AI, Anthony, Marcus, Wafer, and Smith are too much offense for the young Blazers to handle.

But, the Blazers are a team in rebuilding (put on a 12 month hold by the injury to Greg Oden). They have talent at all their positions. LaMarcus Aldridge is an athletic big man with promise, Portland recently acquired Channing Frye from New York in the Z-Ran trade, reigning Rookie of the Year Brandon Roy is set to have another great year, and the ex-Nugget Steve Blake should feel right at home in his second stint with Portland. And, they too beat the injury depleted Clippers on Wednesday, 111-102.

My players to watch in tonight’s game are Von Wafer, Chucky Atkins (if he plays), Linas Kleiza, and J.R. Smith. We all know that the big three, (that’s right Boston- we have a big three too- and they are just as potent), are going to do their work, but there is a crazy little situation developing at the reserve shooting guard spot between J.R., LK, and ‘Nila. ‘Melo is going to play so many minutes this year that I’m now throwing LK into the shuffle for who is going to be the first guard off the bench for George Karl because he is too valuable of a player to collect cobwebs as he waits for Anthony to need a breather.

And the good thing about playing the Blazers tonight is we will be able to evaluate how all three players defend on Roy. Brandon was the Blazers leading scorer last year at a clip of 16.8 points per game and he is equally capable of shooting the lights out of the gym or challenging defenders at the rack. I suspect he will try to drive on Linas and J.R., but will try to test Wafer’s closing speed with his jumper. Remember, George Karl wants to stress defense this year and I think how each one of these three illustrates their commitment to stopping their delegated match-up is going to play a huge role in how the reserve minutes get divided.

My final prediction is Denver by six.

Go Nuggets.

Six Weeks for Carter's Return

(Boulder-CO) The AP is reporting that it will take Anthony Carter six weeks to recover from surgery that put three screws in his broken right hand. I had originally only heard reports that it would be one screw, but the end result of the surgery was three.

Chucky Atkins can not get healthy soon enough.

Karl Not Taking Any Crap

(Boulder-CO) When it comes to J.R. Smith, sometimes you have to understand that he just doesn’t have that fundamental of a game. He didn’t go to college. He is the product of a streetball culture. He is often times more style than substance. But does that make him a bad player? Certainly not. Does that mean that George Karl is going to put up with less than intelligent play and allow any of the aforementioned excuses to glaze over bad play? Don’t bet on it.

In today’s Rocky Mountain News Nuggets report George Karl says in regards to Smith‘s often times less than cerebral approach to the game, “Last year, we tolerated it. This year, it probably won't be tolerated.”

And why should he?

J.R. is now 0-19 from the three-point line dating back to last season’s playoffs, and if it weren’t for all of his aggressive drives to the basket late in the Nuggets first preseason game against the Clippers- plus foul shooting- his box score would have been even uglier than the 4-15 shooting night he finished with.

And let me also tell you that J.R. has some damn stiff competition in Von Wafer. ‘Nila may be entering his first full year of NBA basketball, but he has proven to be a solid ball player at every level of competition up to this point. Furthermore, I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again: the one thing that remains constant when the opposition gets bigger, more skilled, cagier, and smarter is the goal’s height, size, and the ability to shoot the basketball. It doesn’t matter if it is the Harlem Globetrotters in different color jerseys just as long as you can put the ball in the basket. The rest of a player’s game may have to change due to the level of competition, but if you can shoot in one league, you can shoot in any.

With all that being said, I do not want to diminish what J.R. Smith could mean to the Denver Nuggets. If he can play headier basketball, make the right pass at the right time, and still incorporate all that flashy streetball stuff into the game than I am all for it. He is a player that can put people in the seats because they know that on any given night at the arena J.R. Smith may blow their mind with an incredible play. And it is sometimes those incredible plays that really boost a team’s morale and sway momentum in the favor of the Nuggets, but the key for J.R. is to learn when and where that kind of play is prudent and when it is not. Because this year if he doesn’t… The Nuggets have far better options than last year and he will find his way back into the dog house of one furious George Karl.

NBA 2K8 is Here!

(Boulder-CO) I just received a copy of NBA 2K8 for the PS3 in the mail and let's just say that it was a long night last night. First let me say that the graphics are hot! The PS3 is known for having the best graphics in the biz right now, and NBA 2K8 does not disappoint in this regard. Furthermore, the new foot planting technology makes old games feel like, well, old games. In this new edition to the 2KSports line the players actually move, dribble, and jump much more realistically than before creating a feeling as close to actually playing basketball as I have ever experienced in a video game.

The other aspects of the game that I really liked are all of the subtle details that have been absent in previous releases. From the way coaches get in the way on the sidelines to all the ways different players, in reality and in the game, translate to the game play really add to the excitement. For instance, if you are playing with Carmelo, (And I don't understand why you wouldn't be), try working that jab step from the wing and letting the jumper fly. Just like in real life, the defender usually gets shook back just enough for you to raise up over their outstretched hand and put the rock in the bottom of the net. Then try playing with AI and slashing into the lane before fading back and dropping that little jumper that we have all become so familiar with. The move is so real and the feel is so fluid that I have to hand it to NBA 2K8 in this regard for being very realistic.

And overall there are some typical type bugs that all video games usually have, but they are not annoying enough to detract from the game. For instance, the shorts on the players sometimes look like they are inside out, but the new Slam Dunk mode, the always popular Association mode, graphics, and the online capabilities of this new release are more than enough for me endorse NBA 2k8 with The Nugg Doctor seal of approval. Now if you don't mind, I have a match up with the Jazz that I need to get back to.

Go Nuggets!

NBA Blog Previews of the Southwest

(Boulder-CO) Get your knowledge here! The NBA Blog Previews are the premiere source for all the inside analysis of your favorite team or most hated opponent. Today's offering is the entire Southwest Division. Enjoy!

San Antonio Spurs
Spur of the Moment

Pounding the Rock

New Orleans
Hornets 24/7

The New Orleans Hornets Fan

Memphis
Shades of Blue

Houston
HoopsBlogging

Dallas
Showboating

Archives
CelticsBlog NBA Page

Nuggets Start with a Preseason Gem

(AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

(Boulder-CO) Hot damn, here we go again! It sure feels good to be writing up the first game recap of the year and it makes things even sweeter that it is in a winning capacity for the Denver Nuggets. Tonight, at the Pepsi Center the Nuggets beat the Clippers, 119-107, without even playing Nene, Kenyon Martin, Eduardo Najera, Chucky Atkins, or Anthony Carter.

Offensively, the Nuggets were led by ‘Melo who managed to score 17 points, dish six assists, and grab two rebounds in a limited 25 minutes of action. The good news for Nuggets fans is Anthony didn’t look as if he has skipped a beat after leading Team USA Basketball to the gold medal in the FIBA Americas Games. Especially considering recent mention in the local papers that he was, “a little tired”, from the continuous basketball he’s been playing. Overall, ‘Melo continues to abuse defenders at will , both inside and out, and just watching him for a few minutes gave me goose bumps.

Now, speaking of not skipping a beat, or a rebound for that matter, I have to go off the handle for a second about the performance Marcus Camby put on. Camby grabbed 23 humungous boards in 24 minutes, swatted three shots, dimed four assists, and pitched in 13 points. For the last two seasons Marcus Camby has been the defensive backbone of the Denver Nuggets, and if George Karl wants to improve defensively, it shouldn’t be too long before the rest of the Nuggets become inspired by nights like this by the Cambyman. Marcus was crazy good tonight and while his box score is impressive in its own right, his impact on this game went so much deeper. The man flat out owns the area around the goal and I would even go as far as to say the Clippers, at times, looked intimidated when driving the lane knowing that Camby was lurking somewhere on the week side. And if tonight was any kind of a teaser for the season to come for Camby… Let’s just say defending his Defensive Player of the Year title should be no problem.

Other offensive bright spots for the Nuggets were Von Wafer, J.R. Smith, and Linas Kleiza. The big three off the bench all played well in one capacity or another, but I do not feel that any of them had that great of a showing for differing reasons. Von Wafer matched the 17-point team-high set by ‘Melo and grabbed six boards, but fouled a lot on defense and gave up numerous drives to the cup. J.R. Smith started the game and managed to finish with 15 points, but did so on a dreadful 5-14 shooting night which included a 0-7 showing from long range. Linas Kleiza, who probably played the most well rounded game, finished with 12 points on 5-10 from the field while nabbing three rebounds. Linas didn’t really get a chance to do much attacking of the rim and I feel that for him to establish an early confidence that can carry over the entire length of the season. He has to get things going to the basket so defenders have to respect his drive; thus opening up his outside shooting.

Oh, and I almost forgot… Allen Iverson also plays for this team!

The Answer finished tonight’s game with eleven points, seven assists, and a rebound. AI looked very assertive driving the ball into the Clipper defense, willing to dish to the open man, and still capable of finishing at the rim. The Nuggets will benefit tremendously, (not to mention the kind of flexibility Denver will have substituting for different line-ups), if Allen Iverson is concentrating on getting others involved as a point guard instead of a score-first shooting guard. And it is no secret that Denver is light at the point, but if they would be as fortunate as to have a guy like Allen Iverson transform his game into one that serves the situation around him. I truly believe that there are great things in store for the Nuggets Nation this year.

Up next for the Mile High crew is the Portland Trailblazers on Friday night. I slacked off big time today and didn’t post a game preview article, but swear to you that there will be one for Friday’s game.

Go Nuggets!

Welcome Back Better Basketball

(Boulder-CO) After an extended break from the headline spot, Better Basketball is back on The Nugg Doctor! Broken jumper? Weak crossover? No clue how to support your teammate defending the pick and roll? Better get Better Basketball quick!

‘Melo Loves Cameo Appearances

(Boulder-CO) We all remember Carmelo Anthony’s first cameo role in the underground DVD, Stop Snitchin, but did you know that ‘Melo may also be making an appearance in the new Eddie Murphy movie, Nowhereland ? Whether or not Carmelo, AI, and George Karl actually make the final cut is still up in the air, but while Nowhereland is being shot in downtown Denver the film crew made a point to stop by the Pepsi Center.

But for all of you who forgot about ‘Melo’s legendary screen presence, here is a short snippet from the infamous Stop Snitchin video. I wonder how Larry Brown feels about the “big penny” comment?

A Five-Piece of Nuggets to Sit Tonight

(Boulder-CO) It is being reported by the Rocky Mountain News that at least five Nuggets will not see any playing time in tonight’s preseason game against the Clippers. Nene will not play due to a calf strain that has been bothering him since the FIBA Americas Games, Kenyon Martin will not play due to a groin strain suffered in practice in addition to precautionary measures stemming from his second microfracture surgery, Chucky Atkins will also sit due to a tender groin, Eduardo Najera will not play due to a strained back, and Anthony Carter will undergo surgery in his right hand to put in a stabilizing screw that will sideline him for at least another four weeks.

I would also be surprised to see much of Carmelo Anthony, Marcus Camby, or Allen Iverson once the second half kicks off.

Nuggets fans should pay special attention to the shooting guard position because Von Wafer, J.R. Smith, and Linas Kleiza are all competing for minutes coming off of George Karl’s bench. All three players should see considerable amounts of opportunity throughout preseason, but it will be the more defensive minded between J.R. and Von that ends up getting the lion’s share of the minutes at shooting guard.

McNeill Talks to Nuggets Legend Alex English

(Boulder-CO) Ryan McNeill of www.hoopsaddict.com has conducted an interview with Nuggets legend Alex English. If you consider yourself a Nuggets fan, I shouldn't have to tell you that Alex English was THE MAN who actually led the NBA in scoring for the entirety of the 1980's (Don't believe me, go do your homework!). So, bang the link and check out the entire interview without delay.

The Nuggets Have 2 in the Top 25

(Boulder-CO) According to D-Wil of www.hoopsaddict.com the Nuggets have two players in the overall top 25 players in the NBA. Check out the entire list right here and come back and tell me if you believe that Carmelo is not deserving of a higher ranking than Manu "The Flopper" Ginobili or Paul Pierce.

Carter Breaks Hand

(Boulder-CO) The latest report out of Nuggets training camp is guard Anthony Carter has broken his hand. While not a tremendous blow to the Nuggets, it is not known as of right now how long Carter will be sidelined or if it will have a more serious effect on Anthony’s chances of making the final roster.

About.com's Northwest Divisional Preview

(Boulder-CO) I have recently worked with Dennis Velasco of www.probasketball.about.com in putting together a Northwest Divisional Preview. Here's my contribution. Big Thanks to Dennis Velasco for asking me to once again participate with www.about.com.

NBA Blog Previews: Atlantic Division

(Boulder-CO) The NBA Blog Previews are back and to get things started here is the entire Atlantic Division broken down by some of the best hoops bloggin' maniacs in the business!

Boston Celtics

Celtics Blog

LOY's Place

Celtics 17

Red's Army

Celtics 24/7

Green Bandwagon

New Jersey Nets

Hooplah Nation NetsDaily

New York Knicks

Straight Bangin'

Posting and Toasting

Philadelphia 76ers

Passion and Pride

Toronto Raptors

HoopsAddict/RaptorsHQ

HoopsAddict

NBA Blog Previews Official Archives

CelticsBlog NBA Page

SLAM has a Nuggets Preview

(Boulder-CO) Nothing more than a link to bang here. Cub Buenning does a nice job previewing the Nuggets and I have to give props for predicting Denver makes it all the way to the conference finals. However, I definitely do not agree with him that Iverson and J.R. Smith are the probable starters for the Nugget backcourt.

Welcome Back Doc's Sports Service

(Boulder-CO) I am very happy to announce that Doc's Sports Service is once again a headline advertiser on The Nugg Doctor. From who's hot to who's not, you can always rely on Doc's to give you the best handicapping advice in the biz. Thinking about laying a bet? Better get over to Doc's first before putting your hard earned money to work!

We Are All To Blame

(Boulder-CO) I happen to stumble on an article late last night that I just have to share with the rest of you. Apparently, Le Anne Schreiber, "The latest integrity filled journalist to take a crack at being ESPN’s ombudsman", is seemingly blaming blogs for ESPN’s inaccurate reporting.

Quoted as saying, "Since undertaking this job I have become familiar with the world of the sports blog. Ninety percent of them have no compunction about putting out any kind of rumor. Doesn’t matter the source or how reliable it is. They just toss it out there because they are not journalists. They are not responsible and don’t claim to be. They are just tossing out what might be of interest to the water cooler group.”

Whoa, whoa, whoa! Not journalist?

Well, in my book, bloggers are a group of talented, entertaining, informed, and intelligent sports fans/writers who are are just as capable of connecting the imaginary dots as those affiliated with the World Wide Leader (not to mention sometimes even MORE perceptive than the WWL).

But what is important in all of this is how blogs like mine and others covering all different kinds of sports are having an impact on the mainstream. Sure, there are those sites out there that are scoped in the good natured humor that sometimes sports have to be taken with, but others are serious sports columns that stay up late after the games to deliver a perspective way before the print hits the page for the local daily paper. And it is with these serious and credible- source citing- sites that often times the writing on the wall gets put out into the blogosphere way before there is anything actually brewing in the team's front office.

Furthermore, Schreiber goes on to say, "People will return to ESPN dot com to see what they have to say about those rumors. That is what pressures ESPN to make sometimes premature claims. The idea that you do not trade in rumors has virtually gone by the wayside in this form of journalism.”

Then my only question for Schreiber is if we (bloggers) are not journalists than why do you read us? You must pay attention to what is written on blogs for a reason, right? And if that reason is to stay close to what the water cooler group is talking about then either:

A) The WWL has lost its connection with the sports fans it was originally geared towards.

or...

B) You're not giving bloggers (i.e. sports writers who have taken it upon themselves to publish their own thoughts via their own formats) the due credit for either entertaining, informing, and/or discussing possible outcomes for the future of their respective teams.

But either way, to blame bloggers for ESPN's inaccurate reports is just a way to sidestep the blame for their own mistakes, or should I say, lack of prudent and comprehensive journalism.

Iverson Not a “Good” Guy for Long

(Boulder-CO) Even after being commended for acting as a good samaritan, Allen Iverson is right back into the familair position of court defendant due to not showing up to an Omaha high school for a speaking engagement. The Rocky Mountain News is reporting that Iverson left about 2,000 fans waiting about three hours before the no-show citing a “family emergency” as the cause of his absence.

The entertainment group is seeking their $10,000 deposit, plus $33,000 in special damages, including the cost of renting a plane and sending it to pick up the star point guard in Virginia.

Looks like it is just one step forward and two steps back for Iverson when it comes to keeping his name out of the headlines with negative connotations.

The Nuggets Have Business Options

(Boulder-CO) Two of the Nuggets substantial role-players this year actually have more on the line than just making the team during training camp. The Rocky Mountain News refreshes all of our memories in regards to J.R. Smith being up for a contract extension and Linas Kleiza being up for a contract option by Halloween’s opening night game with the Sonics.

In the case of J.R., the article states, “Indications are the Nuggets and Smith’s agent, Arn Tellem, are not close in negotiations.” And why should they be? If J.R. Smith doesn’t prove to George Karl and the Nuggets management that he is willing to put in the work to improve on the defensive end, while also showing that he can be more coachable, then I would be very surprised if he makes it back in Denver next season. Sure, he is a electrifying talent when he gets his three-point shot heated up and when he can get some highlight time out on the break, but his continued displays of basketball immaturity are the main drawback of his game.

If the Nuggets do not sign Smith’s contract extension by the deadline of October 31st then he will become a restricted free-agent, meaning the Nuggets would have first crack at matching another team's contract offer, next off-season.

But as far as Linas Kleiza is concerned, I would be very surprised if the Nuggets wasted much more time before signing the Lithuanian’s contract option. He might not have had the best showing in the San Antonio series last April, but Linas has continued to show improvement in all aspects of his game last season. His option is for the 2008-09 season and would cost the Nuggets $1.82 million.

Nuggets Sign Augmon…To Training Camp

(Boulder-CO) In a move that can only be interpreted as Coach George Karl and management trying to stress defense throughout training camp, the Denver Nuggets have signed 15-year veteran ballhawk Stacey Augmon.

While I wouldn’t expect Stacey to make the final roster cut, (Augmon was out of the NBA last season after playing for the Orlando Magic in 2005-06), if he can come into camp and show J.R. Smith how to move his feet on defense that would make his training camp checks money well spent for the Nuggets.

The rest of this not-so-groundbreaking news can be found right here.

New ESPN Power Rankings

(Boulder-CO) And in the most over-hyped anticipation ever… Boston is ranked the second most powerful team in the league! Will someone please tell Marc Stein that there are FIVE players on the floor at one time in the game of basketball and that the Celtics have a long way to go before they should even be considered one of the best teams in the league. I mean, I can’t even name four other players currently on the Celtics without probably naming a Minnesota Timberwolf.

As I digress, the Nuggets are currently ranked the 11th best team in the league with Stein’s remarks being, “We didn't remember this at first, either, but the Iverson-and-Melo Nuggets were 10-1 in April. So maybe they were right to tweak minimally in the offseason, saving the spotlight for K-Mart's mountain of a comeback.”

So, my question is how probable is a, “Mountain of a comeback” for Kenyon Martin? On the one hand, everything I’m reading and hearing from inside sources is Kenyon Martin is on a warpath to prove he can be everything that he was before, but only this time in a different capacity and with a different style. The flip side to all the positive speculation about Kenyon is my memory of how self-promoting, volatile, and athletically explosive Kenyon Martin was prior to all the knee surgeries and I have to wonder if he can be the same player without what used to be physically nuclear explosiveness.

Thoughts?

The entire ESPN power rankings can be viewed by banging this link.

Finally! Media Highlights AI as "Good" Guy

(Boulder-CO) Usually, the mainstream media is only interested in highlighting the bad side of professional athletes, (like this, this, and this), but today my hat goes off to Aaron Lopez of the Rocky Mountain News for giving AI the “good” press he is due.

The Nuggs are Thinking “60”

(Boulder-CO) The Denver Nuggets haven’t even suited up for a preseason game yet, but the report from today’s Rocky Mountain News is that the players feel they can crush the current franchise win mark of 54 wins with a mark of 60 victories. A lofty goal indeed, but I must say that there are too many questions to be answered right now to be talking about winning 60 games. Especially when Denver isn’t even sure who is going to start at shooting guard or power forward.

Now, let’s say that ten games into the year the Nuggets are 8-2, or even better, with Kenyon Martin showing glimpses of yesteryear, Carmelo leading the league in scoring, AI averaging ten assists a game, Marcus Camby returning to his DPOY form, and Chucky Atkins shooting 40% from downtown. Then I might be more inclined to agree with the Nuggets optimism. But for now, the Nuggets are still a team that once again got bounced from the first round of last year’s playoffs. This kind of sobering thinking is reality, and until that reality changes, we would all be well advised- Nuggets included- to stay within the realm of reality.

The NBA Blog Previews Are Back!

(Boulder-CO) Right here you will find the schedule for the NBA Blog Previews as hosted by Jeff at www.celticsblog.com. Naturally, your boy will be handling the Nuggets on the 16th of October, but that is no reason to slack on your NBA knowledge in the meantime. Go checkout what the other great NBA minds think about Denver's competition when the boss isn't looking!

Last Minute Points Before Camp

(Boulder-CO) Here is a short list of items that pertain to the Nuggets on the eve of the start of training camp. It has been a long wait for this season to kick off and the dawn is finally upon us.

The Denver Post is reporting that Kenyon Martin is down to 4% body fat. The tremendous physical shape he is in is sure to assist in his reemergence as a force for the Nuggets.

The Denver Post is also reporting in the same article that Nene will most likely not be 100% for the start of training camp. What else is new?

Fox Sports has an incredible story, (one that I have left alone all summer because of ethical reasons), on Marcus Camby’s newest addition to the family. Congratulations, Marcus, and may the new blessing carry over into this season.

And finally, my homie Marcel Mutoni reports for the AOL FanHouse via The Rocky Mountain News that Bobby Jones is no stranger to how Allen Iverson likes to be taken care of. Maybe there is another similar position opening for him this year with the Nuggets?

I have previews to write all this week, (and hopefully an insider interview), so be sure to check back with The Nugg Doctor all week long for the goods.

Go Nuggets!

The Disarray of Others

(Boulder-CO) I would never, ever, say I was happy to hear about an injury of a player from the Nuggets, (or any other team for that matter), or the disgruntled sentiments from personnel on an opposing team. But the current situation shaping up in the Northwest Division is looking quite good for the NBA’s Mile High franchise.

Unfortunately, Greg Oden is going to be sidelined with knee problems for the entirety of the 2007-08 season. I say unfortunately because I really did want to see what the Portland Trailblazers, with the ancient looking big man and the rest of their young team, could really do this season. However, the one thing that Greg does have going for him in his favor is youth (presumably). Just look at Amare Stoudemire. He took his time, and a whole NBA season, to recover from a similar surgery and he was able to return to an All-NBA status. So here’s to hoping that Oden can do the same because not being able to enjoy such a promising NBA career would not only be a tragedy for Oden, but also for the rest of us who enjoy watching quality lowpost play. But on the other hand, the Nuggets shouldn’t have to worry about the Blazers too much because I am pretty sure that any noise out of the great northwest is going to be nothing more than static out of the basement of the division.

And as for the Nuggets biggest competition out of the great state of Utah…

The reports of discontent from Andrei Kirilenko are certainly enough to shake any Jazz fan to the core. He is reportedly willing to give up a full-size pick-up truck worth of Benjamins just to get the hell out of the great state of Utah. And I know what you’re about to say, “But AK-47 didn’t even have that great of a season last year, Doc”, and in these sentiments you would be partially correct, but what you are overlooking is AK’s impact that doesn’t make it into the box score. Kirilenko is a player that does all the little things both offensively and defensively that annoys, disrupts, and destroys continuity of the Jazz opponent. So, in any event, if the reports of Andrei not willing to play for the Jazz for any compensation due end up being true it is a good thing for the Nuggets.

And what about that situation up in Washington?

All the most current reports are leaning towards Seattle not having a basketball team in the next couple of years. The team’s ownership is still trying to bail on the final two years of their lease at Key Arena and nothing makes a team move faster than it’s ownership wanting out. Period. Now, they do have the most obvious favorite for NBA Rookie of the Year in Kevin Durant. But, what they do not have is anyone on the roster to compensate for Durant’s offensive skills on the defensive end, and trust me; they’re going to need it. The youngster may be the next best thing to George Gervin the NBA has seen since basketballs had three colors, but on defense, well, Wes Unseld he is not. And there is no way that he is going to make up for the Sonics management trading both Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis in just his first year in the NBA.

And who can forget the Timberwolves?

Sure they have a completely new team. Sure Al Jefferson is a beast. And sure they have little to no clearly defined player roles, but what is Kevin McHale going to do when the T-Wolves drop 10 out of their first 15 games and the finger pointing starts? Because the way that I see it is all the problems that all those former Celtics tried to leave in Boston are almost certainly going to follow the same cast of characters to the frigid lands of Minnesota. And without Kevin Garnett’s wide shoulders to carry the load...

Who’s afraid of the big bad wolf?

Probably not the Nuggets or anyone else in the NBA.

So, the Northwest Division could arguably be the most twisted division in the entire NBA. Injuries, malcontented players, owners wanting change in scenery, and the departure of two All-Star caliber players from Seattle all seemingly mean good things for the Nuggets. But in keeping things honest, the Nuggets have their own problems to figure out. Fortunately, we seemingly have all the answers, (pun intended), in one shape or form.

But how, when, and where they all come about is another story.

'Melo's Shoes Help Win Games

(Boulder-CO) In a bit of a surprise to me, 'Melo's Jordan Brand kicks have been cited as the difference in a Womens college basketball game. Crazy? Here's the proof...

CARMELO ANTHONY LA M3 INTERVIEW - PT1
CARMELO ANTHONY LA M3 INTERVIEW - PT2


Now I know this is just another shameless 'Melo post, but pretty much everything I'm working on right now is for the upcoming preview season set to start in about a week. I'm working with good outlets this year, and trust me, good things are to come.

LK's Top Ten Plays

(Boulder-CO) Not much introduction is needed for Linas Kleiza's top ten plays. Enjoy!

Honestly Evaluating the Nuggets Roster

(Boulder-CO) The NBA roster rules state that a team can have 15 players on its roster, but only 12 can be active at any one time. The Nuggets currently do have 15 players listed on their official roster at their home page, but understanding what is immanent with these 15 is where I come in.

Right off the bat it is clear the Nuggets starting five is going to be tremendously strong this year. Obviously, AI and Chucky Atkins are going to make up the Nuggets backcourt. Chucky is going to start at point with AI playing the two (where he NEEDS to be!). This is going to be the best positional breakdown in the backcourt because when AI runs the show he has a tendency to dribble the ball way to much around the perimeter while not getting the play going early. Chucky is going to be able to bring the ball down and get the offense started. Other than that… Atkins needs to spot up by entering the ball into the post for Camby, Nene, Kenyon, and Carmelo and then relocate for open threes as his man becomes preoccupied with helping the post defender.

In the frontcourt the only two obvious starters are Carmelo Anthony and Marcus Camby. Anthony should have another real good chance of leading the league in scoring this season and I’d venture to say that his average minutes per game is going to be above 40 for certain. Somewhere in the realm of 40-42 is where I think Carmelo’s minutes will tally with about a three to four minute breather at the start of the second quarter and another similar break as the third period is concluding.

On the other hand, the Nuggets coaching staff would be wise to limit Marcus Camby’s average playing time to around 30-32 minutes a game. This reasoning is two-fold: first off, Marcus Camby is getting up there in age, and as we all know, has been injury-prone. Playing him anymore than this is just asking for trouble with a player as, “high-mileage”, as Camby. Secondly, I think Marcus can only play at the top of his game when he doesn’t have to worry about foul trouble and this is equally one part freshness off of routine and frequent substitutions and one part oppositional match-ups. With oppositional match-ups meaning that if the opponent’s big man is a strong lowpost presence, (say for instance Shaq or the bruising Dwight Howard), I believe the Nuggets are better personnel wise with Nene defending them with Camby playing some power forward.

And now that I have mentioned “Big Brazil” we have finally come to the only question mark the Nugget have in their starting five.

It is murky as to who is going to be ready to start for the Nuggets at the four spot. Kenyon Martin is returning off of season-ending surgery and Nene is once again out of shape and coming off of a calf strain suffered while playing for Brazil in the FIBA Americas games. So, before training camp even starts, I would have to give the starting nod to Nene only because of the severity of Kenyon’s injury and the recent action Nene saw playing for Brazil. But what is important to keep in mind, Nuggets Nation, is how Nene needed to play himself back into the player we all saw him to be last year and it is in this realm that I see he and Kenyon Martin essentially sharing time early in the season before one man is clearly identified himself as the fulltime starter. And the good news for whoever doesn’t end up starting is they will almost surely be the first man up off the bench in George Karl’s rotation.

And if you’re keeping track… that is the first six players covered on the Denver Nugget roster. Six down and nine to go!

The next four players to round out the second tier for the Nuggets are pretty obvious. Linas Kleiza is going to probably be the next man off the bench. LK can play small forward and some shooting guard, but it is his energy and rebounding spark that makes him the Nuggets seventh man. LK showed in the latter half of last year that he can run the floor with explosive finishing capability and if his three ball can continue to consistently improve, (remember the last home Laker game?), he will see a lot more time at shooting guard than the Carmelo Anthony dominated three spot.

Now, at the back-up point guard position we have a problem and the most likely solution is to move Allen Iverson over to the point when Chucky Atkins exits to the bench. I wish the Nuggets had a more proven reserve at the one spot, but AI is going to play nearly 40 minutes a game, so it only makes sense that he would slide over and run the show. And with AI running the point, this is where I see J.R. Smith or Von Wafer coming into the game. I’m including the rookie Von Wafer in the competition for the eight spot because I’m sure we all have not forgotten how J.R. ended last season with “Furious” George Karl criticizing his professionalism in the media and then consequently benching him for the rest of the playoffs.

So, with that being refreshed in our memory, I expect Von Wafer to really give J.R. a run for his money as the “Shooter’s” shooting guard. ’Nilla has proven to be a scorer at every level thus far in his career, and if he can prove to Karl that he is also somewhat of a defender, then I think he might have the upper hand over the doghouse renting J.R. Smith.

Don’t get me wrong here, I like J.R. Smith’s explosiveness and his ability to catch fire, but his continued uncoachability and poor shot selection is going to be his defining fulcrum in the NBA. He has already bounced around the league for a young player and the report from every coach that has tried to work with him has been that J.R. just doesn’t want to improve the areas of this game that need the most work.

But most importantly to keep in mind when trying to clear up the reserve shooting guard position for the Nuggets is that it is a position that boils down to who puts the ball in the basket. Whoever decides that they can score the ball coming off the bench is going to instantly solidify their position in George Karl’s rotation. So, either way, J.R. Smith and Von Wafer are going to round out the eighth and ninth spot for the Nuggets.

And in the tenth, and final second string spot, I see Eduardo Najera stepping in. Eddie slips to the tenth spot this season because I see his role being a situational one with Marcus, Nene, and Kenyon seemingly dominating the four and five spots. However I will say this: Najera’s role may be bigger than the tenth spot may seem because if/when Kenyon Martin, Nene, or Marcus Camby become injured he is the man that has to step up. The same is true of Eduardo if the Nuggets decide to put a big line-up on the floor with Carmelo actually playing some shooting guard and Najera plus a combination of the aforementioned two rounding out the frontcourt. Plus, Najera is a “glue guy” meaning that he is not only capable, but more often than not is willing to do whatever the Nuggets need to him to do night-in and night-out. On more than a few occasions last year, Eduardo Najera did all the small things that tied together the loose ends for the Nuggets in games which his contributions ultimately resulted in wins. Plus, he is a consummate professional. Najera will have no problem coming off the bench and giving the Nuggets everything he has without complaining, pouting, or loafing in however many minutes he does end up playing. Bottom line is you gotta love Eduardo Najera!

Only two more active roster spots left. Are you ready for who rounds out your Denver Nuggets this year?

The eleventh man in the rotation is probably going to be Steven Hunter. The seven-foot journeyman is on a very crowded Denver Nugget roster and with Nene being equally adept to playing center or power forward makes things that much tougher on Hunter. Steven is essentially a cheap insurance policy in the event that the Nuggets become very banged-up up front and I would be very surprised if he even averages eight minutes a game by season’s end.

And last but not least, (O.K., maybe least in this case), is Yakhouba Diawara. While I think Yak has what it takes to be a consistent active roster player, I do not think he will see much time this year unless it is in a special defensive capacity. The best way I can sum up ‘Khouba’s game is that he is offensively a CBA player while being NBA defense-ready. Not a bad thing to be on a team that struggles, at times, defensively because Diawara will definitely see his fair share of time this season marking up with the likes of Kobe, McGrady, and the Vince Carters of the league.

And there you have it, Nuggets Nation! The breakdown of how the active twelve shakes out just about two weeks before training camp starts.

The three inactive players that will most likely stay on Denver’s payroll are point guard Anthony Carter, free agent center Jamal Sampson, and small forward/shooting guard Bobby Jones. Carter and Jones may see some active status if any of the Nugget guards become injured and same goes for Samspon in the event that a front court player goes down for any reason. But don’t get your hopes up that any of these three play more than a handful of minutes this season.

Go Nuggets!

LaPhonso Ellis per Request

(Boulder-CO) Longtime reader JM asked me to dig up some old school Laphonso Ellis footage for him and this is what I came up with. Sorry the highlight reel is in Spanish, but the clip of LaPhonso is well worth the wait to see what number in the countdown he comes in at. Enjoy!

Rasheed Wallace... Billboard for Catholicism?

(Boulder-CO) Usually I keep all my posts religion free, but this next story is just too weird to not publish, (especially when remembering Rasheed's Hail Mary that was answered against the Nuggets). Earlier today I was wandering the Internet looking for obscure news on the good folks that make up the NBA and found that Rasheed Wallace has what some devout believers believe to be a visage of the Virgin Mary in his white spot on the back of his head!

The whole mind-blowing story be read by clicking this link.

I was reluctant to post anything on this earlier because it didn’t have anything to do with the Nuggets, but now that my friend Jim over at www.questtoberemembered.blogspot.com has it up on his site. I can send you over to there for a local Michigan reaction.

It is a strange world out there, folks! Do you believe?

Remembering Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf

(Boulder-CO) Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, formerly known as Chris Jackson, from LSU was a Denver Nugget that I grew up watching and one whom I modeled much of my own game after. Many of you will remember him for such things like his mild tourettes, his refusal to stand during the National Anthem, his sudden name change, or the fact that he used to tape over the logos on his shoes, but what we all should really remember Mahmoud for was his unbelievable skills while with the Denver Nuggets.

So, in the nostalgic spirit, (and because there is no news today), here is the first two videos of a three part series remembering Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf. The third video is of Mahmoud with the Kings, so if you are so inclined to watch it just bang this link after watching the first two because there is a short section of Mahmoud in the 1993 Dunk Contest at the end.

The first video is of the game highlights where Mahmoud scored 51 points in a victory over the hated Utah Jazz. Enjoy!

This second video is of another spectacular performance by Mahmoud in the 1995 match up with the eventual 72-10 Chicago Bulls. The Denver Nuggets won this game and they have to give a lot of credit to Abdul-Rauf’s performance for the win. Enjoy!

Getting to Know Steven Hunter

(Boulder-CO) I really didn't know too much about Steven Hunter's game so here is a www.youtube.com clip of some of Hunter's better moments. I refuse to call it a highlight reel simply because some of the footage is of pretty routine plays. Enjoy getting to know the Nuggets new reserve center!

Are the Nuggets Destined for Rings?

(Boulder-CO) The questioned asked in the title of this post was also pondered by the guys over at www.nobloodnofoul.com and I really enjoyed their analysis. Some of the highlights of their breakdown were judging George Karl’s historical coaching tactics through the media, Denver’s superstar power, and Denver’s lack of defense. The guys even go as far to refer to the Nuggets as the, “Enver Nuggets”, because there is just no “D” in The Mile High City. And with last year’s defensive rankings who can blame them? Be sure to read the entire article by clicking right here.

Don’t be Shocked if Jones gets Waived

(Boulder-CO) It doesn’t take a mathematical wizard to understand that the Nuggets traded one valuable player in yesterday’s transaction with the Sixers and received two active players in return. Meaning one of the newest Nuggets will probably get waived. The Nuggets obvious motivation in this deal was to clear some room at the power forward position while also bolstering their reserve center needs, but what isn’t quite so apparent is what they intend to do with small forward Bobby Jones.

Only $200,000 of his $664,209 in salary is guaranteed to Jones for next season, but the long shot to make the Philadelphia ball club has even less of a chance to make his new team here in Denver. Because if you think about this situation for a second. It shouldn't take an informed Nuggets fan very long to realize that Denver is pretty stacked at small forward too. Carmelo is definitely going to play his 40 minutes a game, behind him sits Linas Kleiza, and often times Eduardo Najera plays some small forward when LK plays minutes as a big shooting guard.

Simply stated: It all doesn’t add up in your favor if your name is Bobby Jones!

However, NBA roster rules state that a team may have 15 players on its roster, but only twelve can be declared, “Active”, at any one time. This rule is nice because it allows teams to keep players within their management’s access in the unfortunate event that one of their active twelve becomes injured, but at the same time, when you have the world’s best small forward and two capable, veteran substitutes. A guy like Bobby Jones, who gets traded from a struggling team to a potential contender, still doesn’t have the best of chances to make the final roster.

The good news for Jones is that he did have a very nice month of April in 2007, and because of so, he will probably find another NBA fanchise that could use his ability. And from a Nuggets-centric persepective, if Denver could move him for say... a combo guard. Then the Nuggets would really have their roster in great shape for the rapidly approaching season.

Denver Trades the Joker!

(Boulder-CO) Today the Nuggets have found a way to alleviate some of their roster problems by trading forward Reggie Evans and the rights to forward Ricky Sanchez to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for center Steven Hunter and forward Bobby Jones. Many of you might remember the name Ricky Sanchez because I included him in my memory lane series back around the time of the draft.

This trade doesn’t come as that big of a surprise to me despite the surprise timing of the deal. Reggie Evans was, at no fault of his own, the odd man out in the power forward log jam the Nuggets were dealing with and ultimately Reggie’s remaining years of contractual obligation to the Nuggets probably made him the man traded over fellow teammate and forward Eduardo Najera who becomes a free agent after this season.

Now onto what we received in return for Evans.

Steven Hunter is a versatile seven-footer who can block shots and run the floor. His mid range game is definitely a spot that needs work, but overall he gives the Nuggets a cheap insurance policy at center. Hunter is a six-year veteran with time spent in Phoenix, Orlando, and Philadelphia.

Where things start to get interesting is in the acquistion of Bobby Jones. While Jones only finished last year’s rookie season averaging 2.5 points and 1.3 rebounds. It was the way he came on at the end which makes him intriguing. Some would say that Philly didn’t have the best of years in last season’s efforts, but in the month of April Bobby Jones averaged 6.1 points and 2.4 rebounds in a total of nine games.

And to conclude this post I would like to remenise some of the finer points of game belonging to Reggie “The Joker” Evans. We will always remember the “intimate” grab of Chris Kaman in the 2006 playoffs and Reggie’s fulltime sense of humor. I will also remember Reggie’s sense of professionalism in regards to not complaining about playing time or talking to the media. Best of luck to Reggie Evans as he teams back up with Andre Miller in Philadelphia.

The Power Forward Conundrum

(Boulder-CO) The Denver Nuggets are in quite a familiar spot entering this upcoming season’s training camp. In fact, this will be the third straight year that at least one of their potential starting power forwards will be returning from injury or is injured as camp begins. And this year the Nuggets have a double whammy to contend with as Kenyon Martin once again missed essentially all of last season with a knee injury and with Nene presumably not going to be full-speed due to a calf strain. Which, in my opinion, is partly due to his lack of off-season conditioning before the FIBA games and, hopefully is not going to become a trend for the promising Brazilian.

So, by no means is this unfortunate state of affairs uncharted territory for the Nuggets, but please allow me to further illustrate how both men should be looking at the seemingly up-for-grabs starting position and what it ultimately means for the Nuggets as a team.

First off, and regardless of who actually lands the starting role, I think both players need to understand that early in the season both of them are going to receive about the same amount of playing time. A smart coach, (and George Karl is a smart coach), is going to give his returning players an equal opportunity to display what they can do for the team and I can only imagine that Karl will do so by giving each man 20-25 minutes a game. Furthermore, a genius coach, (and maybe George Karl is one of these), would probably start a guy like Eduardo Najera or Reggie Evans to relieve some of the pressure off of the aforementioned duo just to see who is more adept to coming off of the bench. And by doing so, George Karl will know which player has the kind of work-horse mentality that the Denver Nuggets sixth man needs to have.

Once a clear-cut starter is revealed then it is going to be up to the other man to understand his role as the first reserve off the bench. Former Celtics Coach and President Red Auerbach (R.I.P) understood this role better than anyone as he used John Havlicek as his, “sixth starter”, on many of the 16 NBA championships he designed, and it was with the critical unselfishness that Hondo displayed that the Celtics were able to win a lot of those championships.

With that being said, the role that needs to be understood for whoever doesn’t end up starting is simple; once put in the game the sixth man needs to be able to do whatever the team needs at that very juncture of the game regardless of preconceived ideas of how they want to play. If the Nuggets need rebounding - come in and rebound. If the Nuggets need scoring - come in and put the ball in the basket. And if they Nuggets need defense - come in a play defense like a man possessed. Because if the way that I see things is clear, the Nuggets are going to need this type of Yeoman mentality so Marcus Camby and whoever starts alongside he and Carmelo can play relentless basketball with the knowledge that they have an unselfish and unrelenting “sixth starter” ready to go at the precise minute they need him.

And that precise minute could be one of many for the Nuggets. We all know that Marcus Camby blocks most of his shots by swooping in from the weak side and it is by doing so that he also picks up the majority of his fouls. So, if Camby doesn’t have to constantly worry about his foul count. He can do more of that vulture-esque swooping and even more swatting of opponent's shots knowing that he has capable replacement itching to get in the game.

It is also a likewise situation for whoever does end up starting for the Nuggets frontline. If it ends up being Big Brazil, then we all know that Nene has a bad habit of coming over the defender’s back to try and grab offensive rebounds and it is this facet of his game where he picks up most of his personal fouls. This doesn’t mean that Nene should stop being aggressive on the offensive glass. In fact, it means the opposite (within reason of course). Nene should always be able to be super aggressive on the offensive glass because he should know that Kenyon is coming in right behind him when he needs a blow or picks up a substitution necessitating foul.

And the same hypothetical situation is true if Kenyon Martin emerges as the starter. Kenyon’s defensive folly is being too physical with his man in the low blocks. So, just like Nene, this doesn’t mean that he should stop playing with the physicality that has made him an All-Star in years past, but rather the opposite. Kenyon and Nene should be able to play with almost a reckless abandon knowing that each other have the others’ back as they form what could be one of the most formidable two-headed monsters at power forward in the entire NBA.

This in turn leads me right into my final point: Nene and Kenyon Martin need to look at this positional conundrum as a chance not to prove who is the better man for the starting job, but rather by understanding the role that each player falls into they are really allowing themselves and their counterpart to play the way the Nuggets need them to play in as many winning efforts as possible. Thus is unselfish, and therefore is fundamentally a cornerstone to what it takes to be great teammate and ultimately a great team. For too many years now the Nuggets have been more about individual accomplishments rather than what they could accomplish as a cohesive unit where each man plays for his teammate, and ultimately for the team. So, in the 2007-08 season here is to hoping that big egos can take smaller roles in lieu of more regular season wins and a deeper playoff run. And ultimately I believe much of this is dependant on Kenyon Martin and Nene.

Who Wants to Own a Piece of Iverson?

(Boulder-CO) According to two separate sources, Allen Iverson is selling his house in Villanova, Pennsylvania. One source reports that AI’s old pad, (which includes a 12-person movie theater, a billiard room, a guest suite with a kitchenette, a pool house, a hot tub, and a stream), is listed for 6.3 million dollars. The other source is reporting that many of the furnishings and personal items belonging to Iverson and his family are also up for grabs via an auction. Among the most interesting items on the bidding block is a custom-made, gas-powered mini-Maserati; perfect for that special ten-year-old in your life!

I have to wonder how often this kind of thing happens to star athletes who find themselves traded with little to no advance notice. I mean, it’s not like AI had a whole lot of time to pack up his belongings while he was probably preoccupied with trying to find a new NBA city to play in. But in any event, I’m sure that all the really choice items were salvaged by Iverson and the rest he will probably just use as a write-off in some kind of gianormous Salvation Army donation.

Nene’s Return Date Still in Question

(Boulder-CO) Nene’s return was originally pegged somewhere around four to six weeks from now. But the latest from Chris Dempsey of The Denver Post is a report which says Nene has been seen by Nuggets trainer Jim Gillen and there is no set date for his return to the hardwood. Dempsey also tallies the number of games Nene has not been available for in the last two years and the sum is quite alarming. So alarming in fact that I’m afraid they made me start conjuring up thoughts of Calvin Natt and LaPhonso Ellis… And such a future for Nene and the Nuggets would be terrible, so let’s hope that Nene is not on that same career course!

Quarterback Camby Huddles Up

(Photo by Garrett W. Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)

(Boulder-CO) No, Marcus Camby has not tried his hand at playing in the NFL, but he did participate in a charity event in Thornton, CO last Thursday for T-Mobile's "Huddle Up" efforts in which he assisted 150 T-Mobile employees with the revitalization of a community center. Everybody knows Marcus loves the kids!

‘Melo Still USA’s Top Dog

(Boulder-CO) First, I must congratulate the United States for finishing the FIBA Americas Games by routing Argentina for the gold medal in an effort reminiscent of the 1992 Dream Team. But secondly, I must point out that Carmelo Anthony has once again been the USA’s leading scorer despite missing a game with a heel bruise. ‘Melo finished the international competition with an average scoring clip of 21.2 points per game on an astonishing 63.2% from the field and it should be also be noted that Anthony connected on 57.8% of his three-point attempts too.

Still not sold that Carmelo Anthony is one of the best overall players in the world today? What about if I told you that ‘Melo was also second place behind only Dwight Howard in rebounding for Team USA! That’s right, Anthony averaged 5.2 boards a game in comparison to Howard’s 5.3 rebounds for the second best glass cleaning clip.

Once again, congratulations to Team USA for re-establishing themselves as the dominant force in this year’s FIBA Americas Games and to Carmelo Anthony for stepping up to the call of duty and leading the US of A.

Go ‘Melo!

Goodbye and Hello to Anthony Carter

(Boulder-CO) In an interesting couple of moves the Denver Nuggets waived guard Anthony Carter on August 29. Only to resign the veteran again two days later.

Salary information is vague right now, but I would have to speculate that the dump and jump on Carter was a financial move most likely agreed upon by both parties prior to the waiving and resigning. That or the Nuggets realized they are so light on guards right now that if they were crazy enough to waive Carter before anyone else was in line to replace him. They might have had waiver’s remorse and decided keep him around until another replacement was found.

But in any case, I like the move to keep Carter on the roster, (especially if the most likely financial scenario was actually the reason for the flip-flop), because he is a very cheap and efficient player the Nuggets can turn to on the rare occasions when Chucky Atkins is on the bench and Denver decides to keep AI at the two guard. However, these particular times are going to be few and far between because the most likely rotation that I can assume is AI moving over to point guard when Chucky Atkins needs a breather, and J.R. Smith, Linas Kleiza, or Von Wafer sliding in to play shooting guard.

Weighing in on Nene (No Pun Intended)

(Boulder-CO) The title of this post may be humorous, but the fact that Nene is hurt, again, and that it is more so than not a result of him coming into the FIBA competition overweight, again, and not ready to perform like the high salary player that he is must be pretty embarrassing. Even the AOL Fanhouse could tell that Nene was shamefully fat.

But what is really pertinent to the Nuggets fan in all of us is how these reoccurring injury/weight issues with Nene change the outlook of our season (at least initially). First off, the diagnosis of the calf injury is a 4-6 week recovery period. With that being known, Nene is not going to be ready for training camp, which at its bare minimum leaves the Nuggets with a chemistry issue to deal with within the first twenty games of the regular season as Nene has to be slowly brought back into the rotation. And it is from this starting point that the hypothetical situations can range from very advantageous for the Nuggets to down right agonizing.

So, with Nene slowly being worked into the Nuggets fold there is suddenly an opening for Kenyon Martin to seize. Optimistically speaking, this could be a good thing for Denver as they will be able to immediately see what Kenyon Martin’s return and overall impact is going to be. But from here it gets tricky because if Kenyon returns to anywhere near his former capabilities. Then all of a sudden the Nuggets not only have a power forward log jam (Eduardo, Evans, Nene, and Martin), but they also have a decision to make as to who is going to be the starter. This competitive scenario could inspire both men to raise their games to new levels; ultimately making the Nuggets a better team. Or the large egos in play could be too much to overcome; leaving the Nuggets with major personnel problems.

Like I said, this is a very tricky situation.

Furthermore and regardless of how all this plays out, Nene has displayed poor athletic professionalism not once, but now twice concerning his off-season work ethic and commitment to training. I may have been likely to grant him a free-pass for coming off such a serious knee injury and not being able to shed the extra girth before the start of last season, but after showing up to the FIBA games in “vacation” shape after having such a strong final two months of 2007. It is starting to become very clear that Nene doesn’t look at the off-season as a chance to raise his game. Which is too bad because all the great ones that have played this game, (Magic, Larry Bird, Michael Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson etc), have always taken the off-season as a chance to improve their games and their conditioning. Maybe that’s why all of the aforementioned have rings?

Feelings?

Carmelo Facializing Poor Argentinean

(Boulder-CO) Even though I haven't been able to publish my thoughts about the FIBA games. I have been watching them, and felt obligated to bring you quite arguably the top highlight from Carmelo Anthony's many masterful performances. If you know who the poor Argentinean is leave it in the comments section and add him to the hit list!



Oh, but how the redhead is wrong! Who could forget the demoralizing face-job 'Melo gave Theo Ratliff?

Potentially the Worst Nene News

(Boulder-CO) In what probably could be a nightmare come to fruition, Nene (otherwise known as “Big Brazil”, “Baby Boy”, and the “Basketball Player Formerly Known as Hilario”) has injured his right calf muscle during the FIBA games while in competition for Brazil.

Chris Dempsey reports in the above linked article published in The Denver Post, “Nene suffered a right calf strain in Brazil's semifinal loss to Argentina. While the extent of the damage isn't known, a Brazilian team doctor said through a spokesman that the injury was 'bad' and estimated he could be out four to six weeks.”

Here’s to hoping that the injury is something that Nene can fully recover from without any lingering or permanent effects. The Nuggets are very dependant on having Nene being able to produce solid numbers for them in this upcoming season, and with Kenyon Martin’s status/attitude/athleticism still in question, anything but a full recovery will be a serious blow to Denver’s chances of becoming an elite team in the stacked Western Conference.

I'm Baaaaaack!!!

(Boulder-CO) That's right, Nuggets Nation! I finally have the Internet out here in the boonies and am currently trying to get myself caught up with everything that is going on right now relevant to the Nuggets. It feels like I have been gone for an eternity, so be patient as the updates, insights, and analysis of everything Nuggs comes hurling off my mind.