Basketball Nonsense

The Denver Nuggets started the offseason by sending away Marcus Camby, a many time Defensive player of the year, a shot-blocking presence, and good locker room player for a 2nd round draft pick to LA Clippers. The move was simply a cost-cutting one, well who can blame the recession? Anyways that started off what seems to be a rough season for the Denver. Allen Iverson showed his discontentment and wondered where does the team is really heading to. And it really showed in his game as he started off flat and really seemed to be not the usual AI.

That eventually lead to a trade that sent AI to the Pistons for 2004 Finals MVP Chauncey Billups. Then the rest was history…err.. not quite! Chauncey as predicted by a lot of experts, would really bring stability to the Nuggets team. He’s a proven leader, doesn’t really need the ball in his hands to be effective. The prediction was right! I know I would be biased to say that Billups alone is the reason why Denver has played so well up to now but let’s look at some components why Denver is a successful team.

• Health – Denver’s torrid run into second place has become possible because they have become healthy. Kenyon returned from an injury, so as Anthony Carter who’s been really steady for Denver. Carmelo’s elbow which seemed to have healed all of a sudden is another reason. Carmelo played awesome in the latter part of the season.
• Interior – Denver got the Birdman and they sure didn’t regret it. Andersen is one of the leaders in shot blocking and its great considering he’s not even a starting center. Another revelation is Nene. Nene was elevated to the starting position upon the departure of Camby. He struggled early in the season but he has bounced back and was really superb since then.
• JR Smith – The one reason why teams are skeptic to start JR is because he’s so erratic. He takes so many ill-advised shots and not a good defender. This season it’s not really different. Well the difference is he’s playing really well. He has really improved so much with his three point shooting and scoring overall. Remember the game against Sacramento when he shot 11 three-pointers? One can argue that Smith is taking so many threeballs a game (about 9 1/2), but no one can argue that he’s shooting at an extremely great percentage(45%).
• Overall Buildup of the team – I really like the team of Denver. It is a mix of young, old, talented and over-the hill. And unlike previous seasons, they really have jelled together and it can easily be seen in their games.
• Fans – One writer said that Pepsi Center is one of the best arena in the NBA, if being noisy and crappy is what we are talking about. It’s true! Fans seem to have embraced the bad boys persona of the Nuggets team and it really shows in every game.

Well that’s my unbiased opinion. Now it’s time to be bias, i think Denver would easily hump their way against the Dallas Mavericks and get to a showdown against Kobe. Go Denver!

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2. Cavaliers waive G Coby Karl, son of Nuggets coach (AP)
3. Billups will sit out 2 games with strained groin (AP)