Man, we haven't met Denver this season yet. When we meet them, it happens on the first game Anthony returns. So we are the first team to see how good/bad Nuggets is
This puts the Nuggests as the top team in the Western Conference - without a doubt. They now have premier players at the post and point guard position - the most deadly combination. Beofre the trade, Denver was a competitive team. Now, with AI, there's no doubt in my mind that they are the class of the league. AI has lead a team to the finals....and when you have such awesome offensive talent, plus a coach like George Karl. Sorry guys, this right now has to be considered the best team on paper. I have no doubts AI and Carmelo will blend - magically. Iverson has something to prove, and Carmelo wants to win to. These guys will sacrafice scoring to win. AI is wants to win. Add to that the players they have around them....man - it's over.
Denver's weakness will be the lack of scoring from their big men. Come playoff time, defenses get tighter and make it harder for perimeter players to get off shots thats why a good post player is needed in the playoffs. A good defensive perimeter player can shutdown a good offensive perimeter player.(see: Bruce Bowen's importance to the Spurs and T-mac on Dirk 2 yrs ago) On the other hand, a good defensive post player is more rare and will have a harder time shutting down a good offensive post player. Since Jordan, what teams have won the championship without a 4 or a 5 putting up good offensive numbers. I can't name one. Spurs: Duncan Miami: Shaq Lakers: Shaq Pistons: Wallace Rockets: Hakeem So while Denver is definitely better, I don't think they will be able to win a championship come playoff time. But they will make the regular season race for playoff seedings much more interesting.
Or this team could be like RUN TMC ala the Golden State Warriors. We all remember what happened there...
man, i think we could have offered a package of Jho, Alston, Sura + Synder + a couple first for Iverson.... that would have been interesting...having Iverson run the point for us.... but back ontopie... Denver looks like they will be more Phoenix like, alot of offensive and few defense...but personally i think AI doesn't fit well into Denver's system....he flourishes when he's the main goto guy....I think his points will stay the same, but melo's will drop dramtically...
Melo will be out of rhythm and will be unfamiliar with playing with AI in actual games. It is a home game and last I checked WE have the red rowdies and we should have snyder back as well as Mcgrady(if he does not go out again) and Bonzi should be contributing big time. Roxs win.
Somehow I don't think the pieces fit with AI and Anthony on the same team. Sure, they'll score a lot of points. But they're both offensive perimeter players and both need to shoot a lot to get their 30 points. They'll probably make the playoffs but will be bounced off in the first round in the loaded western conference.
I'd like to know how many people think the Rox need to make a move to counter this. Denver now has Melo (vs. TMac), Camby (vs. Yao), AI (vs. Rafer?) and JR Smith (vs. Battier). I would give the edge to Yao and McGrady in those matchups although Camby does play Yao tough and gives him fits with the outside jumper and the shot blocking, and Melo is the league leading scorer right now. We have trouble defending the perimeter against smaller, quicker players and AI is about the quickest, most talented in the NBA, so it would seem in my mind that we are depending on Yao to dominate even more and McGrady to turn all our other role players into very efficient shooters out there. I'd like to have another prime piece. Haven't really figured in Bonzi. He is looking better but just don't know if it's the real deal or not. One thing is for sure. All the action is out West. The Finals have a very distinct possibility of being very boring unless Miami steps on the gas and Detroit brings it up about 3 notches.
What a disaster trade... Believe me, as the way AI playing, Nug will become another Sixers. A guard + a swing man = NBA title? And two leaders?! I dont see it will happen like Rockets.
I think this is a bad fit for Iverson. The Nuggets don't have any post scorers, our outside shooters. Teams like the Rockets, Spurs and Mavericks will jam the middle and force Carmelo and Iverson to hit anything from the outside. Meshing Carmelo and Iverson with that surrounding cast will be a challenge for Karl. It will be interesting.
It usually takes a few games to get back to game shape and re-get used to your teammates, especially another superstar. So I actually think that would be their weakest moments.
Phillies really should have baited Korver along with one of their mal-pieces to find the third team. Their roster is filled with albatross contract nobody is willing to touch. King should have added some sweetner here and there to give some cap relief even if that meant sacrificing an attractive piece or two. Having said that I cant see how Miller is going to stay in Philly rest of the year. I am pretty certain he will take some downgrade in talent if it means relieving some cap space. I really do believe Rockets need to give themselves a talent upgrade right now. I just can't see T-Mac playing at a high level for too long. We made a good start and we are in a position to make a playoff. As sad as it sounds, I think this year will one of our better chances of doing well come the summer, and I want to see our management really going out making some bold moves to win it all. Les got to realise Yao is not going to take mediocrity too well. I understand his unwillingness to pay lux. tax but come on. Franchise owe a large part of its value to the marketability of Yao. A smart owner should know, you just sometime have to pay to keep your star players happy. Miller is available no doubt. I think he can do quite a lot of relieve the burden of initiating things from T-Mac, and I like his general approach to the game. I see good fit in here. Is he overpaid? Yes. But when you got the most underpaid franchise tens of millions below his market value, I say spending extra 4 million or so isnt too much of gamble. BTW, Denver might regret this trade in 2-3 years. They are going to approach New-York in terms of salary with half the market revenue.
There's NO WAY I'd consider them the best team in the West, I wouldn't even consider then in the top 4 in the west on paper or in the real world. Dallas is a proven team and I'd take its big three over Denver's big 3 anyday. The same goes for San Antonio, not only do they have a solid core of three, but they are a smart, experienced, deep team. I'll take Duncan/Ginobli/Parker over AI/Carmelo/Camby any day of the week. Then add in their coach and the rest of the team...no contest. Phoenix is faster and deeper than Denver. With Amare coming back into form, they are much better than Denver all the way around. With Yao, T-Mac, Battier, and Bonzi...I say the Rockets look better on paper. Then I'd say the Lakers with Kobe and Odom look better on paper than Denver. There's no way the Nuggets are the best team in the West. This makes the West that much tougher, no doubt about that. No one will want to meet the Nuggets in the playoffs either, but #1? Not even close.
Is Miller twice the player Alston is? Because he makes more than double the money. And he shoots 25% on 3 balls. I think Andre is better. He is obviously better from other areas of the court, midrange, and when you look at his PPS, there is a sizable difference. But in our offense, don't know if he is worth paying $9 million per over the next 2 seasons, especially when we've got a young, cheap penetrating, distributing type PG already that just needs some experience.
I don't get the point of this thread. We play to be the best, period, regardless of who our competition is or who they added.
The trade really doesn't matter much for the Nugs, since we're right about at the point where Karl will self-destruct and the team will implode. Happens with ever team he coaches after a few years.
Yes. At the first count: McGrady: 668,130 Iverson: 595,200 It could be the East guard vote was more splintered, seeing as Iverson was the top vote getter. Moving to the west might mean votes going forward will go disproprtionately to Iverson over McGrady. Last year, McGrady and Iverson got very roughly 2 million votes each, so we're only a little past a quarter of the voting so far. Of course, with Iverson's scoring taking a dive alongside Anthony and McGrady blowing up after returning from his injury, I'm sure we don't have to worry.
