LOL! I don't remember this "December" and "January" that you speak of. I wasn't at all. But I've never been happier to admit I was wrong in my life. The Nugs board was pretty split when he was hired, and those on my side are all happily admitting we're wrong. As for cocky? Not gonna happen. I still remember the year when the Broncos won more games than the Nuggets. Besides, I know if we draw San Antonio in the first round, we're out in 5 games.....maybe 6. Is this honestly a serious question?
I'll be there, too. I'm still trying to figure out what to yell at Karl right before Nibblets free throws. Something like "Bronze Medal!", or something.
I agree with you to the extent that they're both deep and neither have a franchise player. I would disagree with the rest, mostly. Ben Wallace is a much better defensive player than Camby. Anthony is a very different player from Prince. Wallace is a very different player from Martin - he's got more range, something of a post game, but isn't as tough on defense. And I'm not sure that being "somewhat like" the Pistons is a good thing. For me, the Pistons are an anomaly. You have to go back decades to find the last team before the Pistons that won the title without a franchise player. Many teams have won a lot of games without one...but titles? Nope. I think the Pistons won the title because: (a) the East was pathetic, enabling a good but not great team to get there and (b) the Lakers were on the verge of collapse. Generally speaking, being "somewhat like" the Pistons, imho, will lead to winning 52 games and a 2nd round exit.
This is the exact way I expected the Nuggets to play from the first game of the season. But once a level of mediocrity appeared, I found it odd that a team that is as talented and deep was playing the way they were. Once they got G. Karl I told all of my friends that this is just what they needed. In all honesty I am not a fan of Seattle (and I know that was just as much George Karl as anyone). But I really like what he has done for that team. They are fun to watch. It would be awsome if The Nugs were in the 8th spot, only because I think a playoff series between Phoenix and Denver would be great.
There is actually MORE opportunity for an upset when there are fewer games in a series. Remember the best 2 out 3 first rounds from the 1980s? I remember one year when the Rox upset the Lakers when all 3 games were won by the road team.
Nobody can be sure how long Denver can ride this wave. The momentum could come to a complete stop in the first quarter of the opening playoff game. I don't consider Denver a contender and can't see them winning 4 consecutive best of 7 series. At some point, Carmelo or Andre Miller will crack under the pressure and revert to mediocre form. George Karl is a very good X's and O's coach and he has an air of authority (huge ego) that projects very strongly. He was the perfect guy to step in after Bzdelik and Cooper were clearly in over their heads. Next year sometime I expect the team will tire of Karl and start tuning him out. That is, unless he learned from what happened in Milwaukee. I don't think he has. A younger dog (Scott Skiles) can learn new tricks; an old, proud warhorse like Karl will not.
What makes you think Melo or Miller will crack? Is it because Melo carried a college team on his back as a freshman to a national championship? Is it because Miller is a veteran of the league who also led his college team to a final four? Just curious. I mean, if you look at our lineup, you have Camby (NBA Finals), K-Mart (NBA Finals), Miller (veteran/final four) and Melo (NCAA Champ). Just curious.
Good point. I think we are better than you guys, though. We have Scott Padgett (NCAA champ), Mike James (NBA champ), Yao Ming (Chinese Basketball Association champ), Juwan Howard (NCAA final), Charlie Ward (Heismann winner), Tracy McGrady (YMCA champ) and Moochie Norris (Third place in 2000 CBA MVP), Vin Baker (Jack Daniel's all NBA first team). We dwarf you!
There is actually MORE opportunity for an upset when there are fewer games in a series. Remember the best 2 out 3 first rounds from the 1980s? I remember one year when the Rox upset the Lakers when all 3 games were won by the road team. [/QUOTE] i think that is what he said. i like the nuggets, but i do not see them as contenders, just as i do not see us as contenders. i think we are a bit better then them. I would be very surprised if the champions was another team then SA or Heat or pistons. í do not think the pistons wil become champion again, but last year they surprised me aswel. The comparisment between de nuggets and the pistons ends with not having one superstar. that is the only thing they have in common. I think the nuggets should play Elson more. he can be the X-factor against the great bigs in the west(atleast he can injure them or get into a fight)
Didn't Melo already famously crack earlier this year (maybe last year) refusing to go back into the game or some other rediculous tantrum? Didn't he also crack in the olympics? I think it will be lack of talent that sinks the Nugz, but I don't think Melo's character is beyond reproach.
If/when Melo has a bad shooting game in the playoffs, and his defense slacks off (i.e. he loses concentration a bit), Karl will sit him and play someone else. This precedent, which I agree with, has already been set during the regular season. How Melo handles it in the playoffs remains to be seen. Of course, if Melo averages 25 points a game continues to focus well throughout the playoffs, forget my comment. I just don't consider him mentally tough and think a some sort of one or two game meltdown is likely. Because he is so self-absorbed I think Melo won't handle it well. I've never like Andre Miller as an NBA point guard. He is a talented player who doesn't make other players better. You are free to disagree. Maybe this playoff run will be different. The Nuggets don't have a superstar to pick up the slack if one of their key players slumps off. I can see them winning in the first round against the Sonics, but that's about it. (I would love to see them matched up with the Mavs in the first round). Out of the West, the Spurs are the favorite, followed by the Mavs. These teams will meet in the WCFs IMO.
Don't forget about Bob Sura's 8th place finish in the 2000 AT&T Shootout and Ryan Bowen's career steals record... Are Nuggets4 and roydelton the same person? Next thing you know, he'll tell us is that Andre Miller leads the NBA in fourth quarter assist/turnover ratio...
