You're right, the new-look Nuggets have been excellent on defense. If you haven't seen this stat yet in previous articles, check this out: Before the trade, Denver allowed 105.2 points per game. In the 19 games since, including the good effort against the Lakers on Sunday, the Nuggets have allowed just 94.8

CashMoney wrote:

Olbrannon wrote:

misterearl wrote:Killa4luv - nice analysis, and no way am I crowning the Denver Knicks but...

who was on the Pistons bench?

The Nuggets have two complete NBA teams and are LONG.

Ty Lawson/ Chauncey Billups: advantage Mister Big Shot
Afflalo/ Rip Hamilton: advantage the mask
Gallo/ Tayshaun Prince: Gallo drives it harder these days, advantage hairdo
Martin/ Ben Wallace: both beasting inside
Nene/ Rasheed Wallace

Please continue to match up with the rest of the Pistons roster

Felton, scrappy-do sets the tone
JR Smith, 6'6' stick of dynamite, nearly so gifted as Kobe (his brain is another matter)
Harrington, 6'9 and will bring energy for a short shift
Chandler, don't sleep 6'8 The Mayor's defense
Mozgov, looks fluid and has great footwork for a 7' BIG man
Anderson, 6'10 comic relief role player with too many tats
Koufos with fouls to give at 7'0

Certainly just comparing the depth of Denver's roster and the picks; they have an easier path to dominating the Western conference for years. Just have to play the cards they have well. Were I them I'd be angling for Griffin.

For the Knicks the course looks to be far less clear. Certainly not one but two reliable big men are needed at the least.

Dominating the Western Conference for years? K Mart and JR are FA's this summer and Afflalo and Wilson are RFA's this summer. How deep are the Nugs withouth those 4?

Cherry pick. Pay up for the best of what you have and trade for a dominant inside presence like Griffin or Howard perhaps Deandre Jordan. Draft well. Done deal.

Paladin55 wrote:Somewhat off the topic, but I watched much of the Denver/Thunder game yesterday. I think Gallo was the only one on Denver with a positive +/-, and it was when he was out of the game that OKC made their 4th quarter run that would give them the game. Gallo came in and had a 7 point run, and the score was cut to 4 or 5, but it was too little/too late. I thought Karl should have brought him back earlier, but I think he chose to keep Harrington, who did not have one of his better days, in. I expect that at some point he will become one of the go to guys on the Nuggets.

Haven't watched the Knuggets much but I do notice that Afflalo has been out. With him back in the lineup, it pushes Chandler to the bench and Harrington to an afterthought.

Deep team.

fishmike wrote:

JrZyHuStLa wrote:Excellent post.

It's almost impossible to compare the two. One was an exceptionally disciplined team that thrived defensively, while the other has taken on Dantoni's pathetic speed ball philosophy.

this is a case of just hating a player or coach and making stuff up to support your arguements. Maybe you should check the #s? Because once Melo left Denver has given up like 10ppg LESS and have become more effecient in every area of the game.

Or you can just make stuff up if thats more fun

When Karl was asked about why the Nugget's team defense had improved so much he said "we have some players now willing to play some." (meaning DEFENSE if you scoring at home)

Thats what prompted Melo's comment about snakes crawling in the grass... something like that

ring a bell?

To compare the Nuggets to Detroit is lunacy. it has to be a comparison made by people who didn't actually that team. that team finished the regular season routinely blowing out teams to the tune of 95-66. it was a defensive juggernaut and had four pretty damn good offensive weapons in billups, rip, sheed and prince. The Nuggets can maybe get to that level, but anyone who is comparing Nene or Kmart to Ben Wallace is sniffing crazy glue.

Killa4luv wrote:

crzymdups wrote:

fishmike wrote:

JrZyHuStLa wrote:Excellent post.

It's almost impossible to compare the two. One was an exceptionally disciplined team that thrived defensively, while the other has taken on Dantoni's pathetic speed ball philosophy.

this is a case of just hating a player or coach and making stuff up to support your arguements. Maybe you should check the #s? Because once Melo left Denver has given up like 10ppg LESS and have become more effecient in every area of the game.

Or you can just make stuff up if thats more fun

When Karl was asked about why the Nugget's team defense had improved so much he said "we have some players now willing to play some." (meaning DEFENSE if you scoring at home)

Thats what prompted Melo's comment about snakes crawling in the grass... something like that

ring a bell?

To compare the Nuggets to Detroit is lunacy. it has to be a comparison made by people who didn't actually that team. that team finished the regular season routinely blowing out teams to the tune of 95-66. it was a defensive juggernaut and had four pretty damn good offensive weapons in billups, rip, sheed and prince. The Nuggets can maybe get to that level, but anyone who is comparing Nene or Kmart to Ben Wallace is sniffing crazy glue.

As I've said previously, Ben Wallace was rebounding champ and DPOY. multiple times. SHeed was also a defensive monster. I dont see anyone remotely comparable to either of them, let alone both on Denver's roster. Denver is in a really good position in terms of their ability to trade for a star player.
Theyve also got a good team now. But that team isn't going anywhere.

Playing a traditional playoff style no. Platooning and running opponents in the ground. Plausible. Certainly worth attempting. Hell it might benefit them to press full court and challenge the inbounds. Since the trade they are one of the best teams in the NBA. Time will tell but how ironic if they should actually make the finals...this year. Some SSOL ...your kidding right? You just know Gallo knows much/most of d'A's playbook and probably has had some serious skull sessions with Karl.

Team psyche and confidence are subtle but tangible things. Makes me wonder how well the youthful pre-trade Knicks might have played without the Melo-drama We will never know.

Are they Detroit? No. Can they duplicate what Detroit did? We will soon find out. Certainly will be some wagging tongues if they do ...not like there is ever a shortage though.

CashMoney wrote:The Nuggets aren't winning anything and annointing them a championship caliber team after 20 games is as absurd as saying the Knicks were a bad team after 15 games.

Agreed at the same time the same kind of things were said about the idea of Melo coming here and once acquired. We won't be winning anything either but if you listen to some talk about the team it's as if if we're going into the 1rst round with an advantage over whoever we play....Like it's our choosing as to who we knock off....lol

We're 12-12 since trade, slightly improving and can finish strong

Nuggets are 15-5 since trade one of the Top 5 hottest teams since the deadline and vastly improved

martin wrote:

Juice wrote:

CashMoney wrote:The Nuggets aren't winning anything and annointing them a championship caliber team after 20 games is as absurd as saying the Knicks were a bad team after 15 games.

Agreed at the same time the same kind of things were said about the idea of Melo coming here and once acquired. We won't be winning anything either but if you listen to some talk about the team it's as if if we're going into the 1rst round with an advantage over whoever we play....Like it's our choosing as to who we knock off....lol

We're 12-12 since trade, slightly improving and can finish strong

Nuggets are 15-5 since trade one of the Top 5 hottest teams since the deadline and vastly improved

I have no idea how you come to this conclusion.

Yeah, the discussions I'm reading all seem to center around who the Knicks match up better with, Miami or Boston. I don't recall reading anyone saying that NY has an advantage over either of those teams.