In my last 2 game reports, I went over the Nuggets' point guard situation and gave my solution. Now it's your turn.
The Front Office screwed up in adding Chucky Atkins as their PG this summer. AI needs someone else that is responsible for setting up the offense. AI will get assists by virtue of breaking down the defense when he is dominating the ball. However, he has to play off the ball for at least 20 minutes a game or he gets too sloppy. JR Smith is a nice player to bring in off the bench, but he needs to cut down on the mistakes. Granted, he will never become the player he should be under Karl, but the JR of today is still too much of a liability if his shot isn't on.
The nuggets really need a legit pg. Anthony is a garbage player who has been getting minutes and a green light to shoot. Any player in the NBA can look decent if he has those. They need a bigger pg, maybe 6'3 who can distribute and hit the mid range j. otherwise, just let AI run the point, but at the same time control his turnovers by inserting more structured offense and plays.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Answer_AI03 @ Mar 1 2008, 11:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>The nuggets really need a legit pg. Anthony is a garbage player who has been getting minutes and a green light to shoot. Any player in the NBA can look decent if he has those. They need a bigger pg, maybe 6'3 who can distribute and hit the mid range j. otherwise, just let AI run the point, but at the same time control his turnovers by inserting more structured offense and plays.</div> Agree 100%, and I'm glad an AI expert sees my point. AI at point is on point. Why mess around with any other plan? You have to make the best of what you have. It seems that AI himself has started to take over the PG duties in any event. But Karl is most likely not even thinking of reducing Carter's minutes, and having in effect two point guards out there at once could do some damage to the Nuggets over the next few weeks. Last night, both Carter and Iverson made 6 assists, but if you asked me after the game who the main PG was, I would say Iverson, definitely. Iverson's passing last night was outstanding; Carter's passing was less so.
I think with Atkins out, that leaves room for Karl to experiment with some different lineups. They should try starting JR, and having Carter sub in for him, and let Iverson start at the point. Or they could go big and have either Klieza or Anthony play SG with AI at point. Granted neither of them are all defensive minded players by any stretch of the imagination, but just the shear size might be able to deter teams from taking it into the paint. Plus if we did that the only person that would get posted up on would be AI. So if we played a team like the Pistons who post up every player on their team, we could reduce the efficiency of their scoring.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Answer_AI03 @ Mar 1 2008, 01:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I think with Atkins out, that leaves room for Karl to experiment with some different lineups. They should try starting JR, and having Carter sub in for him, and let Iverson start at the point. Or they could go big and have either Klieza or Anthony play SG with AI at point. Granted neither of them are all defensive minded players by any stretch of the imagination, but just the shear size might be able to deter teams from taking it into the paint. Plus if we did that the only person that would get posted up on would be AI. So if we played a team like the Pistons who post up every player on their team, we could reduce the efficiency of their scoring.</div> I'd experiment with the Anthony/Iverson back court, especially if Nene ever gets back. Last year Karl was experimenting all season long for some godforsaken reason, and now this season, when we are desperate for experimenting, he won't do it much. For Karl it's AC at PG and AI at SG or bust. Come hell or high water that is the way it's going to be. No matter how well JR plays that is how it's going to be. No matter how well AI passes and no matter how many assists he gets, that is how it's going to be. No matter how useless Carter is while Iverson is in there, that is how it's going to be. I think that is a bust, and many others do, including the ESPN broadcasters last night. I'm looking to be partially rescued by AI from this hole. But as AI takes over more and more of the point guard duties, Carter becomes more and more worthless. Then we have to hope that Karl will be FORCED to reduce Carter's minutes by fans and other coaches who have figured all this out.
