Now if you've not been on planet earth for the last few days, you wouldnt know that Iverson has been traded to the Nuggets. Now of course Iverson makes Denver a better team, but among the many questions that arise, the most important one in my opinion is "Does Iverson make Denver a top tier, championship threat, and just plain good enough to make it out of the difficult west?" Are they even good enough to bypass the Jazz? I personally don't think so. Does Iverson make them more enteraining to watch? Why yes. Does Iverson make them more difficult to beat on any given night? Yes, but in a 7 game series? NO. I look at the top 3 teams in the West and the are Phoenix, Dallas, and SA. Now let's look at the best players on the Nuggets. Carmelo Anthony - FAllen Iverson -GNow let's see who the counterparts are of the other teams. DallasF-Josh Howard;Devean GeorgeG-Devin Harris; Jason TerrySan AntonioF-Bruce Bowen; Manu GinobliG-Tony Parker; Jaque VaughnPhoenixF-Shawn MarionG-Raja BellNow I look at those players listed ad while they might not stop Melo and AI, they surely will slow them down enough to win a series with them. I think the Nuggets would have the best chance agains the Suns since both want to run and run and run. No one in the league wants to get into a halfcourt game with Dallas or San Antonio though. As we saw last year when these two played, they can play some great team and individual defense. Now of course in a 7 game series both Melo and Iverson will go off and win a game or two, but defanitly not 4 games. Also, I believe that all 3 of these teams will have a better record at the seasons end and would have homecourt advantage against the Nuggets. Giving one more advantage over them. PJ Colpitts Verdict: PRETENDERNow what do you guys think? Contender or Pretender
CONTENDER! You cannot just focus on AI and Carmelo, because we also have Camby, who was a key player when the Knicks made it to the finals and JR who could go off in a game or two. Against each of these teams we have a good chance of beating them in a series. We have depth, two superstars, a low post animal, and an athletic guard. I think the key to any of these teams is JR Smith. Why? Because they will pay so much attention to Carmelo and AI that a lot of times JR will be open which is bad news because he can shoot and drive to the hole easily. Against the suns it will be a fast break game that I think we can outlast the majority of the games because the Suns WILL NOT stay as hot as they are right now and most likely not when they are in the playoffs.Against the Spurs and Mavs if we set the tempo early, we can get off to a good start and not let up the entire game.We can not have any low scoring games because that is when we are vulnerable, when we don't run.
I dont think their eaither. I think their more of a...Inbetweender. Western offense is so much different than Eastern. There for Denver will need chemistry to work on
I think there are many teams who have a legitimate chance of getting out of the West which really scares the bajeezus out of me. Phoenix, Dallas and San Antonio also. Then you have Utah who will win the division with the suspensions handed out the the Nuggets. When they are healthy they have some damn good talent. That front court will challenge every one of those big 3 teams and Deron Williams has turned into a very good point guard. The Lakers have gotten better and with Phil Jackson they will surely be even better when the playoffs come around. Then you have Houston. I don't know about them yet, but if they are fully healthy they might have a chance, but maybe not.....I don't think so yet but still if you look at their roster and how Yao is playing they could do it.Now the Nuggets have improved greatly from this trade. If Iverson and Carmelo can co-exist, which I think they can, they are one scary, scary duo. Iverson has more trouble with the Suns than any other team, why? I don't know, but he does...and we have Marion to put on Melo but that duo is still very good and I don't see them being stopped. If a team can contain one of them then they also have JR Smith who is having a career year and he will put up some points for them. Stopping that duo is tough but when you have 3 guys who can score pretty well then the Nuggets will get their points. They have Boykins for some energy off the bench, some good bench big men to come in and rebound and do their thing. They also have Marcus Camby who I really like. He is one of the better rebounders and shot blockers in the league and will get his fair share of points and some assists. I think this team is set up to make a pretty good run. With the West being stronger than I can remember Dallas, Phoenix and San Antonio really need to get that #1 seed to play a team like Sacramento because I could see all of them being upset in the playoffs right now.
While the Nuggets have AI and Melo, making a dangerous combo if they can co-exist as ASUFan said above, the Suns have an incredible duo in Nash and Amare. Try and stop that now. I do not believe AI and Melo can exist together on the game team. They are both scorers, each a top 5 scorer in the league. Now having both of them on the same team? Either both of them are going to have to sacrifice some points (which I don't think AI is willing to do) for the better of the team, or there is going to be a chemistry clash on the team.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (STAT @ Dec 21 2006, 09:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>While the Nuggets have AI and Melo, making a dangerous combo if they can co-exist as ASUFan said above, the Suns have an incredible duo in Nash and Amare. Try and stop that now. I do not believe AI and Melo can exist together on the game team. They are both scorers, each a top 5 scorer in the league. Now having both of them on the same team? Either both of them are going to have to sacrifice some points (which I don't think AI is willing to do) for the better of the team, or there is going to be a chemistry clash on the team.</div>It isn't like 'Melo already takes most of the shots in the game. AI already stated he will do whatever it takes to win. I have a feeling they will both make sacrifices to support the team.
A pretender for now. There's questions with the suspensions, Iverson adapting to the current team and the latter team(when Melo/Smith make their return). On paper, looks good but there's a lot besides talent that's key for a deep playoff run.
While I don't think we will win the NBA championship, I think we are definitely contenders. Sometimes it only takes 2 superstars to win an NBA playoff series. When you have two dominant scorers such as Iverson and Carmelo you have just as good of a chance to win a title than anybody.
I'm with Balla on this one, I don't know if I see them winning it all, but they are a contender to say the least. I still stick to what I said this past summer, either Dallas or San Antonio will win it all, with Phoenix in the mix as well. Now, Denver is that 4th team in the mix. I don't think any team in the Eastern Conference will win it this year. It will be either Dallas, San Antonio, Phoenix, or Denver... yet I still say Dallas or San Antonio. But like Balla said, when you have two dominant offensive players like Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony on the same team, you have just as good a chance as the next team. Then you factor in the nice supporting cast of Marcus Camby (IMO, 2nd best center in the West), J.R. Smith (who is also a dynamite young offensive player), and some terrific role players in Najera/Evans/Nene/Diawara that do their job every single night. Not to mention, Earl Boykins is a solid scorer off the bench (he will be traded anyway, and I know Balla hates him). Oh wait... there's more. They have one of the best coaches in the league in George Karl, with a hunger to win, and great fans. I think Denver is a contender, no doubt.
IMO, They are contenders.BUT, I will not say this or that until I get to see A.I and Melo working together. If they do so then look out NBA.
Didn't read the thread, but here is my opinion on the matter:Obviously this move makes Denver a hell of an offensive team, however they are still one legitimate piece away from being a contender. This move doesn't make the Nuggets a threat to contend with the likes of San Antonio, Dallas or Phoenix out West, but I think they are right there behind them...I think Iverson will prove a lot of people wrong with this trade. He could very well average 10+ assists a game, and maybe even lead the league in assists. If Denver patterns themselves after Phoenix (I.e. up-tempo, run-and-gun offense) they could make a lot of noise, but they are still in the same boat as Phoenix. They just need a legitimate big man to really make them contenders and compete with the elite teams in the West.
I'm going to wait a while to see how they play together before I really answer this question. Of course I think they can be a contender if these guys can cooperate through eachother, and split defenses apart by good kickouts to players from Iverson, and be disciplined on defense, I won't be surprised if this team makes a run in the playoffs.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BigMo763 @ Dec 24 2006, 04:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I think Iverson will prove a lot of people wrong with this trade. He could very well average 10+ assists a game, and maybe even lead the league in assists. If Denver patterns themselves after Phoenix (I.e. up-tempo, run-and-gun offense) they could make a lot of noise, but they are still in the same boat as Phoenix. They just need a legitimate big man to really make them contenders and compete with the elite teams in the West.</div>Defensively they have one in Marcus Camby, but on the offensive end, KMart was supposed to play that role when we got him in the trade, but he obviously hasn't. Nene could develop into one, that injury has set him back athletic wise, but with all this playing time he is going to get he will definitely develop, it is just a question as to how much he will develop.
Are they a contender? YESAre they better then Dallas, Spurs, and Suns? NOI still think we need to try to go after a PF to fill that void. Maybe try to get Pau with some deal from (Nene, JR, Martin, future picks, ect ) Woud those things get them a PF like Pau probably not you can always try. Martin is injured to much I think. Also rebuild half the bench.Evens can rebound. Daiwara sucks needs to go.Klazia also can goNahjera also can goBoykins I like, but at 5'5 people take advantage of him way to much.I am not sure if Melo, and Camby's D can manage to cover for both there guys, and AI/JR's guys. Since AI, and JR are both not to good on D it be hard to beat those best 3 teams out there in the West.
