Know Your Enemy: Denver Nuggets

Roster:
0 Courtney Alexander G
15 Carmelo Anthony F
11 Earl Boykins G
23 Marcus Camby C-F
4 Anthony Carter G
5 Yakhouba Diawara F-G
30 Reggie Evans F
32 Julius Hodge G
13 Antoine Hood G
43 Linas Kleiza F
6 Kenyon Martin F
24 Andre Miller G
21 Eduardo Najera F
31 Nenê F-C
7 Jamal Sampson F-C
1 J.R. Smith G
8 Joe Smith F

Coach:
George Karl

Starters:
Andre Miller PG
J.R. Smith SG
Melo SF
K-Mart PF
Camby C

Bench:
Nene F-C
Boykins PG
Hodge SG-SF
Smith F

I mean. I guess. I guess you can call that an NBA roster. Kind of. The Denver Nuggets this year will disappoint, because their roster redefines ill-conceived. Despite this, they are the returning champs of last year's absolutely dreadful Northwest Division. Their postseason seed of 3 was so ridiculous last year that the NBA changed it's rules so a team that bad never wins the 3 seed again. I'm pulling a Steve Kelley and making my next paragraph a one-sentencer.

The LA Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies played a game late last year in which both teams actually tried to lose for the right to face Denver in the playoffs.

They were not feared then and have done nothing to get better. On the plus side Carmelo Anthony emerged as Team USA's most effective player. On the minus side the Nuggets' franchise did not rest at all this summer and is likely to break down at some point this year.

Also you have to look at his contract situation as a negative. First a little background: LeBron's entourage turned managers shocked the NBA world this summer by negotiating a 3-year deal instead of signing for the max. The reasoning behind this is the the collective bargaining agreement expires after that and LeBron could be able to sign a ridiculous max contract after this shorter term one. Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh saw the genius in this move and immediately followed suit. Carmelo on the other hand opted to take the full five years and $79 million instead. Melo won't be playing for a new contract for a long time, and thanks to the NBA's guaranteed deals he can do whatever he wants in the interim. Wade and LeBron's contracts were indicative of a hunger to improve whereas Melo just needs his as fast as he can get it. We'll have to see if this turns into an issue. I'm not the only one that's worried.

Speaking of contract debacles, the Nuggets will be paying Nene and Kenyon Martin in 2010-11 a combined $30 million. THEY PLAY THE SAME POSITION!! I'm going to call Nene's contract worse than Kenny Thomas's. And of course Nene's coming off of an injury. Just stupid. This is why Rick Sund deserves props. He has to calmly explain to his free agents that just because Kiki Vandeweghe is a moron, that doesn't mean that you Mr. Wilcox get that deal as well.

Now let's move to this squad on the court:

Camby played out of his mind last year, but he has a history of being hurt. I'm doubtful at this stage of his career of his ability to put together a full season.

Kenyon Martin is still fairly effective when healthy. But his knees have been operated on. He has broken the same leg twice. Plus George Karl hates him. Also I'm shocked to report that this is only his seventh season. I thought he was 33 with that medical history.

Carmelo Anthony is one of the best players in the league. He needs to take his obvious hatred of other nations (displayed in international competition) and redirect it toward his fellow man. You can't hate him. He's young and unguardable.

J.R. Smith potentially playing for this team underscores a huge weakness at the 2. The most important fact about the Denver Nuggets is THIS TEAM HAS ABSOLUTELY NO ONE WHO CAN MAKE A JUMP SHOT CONSISTENTLY. They have a lot of slashers, but that won't do them any good when the opposition can just sag off.

Andre Miller has been on three teams in his short NBA career posting relatively solid numbers with all of them. Still I can't help but think that if he were that good someone would have held onto him. In a big change of pace for this squad, Miller has only missed 3 games in his seven year career. Impressive durability.

So what does this team do? I don't get it. They scored the fifth most points in the league last year and gave up the eighth most. No one can shoot. Everyone is a threat to go down with a season ender. They benefitted greatly from a weak Northwest Division last year. This year not so much. I see them winning 38 games. Fuck you Denver.