As the Nuggets sit around their million dollar homes and watch the rest of the NBA playoffs on their HDTV’s, I’m sure that there is a bit of anxiety inside of all of them concerning the future of the Nuggets organization. With players’ contracts coming to an end and as everyone on the team is about to be one year older come next season, the future is very uncertain in Denver.
Sure, there are some quality building blocks. As ranted about often on this blog, JR Smith offers a promising future, if the Nuggets can afford to resign the up and coming star. Carmelo is the backbone of this team, and with all of his legal woes, hopefully he can turn things around for the betterment of the team. He is still young, and will probably reach his prime in the next few seasons.
Other than that, there’s Iverson, who still plays like he’s 20 even though he’s 33. But his contract may move somewhere else this off season. Chucky Atkins is a veteran who was injured all year but could still have one year left in him. Then there’s Kenyon Martin, who exploded back on the scene this season, but he’s getting pretty old himself.
As this blog goes into the off season with the Nuggets, I would like to thank anyone who had the pleasure of reading this brilliant and insightful publication this season. Signing out, I’m Mase, and this was mase on nuggs.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Put Yourself In Coach
Keep Karl? There have been rumors in that ol’ creaky mill, but is it even an option?
Critics of Coach George Karl argue that he was unable to teach the Nuggets defense this season, unable to advance to the second round of the playoffs, and unable to keep his players out of trouble (MELO). They also cite the fact that he has some of the best talent in the league, and yet the Nuggets barely made the playoffs.
Proponents, like me, would argue that Coach Karl did a great job this season, considering that there were so many injuries during the beginning of the season. I would also contribute the Nuggets terrible defense to the player’s overconfidence in their scoring ability. It seemed that all season the Nuggs were never concerned with stopping opponents because they could out cap them in a shootout.
I don’t think he should be fired, and neither does the Nuggets front office, as they re-signed Karl for the coaching position next season.
Critics of Coach George Karl argue that he was unable to teach the Nuggets defense this season, unable to advance to the second round of the playoffs, and unable to keep his players out of trouble (MELO). They also cite the fact that he has some of the best talent in the league, and yet the Nuggets barely made the playoffs.
Proponents, like me, would argue that Coach Karl did a great job this season, considering that there were so many injuries during the beginning of the season. I would also contribute the Nuggets terrible defense to the player’s overconfidence in their scoring ability. It seemed that all season the Nuggs were never concerned with stopping opponents because they could out cap them in a shootout.
I don’t think he should be fired, and neither does the Nuggets front office, as they re-signed Karl for the coaching position next season.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
If It Ain't Broke..
Da Rainmaker. The Microwave. The Kid. The 6th man. Whatever you want to call him, you can’t deny that JR Smith certainly made a significant impact for the Nuggets organization this season. Finishing with an outstanding 40%+ from beyond the arch and throwing down ridiculous dunks for the fans, JR Smith is on his way to becoming a superstar in this league.
The only problem? He’s a free agent this off season, and can go wherever the big money is, if he wants to. He is close friends with everyone on the team, and undoubtably likes making trips to the playoffs (his two runs have been as a Nugget). So, it is very possible that he is satisfied with playing in Denver, but it’s all about the cash flow these days.
He’s making a hair over $2 million this season, but is very capable of earning $8 to $10 million next season and receiving a starting job. The only major criticism of JR is that he is too erratic at times; throwing up 30 foot jump shots early in the shot clock. It’s not that he’s not able to make them from anywhere, but teams like to see some control out of their starting 5.
JR would be a great investment for the Nuggs because:
He’s young, only 22
Possesses uncanny athletic ability
Is a proven 3 point threat
Gels well with the team
When he’s hot, he’s unstoppable
The only problem? He’s a free agent this off season, and can go wherever the big money is, if he wants to. He is close friends with everyone on the team, and undoubtably likes making trips to the playoffs (his two runs have been as a Nugget). So, it is very possible that he is satisfied with playing in Denver, but it’s all about the cash flow these days.
He’s making a hair over $2 million this season, but is very capable of earning $8 to $10 million next season and receiving a starting job. The only major criticism of JR is that he is too erratic at times; throwing up 30 foot jump shots early in the shot clock. It’s not that he’s not able to make them from anywhere, but teams like to see some control out of their starting 5.
JR would be a great investment for the Nuggs because:
He’s young, only 22
Possesses uncanny athletic ability
Is a proven 3 point threat
Gels well with the team
When he’s hot, he’s unstoppable
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Off Season ?'s: The ? about the Answer
As this newly declared “seasonal” blog comes to a close, I will highlight the off season moves that I feel necessary for the Nuggs to continue to be a force in the West. With that said, this should definitely be an interesting off season for the Nuggets. From free agents to coaches to superstars, there is a lot to be considered for the team this summer.
First of all, there is a rumor going around the sports world that Allen Iverson, aka A.I., the Answer, etc, you might have heard of him, might not be a Nugget come next season. The 2008-2009 season is defined as an “opt out” year for A.I.’s $19,012,000 contract, which means that he can leave and go somewhere else if he wants to. And give Kroenke the $20 million in cap space to make other moves.
It also means that he can opt out and resign with the Nuggs, but it would probably be for a little more scratch, probably an extra $1 million some experts speculate. I love the guy, and would hate to see him go, but he might just go for the dough, especially since he has proven to team owners in his years in Philly that he can take a bunch of scrubs to the second round of the playoffs all by himself. A feat he was unable to do with the Nuggets, unfortunately.
That is just one thing to consider for the team during this off season. Other moves to consider:
1. Resign J.R., da rainmaker?
2. Trade K-Mart for cap room?
3. Fire Coach Karl?
Stay tuned for updates, nugg-o-maniac’s.
First of all, there is a rumor going around the sports world that Allen Iverson, aka A.I., the Answer, etc, you might have heard of him, might not be a Nugget come next season. The 2008-2009 season is defined as an “opt out” year for A.I.’s $19,012,000 contract, which means that he can leave and go somewhere else if he wants to. And give Kroenke the $20 million in cap space to make other moves.
It also means that he can opt out and resign with the Nuggs, but it would probably be for a little more scratch, probably an extra $1 million some experts speculate. I love the guy, and would hate to see him go, but he might just go for the dough, especially since he has proven to team owners in his years in Philly that he can take a bunch of scrubs to the second round of the playoffs all by himself. A feat he was unable to do with the Nuggets, unfortunately.
That is just one thing to consider for the team during this off season. Other moves to consider:
1. Resign J.R., da rainmaker?
2. Trade K-Mart for cap room?
3. Fire Coach Karl?
Stay tuned for updates, nugg-o-maniac’s.
Clean Sweep
Bring out the brooms, because the boys just got swept. And, in summation, it really wasn’t close at all. Even though the Nuggs were tied in the last two minutes of game four, and looked to be playing the best basketball of the series, the Lakers pulled away to humiliate us in defeat.
It seems like we were down by 20 points the entire series, and that LA was just toying with us, knowing that they could pull away at any given moment. Ultimately, the Nuggets made a good run, won 50 games this season, and got humiliated in the playoffs, getting knocked out for the 7th straight playoff appearance.
Well, there’s always next season.
It seems like we were down by 20 points the entire series, and that LA was just toying with us, knowing that they could pull away at any given moment. Ultimately, the Nuggets made a good run, won 50 games this season, and got humiliated in the playoffs, getting knocked out for the 7th straight playoff appearance.
Well, there’s always next season.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Boys in Da Yard
Playoff basketball or playground basketball? This is the question that the entire Nuggets squad needs to ask themselves. After getting beat by 10 in LA on Sunday, the Nuggs have a two day break to learn how to play D.
Critics of the Nuggs continue to bash the defense, or lack thereof, as this year’s playoffs kick off, calling us the Enver Nuggets (notice that there is no D in Denver, haha).
Personally, I think that we just needed to see how the Lakers run their offense, and that we’ll step up the D next game. All that really needs to happen is a split in the first series of games in LA, and then let those Lakers come to our house, where we only lost 9 games this season.
Three things need to happen for Denver to be successful in this first playoff round:
Keep the points coming
Stop Kobe, make the others beat you
Stay hot off the bench, put in the RAINMAKER!
Critics of the Nuggs continue to bash the defense, or lack thereof, as this year’s playoffs kick off, calling us the Enver Nuggets (notice that there is no D in Denver, haha).
Personally, I think that we just needed to see how the Lakers run their offense, and that we’ll step up the D next game. All that really needs to happen is a split in the first series of games in LA, and then let those Lakers come to our house, where we only lost 9 games this season.
Three things need to happen for Denver to be successful in this first playoff round:
Keep the points coming
Stop Kobe, make the others beat you
Stay hot off the bench, put in the RAINMAKER!
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Melo Woes
Just as Carmelo Anthony’s public relations team got him looking like a law abiding citizen, he goes and gets arrested under suspicion of driving under the influence. The community at large was just forgiving the superstar for his previous encounters with the law, and now there is another foul to let slide. What? Having trouble remembering Melo’s last negative publicity? Let me refresh your memory.
Before I get to mud-slingin’, let it be known that I am a huge Carmelo fan, and always will be no matter what he does. With that said, let me remind you of Melo’s 2004 Stop Snitchin’ video, where Carmelo is kickin’ it with his boys on the block and talking about the threats that come to people who serve as police informants. Basically, he got a bad “rap” for looking like a violent thug who would beat up a snitch. He later distanced himself, but it was a sign of things to come. In 2006, Melo felt it necessary to punch fellow NBA player Marty Collins in the face after an altercation during a Nuggets-Knicks game. Apparently, Collins was snitchin’ to the ref’s. Just kidding, but there may be some truth there.
Like to puff the gonja? Well, coming from the mean streets of Baltimore, Melo is no stranger to the green leaf. He was cited in 2004 for marijuana possession at Denver International Airport after security found a little greenery in Melo’s backpack. But, the charge was later dropped after his boy took the heat for it in a signed affidavit. In 2006, another one of Melo’s boys from the hood was pulled over while driving Carmelo’s pimped out Dodge Magnum while in possession of an ounce of marijuana. Melo’s PR team came to the rescue again, recommending that Melo take this opportunity to say that he is no longer associated with his washed up buddies from back in the day.
And then, just earlier this week, Melo got caught driving while a little buzzed, but reports do say that he was coherent and not messed up enough to be places under arrest.
I don’t mean to negate his responsibility as a public figure, like the influence he has on kids and what have you. However, what he has done isn’t too different from what any of us have done in our lifetimes. I have friends who have been cited for possession of marijuana, know people who have gotten into fights at sporting events, know friends who have one too many and gotten behind the wheel, and friends who have say that they don’t like a tattle tale.
I’m not trying to say that what he has done isn’t illegal, or immoral, but I don’t believe that he should be labeled as a bad guy for what he has done. I’m sure that he has many people in his life that couldn’t even make it out of the ghetto, let alone into the NBA. But, he is getting paid millions to do a job which requires that you don’t get into any controversy, and I guess that he has failed in that regard. And he looks bad to kids across most of the country that look at him as a role model.
On the flip side, he still looks like a success symbol to kids in the inner city who are around drugs and violence a lot. Just a thought. I guess you can take a player out of the hood, but you can’t take the hood out of the player.
Before I get to mud-slingin’, let it be known that I am a huge Carmelo fan, and always will be no matter what he does. With that said, let me remind you of Melo’s 2004 Stop Snitchin’ video, where Carmelo is kickin’ it with his boys on the block and talking about the threats that come to people who serve as police informants. Basically, he got a bad “rap” for looking like a violent thug who would beat up a snitch. He later distanced himself, but it was a sign of things to come. In 2006, Melo felt it necessary to punch fellow NBA player Marty Collins in the face after an altercation during a Nuggets-Knicks game. Apparently, Collins was snitchin’ to the ref’s. Just kidding, but there may be some truth there.
Like to puff the gonja? Well, coming from the mean streets of Baltimore, Melo is no stranger to the green leaf. He was cited in 2004 for marijuana possession at Denver International Airport after security found a little greenery in Melo’s backpack. But, the charge was later dropped after his boy took the heat for it in a signed affidavit. In 2006, another one of Melo’s boys from the hood was pulled over while driving Carmelo’s pimped out Dodge Magnum while in possession of an ounce of marijuana. Melo’s PR team came to the rescue again, recommending that Melo take this opportunity to say that he is no longer associated with his washed up buddies from back in the day.
And then, just earlier this week, Melo got caught driving while a little buzzed, but reports do say that he was coherent and not messed up enough to be places under arrest.
I don’t mean to negate his responsibility as a public figure, like the influence he has on kids and what have you. However, what he has done isn’t too different from what any of us have done in our lifetimes. I have friends who have been cited for possession of marijuana, know people who have gotten into fights at sporting events, know friends who have one too many and gotten behind the wheel, and friends who have say that they don’t like a tattle tale.
I’m not trying to say that what he has done isn’t illegal, or immoral, but I don’t believe that he should be labeled as a bad guy for what he has done. I’m sure that he has many people in his life that couldn’t even make it out of the ghetto, let alone into the NBA. But, he is getting paid millions to do a job which requires that you don’t get into any controversy, and I guess that he has failed in that regard. And he looks bad to kids across most of the country that look at him as a role model.
On the flip side, he still looks like a success symbol to kids in the inner city who are around drugs and violence a lot. Just a thought. I guess you can take a player out of the hood, but you can’t take the hood out of the player.
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