ESPN: The downfall of the Denver Nuggets

[Endless Paradise]

Good article expounding upon the myriad issues plaguing the Nuggets that I've mentioned in brief a couple of times:

http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/11865367/how-denver-nuggets-became-nba-biggest-disappointment

[Jailan34]

Well, that's what happens when you have no star talent in the NBA and you continuously pick in the mid teens.

[D.o.s.]

Wait so who won the Carmelo trade again?

[Endless Paradise]

Well, that's what happens when you have no star talent in the NBA and you continuously pick in the mid teens.

They won 57 games and the third seed in the West without star talent and mid-late draft picks.  The roster they put together isn't well-suited for the system Shaw is trying to run.

Wait so who won the Carmelo trade again?

Orlando.

[Tr1boy]

Celts should make a trade for Faried

[pokeKingCurtis]

Well, that's what happens when you have no star talent in the NBA and you continuously pick in the mid teens.

Wow....you're right!

The only sensible thing to do...

Trade Rondo for a mid teen pick!

[Who]

Wait so who won the Carmelo trade again?

Knicks. It was always the Knicks.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

It's karma for firing George Karl. It has to be.

They performed so well even though they got upset in the Playoffs, you'd think Karl should be able to get another run but no.

It's gotta be karma.

[Endless Paradise]

To be fair, Karl's firing was probably justifiable; all of those first round exits, something had to change.  The fact that they had a mediocre road record (and that their win total was boosted by their ridiculous home-court advantage) didn't help matters.  The issue was that they then decided, "hey, we can get this roster of average to above-average players to similarly overachieve under a drastically different system for a new, first-time coach. Oh, and for good measure, let's just add a bunch of a redundant players."  Either re-shape the roster to better suit the coach's ideals or hire a coach who wants to play a similar system. 

The 2012-13 Nuggets were very much so the embodiment of catching lightning in a bottle and anybody who knows basketball probably could've told you there was no way they'd have been successful with that same team playing Shaw's style of basketball.

Celts should make a trade for Faried

... because if there's one thing the Celtics are lacking, it's undersized big men?

[slamtheking]

Some of it's due to the roster but I think a good part of it is on Shaw.  my bias against him for jerking around the C's when they drafted him has nothing to do with that evaluation

[Who]

They lost Iguodala. That is 10-12 wins right there.

Then Gallinari got hurt. Missed all of last season. Gallinari has come back this season but he has struggled badly and is nowhere near his past level of performance.. That is another 7-8 wins.

A few bad personnel decisions that hurt balance and depth of team. Signed JJ Hickson who was a terrible fit on a team that already had Faried and low skilled (offensively) centers. Big man balance all screwed up. Traded away an aging Andre Miller. Replacement backup PG Nate Robinson got hurt. PG depth compromised. Another 6-8 wins.

I thought they overachieved a bit in regular season when they won the 57 games. Not by too much but by a couple of wins.

Add them all together and you have a low to mid 30s win ball club. I thought Brian Shaw did reasonably well last year to get 36 wins out of them last year.

Denver did add Afflalo this off-season which I think should get them back to .500 but they are no playoff team in my mind.

Obviously struggling right now but I don't think he deserves to be fired. Nuggets management needs to do a better job of giving him a more balanced roster though. They are the ones creating many of his problems. They also need Gallinari to get back to his best. His lack of utility has been very hurtful for them.

[knuckleballer]

The Nuggets just told this thread to bugger off as they won in Cleveland tonight.

[Endless Paradise]

Yes, one win erases all of their struggles, which were on full bloom just yesterday afternoon. 

[knuckleballer]

Yes, one win erases all of their struggles, which were on full bloom just yesterday afternoon. 

C'mon, there is at least a little irony in the Nuugets winning on the road to beat Lebron two hours after you posted this thread.
Do you live in Denver?  You seem to be invested in the Nuggets.

[Endless Paradise]

In the past few days, I've been asked if I'm invested in:

a) the Sixers
b) the Nuggets

I'm not sure why I can't just comment on the NBA in general without having a personal investment in any specific team.