Denver’s new Nuggets

Joe, a Denver local, works in a betting company. Unlike most betting experts in the city, his area of expertise is in Basketball. His office is located close to the Pepsi Center where the Nuggets play today. For him, the Nuggets mean a lot more than any other franchise based in the city. In fact, he has a poster hung in his room that says “Believe – Nuggets till you live!”

He, unfortunately, has very few to share such Nuggets sentiments with.

During his college days, the Broncos (the American Football franchise in Denver) under the legendary John Elway dominated the National Football League. He clearly remembers his father speaking to him over the phone after Elway’s Super Bowl glory and saying, “Joe, did you see that? Did you see what Elway did? The game winning drive, Joe, did you see it?” To Joe, it meant nothing. He could care less. But like his father, that is how the city of Denver is. Not many live without being faithful to the Denver Broncos. The Nuggets, a basketball franchise formed in 1967, resort to the periphery. Joe, like those other basketball devotes, enjoy being on the periphery.

However, something troubles him at work.

Joe Daniels has been in the profession of betting for over 10 years now. He has seen bets come in where people, who claim to follow the NBA, pledge money towards the Lakers or the Spurs. But not many put in money for the Nuggets. To Joe, this is ridiculous. He is saddened by how so little fans back their city’s franchise to perform well. Since George Karl (according to Joe, the city of Denver should erect a statue of him) bagged the coaching job at the Nuggets seven seasons ago, the team has qualified to the playoffs in each of those. Remarkable, isn’t it? While they haven’t made it past the first round in six out of the seven attempts, this team deserves more mention that it presently gets.

The clock strikes five pm. Joe packs his business bag, locks his office door and drives home. Another day at the office, nobody has shown faith in the Nuggets. Good night, Joe.

He leaves.

Just so if none of you noticed, Joe ceases to exist. He is an imaginary character I created so that I could draw attention to this team. Hoping I have succeeded, I continue to make my case on why this team will eclipse the Lakers and Spurs in the years to come.

The team, the perennial underdogs of the Western Conference, receives hardly any coverage from the NBA. In fact, not many fans in the world take notice on how talented this George Karl’s side is. For years, they have cemented their place in the playoffs. In one of them, they were Western Conference finalists, losing to eventual NBA Champions, the Los Angeles Lakers. Five years ago, this franchise boasted the likes of Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups and Allen Iverson – three of the biggest stars to ever play in the present generation. Now for a long time, the Nuggets have held a winning percentage in terms of wins-losses.

However, they are not really looked at as favorites.

Despite being an achieving franchise, nobody takes notice. They fall back in praise thanks to eternal Conference accomplishers like the Lakers, Spurs and the Mavs. The identity of this team is limited to growth within Colorado or like Joe might say, solely amongst hard-core devotees of an American Football or Baseball dominated state. Nobody pays attention that given the chance, this team could very well trade two-three talented players from their roster, and bring in a superstar like Dwight Howard or Deron Williams. Not many realize that this team has four All-Stars in the making – JaVale McGee, Danilo Gallinari, Ty Lawson and Arron Affalo. And a countable only knows how good George Karl is as a coach.

The Talent: The Nuggets are loaded with first round drafted players, most of who are below the age of 25. This certainly gives George Karl two choices from which the entire franchise will benefit – either, mould this talent into a championship winning side like the Thunder or trade two-three young players for a superstar. Whichever option Karl decided to pursue, he is sure to profit. Just to evince the caliber of this team – six of the top eight players in this under-rated franchise were drafted in the first round. Every other franchise in the Western Conference have only a couple or three players at most, who have successfully established themselves since being a first round pick. This, in a trade context, works hugely in Denver’s favor. (Hey Dwight Howard, why don’t you look here?)

Unlucky: A team that was plagued by injuries last season finished sixth in the regular season. They took Lakers to seven games, with Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol struggling to match up to Denver’s young maestros. The upcoming season will see Denver make the playoffs again. If their core stays fit, that is Gallinari, Lawson and Affalo, with Fared and McGhee providing strong low-post insurance, this team can well beat the Grizzlies, Clippers or the Mavs. And if this team plays like they played Lakers last season, they have a shot at getting to the finals once again. Maybe that is too far-fetched a thought, but this team does have potential. A true potential which has credibility that even the Heat and Thunder lack.

Trade Value: To focus on trading for a superstar, the Nuggets’ age and talent have a huge advantage. When a blockbuster trade is made, for example, Carmelo to New York Knicks or Deron Williams to Brooklyn Nets, the supporting cast plays a huge role in determining if the team actually goes onto win a championship. So what if the Knicks have Stoudamire and Anthony? They haven’t managed to win more than a single playoff game, thereby justifying my point that the teams around which these star players are bought, lack talent to support them. In Denver, that won’t happen. If a blockbuster trade does happen, the roster guarantees a formidable supporting cast and deep bench strength – ideals on which a championship winning side is built.

Despite its inability to edge past the first round of the playoffs, this new Denver side is a treat to savor. Not often before has the NBA witnessed a balanced side like Denver possesses. If this team manages to stay away from being injury-ridden, they very well can favor themselves to make a deep playoff run. And even if their main players do leave, Coach Karl can rely on his bench to step up and fire.

For this season, the boardroom won’t make a big trade. It will wait and see how Lawson fares out this season and if he is ready to be the next elite point guard in the NBA. Time will tell if Gallinari, the best player on the roster, can stay fit and carry this team forward with captains, Affalo and Andre Miller. Considering they finish strong in the regular season and play the Clippers, Grizzlies or even the Mavs in the first round, I’d put my money on Denver to beat them.

Meanwhile, the fans of Denver have the unique opportunity to watch their stars groom under George Karl. Even if people don’t notice enough, this team sure will make the playoffs year in, year out. This team sure will stride leaps ahead of its competitors in the years to come.

Watch out the Western Conference for the arrival of the new Denver Nuggets!