Denver Nuggets Report Card: Early Grades for All the Team's Key Players

The Denver Nuggets came out on fire to start the 2011-12 season, starting 6-2.

The team then proceeded to drop a heartbreaker in San Antonio and follow that up by playing their worst game of the season against New Orleans Monday night, losing 94-81.

They now sit at 6-4 overall, in sixth place in the West, and the Nuggs have put up some impressive team stats already.

Denver is No. 1 in the league in fast break points (23.7), points in the paint (51.4), two-point field goal percentage (53.9) and steals (11), while being No. 2 overall in scoring per game (101.7).

Those impressive numbers are telling of the Nuggets' play.

It's been high-energy defense in Denver, leading to easy run-out buckets down the lane, and the young team's raw athleticism allows them to out-score the opposition.

There's no superstar in the Mile High City, but it doesn't matter, they are a true team.

Let's take a closer look at the individual performers, how they're pushing the Nuggets' production, and grade their play, shall we?

Ty Lawson: A

Lawson has fully embraced the role of starting point guard and he's the key to Denver's dynamic attack.

The 5'10” point pushes the pace of the offense, forcing his teammates to run with him or be left in his dust.

Lawson is as fast as they come, and he uses that speed to blow by defenders, making them look like their feet are stuck in the court.

This season, Ty Lawson is averaging career-highs in points (16.4), rebounds (3.0) and steals per game (1.9), while leading his team to victory in whatever way is needed.

But most importantly, the young man understands the importance of getting his teammates the ball, and he's leading the team with 6.0 assists per game.

Lawson is emerging as a possible star in Denver, and he's in the middle of enjoying a breakout season.

Arron Afflalo: C

Arron Afflalo looked to be a player with phenomenal potential, growing in almost every single stat category each year.

But this season, he's dropped off across the board.

Most noticeable on a night-to-night basis is Afflalo's inability to knock down open three-pointers, something he's been quite comfortable doing in the past.

AAA hit at least 40 percent of shots outside the arc the last three seasons, this year he's knocking down a paltry 23.3 percent.

The Nuggets need Afflalo to step his offensive game up, and if he can, they will realize even more success.

Danilo Gallinari: B+

Gallinari has really rebounded from the knee injury that limited him at the end of last season in Denver.

This year, Gallo is the Nuggets' leading scorer at 16.7, a career-high for the fourth-year not-so-small forward.

Gallinari gallops down court with his long legs, and he runs it well for his 6'10” size, laying in run-outs and attacking the hoop with aggression.

The most impressive thing about Gallinari's scoring is that he's shooing a career-low 25.5 percent from three-point range, meaning when he starts to eventually drop bombs, the lanky Italian could possibly be one of the best scorers in the league.

Gallo is also second on the team in steals, swiping the ball with his long reach, amazing for a player of his stature.

Nene: C-

After signing his $67 million deal, many in Denver were hoping for a player worth the money. Instead, Nene looks overpaid at the onset of this lockout-shortened season.

While Nene leads the team in rebounding (7.9), his points (12.0) have fallen off due to the lowest shooting percentage (49.2) of his 10 year career.

Nene's simply not finishing at the rim, possibly an effect of moving from the 5 to his natural 4 spot, playing against smaller but more athletic opponents.

Simply, the Nuggets need Nene to be a double-double guy for how much money they're paying him, although, they should know by now he's unable to perform at that level.

Defensively, he's got to give more effort, force opponents into tough shots and play physically to help his team win.

And, being one of the more veteran players on the team, it would be nice if Nene would lead from time to time.

Timofey Mozgov: D

Mozgov's play has been beyond poor this season, leading many to question why he's Denver's starting center.

The 7'1” Russian brings height, but he's incredibly raw.

Too many times already this season has Mozgov dropped pillow-soft passes that could have been converted into layups, and he seems completely overmatched by opposing centers on some nights.

Mozzy's got to focus on defense and rebounding, he can work on other parts of his game in due time as the young center gains experience.

Andre Miller: B+

Andre Miller has been the starting point guard in each of his 12 NBA seasons. Now he's coming off the bench in Denver, and you'll never hear him complain about a lack of playing time because the intelligent point guard leads by example.

Miller's been the buoy to keep the bench afloat. He's also the veteran on-court general that this youthful Nuggets' squad has to have.

If Denver doesn't know what they're doing or looks lost, Miller's there to correct them and run offensive sets.

Miller's still a dynamic player too, possessing that trademark explosive first step to run around defenders, while dropping 5.9 dimes per game.

And his offensive versatility is valuable, as Miller can score in a greater variety of ways than any other Nugget.

Al Harrington: A

Harrington has provided a potent punch off the bench so far this season, and he's proving he can still play in his 14th year as a pro.

His 14.4 points are third-best on the team, while his 5.3 rebounds are second most to Nene, and Harrington's showing exactly what he can do when healthy.

Last year, the 6'9” forward suffered through plantar facitis, which limited his ability to run, jump—basically play the game of basketball.

This year, he's running with the young guys and dunking on the break, while being a dynamic driver in the halfcourt offense.

His intelligent shot selection has resulted in a career-high 55.3 shooting percentage and if he keeps playing this way, Harrington could end up winning the Sixth Man of the Year award.

Final Thoughts

Overall, some Nuggets have outperformed their expectations, while others are still leaving much to be desired.

Denver's really struggled shooting from beyond the arc, as their 25th best 28.8 percent proves, and if players like Afflalo and Gallinari can start knocking them down with the consistency they have in the past, the Nuggets will be a scary team.

They're already the second-highest scoring team in the NBA, making threes will only inflate the number.

This Nuggets team is good and they have the ability to be great this year.

Beyond three-point shooting, Denver needs to improve their defense in the form of blocks, while fighting for loose balls and improving their 24th best rebounding numbers.

If they can, expect them to frustrate the NBA this season and comfortably make the playoffs. 

Rich Kurtzman is a freelance journalist actively seeking a career in journalism. Along with being your Denver Nuggets Featured Columnist, Rich is the Denver Broncos and CSU Rams Examiner and Kurtzman also writes for Blake Street Bulletin, Stadium Journey, and Mile High Hoops.

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