Six Questions Facing the Nuggets After the 2008-2009 Season

The 2008-2009 Denver Nuggets had one the best campaigns in franchise history, finishing 54-28 and reaching the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 1985. 

Carmelo Anthony won his first NBA playoff series, and continued his trend of improvement over the last few seasons.

The season began with low expectations for the Nuggets, which were raised when Denver traded for Chauncey Billups. 

With the trade, Denver filled the voids of a true point guard, the lack of three-point shooting, and a talented defender. 

Heading into the offseason, the Nuggets now face six major questions.

What must the Nuggets do to secure home court in the Western Conference?

The Nuggets will have to be at least 10 wins better than last season, which means matching their performance in the playoffs in the regular season.   Solid team defense and limiting second chances will play a major role, yet most of it will come down to a consistent effort. 

Throughout the regular season, the Nuggets had a tendency to let up with a big lead, costing them seemingly automatic wins.  Finishing these games strongly will account for half of the ten wins, while performing at a playoff level each game will account for the other half.

Can the Nuggets beat the Lakers in a seven-game series?

The 2009 Western Conference Finals began on a positive note for the Nuggets, as they stole home court from the Lakers by splitting at Staples Center.  Had it not been for poor inbounds plays in Games One and Three, Denver would have had a chance to take the lead late in both games. 

The Nuggets proved they can beat the Lakers, because they were in position to win each of the first four games.

Tactically, Denver ought to stick with single-man defense on Kobe Bryant.  Bryant’s supporting cast is too talented to leave wide open, whether it’s Derek Fisher and Trevor Ariza from behind the line, or Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom on the low block. 

Putting forth a good effort against Bryant is all a defender can do, and a contested Bryant shot is tolerable compared to an open look from any other Laker.

Will the Nuggets address the need for a true center in free agency?

Having Nene in the post is certainly an advantage for a team who likes to run the floor.  Although slightly undersized, Nene had a breakout season thanks in part to impressive footwork and body control near the hoop. 

In order to play with the elite teams in the NBA, the Nuggets must add a true center to the lineup.

Prospective players, include Joel Anthony—a shot blocking and rebounding specialist, Rasho Nesterovic—a veteran with playoff experience, and Jarron Collins—a viable option off the bench. 

Denver has many options and will primarily look for a center to have a bigger impact on defense than on offense.

How are the Nuggets affected by not having a first round draft pick?

Not having a first round pick means that the Nuggets will not land a player who is both talented and NBA ready.  This is the nature of having the first selection at No. 34 overall. 

They will likely have the option of drafting John Brockman, Josh Heytvelt, or Jeff Pendergraph, any of whom could come in and provide good minutes as a rookie.

Denver does not traditionally rely on production from draft picks, and, even if they still held their first round pick, it would only be a few spots higher than their current pick.

At what point will Carmelo Anthony become one of the NBA’s elite?

Anthony is on the verge of doing so, after becoming a more consistent scorer and a better team player in 2008-2009. 

Still though, he had hiccups with injuries and inconsistencies toward the end of Denver’s playoff run.  In order for the Nuggets to become the best team in the Western Conference, Anthony will have to be a player Denver can count on every night.

Look for Anthony to be counted among the top five NBA players within the next two seasons.  He needs to have a defining moment to achieve this, and will likely get a chance to do just that in the 2010 playoffs. 

He has nearly shed the label of overrated, becoming a more complete player every year.  It will not be long before he becomes a reliable player in any situation.

Is J.R. Smith a candidate for starting shooting guard?

Smith has certainly proved that he has the talent to start, yet poor performances as a starter indicate that it may not be the role for him.  He has spent most of his time in Denver as a spark plug, coming off the bench to ignite the crowd with three-pointers and athletic plays. 

Inconsistency is often a concern with Smith, who becomes an extreme liability when he goes cold.

Smith showed flashes of brilliance in the playoffs, slashing to the basket and hitting clutch three-pointers down the stretch.  He has advantages, such as near unlimited range and the fact that opposing defenses will likely put their best defenders on Anthony and Billups. 

Smith could become a good situational starter, perhaps over Dahntay Jones against a weak defensive team to give the Nuggets an early boost.