Denver Nuggets: 30 Teams In 30 Days

2008 Statistics

Finished 54-28, first in Northwest division, second in Western conference

Postseason

First Round: Beat New Orleans Hornets 4-1

Semifinals: Beat Dallas Mavericks 4-1

Conference Finals: Lost to Los Angeles Lakers 4-2

Key Additions

Malik Allen via trade, Arron Afflalo via trade, Ty Lawson via draft

Key Losses

Dahntay Jones via free agency, Chucky Atkins via trade, Sonny Weems via trade

It only took one man to unite a team and lead them near the promise land. When Chauncey Billups arrived to be Denver's new point guard, people wondered if Billups could do what Iverson could not do: Advance far into the playoffs.

Mr. Big Shot came up huge throughout the regular season and postseason when he led his team to their best season in 20 years and their first conference finals in 25 years when players such as Kiki Vandeweghe and Alex English were leading the team.

Iverson brought the team regular season success leading them to their first 50 win season in 25 years, but he was never able to lead the team past the first round of the postseason.

Billups, who has a championship and a finals MVP to his name, was the leader that Denver needed to become a legitimate title contender. He was consistent throughout the postseason scoring in the 15-20 point range nearly every night, including three 30 point games. He was also able to score at least one three-pointer in all 16 playoff games.

They were able to take the eventual NBA champion LA Lakers to six games before coming up short and failing to win a decisive game at home.

Even though the city of Denver was disappointed to see the Nuggets lose, it raised a lot of eyebrows to see the Nuggets nearly reach their first championship. Many consider the Nuggets to be legitimate title contenders and could be the favorite to win the Western conference this upcoming 2009-'10 season.

When a player like Billups joins the team, he makes sure to make everyone around him look like all-stars. This past season saw the resurgence of power forward Nene Hilario.

The Brazilian experienced career highs in points, rebounds, blocks, field goal percentage and minutes. He was coming off of a number of injury-plagued seasons, including a cancer scare that nearly ended his career. He has emerged as one of the top young power forwards of the league and has become a viable part of this Nuggets squad.

Sixth-year standout Carmelo Anthony also had another all-star caliber year when he averaged 23 points and seven rebounds a game as the team's small forward.

Melo is one of the prime reasons why the Nuggets have had success as a team, he led the team to a 26 game improvement in his rookie season. He continues to be the team's leading scorer and there number one offensive option.

Kenyon Martin has never lived up to his image as a number one pick, but the emotion and tenacity he brings to every game are detrimental to the team's success. His verbal war with Mavericks owner Mark Cuban last year added fuel to the Nuggets fire in their postseason series as the Nuggets won in five games and once again sent Dallas to an early postseason exit. Martin averaged 12 points and six rebounds as the team's power forward.

The Nuggets did not have a big off season mostly due to the fact that there was little to improve on, but their most notable move took place in the draft when they were able to trade for former Tar Heel standout Ty Lawson.

Lawson won ACC Player of the Year and led his team to an NCAA championship last year and could be a suitable backup to Billups and could even learn a few things from a veteran such as Chauncey.

Denver will also be happy to see three-point specialist JR Smith come off the bench. Smith has been one of the top three-point shooters since his inception in the league and last year experienced career high's in nearly all statistical categories. He averaged a little over two three's last year and nearly shot 40 percent as well.

Chris "Birdman" Andersen will most likely remain with the team as the Nuggets leading shot blocker and in his first legitimate season since returning back to the NBA, he averaged nearly three blocks per game and was an enforcer in the paint for the Nuggets.

The Denver Nuggets are one of the top teams in the NBA and are now title contenders and if the team can gel at the right time they do have a legitimate chance to walk away as NBA champions.

Projected Starting Lineup

PG-Chauncey Billups

SG-Arron Afflalo

SF-Carmelo Anthony

PF-Kenyon Martin

C-Nene Hilario

This is part eight of a 30-day series of 2009-10 season previews of each NBA team. My profile will contain every other team that has been previewed before.