Denver Nuggets Previews:

Jeremy: Pickaxe and Roll

First of all, Marcus Camby is a wildly overrated defensive player. Allen Iverson is always in the top ten in steals and led the league in steals in 2003-2004. He must be a good defensive player right?  Well, no. That is not right. Why do fans and experts alike make the same mistake when judging Marcus Camby?  Camby is a great shot blocker and a good rebounder, but he is not a great defender.  If you watch how he plays defense closely, it is difficult to say he is even a good defender.  He is a poor one on one defender, a poor pick and roll defender and a poor perimeter defender.  However, simply because he can block shots and rebound that makes him a Defensive Player of the Year candidate?  Here is some truth for NBA fans all over the world; Nene is a better defensive player than Camby is.

(Before we move on, we need to address the argument that the Nuggets did not get anything in exchange for Camby first of all read this to remember the high price some teams pay to dump salaries and everyone treats the $10 million trade exception like a penny lying in a pool of urine along the side of the road.  I believe the Nuggets will use the exception after the season.  If they let it expire, then let the expletives fly.

Nick Sclafani: The Nugg Doctor

2. What are the team’s biggest strengths?

Obviously, the Denver Nuggets are one of the most potent offenses in the NBA. They boast the highest scoring tandem in the NBA with Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson averaging over 50 points combined from last season, one of the fastest game tempos, and were the only team in the league last year to have four separate players record a 40+ point game. With those three things combined Denver has a trident of offense of which to rely on and they have only added a low post scorer in Nene.