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Nuggets' Masai Ujiri is worth every penny, keep him in Denver

2013-05-24T19:07:32Z

"This game has got to be about more than winning." -Tony D'Amato (Al Pacino), Any Given Sunday

Yes, Nuggets Nation wants to see the team win a title. Bringing back Masai Ujiri would be a huge step in the right direction that tells fans the team is very committed to the plan of making the Nuggets title contenders. Ujiri has shown a keen ability to make the right trades, retain the right free agents, has kept the right assets from walking away, and he has made excellent selections in the NBA draft. Add to that - Masai Ujiri is the kind of person a franchise should want to build around.

When Andrew Feinstein and I got together to merge our blogs, one thing we agreed on is that we want the team we love to care more about the game than we do. Ujiri emits passion. He has stated over-and-over that he wants to win and you can see it in his eyes and hear it when he speaks. Whenever I see Ujiri at Pepsi Center he goes out of his way to come chat with me - he asks if I need anything and will spend generous amounts of time talking hoops with this blogger and many other members of the media. You can see that the players hold him in high-esteem, as well.

Masai Ujiri is a Denver Nuggets superstar.

The Nuggets offered former star Carmelo Anthony a three-year, $65 million contract extension. He didn't want to be in Denver, but it didn't stop the team from trying to retain him. From all indications, Masai wants to be in Denver and in Denver he should stay. The fans in this city have embraced him and he has endeared himself to the fan-base since coming to the team in August of 2010.

When the Nuggets made their incredible run to the Western Conference Finals in the 2009 playoffs, it was Chris Andersen who won over the fans. In the stands you would see multiple people with their hair gelled in a Mohawk for the Birdman; I was one of them. Andersen was on a one-year contract and the fans were worried he might not be back with the club.

We created a "Bring Back Birdman" petition that a number of Nuggets fans signed. Despite being 31 years-old, the Nuggets made the right move and retained a fan-favorite with a 5 year, $25 million deal. It was the right move at the time and made plenty of fans happy. Stan Kroenke and the rest of the Nuggets' front office did right by the fans.

It's time to do right by the fans once again.

Since Melo left Denver there has been a lot of talk from Ujiri, George Karl, and others about this franchise trying to go about winning in an unconventional way. Ujiri has completely turned over the roster - Andersen was the last player remaining from the WCFs team; he's long gone. Since Ujiri took the reigns, he has brought in 19 faces that have had an impact on the court with the team:

1.) Gary Forbes
2.) Melvin Ely
3.) Raymond Felton
4.) Wilson Chandler
5.) Danilo Gallinari
6.) Timofey Mozgov
7.) Kosta Koufos
8.) Jordan Hamilton
9.) Andre Miller
10.) Kenneth Faried
11.) Julyan Stone
12.) DeMarre Carroll
13.) Corey Brewer
14.) Rudy Fernandez
15.) JaVale McGee
16.) Andre Iguodala
17.) Evan Fournier
18.) Quincy Miller
19.) Anthony Randolph

Ujiri also was able to retain Karl with a contract extension and his work in Denver is not done. His teams have finished 50-32, 38-28, and 57-25 ... the Nuggets are headed in the right direction. On the above list, Ujiri was able to retain key free agents: Gallo, Chandler, Miller, McGee, and Koufos - along with Nene, Arron Afflalo, and Ty Lawson. Any one of those guys could have easily left town, but Ujiri made sure they did not.

Equally as important with Ujiri? He's a great person.

From his profile on Nuggets.com:

Along with former Nuggets great Dikembe Mutombo, Ujiri has been tireless in his efforts to promote and develop the game of basketball throughout Africa. He is the founder of the Giants of Africa Foundation, which launched the Top 50 and Bigman camps in his homeland. Ujiri also has served as the director of the NBA's Basketball Without Borders program since 2002.

In 2011, our very own Andrew Feinstein traveled to Africa to meet up with Ujiri and was able to witness the work of the Basketball Without Borders program first hand (you can read about that here).

Ujiri is the guy that the Nuggets should want to build with. A man the Nuggets need to grow with. The fans are behind him and we want to see him stay in Denver. Let our voices be heard and let's do our part to let Stan and Josh Kroenke know that we want Ujiri to remain in Denver.

Ujiri is the star we deserve.

Nate_Timmons on Twitter
ntimmons73@yahoo.com

Poll

How badly do you want to see Masai Ujiri return to Denver? (On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the highest)

Part I: NBA seasons in review, moves ahead this off-season across the league

2013-05-24T10:00:04Z

One of the best things about the summer is getting to sit back and say, "Wow, just think of what could happen!" I'm stealing from George Costanza and calling this THE SUMMER OF NATE! This is gonna be my time and here is what I'd do if I were the GM for each and every team in the league ...

To give this a little order - we'll use the order of the first round of the NBA draft to break things down ...

Key:
(P) = Player option. The player must "opt-in" for the last season on their contract.
(ETO) = Early Termination Option. The player, Andre Iguodala, can get out of their contract early by exercising this contract clause.
(T) = Team option. The team can terminate the player's contract for the upcoming season.
All decisions must be made before July 1st.

1. Cleveland Cavaliers

Restricted Free Agents: Omri Casspi, Wayne Ellington
Unrestricted Free Agents: Daniel Gibson, Shaun Livingston, Marreese Speights (P), Luke Walton

Season review: Kyrie Irving broke out this season, but the team only got 24 wins. Anderson Varejao suffered a season ending blood-clot and a team that might have made a playoff run was doomed.

Off-season plans: I'd consider drafting Otto Porter out of Georgetown to pair with Irving and Dion Waiters. Porter could be that nice two-way player the team needs to lock-down the small forward spot. The team also needs some help in the front-court - inquiring into some trade talk might help, but making a run at Nikola Pekovic would be a priority.

2. Orlando Magic

RFA: DeQuan Jones
UFA: Hedo Turkoglu (ETO), Beno Udrih

Season review: A dreadful 20-win season, but Rob Hennigan, Orlando's GM, did a great job getting some young prospects with the Dwight Howard and J.J. Redick trades.

Off-season plans: It'll still take another season to clear more cap room - there's no way Hedo turns down $12 million - and there isn't a clear choice for the No. 2 pick. I'd try to move the No. 2 pick to trade back for a pick or to gain another pick for 2014 (if it were possible). The Magic should roll the dice with what they have, let their young guys grow, maybe buy out Al Harrington and try to trade Glen Davis (two years and $13 million left), and hope the ping-pong balls fall right for Andrew Wiggins.

3. Washington Wizards

RFA: Garrett Temple
UFA: Trevor Ariza (P), Leandro Barbosa, Jason Collins, Cartier Martin, Emeka Okafor (ETO), A.J. Price, Martell Webster

Season review: When John Wall came back and Nene got healthy, this team looked like it could have made a playoff run. Wall played in 49 games and looked like he was beginning to make a leap with his play on the court. This was a pesky team that needs some help.

Off-season plans: The No. 3 pick was a nice surprise for the Wizards. I'd hope that Otto Porter falls to me here to pair with John Wall and Bradley Beal in the starting lineup, but Nerlens Noel would be nice too (even though I don't believe he'll be a star in the league). Okafor can't turn down the $14.4 million that awaits him next season and the same can be said for Ariza and his $7.7 million. Another wing player needs to be targeted and some depth off the bench - hopefully that'll be addressed in the draft with Porter.

4. Charlotte Bobcats

RFA: Gerald Henderson, Byron Mullens
UFA: DeSagana Diop, Ben Gordon (P), Josh McRoberts, Jannero Pargo, Reggie Williams

Season review: Bleh. Bringing in Mike Dunlap for one season and then firing him shows that there is still no plan in Charlotte.

Off-season plans: Keep the people focused on the Hornets name coming back.

5. Phoenix Suns

RFA: Diante Garrett
UFA: Wesley Johnson, Jermaine O'Neal

Season review: The Michael Beasley signing already looks like a mistake ($6 million next season and a buyout option for the 2014-15 campaign) and bringing in O'Neal and Luis Scola were both head-scratching moves; not good. The Suns should be happy that the ~~Hornets~~ Pelicans matched the max-offer for Eric Gordon last summer.

Off-season plans: Try to move Scola and let the Morris Twins get some serious playing time in the front-court. Moving Marcin Gortat could also be a wise move and drafting a project big man like Alex Len, Cody Zeller, or maybe a riskier pick like Steven Adams (could trade back to get him) could be the move in the draft. The Suns are a mess.

6. New Orleans Pelicans

RFA: None.
UFA: Al-Farouq Aminu, Lou Amundson, Xavier Henry, Roger Mason Jr., Jason Smith (T)

Season review: I'll miss calling them the Bugs. A pesky team, at times, that needs Eric Gordon to get healthy. Greivis Vasquez and Anthony Davis look like nice players, but the swing-and-miss with Austin Rivers looks disastrous.

Off-season plans: They should get a quality player in the draft, but who will it be? A wing player would be my target in the draft as Ryan Anderson and Davis would be my front-court and Vasquez and Gordon would lock down the back-court. If the draft doesn't offer what I want, I'd target some shooting prospects in free agency that can also be slashers. Or if they could get a legit post-prospect I'd look that way, too. Looking forward to year two of Davis.

7. Sacramento Kings

RFA: Toney Douglas, Tyreke Evans, James Johnson
UFA: Cole Aldrich

Season review: They stayed in Sac-Town!

Off-season plans: Clean house in the front office and perhaps take a look at the coaching staff, that should be what new ownership targets first. This team needs a clear direction and to get the roster in some sort of correct shape. There is no true point guard, shooting guard, or small forward. DeMarcus Cousins and Patrick Patterson could hold down the front-court, but I'd be targeting a point guard ... thinking Dennis Schroeder - he's quick and can really light it up front he outside and plays unselfish ball. Another team that is a mess, but hopefully one that gets a fresh start with new owners.

8. Detroit Pistons

RFA: None.
UFA: Will Bynum, Jose Calderon, Corey Maggette, Jason Maxiell, Charlie Villanueva (P)

Season review: This team has a nice core with Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond - after that? Yeeesh. Great trade to get Tayshaun Prince's contract off the books; it was time. Calderon showed some value as a take-charge point guard, but he doesn't have a future in Detroit.

Off-season plans: I'd let all the free agents go, but Villanueva is picking up his $8.5 million option ... dang it. They need to figure out if Brandon Knight can run the show and they need some shooters to put around their big guys to allow the inside-outside game to take shape. The Pistons could become a powerhouse if the big guys continue to develop and Joe Dumars can pair the right guys around them.

9. Minnesota Timberwolves

RFA: Chase Budinger, Nikola Pekovic
UFA: Dante Cunningham (P), Andrei Kirilenko (P)

Season review: Injuries sabotaged what could have been an exciting team - Ricky Rubio wasn't quite himself after ACL surgery, but he did get back on the floor and showed some flashes of brilliance. Kevin Love suffered frustrating injury after frustrating injury - along with nearly all of his teammates. David Kahn was let go in what I think it a hope to re-build a relationship with Love.

Off-season plans: Love is a bit undersized, so retaining the mountain of a man known as Pek would be a move I would want to make. Will a team offer something outrageous to Pek? Most likely. May as well either try to steal the RFA away or make the T-Wolves bleed a bit to keep him. Can these guys stay healthy? A lotto pick for a slasher/reliable scorer would be my top target as well.

10. Portland Trail Blazers

RFA: Eric Maynor
UFA: Luke Babbitt, J.J. Hickson, Nolan Smith, Elliot Williams

Season review: Damian Lillard was the steal of the draft and the unanimous rookie of the year. At 22 years-old we should see some improvement with Lillard, but it could come with a bit of an underwhelming season as teams will plan around him a bit more. This team made a bit of noise for a playoff push before just succumbing to fatigue. The Blazers got little-to-nothing from their bench and the starters couldn't carry the load.

Off-season plans: Get Wesley Matthews healthy and maybe look at making a run at yet another RFA in Pekovic (they did ink Roy Hibbert to an offer sheet last off-season) to pair with LaMarcus Aldridge. The Blazers need some scoring off their bench, in the worst way. They need to target multiple players and can get some much needed help in the draft with just about anyone they select.

11. Philadelphia 76ers

RFA: Charles Jenkins
UFA: Kwame Brown (P), Andrew Bynum, Royal Ivey, Damien Wilkins, Dorell Wright, Nick Young

Season review: The season was submarined by Bynum not being able to play in a single game for Philly. Doug Collins has moved into the front-office and that should help the 76ers offense.

Off-season plans: If they are unable to sign Bynum or if they just walk away from him completely, this team could be a favorite to land the top pick in 2014. Nick Young should not be retained, but they have a little something going with Jrue Holiday. Let the young guys play and hope Wiggins falls to you in the lotto ... the Sixers should look to get a big man with their pick.

12. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Toronto)

RFA: None.
UFA: Ronnie Brewer, Derek Fisher, Kevin Martin

Season review: Their No. 1 seed was wasted when Russell Westbrook went out with a season ending injury against the Rockets. Can he come back from a torn meniscus as the same player? I think so. Scott Brooks' flawed offensive system was exposed without Westbrook and Kevin Durant was unable to carry the entire team on his back - but they did make it to Round 2 of the playoffs.

Off-season plans: I wouldn't bring back any of the free agents from above: Fisher is too old, Brewer isn't a priority, and Martin wasn't the bench guy the team needed. The Thunder should also dump Kendrick Perkins - the guy is not a good basketball player. OKC could use a big man who can play in the post, but who couldn't? The search to find a replacement for James Harden continues and I want to see what I have in Perry Jones and Jeremy Lamb.

13. Dallas Mavericks

RFA: Rodrigue Beaubois, Darren Collison
UFA: Elton Brand, Mike James, Chris Kaman, Shawn Marion (ETO), O.J. Mayo (P), Anthony Morrow, Brandan Wright

Season review: A team of free agents finally made a run with Dirk Nowitzki back in the lineup, but they fell short of the playoffs. The Mavs looked to be in purgatory this year after whiffing on trading for Dwight Howard and sort of ignoring Deron Williams (Mark Cuban skipping the free agent meeting with him for a TV show appearance).

Off-season plans: Go after Chris Paul and Dwight Howard to make another title run with Dirk. I figured the Mavs were going to go for broke last year, but it never materialized as they didn't have the assets needed to get in on Howard's trade. Word is they may deal the lotto pick, but it likely comes with the asking price of taking back Marion and his $9.3 million player option.

14. Utah Jazz

RFA: None.
UFA: DeMarre Carroll, Randy Foye, Al Jefferson, Paul Millsap, Jamaal Tinsley, Earl Watson, Marvin Williams (ETO), Mo Williams

Season review: A bizarre season for the Jazz. Why hold on to Jefferson and Millsap instead of getting some assets in return? It's hard to deal guys in the last season of their contract for maximum value when those guys are not franchise changing players. Both will make nice additions wherever they end up and it may help the Jazz bottom out.

Off-season plans: I would try to tank. Draft a point guard with the pick here or maybe move the pick. Play Derrick Favors and Enes Kanter heavy minutes and see what you have. Hopefully a franchise guy will be available in the 2014 draft (Wiggins anyone?) and if they can find a point guard now, all the better.

That's it for now. I'll be back with Part II soon ...

Nate_Timmons on Twitter
ntimmons73@yahoo.com

Trio of critical questions await Masai Ujiri, Nuggets

2013-05-23T15:00:11Z

It's a foregone conclusion that the Nuggets must retain Masai Ujiri as GM. If they don't, all other questions about the Nuggets potential moves are moot.

With the assumption that Ujiri gets a new contract from the Kroenkes, there are three big questions waiting for him...

1. Will Andre Iguodala opt out?

Andre Iguodala is currently signed through the 2013-2014 season with a player option on a potential $16,154,750 salary. There's no question that Iguodala provided a massive upgrade to the perennially below-average Nuggets defense. He was a stalwart throughout the year, asked to defend the opposing team's best player on most nights and he came through more often than not. Despite his ugly free throw shooting and struggles on offense, Iguodala is a heady, tenacious player and his experience was invaluable to a still-maturing Nuggets team. He stabilized the Nuggets when they needed it most, and was a catalyst for the fast break in many situations with his active hands in the passing lanes.

There have been rumblings that Iguodala may wish to test the free agency waters a year early, but with both Chris Paul and Dwight Howard potentially on the move, there are virtually no contending teams with the room for the salary cap hit that Iguodala would probably command on the open market. He certainly wouldn't find any takers willing to offer him a $16 million dollar salary. Unless, of course, Iguodala wants to leave Denver badly enough that he's willing to take a significant reduction in pay to play somewhere else, especially if a potential contract ended up being a long-term deal...

I personally believe that barring any behind-the-scenes issues with the coaching staff, Iguodala will likely be retained. Ideally, Iguodala would opt out of his salary with the understanding that Masai would then offer a long term deal with a smaller per-year salary with the Nuggets as described above - but I still (irrationally, I suppose) fear Iguodala somehow being poached or swayed by another team in the process, should that happen. Even if Iguodala didn't opt out, I wouldn't be upset - I think he truly does justify his worth on the defensive end, despite what a certain Denver hack sports journalist might believe. Andre Iguodala has become the lynchpin of a Nuggets defense that struggles mightily without him, and losing him would set the Nuggets back on the defensive end immensely.

2. What will happen with Corey Brewer and Andre Miller?

It's no secret that Corey Brewer and Andre Miller were badly exposed in the Nuggets first round loss against the Golden State Warriors. Combined, Brewer and Miller took 47 three pointers in the series and hit just 14 of them. I'm going to go ahead and believe that this was due to Brewer and Miller's irrational hero-ball confidence and not part of the game plan, because George Karl letting career 30% and 21% three point shooters shoot that much as part of the game plan is ... well, I guess it isn't that shocking.

In any case, I certainly enjoyed Brewer's frenetic energy and ability to win games through pure hustle, but he is simply not a good enough shooter for the volume of shots he takes - especially in the playoffs. While I understand that Brewer was trying to help make up for the scoring chasm left in the absence of Danilo Gallinari, Brewer did not seem to understand that he would have helped his team far more by getting the ball into the hands of better shooters like Ty Lawson or Wilson Chandler. He gambled very often on the defensive end, resulting in open looks and mismatches as frequently as he forced turnovers. It's been a fun few seasons with Brewer and his goat, but he's likely to get a decent contract offer elsewhere and the Nuggets have an eager Evan Fournier and Quincy Miller waiting in the wings. I'm excited to see both young players get a chance in the Nuggets freewheeling offense.

As much venom has been directed Andre Miller's way - and much of it deservedly so - I still think the Nuggets keep him as the backup point guard. Julyan Stone has looked great at points with this Nuggets team, but he still can't make a shot and doesn't yet have the playmaking bonafides to warrant significant minutes - yet. We all know that Miller is barely capable of guarding the postgame buffet line at this point in his career. Watching Steph Curry torch him again and again was painful. Yet as Karl's "wubbie", Miller will hold a unique pull with the team as long as Karl is the coach. Miller is still one of the best playmakers and lob passers in the NBA, which helps maximize the value of the Nuggets extreme athleticism and length. It's on Karl to recognize his defensive deficiencies going forward, and should the Nuggets again get burned by Miller's defense in a playoff situation, the blame should rest squarely on Karl's head.

3. Should the Nuggets search for a head coach begin now?

I respect everything George Karl has been able to do as a head coach. He's won over 1,000 games, taken this Nuggets team to the playoffs for 10 consecutive seasons, and guided the franchise through rough waters during the Carmelo Anthony saga.

It should be clear to anyone, though, that he's nearing the end of his coaching career, even after setting franchise records for home wins, consecutive wins, and total wins. After enduring two separate bouts with cancer and the strain of 25 seasons coaching 5 different franchises, Karl's passion and fire for coaching has seemingly started to gutter. Karl's admitted that he tries to take a more relaxed approach to his coaching, that he doesn't work himself up the way he used to. Certainly understandable for a man who has been through as much as Karl has. I just do not feel that approach is conducive to success in the playoffs, and Karl's record in the postseason backs that up.

I can't help but feel that Damocles' sword hangs over his head. If Karl again fails to guide this team out of the first round this coming season, the Nuggets will have virtually no choice but to let him go. If that is the thinking in the front office (and I must believe that Josh Kroenke and Masai are preparing for that eventuality), they need to start vetting candidates as soon as possible, starting yesterday. Lots of potential coaching hires both within and without exist, and even with the almost assured drop-off in the transition to a new coach and style, it would give the organization a fresh start against 10 years of the same old swan song.

Podcast: Les Shapiro talks Ujiri and top 5 favorite sports movies

2013-05-22T05:41:32Z

The Colorado Sports Guys had the distinct pleasure of having Denver sports veteran Les Shapiro, of the Les and Tom Nalen Show on 102.3 ESPN Denver, join us in the Colorado Sports Guys studio (high above the streets of beautiful Denver, Colorado, don't ya know) for a whacky and zany podcast filled with much laughter and sarcasm.

In the Podcast we discuss Nuggets Vic President of Basketball Operations Masai Ujiri's contract situation with the Denver Nuggets. We discuss how the people at Kroenke Sports Enterprises need to end their tradition of underpaying their executives and pony up for Masai Ujiri. Les has some great thoughts on the issue, and talks about former Nuggets executive Tim Leiweke (current president of Maple Leaf Sports Entertainment who run the Toronto Raptors) and his "go for it" attitude.

We also do Ross Martin's (Hipster Glasses) favorite segment, Headlines! Then we discuss Les Shapiro's background and talk about Arizona State University the party school. We wrap up the podcast with a discussion of our top five favorite sports movies of all time.

We would like to thank Les Shapiro for a very entertaining podcast.

Listen to the show here. If you haven't already, add us on iTunes (easiest way to listen) or if you have an Android you can always use Pocket Casts app ... well worth the two bucks or so the app charges (the podcast is always free).

And be sure to follow us on Twitter:

@Nate_Timmons

@hirossco = Ross Martin

@jmorton78 = Jeff Morton.

Conference finalists prove anything is possible in the NBA

2013-05-21T03:54:39Z

We've written ad nauseum since the dawn of Denver Stiffs about the two basic "have to's" to win an NBA Championship in the modern NBA.

First, you "have to" have at least two - if not three - Hall of Fame players on your roster.

And, secondly, you "have to" be located in one of the NBA's top-10 markets based on metropolitan area, because that's where the modern NBA players want to be.

If you have both things going for you - as virtually every NBA Champion has had since 1980, such as the Los Angeles Lakers, Chicago Bulls, Boston (right on the cusp as the 10th biggest metropolitan area in the United States) Celtics and Miami Heat - an NBA title is well within one's grasp. If you have just one of those things going for you - such as the San Antonio Spurs from 1999-2007 and the Detroit Pistons from 1989-90, each of whom won with Hall of Fame talent despite being from a non-top-10 market - you can still win it all but it's less likely.

And yet, with just four teams remaining in the 2013 NBA Playoffs, only one fits the mold of the first two "have to's": the 2012-13 Miami Heat who feature two Hall of Fame players plus one perennial All-Star and the NBA's eighth biggest market. And only one fits the mold of the second "have to": the 2012-13 San Antonio Spurs who feature three Hall of Famers playing at the tail end of one of the NBA's all-time great runs for a single franchise.

The remaining two conference finals participants are, of course, the Indiana Pacers and Memphis Grizzlies, representing the NBA's sixth and fourth smallest markets by size, respectively (Denver, in case you're curious, ranks as the 13th smallest NBA market). Not only are Indianapolis and Memphis tiny (combined, the two metropolitan areas are smaller than Minneapolis), but neither team features the requisite two Hall of Famers necessary to compete for an NBA Championship ... in fact, there may not be one Hall of Famer on either team combined.

Now granted, Indiana and Memphis may be conference finals participants due more to good fortune than prudent professional basketball team-building, but this is why you make the playoffs in the first place whenever possible: anything can happen.

Memphis, for example, appears to be the direct beneficiary of the Oklahoma City Thunder (another small market team like San Antonio that featured perhaps three Hall of Fame players on the roster before this season began) losing James Harden via trade and Russell Westbrook via injury. But before besting the Thunder in Round 2, the Grizzlies were able to take out the giant-market Los Angeles Clippers who feature a Hall of Fame point guard in Chris Paul, a potential Hall of Famer in power forward Blake Griffin and a deep bench that only a big market team can buy.

Meanwhile, the Pacers have the privilege of playing in the Leastern Conference. A conference so bad that Carmelo Anthony, J.R. Smith and Kenyon Martin can get out of the first round despite losing Game 5 at home and virtually collapsing in a closeout Game 6 on the road. (Sorry, had to.)

But while watching the Grizzlies take on the Spurs now and the Pacers about to take on the Heat this Wednesday, Nuggets fans everywhere can't help but have an "it could've been us" feeling. In fact, it feels worse than that. It would be one thing if every conference finals participant were laden with Hall of Fame talent - as we saw last season when the Final Four consisted of Miami, Boston, San Antonio and Oklahoma City. But instead, we have two participants in Indiana and Memphis doing what Denver was supposed to do. Remember, it was our Nuggets after all that were supposed to be the small market, no-Hall-of-Famers team that marched through the NBA playoffs and turned NBA tradition on its head. Conversely, our Nuggets showed so much respect for the regular season that they forgot to respect the post-season.

So maybe next season, the Nuggets should concern themselves more with competing in the playoffs than racking up regular season wins. Because if the 2013 NBA Playoffs have shown us anything, it's that your market size, seeding and how many (or how few) All-Stars you have don't really matter.

It's how you play when the opportunity presents itself.

George Karl's offensive system rates out among NBA's best

2013-05-20T15:44:00Z

For those of you stuck behind a desk today, take some time to peruse some of these articles:

Shot Selection Round-Up: Part 2 - Ian Levy, Hickory-High

Again, shot selection is not the be-all, end-all variable for good offense but its impact is significant. In a hypothetical world where the 76ers' shooting percentages from each area of the floor where completely static and immune to changes from outside factors; bringing just their shot selection up to league average XPPS would raise their TS% from 50.9%, 29th in the league this season, to 51.7%, which would have ranked 21st. Using that number, some regression analysis I've done previously, and holding their OReb% and TO% constant, we can predict that their ORtg. would jump from the 99.9 they actually averaged in the regular season to 102.9. That would essentially give them an even point differential for the season, the mark of a 0.500 team. I know I'm sprinting down a slippery slope here, assuming a huge number of other variables wouldn't change as well, but since the 76ers finished at 34-48 we can estimate that their shot selection may have cost them as many as seven wins this season.

At the other end of the spectrum we find a pair of teams working shot selection to some unbelievable advantages. The top two team shot selections this season, measured by XPPS, were the Houston Rockets (1.103) and the Denver Nuggets (1.094). Those two marks were not only the highest this season, they're the two highest for the last 12 NBA seasons (which is as far back as my data goes). Given the way shot selection is trending in the NBA, it may be safe to say that they're the two most efficient shot selections of the three-point era.

Lots of Nuggets fans tend to think that George Karl has no offensive system, but clearly his players listen to what he wants in the shot selection department and it's reflected in the numbers above.

Ok, Who Wants to Sign Dwight? - Barry Petchesky, Deadspin

The math is simple enough. The Lakers can offer more money and more years. The four potential suitors-the Rockets, Mavericks, Clippers, and Hawks-can offer fresh starts, and maybe even better teams.

More money and more years typically wins out in the NBA. How often do we see free agents, with the recent CBAs, ditch the team that has their "Bird Rights" aka the honor to pay them more than anyone else? Most of the big names we've seen switch teams have done so via trade and sign-and-trade. With the new restrictions on sign-and-trade deals (mainly, you can't get a sign-and-trade done if your team is over the salary cap "*apron") it might be even more rare to see guys like Howard skip town.

Would it be wise for Howard to ditch the Lakers? From the list above I'd say, yes. Playing in Houston with James Harden, Chandler Parsons, and even Jeremy Lin would be beneficial to Howard. He could focus on defense and he would get his chances on offense in the fast-paced system that Kevin McHale runs.

Teaming up with Chris Paul with either the Clippers or Hawks would be wise, too. Atlanta would still have Al Horford and the Clippers have Blake Griffin - to go along with the other role players in each city - smart. Staying with the Lakers would be Howard's biggest gamble as he'd have to carry more of the load and who knows what that roster may wind up looking like next season and beyond (Dallas, to me, is also a risky situation).

It would seem like Howard will likely be sticking around out West with four of his five suitors being in the Western Conference, so as Nuggets fans - we should expect to see a lot of Howard for the next four to five seasons, at least.

*Note on sign-and-trade deals under the new CBA:

To make matters worse, any team that exceeds the cap "apron" - which is $4 million over the existing luxury tax level - is not allowed to bring in a player in a sign-and-trade deal. That team also will only be able to offer a three-year mid-level exception deal to a free agent rather than the four-year exception that teams under the apron can offer, putting them at a bargaining disadvantage on the open market.

Spurs take Game 1 and play brilliant defense on Zach Randolph

Randolph finished with a season-low two points on 1-of-8 shooting in 28 minutes, the lowest-scoring playoff game by a player who averaged at least 15 points per game in the regular season and played more than 20 minutes in the playoff game since Ray Allen in Game 3 of the 2010 NBA Finals.

In the rare times Memphis actually got the ball inside to Randolph - three of his shots, including his lone make, came directly after offensive rebounds (two of which Randolph got due to San Antonio's fronting) - the Spurs effectively used double-teams.

I was asked about Randolph's poor game on Twitter and I just assumed (before watching the game, DVR style) that Zach perhaps was having a poor first-half. It turned out to be a poor game and it was more than an off-night. It was the Spurs defense. They didn't allow Randolph to get comfortable: winning battles for position on the block, not falling for his fakes, doubling when he got around the post-defender, and just length.

Against the Thunder, Zach was the more physical player and won the battles for real estate around the rim, not the case in Game 1. Things were getting so bad that Randolph resorted to just flat-out shoving Tim Duncan on, at least, one occasion to try to create some space near the rim. If you needed more proof as to Randolph's importance to Memphis' offense - look no further than this game.

If the Spurs can manage to come up with a few more games like that against Memphis' post-machine, it could be a very short series. But that's what adjustments are all about.

Nate_Timmons on Twitter
ntimmons73@yahoo.com

Sunday Open Thread: Ty Lawson plays some 3-on-3 against Adrien Broner

2013-05-19T21:12:18Z

Well, we made it to Sunday. Are you watching the Grizzlies trying to get back into the game against the Spurs in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals?

Let's make another poll on who you are rooting for now that the conference finals are set - vote below.

Here are some links that are totally worth checking out:

The draft coverage over at SLC Dunk was awesome as some of their crew was at the Combine in Chicago this past week. So many video interviews! Click here for all of that.

And with the Knicks being eliminated - J.R. Smith is saying he wants to retire a Knick and he's still taking some heat for the rumored late night partying during the post-season - click here.

Check out Ty Lawson, of your Nuggets, playing boxer Adrien Broner in a 3-on-3 game. At the end of the clip it sounds like Lawson's team was 2-1 on the day...

NBA owners, please don't treat Seattle like the NFL treats Los Angeles

2013-05-18T21:30:02Z

The Denver Nuggets and the Seattle Supersonics both entered their respective leagues at the same time, 1967. Denver in the ABA and Seattle in the NBA. This is the first in a surprisingly very long line of shared history between the two cities that continued all the way to 2008. Some of the most pivotal moments in Nuggets/NBA history occurred between the Nuggets and the Sonics in that time span starting in 1969.

The Denver Rockets of the ABA signed Spencer Haywood in 1969 after one year of college. Due to the NBA's "Rules of eligibility" at the time, Haywood couldn't sign with the NBA. Haywood's one season in Denver was spectacular, averaging 30 points and 19.5 (!) rebounds a game. Amazing talent in a fledgling league. It was inevitable that the ABA would be too small for the amazing talents of Haywood. In 1970 Haywood and the Seattle Supersonics agreed on a contract, putting them in direct violation of the NBA's eligibility rules. The case went all the way to the Supreme Court and resulted in a landmark decision regarding eligibility for professional leagues.

The two teams didn't intersect again until after the Nuggets entered the NBA. They met in the Western Conference Finals in 1978. The Nuggets were defeated in six games 4-2 and the Sonics went on to lose to the Washington Bullets in the Finals. The next year the Sonics would play the Bullets again in the Finals and win their only Championship. Three seasons later, in 1982 the Nuggets would trade troubled star David Thompson to Seattle for none other than the Stiffiest Stiff of them all ... Bill Hanzlik.

The Nuggets and Sonics met again in the first round of the 1988 NBA playoffs. The Nuggets won 3-2 over a Sonics team featuring Xavier McDaniel, Tom Chambers and future Nuggets player Dale Ellis. They were coached by Bernie Bickerstaff. Fast forward two years ... in 1990 the Nuggets' pretend owners Peter Bynoe and Bertram Lee hired Bickerstaff as general manager.

Four seasons later, the (then) upstart Denver Nuggets met the heavily favored Sonics in the first round of the 1994 NBA playoffs. We all know what happened there, NBA History. The Nuggets became the first-ever No. 8 seed to defeat a No. 1 seed in the playoffs. A great moment for the Nuggets and the NBA (not so much Seattle or George Karl). The next year Bickerstaff brought in former Sonics sharp-shooter Dale Ellis.

The Nuggets connection fell off until January of 2005 - the Nuggets hired Karl, former Sonics coach. He has been with the club ever since. The last "connection" and milestone was the NBA record 168 points in regulation that the Nuggets put on the Sonics in their last-ever season in Seattle in 2008. These are all moments that connect the Nuggets to the Sonics, a connection that runs just as deep as the one with the Los Angeles Lakers and the San Antonio Spurs (the Nuggets have faced both of those teams six times in the NBA playoffs).

I have to say, speaking for myself, it has been weird not seeing the Nuggets annual trek up to the Pacific Northwest. The back to back of the Portland Trail Blazers and the Supersonics was a tradition. The events of what happened in 2008 are well worn and covered extensively by the documentary Sonicsgate. You can understand the lingering animus and ill-feeling toward Commissioner David Stern and former Washington State Speaker of the House Frank Chopp after their ego-fueled showdown in 2006. After an attempt to purchase the Sacramento Kings by Hedge Fund Manager Chris Hansen and Microsoft Billionaire Steve Ballmer this year was denied by the NBA, and David Stern started off his press conference on May 15th by saying "This is going to be short for me. I have a game to get to in Oklahoma City..." ... you can understand the hurt and enraged feelings.

I'm going to set the Sacramento issue aside. It is settled in my mind and I'm happy that the people there get to move forward knowing their team will be there for the foreseeable future. Quite frankly, for a team that has been around as long as the Kings have (in multiple cities from Rochester to Kansas City to Omaha to Sacramento) the Nuggets share almost no historical or pivotal NBA moments with them. It's odd that I really don't have any feelings about the Kings other than just another team on the Nuggets schedule.

One hopes that future NBA commissioner Adam Silver (Stern retires in February 2014) can see fit to do right by the city of Seattle. While the oft-repeated rationale for keeping the Kings in Sacramento has been that incumbent city has the advantage ... that certainly didn't apply to Seattle when the team was allowed to leave. That same consideration was not applied. So you can say that the NBA "half" righted their wrong in 2008 by giving the advantage to Sacramento they never gave to Seattle ... but their so far steadfast refusal to address the "Seattle problem" will continue to be a black eye for the league as a whole until it is addressed and the city has their team back.

My fear is the NBA intends to treat the city of Seattle like the NFL treats the city of Los Angeles. You know the implied, use the city as "the hammer to get a better arena/stadium built or else we will move them to Seattle/LA". It sure as hell has never been fair to LA, and it would be even worse for the city of Seattle - who probably have a greater love/affection for the Sonics than any of their other professional sports teams. This use of cities as leverage to gain terrific financial subsidies for building arenas is one of the most despicable things sports leagues do. People have very large attachments to their sports teams, and I can't imagine the rage and pain I'd feel if the Nuggets chose to do that when the Pepsi Center is outdated.

In that way, I'm glad COMSAT decided to build Pepsi Center themselves (with a very, very small public subsidy in the form of land donation). It bucked sports business trends. It can be done and mass corporate welfare/extortion with the use of fans as pawns is something that should be beneath every professional sports league. It is just plain weird that there is no NBA team in Seattle and it's high time the NBA sees fit to correct what they wrought on the people of Seattle.

To Kings fans. I was impressed with your media lock-step in the recent fight to keep the team. That was great. I would ask only one favor of you. Put aside any hard feelings you can and understand that the NBA needs a team in Seattle. Could you see it in your heart to flip the script and advocate heavily for a team in Seattle? Quite frankly they need all the help they can get. You won the right to a bright future, and I would hope that deep down you would want that same feeling for the people of Seattle.

The same goes for Nuggets fans. My heart and soul goes to the Nuggets. Always. Yet, I do have a very soft spot in my heart for the many friends I have in Seattle and their desperate struggle to regain their NBA team. I hope that we all understand this and tell the NBA to not give in to the worse demons of their nature and use Seattle as leverage.

It's time the NBA decides to put a team in Seattle, one way or another. The fans shouldn't suffer any more for mistakes made by egocentric politicians and commissioners.

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Twitter: @jmorton78 https://twitter.com/#!/jmorton78

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