tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42332153963409553432024-03-05T05:52:57.292-08:00Suicide SqueezeRandom thoughts, ideas, ravings about sports- typically baseball, football and basketball, and most frequently about Denver teams, or whatever game I'm watching.
My profanity is not filtered; it's heat pasteurized.fiyahpowahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332933662232379792noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4233215396340955343.post-86759448677169344472014-02-22T08:55:00.004-08:002014-02-22T08:55:53.621-08:00Nuggets 2013-14 Mid-season Assessment (incomplete)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="color: blue;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Incomplete review, needs proofreading and stuff, but I lost it while assessing front office, so deal...</span></span></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Denver Nuggets mid-season
report</span></u></b></div>
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<u><span style="text-decoration: none;"><br /></span></u></div>
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Today the 2014 NBA All-Star will be played in New Orleans,
and no representatives from the 2013-14 Denver Nuggets team will be
participating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a matter of fact, no
Nuggets player will be participating in any All-Star event throughout the
weekend, i.e. dunk contest, skills, 3-point shooting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Lets break down the team, starting with the roster, and see
why.</div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Point Guard</b></div>
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Everything about this franchise starts with <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/4000/ty-lawson">Ty Lawson</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ty’s four game absence from the line-up due
to a fractured rib speaks volumes about his value to this team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During that stretch, the team has lost all
four road games (at NYK, Detroit, Indiana and Minnesota) by a combined 110
points. Even worse, they’re not even competitive. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not just that Ty can bring the ball up
the court and initiate the offense, but he is involved in the offense, taking
high percentage mid-range shots and breaking the ankles of any defender on a
whim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the offense goes a few
minutes without a bucket, he takes matters into his own hands to create scoring
opportunities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before his injury, Ty was
also becoming more vocal on the court, getting into player’s ears when they
make mental mistakes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has become that
coach on the floor that every coach wants from their point guard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now if he could start making his free throws
at a higher clip. </div>
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The other “point” guard was <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/2782/nate-robinson">Nate Robinson</a>
aka “Lights” in the Pepsi Max commercial before tearing his ACL on January 29<sup>th</sup>
vs Charlotte and missing the remainder of the season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a point guard, Nate is playing out of
position.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Well what position should he
play? Is he a shooting guard?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Perhaps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he gets the ball,
his mindset is to score score score.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Nothing more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His strengths are
not running an offense or getting other teammates involved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His offensive game is about beating his
defender and anyone else in the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That being said, he’s a terrific bench player, and arguably one of the most
exciting players in the game to watch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But as a point guard, he limits his teammates to spectators and that is
not what this team needs. </div>
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With less than 5 days left on this roster, it’s inevitable
that <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/557/andre-miller">Andre Miller</a>
is traded. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His pride spurred his
outburst from the bench mid-game and will keep him from ever rejoining this
team during its desperate need of a point guard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oddly, if he had shut up and been mature
about the situation, he’d be starting right, leading this team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People can blame Brian Shaw for cutting his
minutes, but in this situation, it is Dre’s pride that keeps him off the
roster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to mention his matador-style
defense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More on Miller later. </div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Shooting Guard</b></div>
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Denver’s best offseason acquisition has been <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/3003/randy-foye">Randy Foye</a>.
Period.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While he is currently playing
out of position as point guard due to injuries to Ty and Nate, he brings a
maturity that this team is desperately lacking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His defense is average, but he brings good floor spacing and a terrific
outside shot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Earlier in the season, his
shot was not falling for a couple weeks, and he rightfully deserved to be a
bench player.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But when it’s on, he fits
this offense very well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Foye will not
replace Iguodala (the player he was traded for), but he’s a different type of
player and carries a cheaper salary cap figure. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is one word to describe <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/6588/evan-fournier">Evan Fournier</a>’s
game so far this season: inconsistent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some nights, he’s got it going on: hitting 3s, eurostepping to the hoop,
and solid on-ball defense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then he’s
gone for the next three games and back in Shaw’s doghouse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most people would say it’s a matter of
confidence, but Shaw has given him plenty of minutes even when he’s played
poorly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a matter of maturity and
developing into a consistent player.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He’s not there yet.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Small Forward</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With immense talent, <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/3194/wilson-chandler">Wilson Chandler</a>
can take over games if, and it’s a big “IF”, he has his head in the game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too often though, he just stands on the
perimeter, waiting for his defender to sag to the interior so he can get a pass
and hit an open 3 pointer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he
approaches the game in that capacity, his entire game sulks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A perfect illustration of this point would be
the February 2<sup>nd</sup>, 2014 game at Madison Square Garden.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wilson had a chip on his shoulder since he
was traded from NYK to the DEN, and started out the game aggressive, scoring 10
points in the 1<sup>st</sup> quarter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But then he disappeared, scoring 7 points the rest of the game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Similar to Fournier, Chandler must grow up
and learn to bring it every night, every quarter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If he does that, he has the ability to be an
All-Star as well as contribute to a team that goes deep in the playoffs
annually.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
With Danilo Gallinari out for the season, <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/6611/quincy-miller">Quincy Miller</a>
has had an excellent opportunity to play extended minutes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At times, he will appear aggressive and
unstoppable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But like almost every
player on this team, he drifts and becomes just another player on the
court.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like Chandler, he has a nice
perimeter shot and a terrific dribble-drive to the basket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His body is long and thin, and he has the
tools to develop into a great NBA player.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He looks like a more confident and aware player compared to last year,
but has much more room to grow. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
In November 2013, Denver’s front office chose not to pick up
<a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/6436/jordan-hamilton">Jordan
Hamilton</a>’s $1+M option for next year, making him an unrestricted free agent
after this season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That decision buried
J-Ham deep on the bench.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all,
what’s the point of giving valuable minutes to him instead of developing
Fournier and Quincy?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When J-Ham has
checked into the game, he’s taken an offensive mindset, showcasing what he does
best= score buckets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As one of the
better 3 point shooters on this team, he also has a fairly decent drive to set
up mid-range shots.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, that’s
about all his game has, and that’s why the front office chose not to pick up
his option.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He can be a black hole with the
ball and is a defensive liability. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Power Forward</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The team’s deepest position is at power forward, and
unfortunately no player has made a case to be the starting power forward of the
team’s future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The four players at this
position are values with their combined salary costing the team $11.3M this
year. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People contend that <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/6433/kenneth-faried">Kenneth Faried</a>
will be difficult to sign after his rookie deal expires, and forget he still
signed through next season at only $2.2M.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The more alarming numbers of Faried’s career would be his numbers on the
court.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last year, he made his mark by
rebounding and running the court in transition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This year, his rebounding numbers are down 1.7 rebounds/game from last
year due to fewer minutes, but his field goal percentage is the lowest of his
career at .544.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While numbers can
indicate there is a problem, the bigger problem is his defense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too often, he is a step late rotating on help
defense, or he’s outmuscled in the post by bigger power forwards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he may be the worst pick and roll
defender on the team, if not the league.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Yet he is still the most exciting, most likeable player on the
team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He brings good effort almost every
game, and on the wings in transition, he flies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His plus qualities are the reason why he will always be involved trade
talk rumors. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
If <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/3413/darrell-arthur">Darrell Arthur</a>
and Kenneth Faried could be morphed into one player, the team would have their
power forward conundrum solved. Unlike Faried, Arthur is an exceptional pick
and roll defender with a great 15 foot shot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His game around the rim is very weak, rarely scoring in the paint and
almost nonexistent on the boards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And if Arthur, Faried and <a href="https://www.blogger.com/espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/3437/j.j.-hickson">JJ Hickson</a> could be
transformed into one player, the team would have a Hall of Fame player.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hickson’s greatest attribute is his low post
scoring, recently developing a nice roll to the basket off the high post pick
and roll. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the statistics show he
is averaging 10+ rebounds per game, he is fundamentally not a good rebounder,
never boxing out and giving up a half dozen offensive rebounds per game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even worse, his defense is frighteningly
bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, he is playing out of position
due to injuries and matched up against opponents’ centers, but his defensive
rotations are clueless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yet because he
is averaging a double-double this season, fans think he’s great!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surprisingly, he is only 25 years old, so he
still has time to round out some of the mental parts of the game. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The fourth power forward on the roster is <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/3455/anthony-randolph">Anthony
Randolph</a> who is earning the moniker King of Garbage Time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be fair, Randolph plays more of a small
forward’s game than power forward, but at 6’ 11” with long arms, he should
develop a low post game that will keep him in the league for many years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Center</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The center position on this season’s team has been nothing
short of a trainwreck.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Early in the
season, <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/3452/javale-mcgee">Javale
McGee</a> was lost on the court, throwing ridiculous shots at the basket and
not establishing himself in the post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The best thing that could have happened to him was this leg injury which
will give him a pass this season when the team does year end evaluations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it’s pretty apparent that he did not come
to camp in shape, nor with any marked improvement from previous seasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Javale’s strengths need to be shot blocking
and rebounding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he gets in foul
trouble early due to slow recognition leading to late rotations to the ball,
and spends most of the game on the bench.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He also needs to add some weight in his butt area for rebounding/boxing
out purposes, so he doesn’t look like a new-born giraffe when the shot goes
up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Masai Ujiri took a really longshot
gamble in signing McGee to a $10-12M/ year and it’s most likely not going to
pay off. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On the other side of the payscale discussion, <a href="http://espn.go.com/nba/player/_/id/4298/timofey-mozgov">Timofey Mozgov</a>
is a quality bargain at ~$4.5M/year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>While he’s not developed into a quality starting center yet, he gives
the team a shotblocking presence on the interior of the defense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This presence allows players to direct their
driving opponent to Mozgov who can redirect the shot or just contest it, and is
a big deal when playing help-defense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Offensively, he is developing some nice low-post moves and a short
hookshot. Also he is not getting moved around in the low post.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Two years ago, he looked like he was playing
on the balls of his feet and was getting muscled by players smaller than him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He needs to work on avoiding foul trouble and
continue to develop on this same course. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Coaching</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
For the first two months, Brian Shaw deserved a pass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was coming into Denver with a makeshift
roster of unfamiliar players.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of
these players are from the young talent pool harvested from the Carmelo Anthony
trade.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The situation becomes a rookie
head coach leading a team of young players.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Like any rookie, mistakes were made and will continue to be made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Andre Miller tirade should have been
diffused before it erupted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bench
rotations leave fans and critics of the game scratching their heads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even starting lineups are suspect.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The players need to know their coach has
their back, so when Shaw was ejected from a game for the first time in his
coaching career, the team responded and blew out the Celtics, then OKC and
Orlando in the next few games.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A calm
demeanor and nice suit looks good when answering the media, but when your team
feels alienated from the coach, it’s a recipe for disaster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because the team is riddled with roster
deficiencies, Brian Shaw will get a free pass this year and that’s just not
enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has to be held accountable
for the player’s development and growth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Teach them to mature properly, become experts at their craft and build a
winning mindset.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Much of that
responsibility falls on the assistant coaches too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We hear the verbiage from Shaw during
post-game interviews, but we are not seeing it on the court.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is 50 games too soon to judge? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Front Office</b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Who is Tim Connelly?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Looking at his track record, he has a penchant for being involved with
losing organizations in Washington and New Orleans. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With no general manager experience and 36
years old, he was hired in June of 2013 right before the NBA draft, and as his
All Star shooting guard was departing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Since then he had to hire a new coach for the team, while frantically
scrambling to fill the holes on a roster with the starting small forward and
center out with injury for the majority of the year. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Here is where the dysfunction begins and where I lose it: </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First, hiring a rookie coach to lead young players is a
recipe for disaster.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No matter how
enamoring Brian Shaw’s peers praise him, this team was not the right job for
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Second, trading away Kosta Koufos (a center) for a power
forward, Darrell Arthur, was a dumb move because it forced Javale McGee in the
starting lineup. That decision may have come from the owner, but if a GM is not
allowed to make their own decisions, don’t take the GM job. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Javale has never shown any significant growth
or the ability to be a starting center in the league.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, that $10-12M/year albatross falls on
Masai’s head, but Ujiri found a way to work out trades to dump dud contracts
like McGee’s (see Nene and Afflalo).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now
we have three power forwards on the roster, so bringing in another power
forward, J.J. Hickson, to a 3 year deal makes no sense, unless you want him to
play center.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it’s a well-noted fact
around the NBA that Hickson struggles defending centers. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The decision of ditching Koufos really bites
the Nuggets in the butt when Javale is out for the year with a fractured leg
that will not heal. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thirdly, after a visit to the Summer League in Las Vegas,
Nate Robinson campaigns to have himself added to the team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since Randy Foye and Evan Fournier are
already shooting guards on the roster, NateRob can be the back up point
guard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What about Dre Miller?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why not bring in Chauncey Billups, local
legend, at a cheaper price who can play point and shooting guard who can mentor
some of the younger players instead of teaching them how to Instagram
themselves like 12 year olds? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
And now that the season is underway, the front office has
done NOTHING to correct or build this team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now that Andre Miller has blown up and made himself unwelcome on the
team, his roster spot is left to stagnate, putting more minutes on Ty Lawson as
the team’s only legitimate point guard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When Nate Rob goes down with an ACL injury, the team STILL sits on their
hands instead of making a move to get something of value for Miller.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“We’re trying to create leverage for compensation from a team that needs
PG depth during their playoff run.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now
Lawson has a fractured rib from playing 40+ minutes per game and should be out
for ~6 weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Foye is the team’s point
guard which means Foye is overmatched vs other point guards and unable to run the
offense, and Fournier or Quincy is starting at shooting guard and being
outplayed. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yes, after Iguodala and Ujiri left, GK was fired because
ownership wanted to build a team that could go deep in the playoffs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The current roster has ONE player that would
fit that bill, Ty Lawson.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe Foye
sticks too. Gallo has become a liability due to his frequent injuries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>WC doesn’t have the heart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fournier will take 10 years to develop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Quincy is a budding star but will also need
many seasons to groom. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The team
chemistry is a joke, becoming a mixture of Playdough, M&Ms and Capri Sun
juice boxes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only two franchises
that are more laughable are in Cleveland and Charlotte.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Marquee free agents will ignore the team’s
offers in upcoming years. </div>
fiyahpowahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332933662232379792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4233215396340955343.post-50337039693194859872013-11-02T14:56:00.000-07:002013-11-02T14:56:12.567-07:00Denver Nuggets 2013-14 Opening Roster<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i.imgur.com/Yqb0E3s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="304" src="http://i.imgur.com/Yqb0E3s.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
The Denver Nuggets 2013-14 season is upon us, and here is a screencapture of the current roster. Quite any array of names with either decent NBA talent or the promise of good things in development. Right now, our bench is so deep that it's too deep. A deep bench is an asset during a length 82 game season riddled with injuries. When the wins become more infrequent, veteran players will stop putting in the effort, locker room dynamics will change, fans will throw bile at the front office and coaches for a litany of reasons (because that's what they always do). <br />
<br />
<b>Breaking down the Roster by Position:</b><br />
<br />
On this current roster, no player should be considered "untouchable" in trade talks. The front office would be least likely to trade Ty Lawson, as he is the best player on the team and only a handful of point guards in the league are better. His new, and well-earned, contract is reasonable considering his value and locks him down through 2016-17. Andre Miller won't go anywhere because no other team really needs him (unless George Karl gets a mid-season coaching gig).<br />
<br />
At the shooting guard position, Randy Foye is the starter here with a club friendly contract and a sweet perimeter shot. Foye would not have thrived in George Karl's uptempo, freewheeling offense, but in Shaw's half-court sets, he should find a good niche. Evan Fournier has the opportunity to take the spot from Foye as he has a shooter's stroke from the perimeter, nice ability to drive to the basket and the ability to play in an uptempo game. His game has a lot of promise but lacks any type of consistency. More playing time and more seasons under his belt will grow that stability.<br />
<br />
No one questions that the small forward position is Danilo Gallinari's starting spot when he returns from injury. He possesses the best overall game on the team and started to show leadership qualities toward the end of last season. Like Fournier, his offensive game needs more consistency. Defensively, he is usually matched up on opponents' best player and doesn't get enough credit for that. Gallo's biggest adversary is staying healthy.<br />
<br />
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In the past two seasons, Chandler has played 8 games in
2011-12 (he had a contract in China to fulfill, then returned to the US
injured) and 43 games in 2012-13 (approximately half a season).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To boot, he starts out 2013-14 injured as
well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he’s healthy, he’s worth much
more than his contract compensates him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Excellent
offensive output with slightly above average defensive play at the SF/PF gets
him on the floor even during crucial end of game moments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Considering Gallinari’s injury prone nature,
he’s an asset to this club as long as he’s healthy. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Also at SF is Anthony Randolph who has a terrific
opportunity to play with Gallinari out until early 2014.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Randolph’s game is good on-ball defense (he
has great footwork) and an ability to score around the basket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If he develops at 15-18 foot jump shot, he’ll
bring so much more value to the team. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While
his minutes will be few, Jordan Hamilton can show that he is an offensive
weapon but really lacks discipline on offense and has almost zero defensive
effort. </div>
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Our new bigs, Darrell Arthur and JJ Hickson, give us veteran depth at the power forward position. While Hickson is listed as a 6' 9" PF, he can slide over to play center in a pinch. Arthur's offensive game is mostly away from the basket; he's a post-up type of PF and most valued for his pick and roll defense.<br />
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Both of these new acquisitions would be great, but has created a logjam at the position which fan-favorite Kenneth Faried started last year thus creating all the trade rumor talk. Looking at the roster with salary-cap tinted glasses, Faried is the best option of the three big men, as he's under his rookie contract through 2014-15. Looking at the roster with Brian Shaw's vision of a low post player with their back to the basket, Faried is the odd man out. And what is Faried's value to other teams? The Nuggets won't get the compensation they expect if they bury him on the bench, so expect his minutes to go up until the trade deadline or until he proves his game has evolved to fit Brian Shaw's scheme.<br />
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Center is a big point of emphasis in Brian Shaw's offense (as is the power forward position). Unfortunately the Nuggets have a giant question mark at the position instead of an exclamation point. Javale McGee's play leaves fans and coaches scratching their heads with more "WTF" question marks than "Oh wow" exclamation points. His body is long and thin, and because of that he is getting outmuscled in the low post on both ends of the court. More often than not, he is just reaching out to tap a ball to a fellow player rather than getting to the ball. His offensive is raw, but if he gets a small hook shot going, he can be an effective option. But he has to beef up and not let defenders muscle him out of the low post. Also does Denver's altitude have heavier impact on his asthma? Quite honestly, if the organization is banking their future success on this player, it has to be called a long shot.<br />
<br />
Meanwhile Timofey Mozgov's contract is very cap friendly and he has shown an
ability to play both ends of the court despite letting himself get
muscled in the paint. As Mozgov gets more playing time this year, he will gain more confidence and play better. His defensive rotations are good, and he's doing well on the high pick and roll.<br />
<br />
Lastly, Quincy Miller isn't expected to deliver many minutes this year pending injuries or trades. Quincy's game is looking better, but he's so thin he projects to be a small forward with perimeter shooting. He's going to have to make big strides during the season on his defense and rebounding, and that comes with more playing time and maturity.<br />
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<b>Early Expectations</b><br />
<br />
With Brian Shaw bringing in a new scheme to this team, a learning curve will require time and patience. In the first two months, Brian Shaw will make line up changes before and during games that may seem suspect, but he has to get a feel for what players are right at particular moments in games. As the trade deadline approaches, the front office will have to make roster adjustments based on player/team development without looking at the win/loss record. This new season is a process of building and developing a team, not wins and losses. It will be fun to reflect back at this post with new eyes in March of 2014.<br />
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<br />fiyahpowahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332933662232379792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4233215396340955343.post-59388814400295153732013-07-19T07:10:00.000-07:002013-07-19T07:10:00.601-07:00Notes from 2013 Denver Nuggets Summer League play:Just a couple quick notes from the Denver Nuggets Summer League games:<br /><br />**The first couple games, Jordan Hamilton's game was OFF. After missing the 3rd game to handle a family issue, J-Ham went bonkers in the 1st quarter of his return game. Simply put, he was the J-Ham that we all know and love. His perimeter shooting will be a huge asset this upcoming season. Still shaky on his defense, but isn't everyone?<br />
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<br /><br />**Evan Fournier came out strong in the first game, showing a really nice stroke on his shot and ability to create shots off of screens. His ballhandling was really suspect in a couple games. Another thing that went unmentioned was his leadership role in helping Erick Green know his place and instilling confidence in the rookie. <br /><br />**Since we just addressed Erick Green- The rookie can SHOOT. Rather small as expected, he looked better and better with each game. His ability to hit 3s will give him a strong chance to make the roster this upcoming season. The way he came off screens with his dribble was indicative of his confidence level rising. While he may not get much playing time in 2013-14, he can mature in a very good player. <br /><br />**Quincy Miller had a couple really bad 3 games, at times showing a spark of brilliance, then disappearing for the remainder of the game, or chucking up really poor 3s. By game 4 and 5, he found his niche and accordingly found his stroke, busting 3s with deadly accuracy. It's unfair to think of him as a PF despite his height. This young man should be groomed to be a shooting guard or small forward. Personally I'd like to see him develop into a badass 6' 10" PG. On a couple plays, he had a couple really nice entry passes in which he was able to look over the defense and deliver. <br /><br />**In the first few games, Darius Johnson-Odom really had some special moments, despite the overall poor team play. For about 5 minutes in game 2(?), he was unstoppable going to the rim for the layup or dish. His disposition is really what impresses me, like an angry dog. He is "blessed" with a scowl that will immediately draw a technical foul from Joey Crawford and backs it up with tenacious play like he always has something to prove. He may not make the roster, but he should be a training camp invite. <br /><br />**The rest of the lineup was pretty poor, outmatched almost every time they stepped on the floor. The coaches gave C.J. Harris a chance to show what he has by putting him in the startin lineup, but he was getting torched on defense and didn't really step a tempo the way a PG should. Luke Harangody showed a nice (but weird looking) 3 point shot and had no problems trying to draw charges, but his size and speed will keep him from making the roster. He may get a training camp invite though. The rest of the roster was really unremarkable.<br /><br />Leaving the 2013 Summer League, the Nuggets team showed a plethora of outside shooters. That aspect of the game was sorely missed last year, as Fournier and J-Ham were buried on the bench most of the year, and Q wasn't going to see the court. One of the funny moments of the last game was to see J-Ham dribble across halfcourt, sizing up Coby Karl and drop a 25 foot shot in his face as if saying, "That's for your dad benching me all year". As good as the perimeter shooting was, the interior game was awful, just awful, indicating we have a real lack of upcoming talented big men. But that's something which can be addressed in the draft or as roster cuts are made. The 2013-14 season doesn't look as bad as the doomsayers have predicted. fiyahpowahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332933662232379792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4233215396340955343.post-43247214951712705242013-04-09T10:51:00.002-07:002013-04-10T08:50:00.569-07:002012-13 Home Court Advantage for the Denver Nuggets<br />
<i>“We talking about practice. Not a game, not a game, not a game. We talkin’ bout practice.” –The Answer</i><br />
<br />
This time of year, we’re not talking about practice, but we’re talking about playoffs, and more specifically we’re talking about home court advantage (HCA) for the Denver Nuggets. Since January, the importance of HCA for this Nuggets team has been stressed repeatedly as a generalization and without validation.<br />
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It’s no secret: No team in the NBA wants to play in Denver. Beyond the obvious reasons of playing at altitude, familiarity of arena, and fans, this Nuggets team has some serious mojo when playing at home. Developing confidence is HUGE for a young team entering the playoffs. This season was not supposed to be a deep playoff run for one of the youngest teams in the NBA. In January when Masai Ujiri said on a local radio program that this team isn’t ready for the playoffs, he had to realize that this season was to get experience and chemistry to his young core of players and work on championship runs in the subsequent seasons. <br />
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Instead the team exceeded expectations by going on a 15 game winning streak, posting a 35-3 home court record, and moving into the 3rd seed in the very competitive Western Conference. A 3rd seed assures this team HCA in the 1st round of the playoffs against likely opponent Golden State Warriors; the Houston Rockets are 1 game behind GSW in standings. While no round of the playoffs is a walk in the park, Denver at home is almost a lock to win each game against their first round opponent. On the road, when the Nuggets can dictate their up-tempo style of play, their chance of winning is higher than the opponent. Road wins at Portland, Sacramento, Phoenix, Chicago, OKC and Utah, as well as a competitive 1-pt loss at San Antonio, are proof that Denver’s play on the road has been exemplary lately. The 24 point loss at New Orleans was an aberration.<br />
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Stating the obvious is all fun and stuff, but what’s the point? Simply put the Nuggets should walk through the first round against GS or HOU. Those teams are not good road teams, so Denver can win their home court games and take the series. In the second round the situation gets more tricky. If things work out as expected, Oklahoma City advances to face Denver in the second round while holding HCA for the series. If the series versus OKC goes seven games, the Nuggets can win all three of their home court games, while having FOUR opportunities to steal at game on the road. Again, when the Nuggets dictate the tempo of the game, they can win most games whether on the road and certainly at home. Point being, OKC can very likely lose a home game to Denver, and thus lose the series.<br />
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<br />
Certainly playing at home for Denver is not a sure win. Factors like Lawson’s health, Wilson Chandler’s larger role, and free throw shooting will be key deeper into the playoffs. With a forced up-tempo game, deep bench and home court advantage, George Karl’s team has a very legitimate chance to succeed like no other Nuggets team.
<!-- Blogger automated replacement: "http://images-onepick-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?container=onepick&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*&url=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FXzlpQyy.gif" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEgpvct59VJ2UOuZXYFlRlBjGhYvxT-6D4LSKy8Y87QRBEUgZXS5vkjy5y78d_BZBZPkUZ-e2C103hEMjQsFrOntNnE3bdFX7cluFxSqOjsK9JRGAYMsohJk4vHl9g3z=" --><!-- Blogger automated replacement: "http://images-onepick-opensocial.googleusercontent.com/gadgets/proxy?container=onepick&gadget=a&rewriteMime=image%2F*&url=http%3A%2F%2Fi.imgur.com%2FBu3AgLk.gif" with "https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/proxy/AVvXsEismpCrWYF-40DXXzqZCDL7vp-Nzq8-t39NgjBDNIyGMCvqiuiHEtGCJqBdXkgYf-2HxgcLoMVJrzOGmD6oQXZbJvOmcwTlY9e1AsrPtzU1bTpSLN-qdEtW7RywVLJr=" -->fiyahpowahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332933662232379792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4233215396340955343.post-13153674672904897652013-03-21T13:47:00.002-07:002013-03-21T13:47:58.422-07:00Nuggets salary cap 2013-14 (speculation)<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
First of all, a lot can change from the time of this writing
to next NBA season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since the beginning
of the 2012-13 season, opinions of this Nuggets team have changed dramatically,
and they will change once more after the winning streak is snapped (currently
13 games) and pending the outcome of the playoffs.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Looking into next season’s salary cap, the Nuggets’ front
office is very aware they are over the cap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Being over the cap isn’t a death sentence like it is in the NFL, but
owners really don’t want to pay that fine except for Jerry Buss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next year’s roster and payroll is fairly
similar to the 2012-13 season, except Ty Lawson’s new deal gives him about $10M
raise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Accordingly the Nuggets’ cap
figure ($73.7M) is about $10M over the projected 2013-14 cap. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Where will the front office free up $10M+ to avoid cap
penalties?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well, cutting Ty Lawson isn’t
an option as he’s a part of the future of this team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Riding this process of chain thinking, who
else is an untouchable on the roster?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Let’s just scroll down the roster:</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Ty Lawson and Dino Gallinari are the only other player to be
safe from cost saving moves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This team
will be built around the tempo that Lawson and Gallinari dictate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When their game is on, they’re unstoppable. Even
George Karl’s comments that these two players are starting to develop
leadership qualities indicates the team wants to build around these players. The
Nuggets have them locked down under contract for the next 3+ years. <br />
<br /><br />
<br />Javale McGee may be in that category except he’s just so raw
despite his high cap figure ($10+M). While people are perplexed at how a big
man coming off the bench averaging 18 mins per game can warrant that amount of money,
his contract reflects the going rate for big men in this league. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More importantly, McGee continues to develop
on both ends of the court.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At times he
can be dominant around the rim on defense, but his offensive game is just a
series of unrefined moves that make giraffes giggle at the awkwardness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lots of potential here, and as long as he
continues to work hard and stay out of trouble, he’ll be considered a big part
of the future roster.<br />
<br /><br />
<br />Kosta Koufos has really stepped up his game since last year.
Last year, he was coming off the bench behind Timofey Mozgov.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This year at $3M/year, his play has been a
bargain for the Nuggets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Coaching has
really helped him develop as a scorer around the basket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His footwork on defense is really good which
helps him be in position on his opponent in the paint, or help on pick and roll
defense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No doubt he’s a part of the
2013-14 team and maybe beyond.<br />
<br /><br />
<br />Kenneth Faried is another bargain for the team because he’s
still under his rookie contract.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is
locked down next year and has a team option in 2014-15.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Faried gets his game going, his energy
has more impact on his team’s offense and defense than any other player in the
league.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Inconsistency and defensive
lapses are Faried’s biggest shortcomings right now. <br />
<br /><br />
<br />Wilson Chandler has a new deal keeping him under contract
for about $6M per year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If he stays
healthy, he’s a starter that is coming off the bench.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Denver’s altitude, having a strong bench
is really important because the team can blow open a lead or force opponent’s
to bring their starters back early.<br />
<br /><br />
<br />Andre Miller is a luxury for George Karl, as he is a
starting point guard that no other teams wanted due to his age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Nuggets have him running their second
unit’s offense really well, while giving him playing time late in games.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He plays within his abilities better than
anyone else in the league, but sometimes doesn’t put in the effort on defense
which won’t be tolerated in the playoffs. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Miller is under contract next season for $5M.<br />
<br /><br />
<br />Andre Iguodala has a player option for next season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If he decides to stay with the Nuggets, Iguodala’s
2013-14 cap figure is $16M and allows him to be an unrestricted free agent the
following season.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His list of
intangibles that he brings to the court is lengthy (besides shooting free
throws) and warrants a high contract.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus
having a defensive stopper in the Western Conference to match up against Kobe,
Durant, Westbrook and Harden is not a luxury- it’s a necessity to give a team a
chance to win every night.<br />
<br /><br />
<br />Iguodala is 30 years old and hitting his prime as a
player.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His agents will push for a big
payday during his next contract negotiations to reflect his market value.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the Nuggets go deep into the playoffs this
year (second round, maybe deeper), the media will target him as their spokesperson,
a role which he does fairly well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
recognition combined with 2012 Olympic medal winner status will put his market
value at its highest point in his career.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Again, his player option is $16M; that figure will be the low-end of his
expected annual salary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Length of
contract is a consideration too, so he’ll want a 4 year deal around $20M by the
fourth year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That type of contract will
handcuff the Nuggets’ front office from being able to re-sign other contracts
in the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span>
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No doubt that Iguodala is worth that type of contract if a
team has a legitimate scorer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He doesn’t
bring in very many points per game (12.8 pts/gm) and isn’t a great outside
shooter (31% from 3-pt). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead he
brings a defensive stopper to match up on most team’s best players which
motivates his teammates to play better defense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His transition game is very good; his passing ability in the open court
or interior is exceptional with a knack for breaking down defenses off the
dribble. A few games this year he’s made the clutch game winner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Here’s one scenario I can see happening: </div>
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Iguodala renegotiates a deal as part of a sign and trade to
another team, hopefully an Eastern Conference team like maybe Cleveland.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In return the Nuggets can ask for draft picks
or young prospects.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Denver fans will
scream wails of “What are they doing?!?!” without taking any time to think it
out. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Masai Uriji will have some cap
freedom to sign Corey Brewer (if he chooses to stay) to a $6M/yr deal, or shop
around for an outside shooter like Kyle Korver. </div>
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Again, this mental exercise is all just speculation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things happen that can change the shape of a
team in just a couple weeks or months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The key for the Nuggets right now is to have the patience to develop
their young talent while maintaining flexibility to keep or discard players as
necessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course, if the Kroenkes
decide to snub the salary cap restriction, maybe they keep Iduodala and everyone
else on the roster while paying the cap penalty, and this narration of words is
nothing more than a waste of time.</div>
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fiyahpowahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332933662232379792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4233215396340955343.post-62703554685703691942012-07-10T15:25:00.001-07:002012-07-10T15:26:06.449-07:00<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Mid season assessment of the pitching staff of the 2012 Colorado Rockies. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Starting Pitching: (Francis, Friedrich, Guthrie, Pomeranz)</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Not sure where to start with this elephant in the room, so alphabetical order seems best. Before breaking it down, this starting pitching staff has been very poor this year whether because of injuries or immature arms or poor coaching. Currently Jim Tracy is using a 4-man rotation limiting the starters to 75 pitches (give or take), then pairing the starters up with a middle-reliever who is also on a pitch count. This method was brought upon Tracy out of necessity due to injuries, so all blame can't be directed at him. Current "ace" on this starting pitching staff is <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/francje01.shtml" target="_blank">Jeff Francis</a> who returned to the Rockies after the Reds let him go. His first outting was a disaster, and his ERA was over 21. His second start began very omniously, but he settled down and has become the most reliable starter of the staff. Removing the first start from his 2012 season, his statistics are pretty decent (2-1, 3.45 ERA over 31.1 IP). Meanwhile, <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/friedch01.shtml" target="_blank">Christian Friedrich</a>'s performance during the 2012 season has been a violent rollercoaster ride. Some games he will look like the next coming of Cliff Lee, and other games he'll pitch like Sara Lee. When he's attacking the strike zone with command of his slider, Friedrich is amazing to watch. Unfortunately that form only comes out about once every 3 or 4 starts. His ugly days are just a matter of maturity; he has the tools to be a solid top of the rotation pitcher. As Jim Tracy continues to give him starting opportunities, his development will become a huge part of the success of this team beyond 2012. The opening day starter, <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/guthrje01.shtml" target="_blank">Jeremy Guthrie</a>, has had a season that he'd would rather forget. Just a month ago, he was relegated to bullpen duty because he gave up so many runs, no- he gave up so many home runs. In his first ten starts (56.0 innings), Guthrie surrendered 15 HRs with an ERA of 6.91. Everyone knows those type of numbers are not going to work, Coors Field excuse or not. His fastball command can be erratic, and even when he has good command, it has no action to it. His secondary pitch is untrustworthy, so he tries to avoid it, and thus hitters sit back and wait for their pitch. To his credit over his last two starts (both road games), Guthrie has been rather good, pitching 6 innings in both games, surrendering just 2 hits and 2 runs per game. May he continue that trend. One of the young "aces" from the Ubaldo Jimenez trade is <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pomerdr01.shtml" target="_blank">Drew Pomeranz</a>. When he arrived late last season, he looked really good his first few starts. During the early 2012 season, he had flawed mechanics in his delivery, causing really poor command and hitters were just teeing off on him. Ultimately he was sent to AAA for a month or two and has since returned back to the starting rotation with amazing success. In only two July games, he has given up 3 hits, 0 runs in 12.1 innings, and more importantly, he looks dominant and very confident. Like Friedrich, Jim Tracy needs to give Pomeranz regular consistent starts to develop the mental approach to the game while maintaining his mechanics. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Relief Pitching: (Belisle, Betancourt, Brothers, Chatwood, Ottavino, Reynolds, Roenicke, Torres)</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">For the most part, these guys have been the saving grace of this team. Most nights, Jim Tracy can count on these guys to shut down the opponent for 3-4 innings, and keep the team in the game. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/belisma01.shtml" target="_blank">Matt Belisle</a> has typically been the 8th inning setup man and has been really good. Until the last game, he had a 14+ inning scoreless streak going. His command is almost always dead on which makes his slider even more deadly as it drops off the end of the table. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/betanra01.shtml" target="_blank">Rafael Betancourt</a> hasn't been closing many games this year, because the Rockies have rarely had a lead in the 9th inning. He started the season really well, so the location and command that makes him an effective closer, but over the last few weeks, he's blown save opportunities and just not been himself. The tandem of Belisle and Betancourt is a great luxury for Jim Tracy to have available, and he's best to make good use of it. Like most of the young pitchers on this team, <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/b/brothre01.shtml" target="_blank">Rex Brothers</a> has had his share of ups and downs. Sometimes those ups and downs can come in the inning, not just game to game. His strenght is his fastball which is usually 97+ and being left handed in this bullpen is a terrific asset for Tracy to manipulate around the Belisle/Betancourt tandem. Early in the season, Belisle was picking up the 7th inning, Brothers the 8th, then Betancourt the 9th, giving opposing batters a righty/lefty/righty look from the mound. Projected to be the closer in the future, Brothers needs to work on hiding his pitch until the last minute and maybe a second or third pitch. The return from the Chris Iannetta trade, <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/chatwty01.shtml#trans" target="_blank">Tyler Chatwood</a> hasn't really pitched much this year (13.0 innings) to make a substantial assessment of his 2012 performance, but he hasn't been impressive. Picked up off of waivers from the Cardinals, <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?id=ottavad01&t=p&year=2012" target="_blank">Adam Ottavino</a> hasn't delivered consistently. Some games, he is confident and in command of everything going on at the plate, while other games, he can't find the strike zone. He's more of a strikeout pitcher than the other relievers, relying on a fastball to set up a nasty slider. Similar to Brothers, <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/reynoma02.shtml" target="_blank">Matt Reynolds</a> is a lefty coming out of the bullpen. Unlike Brothers, he relies more on the location and command of his pitches rather than velocity. Some games it seems the batters can see the ball early coming out of his hand, and thus he tends to get rocked and his higher than normal WHIP (1.259). Most nights he's pretty good though. Because of the poor performance by the starters, <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/roenijo01.shtml" target="_blank">Josh Roenicke</a> has become the long middle relief man. With 50+ innings, he has the most IP out of the bullpen pitchers. He's not flashy or even solid, but he doesn't give up a lot of runs which is always a good thing. His strikeout/walk ratio is high, almost 1:1 and his WHIP is rather high 1.460. Nothing flashy about his pitching, just gets it done. Recently called up from AAA, <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/torreca01.shtml" target="_blank">Carlos Torres</a> hasn't pitched enough to allow a good feel for what he is capable. As the season progresses, he'll most likely be sent back down to Colorado Springs at least once more. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Injured pitchers: (Chacin, De La Rosa, Nicasio)</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Normally this list isn't considered, but three starting pitchers are recovering on DL. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/chacijh01.shtml" target="_blank">Jhoulys Chacin</a> spent the offseason out of contact with the Rockies orginization, and his workout wasn't up to par for a MLB pitcher. After 5 bad starts, he was shut down with nerve damage which affected his pitching. Jhoulys is expected to return shortly after the all-star break, but will he be the pitcher he was in 2011? After signing a two-year deal for $10M each year, <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rosajo01.shtml" target="_blank">Jorge De la Rosa</a> threw his arm out early last season and required Tommy John surgery. When he is working right, he's a really good number two or three pitcher. His recovery timeframe was slated for the 2nd half of 2012, but setbacks have shelved him for the remainder of the year. Even worse, <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/nicasju01.shtml" target="_blank">Juan Nicasio</a> can not catch a break. Since recovering from a broken neck in 2011, Juan has not been very good and eventually aggravated a knee injury. Slated for a return near the all-star break, he had a setback and had to have his knee drained of excess fluids. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?id=outmajo01&t=p&year=2012" target="_blank">Josh Outman</a> wasn't hurt, but pitched so poorly he won't be expected back in the Rockies' rotation unless more starters get injured. Some of the harshest criticism Jim Tracy has unleashed this year was commenting on Outman's approach to pitching. </span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Summation:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">As bad as the starting pitching has been, the trio of Francis, Friedrich and Pomeranz has potential to be effective. Ever since Bob Apodaca stepped down, the starting pitching staff has done a better job in general. Maybe the credit goes to Bo McLaughlin, or Pomeranz's AAA stint, or the 4-man rotation, or just renewed focus, who can accurately say? The young pitchers must develop over this season and beyond, so a strong pitching coach is a must. Jeremy Guthrie most likely will be traded if the front office can find an interest. Francis may return next year, but he's no longer a long-term solution, maybe a number 5 pitcher when all things are going well for the staff.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The bullpen is solid, and one of the bright spots on a team that is below average. Maybe a couple tweaks are necessary (re: Chatwood and Torres), but all in all, Jim Tracy knows what he has, and uses it well. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The injuries on this team are just out of control. JDLR's injury could have been avoided if he hadn't lied to the trainer last year, denying any discomfort. Nicasio is a walking band-aid, and Chacin's poor dedication to off-season workouts may have been the cause of his injury. Even when completely healthy, this team's starting pitching staff is not up to par with other playoff contending teams, and that will have to be addressed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Hey, with such a poor 2012 season, the Rockies will have a high draft pick in the 2013 draft, right? Maybe this time they won't draft another Greg Reynolds. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span>fiyahpowahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332933662232379792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4233215396340955343.post-63691235546932259472012-07-09T11:54:00.003-07:002012-07-09T11:55:25.719-07:00Mid-season assessment of the positional players of the 2012 Rockies:<br />
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This review will start by going around the horn:<br />
<br /><b>First base: (Helton, Giambi, Cuddyer, Colvin, Pacheco)</b><br />
Where to start? Oh yeah, Helton. While <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/heltoto01.shtml" target="_blank">Todd Helton</a> bleeds black and purple, he has been the face of the franchise pretty much since his arrival in 1997 and put up Hall of Fame type numbers. But in two of the past three years, he has stunk it up. Ok, maybe his back was ailing him in 2010, but this year, he's late on fastballs and has lost his patience at the plate. Considering his $20M contract for this season, he's certainly not living up to his end of the bargain. One thing that hasn't detoriated is Helton's glove which is still top tier. Meanwhile, <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/giambja01.shtml" target="_blank">Jason Giambi</a> is neither clutch at the plate, nor able to take any regular off days from Helton. He's hitting .240, and his glove doesn't give anyone much confidence. Quite frankly, he's been lackluster and taking up a roster spot. Fortunately, Cuddyer has been serviceable at first base, but not spectacular. Colvin should never be at first base again, yet in the upcoming years, I could see Pacheco at first base (he won't make many throwing errors from 1st).<br />
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<b>Second base: (Scutaro, Nelson, Herrera)</b><br />
The 2012 season has seen <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/s/scutama01.shtml" target="_blank">Marco Scutaro</a> mostly at second base. He's doing a decent job, but is prone to mental lapses and has just an average arm, noticeable when turning double plays. Some nights his bat is consistent enough to get the job done; I'd like to see him work the pitch count more, especially since he's always at the top of the order. Most likely he'll be traded in the 2nd half of the season to a playoff contender since his contract expires at the year's end, and he is 36 years old. The younger <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/n/nelsoch01.shtml" target="_blank">Chris Nelson</a> was drafted to be the future second baseman with an above average arm, but his hitting is very erratic. If/when Scutaro is traded, Nelson would be the best choice to daily handle the 2nd base chores to gain more experience at that position. <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/herrejo03.shtml" target="_blank">Jonathon Herrera</a> has some decent games hitting, but more games in which he just fades into the background. His baseball acumen is rather good, but his range is limited and his arm is below average which suits him best for 2nd base in a back up role. <br />
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<b>Shortstop: (Tulowitzki, Herrera, Scutaro, Nelson)</b><br />
When healthy, the position belongs to <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/t/tulowtr01.shtml" target="_blank">Troy Tulowitzki</a>. Keeping Troy on the field in the past few years has been the problem. Most seasons his bat is one of the best for his position, and his defense is exceptional (although he has 8 errors in 47 games this season). His plate discipline needs some patience, but when he gets on a tear, no one is better. Fortunately Herrera, Scutaro and Nelson have taken turns at the shortstop position while Tulo has been on the DL. Of the three, I prefer to see Nelson at SS because of his range and arm strength.<br />
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<b>Third base: (Pacheco, Nelson)</b><br />
Oooookay. Look, I think <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/p/pachejo01.shtml" target="_blank">Jordan Pacheco</a> is a great asset to this team because all he does is hit every day. With every at bat, he makes corrections to his approach and learns from his mistakes. Of course, Pacheco's biggest problem is his arm at 3rd base. He doesn't make too many fielding errors, but usually once a week, he's throwing the ball to god knows where. For this season, he's best suited for third base just so he can play every day and get regular plate appearances until Nolan Arenado comes up for Tulsa. In the long term, his niche may be at first base because of his throwing errors. Once again, Chris Nelson is an adequate back up at this position.<br />
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<b>Catcher: (Hernandez, Rosario, Nieves)</b><br />
Clearly a weakness on this team is at one of the most important positions in the game, especially defensively. The catcher is involved in every defensive play, calling a game for the pitcher, while throwing out runners and blocking pitches in the dirt. The Rockies brought in <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hernara02.shtml" target="_blank">Ramon Hernandez</a> to play spot-duty at the catcher position while grooming Rosario to develop a MLB approach to the game. But as always happens, Hernandez has been a disappointment at the plate (.215 BA, .658 OPS), then wound up on the DL. After that injury, <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rosarwi01.shtml" target="_blank">Wilin Rosario</a> was thrown in the fire to do the best he can. Baby Bull's bat has been exceptional (.247 BA, .800 OPS, 14 HRs). As good as his bat has been, his defense is atrocious, currently leading the NL in errors (9) and passed balls (10), as well as dropping quite a few 3rd strike foul tips, extending innings. Wilin does have an above average arm in throwing out baserunners, but lately has been off target, landing more throws in center field than at the bag. He can only get better with practice and time, right? <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/pl/player_search.cgi?search=wil+nieves" target="_blank">Wil Nieves</a> was called up to spell Rosario when he needs a rest, and has been below average in most facets of the game. He has had 16 bases stolen on him (which isn't entirely his fault) yet only thrown out one runner. That can not be tolerated.<br />
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<b>Outfield: (Cuddyer, Fowler, Gonzalez, Colvin, Young)</b><br />
Easily one of this team's strength has been the outfield, not just defensively but also at the plate. While the signing of <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cuddymi01.shtml" target="_blank">Michael Cuddyer</a> brings veteran leadership and a decent bat to the lineup, his defense has been overlooked in right field. He has pretty good range and an above average arm. Lately Cuddyer's bat has gone into a funk; he still has good all-around numbers but not good enough to justify $10M/year contract. Quite frankly he fits better platooning as a first baseman and has done a decent job there. Fans were asking that <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/fowlede01.shtml" target="_blank">Dexter Fowler</a> be traded about a month ago when he went into a short slump. Trading Fowler would be a ridiculous move, as no one can cover Coors Field outfield as well as him- no one. Sure his bat is streaky, but this year, he's done really well, exceptionally well, hitting for average (.300 BA, .937 OPS) and with power (11 HRs, 9 triples). Yeah, lock Fowler down for a few more years with a decent contract at the end of this year. In right field, not much to be said that hasn't already been said regarding <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gonzaca01.shtml" target="_blank">Carlos Gonzalez</a>. The 5-tool player can now add All-Star player to his wall of decorations, while being among the league leaders in BA, OPS, HRs, and runs. The Rockies' biggest surprise this year has been <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/colvity01.shtml" target="_blank">Tyler Colvin</a>. His defense is just a bit better than Cuddyer's (who can forget that over the wall catch in CF?) but his bat has been scorching since June, forcing Jim Tracy to find a spot for him in the line up daily. Hopefully he doesn't mimic 2011 Charlie Blackmon and get hurt, never to heard from again. The fifth outfielder is <a href="http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/y/younger03.shtml" target="_blank">Eric Young Jr</a>, love that dude's hustle. Defensively, EY needs a lot of work on his reads off the bat and his arm strength; quite frankly, his speed doesn't translate well to outfield speed, but he always always hustles, and that's contagious to the dugout. His ABs are more disciplined than previous seasons, and his speed is just amazing. <br />
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<b>Summary:</b><br />
First base has been subpar and have to consider a replacement for Helton. Second base will be Nelson's after Scutaro is traded. Shortstop direly needs Tulo to return. Third base is fine with Pacheco, but he'll need to improve his defense or get moved over to 1st. Catcher position frustrates me almost as much as Jeff Huson doing a doubleheader, but it will improve as Rosario improves. The outfield is one of the better outfields in the NL thus far in the 2012 season.<br />
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Later, I'll write up some thoughts about the pitching and more, but I'm sure you've something better to do for now, and I'm out of coffee. <br />
<br />fiyahpowahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332933662232379792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4233215396340955343.post-69357933709925015362012-07-01T04:00:00.000-07:002012-07-01T04:00:27.836-07:00<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Really classy <a href="http://larrybrownsports.com/baseball/bryce-harper-clown-question-beer-raise-money-for-slain-officer/144356" target="_blank">move</a> by Bryce Harper. The summation of the story goes:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A week or so ago, Bryce Harper, who is under 21, was asked if he would celebrate in Toronto with a beer since the legal drinking age there is 18. Since Harper is a Mormon who beliefs disallow the use of alcohol, his response was the now-famous "That's a clown question, bro" which has since become a huge international meme. A brewery in Denver decided to have fun with the meme, and named a beer "Clown Question Bro". </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">When Harper's team, the Washington Nationals, came to Denver to play the Colorado Rockies, an off-duty female police officer, Celena Hollis, was <a href="http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20981961/thousands-honor-fallen-denver-police-offer-celena-hollis" target="_blank">killed</a> trying to break up a fight as a security guard at a jazz festival. The deceased officer was also a single parent of a 12-year old daughter. Harper's group has asked the brewery, Denver Beer Co., to donate some of the proceeds to a memorial fund for Hollis' daughter.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">After hearing this story, I have to commend Bryce Harper for a really nice gesture, and just wanted to share it. </span><br />
<br />fiyahpowahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332933662232379792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4233215396340955343.post-77845955716987006742012-06-29T01:44:00.001-07:002012-06-29T01:48:51.580-07:00<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">As promised, here are some of the tweets/thoughts that I blurted out last night (while sober!) with some of the characters that didn't make the 140-limit cut.</span><br />
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<i><a class="account-group js-account-group js-action-profile js-user-profile-link" data-user-id="43909060" href="https://twitter.com/fiyahpowah"><strong class="fullname js-action-profile-name show-popup-with-id">Fiyah Powah</strong>
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Have to wonder if drafting Quincy Miller will force the <a class="twitter-hashtag pretty-link" href="https://twitter.com/search/%23nuggets"><s>#</s><b>nuggets</b></a> to bump Anderson off the roster, or trade Chandler or Koufos.. </i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">With a full roster, where do the Nuggets create a spot for Quincy Miller? By the end of the year, Chris Anderson only got off the bench at halftime and the end of the game (plus he has those child porn allegations). Do they trade or cut him? I believe he is scheduled to make $4.5M this year. Since they just re-signed Wilson Chandler, I can't see them trading him although that depends on his rehab from a hip injury. Koufos is $3M per year for the next 3 years, and still making strides in becoming a better player while providing depth whenever there are injuries.</span></div>
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<i><a class="account-group js-account-group js-action-profile js-user-profile-link" data-user-id="43909060" href="https://twitter.com/fiyahpowah"><strong class="fullname js-action-profile-name show-popup-with-id">Fiyah Powah</strong>
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Great quote from Masai, re: Fournier comparing himself to Ginoboli: "I thought I was Michael Jordan when I played.” <a class="twitter-timeline-link" data-expanded-url="http://on.nba.com/N0YMwd" href="http://t.co/tOPdgkIH" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: 0; line-height: 0;">http://</span><span class="js-display-url">on.nba.com/N0YMwd</span></a></i></div>
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<span class="js-display-url"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Ok, I'll admit I took that quote a bit out of context, thus it sounds like he's making fun of Fournier. Still, it's pretty damn funny to me. Great article to read too, if you have the interest and time.</span></span></div>
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<i><a class="account-group js-account-group js-action-profile js-user-profile-link" data-user-id="43909060" href="https://twitter.com/fiyahpowah"><strong class="fullname js-action-profile-name show-popup-with-id">Fiyah Powah</strong>
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Can you imagine if the <a class="twitter-hashtag pretty-link" href="https://twitter.com/search/%23rockies"><s>#</s><b>rockies</b></a> had an owner and front office compared to the <a class="twitter-hashtag pretty-link" href="https://twitter.com/search/%23broncos"><s>#</s><b>broncos</b></a> or <a class="twitter-hashtag pretty-link" href="https://twitter.com/search/%23nuggets"><s>#</s><b>nuggets</b></a>? </i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Perhaps it's unfair to make these comparisions of the different sports because of the level of success the Nuggets and Broncos had last year. But after 2 really lousy seasons, the Rockies ownership and front office really don't have the enthusiasm of the other teams. For me, the perfect example was hearing Rockies' pitching coach Bob Apodaca asking to be reassigned, basically giving up on the team in the middle of the season. Sounds like a stagnant group that needs cleaned out and refreshed, but more on that topic in another post.</span></div>
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<i><a class="account-group js-account-group js-action-profile js-user-profile-link" data-user-id="43909060" href="https://twitter.com/fiyahpowah"><strong class="fullname js-action-profile-name show-popup-with-id">Fiyah Powah</strong>
<span></span><span class="username js-action-profile-name"><s>@</s><b>fiyahpowah</b></span>
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While Masai hasn't really had the <a class="twitter-hashtag pretty-link" href="https://twitter.com/search/%23nuggets"><s>#</s><b>nuggets</b></a> go deep in the playoffs, you can see him build a franchise built to win year-in and year-out. </i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This tweet was more of a continuation of the previous one, directing praise at Masai Uriji's competence and gameplan for the long term. Quite frankly, the man came into a really lousy situation with an underachieving roster and the whole Melo-drama, and has worked magic. In a couple years, he may win GM of the year. Which leads me to the next tweet:</span></div>
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<i><a class="account-group js-account-group js-action-profile js-user-profile-link" data-user-id="43909060" href="https://twitter.com/fiyahpowah"><strong class="fullname js-action-profile-name show-popup-with-id">Fiyah Powah</strong>
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Three years from now, our starting line up could be crazy good. McGee, Faried, Lawson, Miller. </i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">First off, that's in reference to Quincy Miller, not Andre Miller. If these guys continue to show the growth and determination to win as they have, and Quincy Miller regains his top tier talent/skills, our front line will be amazing. Most Nuggets teams in the past had the talent to be good; this young roster has the unspoken promise to be <b>great</b>! But hey, shouldn't Gallinari be on this list as well? That's the next tweet:</span></div>
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<i><a class="account-group js-account-group js-action-profile js-user-profile-link" data-user-id="43909060" href="https://twitter.com/fiyahpowah"><strong class="fullname js-action-profile-name show-popup-with-id">Fiyah Powah</strong>
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I'd mention Gallinari in that last tweet, except he's prone to
injury and doesn't perform well consistently. Not sold on him. <a class="twitter-hashtag pretty-link" href="https://twitter.com/search/%23nuggets"><s>#</s><b>nuggets</b></a></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Quite frankly, I'm not impressed with the young Italian player. Since signing that BIG contract extension, he's been hurt twice and stopped showing signs of being a great player. His outside shot is streaky at best, his drives to the basket are unorthodox, awkward and prone to injury, and his defense needs work. Last year, the Masai signed Gallinari and Aaron Afflalo to BIG contracts, and neither of them played to their contract. At least Nene played big in the 2011 playoffs despite his big contract. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Continuing that thought progression, I'd like to see the Nuggets get a consistent outside shooter like JJ Redick who is slated to be a free agent after the 2012-13 season. A solid outside shooter will relieve the pressure of our upcoming dominant inside game, as well as put three points on the board rather than two. Take a look at the Heat and the Thunder in the 2012 playoffs- whenever a team's perimeter game started to excel, that team made a run. That's the nature of the playoffs.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Ok, that's enough mumbling for now. </span><b><br /></b></div>
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<span class="js-display-url"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span> </span></div>fiyahpowahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332933662232379792noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4233215396340955343.post-31499445774024603002012-06-29T01:01:00.000-07:002012-06-29T01:01:47.267-07:00<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">First blog entry falls on the eve of the Denver Nuggets' 2012 draft, and I almost abandoned the blog just because I was stumped which <i>font </i>to use! I find myself with random thoughts about sports at various times of the day and night, and blast them out on twitter. Sometimes these ideas come to me in the middle of the night, and land on the empty vastness of twitterverse without an echo or thud. Since most people don't wait for my tweets throughout the night as if I was selecting the new pope, my audience is maybe 1 or 2 people, or less! Then it hit me- why not put my tweets on a blog, and add in more explanation since some thoughts, observations or ideas take more than 140 letters to get across the point and reasoning.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So here we are.</span><br />
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<br />fiyahpowahhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12332933662232379792noreply@blogger.com0