Denver Post sports writer Adam Thompson posts his Nuggets Mailbag every other Tuesday during the 2005-06 NBA season on DenverPost.com. The next installment is slated for Nov. 15.
To drop a question into the Mailbag or visit DenverPost.com’s .
Mr. Thompson: I am a Nuggets fan in New York, and I enjoy reading your coverage of the team at DenverPost.com. I made it to a couple of games last year, and I must say that this preseason I am really impressed with the improvements Carmelo Anthony seems to have made. Based upon what you’ve seen, are you buying into the hype that this is the year that he erupts for 25 points, seven rebounds and four assists per game? I’m curious to know your thoughts in this regard.
— Tyson Lomazow, New York
Tyson – Always good to hear from a fellow New Yorker. First off, I guess it’s only fair to say that, as someone who writes about the Nuggets every day, I’m probably one of the sources of the hype you’re talking about. So yes, I believe my own hype.
But seriously, Carmelo has looked like a different player this preseason. I don’t put much stock in numbers in preseason games, but I can tell you this: he looks more built; he seems to have more interest in defense and rebounding, which hasn’t always been his strong suit; he’s not forcing nearly as many shots; he’s hitting more of the ones he takes; and he’s getting to the foul line a ton, where he’s knocking down his free throws. I don’t know if he’s ready for seven boards or four assists per game, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see his numbers go up if the Nuggets score at the rate that George Karl hopes they will.
What? Have you seen the first month’s schedule? Of course, what kind of basketball writer wouldn’t have? Why is November the schedule from you know where?
— Mitch, Littleton
Mitch – You mean they’ve already printed out where and when all the games will take place? In the words of the Guinness guys, brilliant!
Actually, I’ve got to beg to differ with you. In my eyes, March looks like the toughest month. The Nuggets play seven games at home but nine on the road, including seven in a row, and 10 of their 16 March games are against teams that made the playoffs last year. In November, Denver has nine home games and seven road games – eight against playoff teams, eight not. True, the Lakers and Timberwolves are two of the non-playoff teams, and they might be better. Then again, they might not. Meanwhile, the Nuggets also get the Trail Blazers once and the Hornets twice.
Are the Nuggets going with three point guards on the roster? If so, why?
— J. Smith, Denver
Mr. Smith – It looks like the Nuggets will be sticking with the firm of Miller, Watson and Boykins for now. This does not seem like a sustainable arrangement over the long haul. It’s tough to sink that much money into one position. All three are used to playing regularly, and someone is bound to be frozen out at least a bit. Plus, any of the three could easily draw interest from other teams with other commodities to send back here.
Perhaps if Denver feels obligated to trade Nene later in the season, it can include one of those other guys to get something more than someone in the $3 million range to match Nene’s salary alone. In the meantime, Denver is probably the deepest at point in the league. That can only help as long as the guards don’t get mad about trimmed minutes.
Nene? Usually for a pro athlete to gain “singular name status,” he has done something noteworthy on the court or field. Something big! Like a championship, a scoring title or even the … gulp … slam-dunk contest. There was Michael, Magic, Larry and Charles; and currently we have Kobe, LeBron, Shaq and Melo. But Nene? It’s downright baffling to me.
— Keith Collins, Saugus, Mass.
Keith – That’s a deep question. Without treading too far into territory I don’t know well, my best reply is to say that maybe it’s a Brazilian thing. No, Nene hasn’t reached the heights of soccer-playing countrymen like Pele, Ronaldo or Rivaldo. But I think the one-name thing is much more common down there. You’ll recall, or maybe you won’t, Tatu, a Brazilian who starred for the Dallas Sidekicks of the Major Indoor Soccer League. If you can get away with one name there, you can get away with it anywhere.
So, is Mark Pope going to make the roster again this year?
— Steve, Sacramento, Calif.
Steve – As you may have heard by now, Mark didn’t make the cut. He is resigned to the fact that his NBA career is probably over. The Nuggets could always call him back if they’re in a pinch, but he’s mentally prepared for that not to happen.
I talked to him the day the news broke. He said he has felt blessed that his run lasted as long as it did. Now he’s preparing to go to medical school, and he’s built up enough a reserve to handle the cost of that while raising a family. His departure didn’t come as a shock, but all of the writers were joking about how we would show up in black the next day, since we would be losing such a great quote. But Mark is also a funny, genuine guy who has as much perspective on the absurdities of the NBA – but also as much love – as anyone I’ve met.
Adam Thompson is a native of New York City, where he spent his senior high school season as the last man off the bench on a basketball team that won three games. To drop a question into his Nuggets Mailbag or visit DenverPost.com’s .
