Denver Post sports writer Chris Dempsey posts his Nuggets Mailbag each Thursday this NBA season on DenverPost.com.
To drop a question into the Nuggets Mailbag or visit DenverPost.com’s .
Where do you stand as far as Carmelo Anthony making the all-star team? Prior to the “punch heard around the league,” he was a shoo-in. But once again, the Western Conference is loaded at forward.
— Craig Lesane, Bear, Del.
Craig – As long as Anthony continues to put up big numbers, and the Nuggets win games, I think he’ll make the trip. The starters are going to be announced today, and unless there was a significant swell in fan voting, Anthony won’t be among them. But I think his resume of production, plus impact on winning will earn him a nod as a reserve forward selected by Western Conference coaches.
Everyone talks about Allen Iverson and Carmelo Anthony coexisting, but the most important factor seems to be a healthy frontcourt. Iverson’s greatest team success came when he played with strong centers who were healthy (e.g. Matt Geiger, Theo Ratliff and Dikembe Mutombo). Do you agree that the Nuggets’ success is contingent upon a healthy frontcourt? And do you think we will see one this season?
— J. Herndon, Albuquerque, N.M.
J. – I agree with a piece of your theory. I think a big piece of the Nuggets’ success is contingent on a healthy Marcus Camby. Camby gives the Nuggets a defensive and rebounding presence that is difficult to duplicate when he’s out of the lineup. Plus, he can score. The other forwards are fairly interchangeable as hard-working guys. Eduardo Najera has had the most problems staying healthy this season. Reggie Evans has played well overall, though he’s a bit of a liability on offense. But he’s been durable. The key to all of this, though, is Camby.
Chris – Why do you think with Allen Iverson the Nuggets are not yet mentioned as elite? What are we still missing?
— Ashley Ransom, Aurora
Ashley – One word: Credibility. The Nuggets simply haven’t built up enough of it yet through winning. Though , it’s going to take a lot more than victories over Portland and Houston and Memphis and Seattle to get people around the nation to recognize Denver as an elite team. The Nuggets are going to have to win – and beat elite teams like Dallas, Phoenix and San Antonio – to be put in that class.
Chris – Who do you think is going to benefit from the A.I.-and-Melo deal. Will it be either Melo or A.I., or will it be someone like J.R. Smith or somebody else?
— TP, Evergreen
TP – My votes go to J.R. Smith and Steve Blake, and in fact we’ve already seen some of it. Iverson and Anthony are going to attract so much attention, other players will be left open for largely uncontested looks at the basket. Smith and Blake will be the primary beneficiaries there.
For instance, late in , the Sonics chose to cut Iverson’s driving lanes, double-team Anthony and take their chances with everyone else. Blake knocked down two critical – and wide-open – 3-point shots as a result, and the Nuggets went on to win the game. That is going to happen a lot.
As for Iverson and Anthony, the benefit for them will be fewer possessions of double-teams because there will always be the other to worry about. Still, the two will see the bulk of every opponent’s defensive efforts.
Do you think Eduardo Najera will be traded?
— Jamie, Boulder
Jamie – It’s a possibility if the interested team was willing to overlook Najera’s recent inability to stay healthy, and the Nuggets got a capable frontcourt player in return. But right now, I doubt that Najera goes anywhere soon.
I think we saw it already, but , do you foresee a better flow in the halfcourt offense with Steve Blake at the point? Earl never saw a shot he didn’t think he could make, nor did he struggle to find a way to personally dribble away 20 of the 24 seconds on the shot clock.
— Sam, Denver
Sam – If the Nuggets never had to play in the halfcourt, they simply wouldn’t. But yes, Blake has already helped keep movement to the offense, which to a certain extent wasn’t there when Boykins was with the team. Boykins is a dynamite scorer, to be sure, but the Nuggets want fast breaks, movement and passing. Blake is a facilitator. He gets the ball where it needs to be, and if he’s called upon to make an open jump shot, he can do that, too. Boykins is a very good player, and he continues to prove that now in Milwaukee, but for the way the Nuggets want to play, they are better off with Blake at the point.
Chris Dempsey is in his first year on the Nuggets beat. To drop a question into his Nuggets Mailbag or visit DenverPost.com’s .
