Melo, Linas forever teammates
Who do you still see on the team in four to five years? Who will be gone? Maybe an NBA championship in the future?
Bruce, Denver
Benjamin: Bruce, well, the fact is, Denver has a lot of thirtysomethings. In four to five years, it’s hard to believe Anthony Carter and Marcus Camby will be in the lineup. Allen Iverson, who is eternally 22, could still be around, but that would take some contractual restructuring.
My crystal ball says Carmelo Anthony and Linas Kleiza will be key parts to the lineup. My guess is Denver will make a title push either this season or next, but beyond that, it’s hard to predict anything in a sport like basketball.
Play-in game not viable.
Regarding the East-West disparity, how about a play-in game where a team out of the playoffs in one conference could challenge a team with a worse record in the other conference for its playoff spot in that conference?
John Sears Cody, Wyo.
Benjamin: John, it’s fun to hear all these ideas. So, basically, you’re saying if the Warriors and Trail Blazers finish ninth and 10th in the West, they should be able to challenge any East playoff team with a record worse than their own? It’s a fun philosophy, especially when some bad teams could be playoff teams in the East. But I’d have to say that there could be some question marks with your system.
For one, it’s not the fault of those Eastern teams that they’re in the East, so why should they be penalized by making the playoffs (even if they did so with an average record)? And a one-game playoff goes against the sanctity of a playoff series, where anything can happen (whereas in one game, anybody can beat anybody). And what if the eighth team in the East has a superstar player, but that guy was injured for most of the season, so that’s why that team is eighth and not higher, but by playoff time, that player is back? If they had to play the one playoff game, and they lose (even with their star player in the lineup), then a possible Eastern contender wouldn’t even get to be in the playoffs.
All that said, I think what you’re implying would be a change to the playoffs, where the 16 best teams are in the postseason — regardless of conference. This season, a team with a good record — in fact, two or three — will not make the playoffs in the West.
Leaving well enough alone.
Hey, Ben, just wondering why Denver never made a trade before the deadline last week? It almost seemed the entire Nuggets organization played with the hearts of Nuggets fans. They were involved in every trade discussion throughout the entire month.
Justin Robinson, Fort Collins
Benjamin: Justin, obviously, this is a hotly debated topic within Nuggets Nation.
I think it comes down to one simple fact — no trade would have made the Nuggets a title contender without jeopardizing pieces that will help them compete next year.
Of course Ron Artest might have improved Denver. But, as we reported and discussed often in February, it’s unlikely Artest would have re-signed in the summer, so Denver would have entered next season without Artest or Linas Kleiza. And Artest doesn’t guarantee you a championship this season.
We will see if the no-trade strategy works out. Chucky Atkins returns Friday and Nene is expected to return next month. No, that’s not like adding Jason Kidd or Pau Gasol, but as we’ve seen in the past, sometimes the teams with the most talent aren’t the champions.
Denver is banking on this (even though the Nuggets are pretty talented).
It’ll be a breeze
What was the motivation behind the NBA’s plan for an outdoor game between the Nuggets and Suns?
Steve, Lakewood
Benjamin: It’s not everybody’s dream to play this game, but it will be a novelty and will give the Nuggets some exposure during a month dominated by football. Hopefully, it won’t rain. And, as George Karl, right, joked, hopefully it will be windy, because the Suns are a 3-point shooting team.
Benjamin Hochman covers the Nuggets for The Denver Post after previously reporting on the Hornets in New Orleans.
