Everybody — the coach, the players, the fans, the media, the club’s three or 14 general managers, the owner, the NBA experts from Beijing to Bristol — wants the Nuggets to play more defense.
Everybody, that is, except me.
I want the Nuggets to play more offense.
Just as, if the Broncos had played more offense, they wouldn’t have lost to Kansas City, and if the Rockies had played more offense, they wouldn’t have lost the division, and if the Avs had played more offense, they would have won another playoff series. And if the Rapids played more offense, scores wouldn’t be 0-0.
Don’t misunderstand. Defense may win championships, but the Nuggets won’t win a championship if they play more defense, because they traded away their best defensive player (Marcus Camby), and most of their other players (hello, Melo; hi, A.I.) aren’t good defensive players.
Offense may win a playoff series or two, which would be a pleasant change for the Nuggets. Defense may win 41 games, considering the strength of the Western Conference. The Lakers reached the NBA Finals playing offense.
But all we hear about from the Nuggets’ camp is more emphasis on defense, more defense, more defense, more defense. Where’s the offense?
Already, I’ve had it up to here — I’m pointing at my neck — with defense.
I want 168 points. If the Nuggets had scored 168 points a game last season — I think I am correct — they would have won every game.
On the night of Sunday, March 16, 2008, during the Rockies’ spring training, I was driving back from Phoenix to Tucson and picked up KOA’s broadcast of the Nuggets-Sonics game.
When I went through the In-N-Out Burger, the Nuggets had scored their 168th point. I celebrated: “A cheeseburger — no, make that two — and fries, please.”
That’s entertainment. That’s how to win.
Back in the old ABA and new NBA days, Larry Brown and Doug Moe used to say defense was overrated, and their teams won playoff series. Basketball players don’t care to play defense. They crave to play offense. The Boston Celtics of old and new played offense. Sure, Bill Russell played defense. The others played offense. And Bill Russell and Marcus Camby are not playing for the Nuggets.
When Carmelo Anthony returns from his suspension, he will try to play defense and hack for five fouls, and he can’t score from the bench. Allen Iverson will steal the ball occasionally, but he can’t guard guys 6 inches taller, no matter how much he practices.
“Practice?” Nene? Juwan Howard? Give me a break.
When the Nuggets scored 113 points in games last season, their record was 30-8.
A bit more defense, but a lot more offense and fries, please.
I’ll say this again.
Iverson must be the starting point guard, and J.R. Smith must be the starting shooting guard.
Red Auerbach, the late, legendary coach, told me once: “You always have to have three shooters, not necessarily three scorers, on the court. You have to have three options.” And he always did. The Nuggets don’t always.
With Iverson, Smith and Anthony on the court, the Nuggets have three shooters. Iverson and Anthony play all the time. When Smith takes a break, Linas Kleiza takes his spot. Three shooters. Three of those four, sometimes all four, should be on the floor constantly.
Iverson is a wonderful passer, and everybody (see above) knows that when he finishes with more than 10 assists, the Nuggets generally win. He should have two, three, four options. Last year, the Nuggets had three players who didn’t move without the ball. Camby was one, Kenyon Martin was another and Anthony was the third.
More important than defense, Anthony has to concentrate on breaking off screens, cutting, moving, back-dooring. Iverson will give up the ball if he has someone to give it to. And not Anthony Carter or that bunch of secondhand discards the Nuggets have signed.
To repeat a thesis from the aftermath of last season, Iverson & Smith in the backcourt. Smith would have averaged 25 points a game if he had averaged 40 minutes. Anthony will average 25 points a game no matter how many minutes he plays. Iverson must strive to average 20 points and 10 assists — a double-double — every night and Kleiza should average 15 points.
The Nuggets will get more point production out of Nene than they did Camby (10), and Martin — a healthy year behind him — ought to be a 10- to 12-point guy.
Those six can provide 109 points.
The rest have to average only four measly points a game for the Nuggets to score 113 — the magic number. More defense, fewer victories. More offense, more victories.
Everybody eventually will see eye-to-eye, Melo-to-A.I.
Woody Paige: 303-954-1095 or wpaige@denverpost.com
