Denver Post sports writer Benjamin Hochman posts his Nuggets Mailbag on Tuesdays during the 2009-10 NBA season.
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Benjamin – I love Chauncey Billups. But it seems that he seems to be a bit disoriented. Am I wrong on that? Or is it just age? I am hoping he will do great this year. Is he still being the leader that he was last year? Any insights or facts on this? Thanks. I love the Nuggets because I follow C.B.
— Margaret Yu, Orange County, Calif.
Margaret – My friend, don’t worry, Chauncey is still Chauncey. Now, as I’ve written, even Chauncey himself admitted he’s still learning leadership after all these years. He was playing so poorly in the Clippers loss that he was on the bench for much of the fourth, and he personally took responsibility for the collapse against the Timberwolves. But Billups is still the thumping heart of Denver, leading at practice, mentoring guys such as Ty Lawson and, overall, playing younger than his age (33).
I’m writing you this message from the Wachovia Center, where Billups just scored 31 points with eight rebounds and eight assists, a brilliant effort in a raucous environment, tilted in the home team’s favor (Denver won by 10). And while his overall numbers are low, consider what coach George Karl said: “He’s just not a guy you worry about with numbers. His leadership and his direction with the team and the way he and I interact is very, very important.”
And here’s something pretty cool — Billups is 136-for-151 from the free-throw line, good for 90.1 percent. That’s sixth best in the NBA. Then consider that of the top five, the guy with the most attempts is Steve Nash with just 64 (he’s 61-for-64 and first in the league with a 95.3 percentage).
Last year, George Karl preached tough defense — which seemed to work — and spoke often of that focus to the press. This year, I have not heard him discuss defense that much, and opposing teams’ offensive production is much higher. I think opponents are averaging 103 points per game. I’m worried the team has stopped worrying about defense. Has Coach Karl stopped stressing defense to his team?
— Brian, Denver
Brian – Per George Karl’s recent rant about his team playing hard, it is true that Denver has struggled defensively — at times. There was the debacle against the Timberwolves, the night the Knicks scored 279 points and some other spurts where Denver survived, but barely. And the Nuggets’ opponents shoot 45 percent from the field, which is 17th in the NBA (a year ago, Denver was in the top five in opponent’s field-goal percentage).
Still, there is much to be happy about with Denver’s defense. Arron Afflalo has played some big nights against big players, and it’s visible that the defense of Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith has improved.
Asked about his team’s defense, Karl said: “Probably the weakness in defense right now is our transition defense. We have a tendency to get leads and give them back by not staying solid in transition. Five-on-five we’re in a good place. But more serious possessions in less periods of letting the scoreboard say we can relax, I’d say, is our weakness.”
Hey, Benjamin. Can you please explain how the trade exemption the Nuggets have works and how the Nuggets can use it?
— Doug, Littleton
Doug – Well, entering this season, the Nuggets had two trade exceptions. The one still in the back pocket is from the Chucky Atkins deal worth $3.3 million, and that expires Jan. 7. The other one, valued at $7.4 million, wasn’t used.
Yes, Denver could have nabbed a guy who makes that much money and not have to trade anything in return (but a pick). However, one often overlooks the fact that Denver still would have had to PAY that player this season. So even though it looks like a team gets a player for free, the fact is, a team over the luxury tax, like Denver right now, doesn’t want to spend just to spend. (Also, the first exemption expired at the beginning of the season, a time when most teams aren’t going to get rid of a $7.4 million player, just to save money — because think about how that would look to the fans).
As for the other trade exception, that $3.3 million is a more reasonable salary. In the coming month, Denver’s front office will hone in on possible players — perhaps another big man — who could help the team down the stretch. Look for this exception to be used.
A championship is the ultimate goal, of course. That being said, what must the Nuggets accomplish for this season to be called a good season?
— Steve Sandoval, La Junta
Steve – I think a “good” season is the Western Conference Finals again. But if the Nuggets lose to the Lakers again, man, then there would be some serious consternation about what the team must do to get over the hump (because the Lakers’ nucleus will be back next season, as well).
The way the Nuggets are playing, a rematch could happen, but it’s a long, long season, and the Nuggets have been pretty lucky in regards to injuries. And then there are questions. Will Ty Lawson hit the rookie wall? Can Chris Andersen be a consistent force off the bench? Can Nene play at a high level in second halves, staying aggressive while staying out of foul trouble? And will Melo have more player-of-the-month months?
Why have the Denver Nuggets been changing directions of the basket they are defending, the second half, each game? I have tickets near the visiting team’s bench, and some games the Nuggets are defending the visiting team’s basket the second half and other games the Nuggets are ending on the opposite end of the court? Our husbands can’t even explain this to us. Inquiring Nuggets fans want to know!
— Mary Rael, Denver
Mary – That’s actually a really good question. So I asked George Karl for you, and he explained that the visiting team has the choice of which basket to defend in each half. As for what Karl chooses when Denver is on the road?
“If it’s my choice I want the defense in front of me at the end of the game,” he said. “Some teams choose to put the offense in front of them or they don’t want the other team to have the defense in front of it. Utah, Miami and I think Golden State messes around with it a little bit.”
Benjamin Hochman is in his third season as the Nuggets and NBA beat writer for The Denver Post. for the Nuggets Mailbag.
