The Denver Nuggets play the Cleveland Cavaliers in the showdown of what the Nuggets are, and what they could become.
I’m not going to waste everybody’s time talking too much about the Cavs history up to this point from when Lebron James decided to go to the Miami Heat to now. We all know the history. The Cleveland Cavs right now (8-30) are a team so bereft of talent it defies logic. The departure of James doesn’t really explain that, however, a desperate owner trying to please Lebron caused the situation the Cavaliers are in now. A group of overpaid role players with no focal point. Antwan Jamison and Mo Williams would be great complimentary players outside of Cleveland, right now they don’t have that difference maker. So with a choked payroll and lack of flexibility you have the 2010-2011 Cleveland Cavaliers.
Lebron James threw the Cavaliers under the bus, but he had every right to leave because he earned the right to enter free agency. The way the Cavs are now is solely the result of poor decision making by the Cavs organization to take on bad contracts in order to appease Lebron. It's sad, but these are the results. I don't envy the Cavs fans for the difficult spot they are in right now and, in a way, my heart goes out to them.
On the flip side we have the Denver Nuggets. We all know the situation with Carmelo Anthony, I don’t need to go over that again. Lets just say that the Nuggets are trying to make the best out of this situation in a way. Get what you can for Melo and go from there. However, if Melo left Denver via free agency I wouldn’t hold it against him. I don’t have any personal animus toward Carmelo because it’s not like he’s a one year wonder. It’s been almost eight full seasons. If Melo want’s to go, I have no problem with letting him go. Just don’t blame him for what is about to follow.
I get frustrated with people who say “Melo is forcing the Nuggets to rebuild”. No he’s not. That is the Nuggets choice. No one is forcing the Nuggets to invest almost entirely in young players and draft picks. No one is forcing the Nuggets to trade with the New Jersey Nets (maybe). The Nuggets choose their own path and this is the way they want to go. Giving a player that much power over an organization is perilous (Cavs and Lebron) and the Nuggets are doing what they feel is best.
We don’t ned to go through the normal game preview here. The Nuggets just got through destroying the Miami Heat on Thursay. The Cavs were beat by 55 on Tuesday by the Los Angeles Lakers. We know the Cavs situation as they have been beset by injuries (,Anderson Varejao Leon Powe). Coach Byron Scott has the dubious distinction of being one of the few coaches to preside over two 50 point losses (The Cavs last Tuesday and the Nuggets famous 58 point blowout of the New Orleans Hornets in the 2009 playoffs). Denver Nuggets Coach George Karl is struggling, much like I am, to come to grips with the reality his organization is dealing away players from a good team (Melo, Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter … maybe Renaldo Balkman) but much like me, he has to get used to it. As of the moment Melo is traded the season is lost so it’s best to retrain your brain, again like me, to rebuild mode. It sucks and it will take you most of the season, but I’m sure you will get used to it.
As for the Cavs. You will get better but it will take longer to do so. With the (likely) potential of a labor stoppage and a new CBA we shall see how things shake out on the other end. Have hope. While our situations are similar they are, indeed different. Maybe you will get to use that $14 million trade exception? Who knows. At this point both the Cavs and the Nuggets need to have faith that things will get better.
On that note it's always darkest before the dawn. Given time I will start to see it. Meanwhile we should really enjoy this team before the trade. They are playing well (22-16) and there's no reason not to enjoy them.
Onward and upward
Oppositions take: Fear the Sword
