2009 Denver Nuggets Off-Season thread - 9/25: Joey Graham signed

[executive76]

Tis the season to shire like NBA all-star for Nene

In the past decade, only one Western Conference team did what the Nuggets are trying to do this season. The stars aligned above, fittingly, for the Suns in 2005, and three of their players competed in the NBA All-Star Game.

As for Denver, if Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups play as well as they did last last season, they will be headed to Dallas. But who's the third?

"Shaq is gone, Yao is out," Nuggets coach George Karl said. "This is the year of opportunity for Nene."

For the past couple of years, Karl has mentioned that Nene could someday be an all-star. This season might be his best chance. With Shaquille O'Neal in Cleveland and Houston's Yao Ming out with a foot injury, the 6-foot-11, 250-pound Nene is on
the shortlist of the West's elite centers, along with the Lakers' Pau Gasol and the Suns' Amare Stoudemire, who technically is a power forward, as is Minnesota's Al Jefferson. Also, Emeka Okafor has joined New Orleans, bringing his 13.2 points and 10.1 rebounds per game to the Hornets.
As for the 27-year-old Nene, all signs point to him joining Denver's all-star constellation. He's coming off his best season as a pro and gained valuable postseason experience in helping the Nuggets advance to the Western Conference finals, averaging 14.6 points and 7.8 rebounds. He also finished second in the NBA in shooting (60.4 percent).

"Nene has a rather complete game for a post player," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said Monday. "He doesn't need a lot of shots and he gets points with those shots, and he plays aggressively, and with intensity. Those two things are impressive."

During preseason camp, Nene has been working on his footwork, and his jump shot, much like fellow post players Kenyon Martin and Chris Ander-sen. All of them love the idea of shooting from outside the paint, whether or not Karl loves the idea.

"I let the game come to me. I don't try to force it," Nene said.

It's a cerebral approach, especially when you have Anthony, Billups and the explosive J.R. Smith on the court. But this is the area where Nene can improve, according to Karl.

"I think a lot of veteran players have a way of pacing themselves," Karl said. "Nene needs to take a bigger piece of the responsibility. Sometimes players think that sounds good, but it's not as easy to do. Nene and I need to work as a team to figure out getting him more touches, better touches, better options, and I think you'll see us do that."

Denver's offense is often "flow and random," according to Karl. "Just playing basketball with spacing and good decisions. . . . And sometimes big guys get lost in that. It's a system that can be dominated by the guards. We have options and situations, but it seems like the reward system, as the season goes on, doesn't reward him. It's my making it a priority and him taking responsibility with efficiency and effectiveness."

On defense, Nene is a mauler when manning up. But Karl wants him to protect the basket more, as he does with Martin.

During the Nuggets' preseason game Saturday against Partizan Belgrade, fans saw glimpses of Nene at his focused best, and worst. In the first quarter, Nene picked up three fouls. But in the third quarter, there was Nene, Usain-bolting down the court in transition. He received a pass and dunked over Strahinja Milosevic, who had to travel back to Belgrade with the memory of Nene's No. 31 pressing against his face.

"I don't think there's any question, he's good enough to be an all-star," Karl said. "I keep yelling at him to be a leader."

Nene and I need to work as a team to figure out getting him more touches, better touches, better options,




so true

 

[executive76]

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[h1]Graham has near-lock on Nuggets' final roster spot[/h1]

Joey Graham is holding out hope of making the Nuggets roster.

He shouldn't have to worry. It's all but certain.

Graham, 27, has impressed Nuggets coach George Karl so much that Karl has already talked about fitting the 6-foot-7, 225-pound forward in the rotation during J.R. Smith's seven-game suspension when the season starts.

Those decisions are still to be determined, but what is clear is how much Karl likes the hard- working, rough-and-tumble Graham.

"There's a 'how we played' last year that I don't think any of us want to change," Karl said. "Joey has that Dahntay Jones personality. They are different players, going to do it in different ways. But from the standpoint of courage and toughness and the desire to defend, Joey has those personalities."

The Nuggets once tried to trade Linas Kleiza for Graham when he was with Toronto. That didn't work out, and they almost missed out on Graham again this summer. Cleveland, Minnesota, Charlotte and Houston all courted Graham, who played his first four NBA seasons with the Raptors, averaging 6.4 points, 3.1 rebounds and shooting 48 percent from the field.

The Nuggets came on strong last month, and Graham had dinner with Karl just prior to the start of training camp.

"We sat down and he was telling me the things that he needed on this team, and I'm like, 'I'm that guy,' " Graham said. "I fit right into the system and the things that they are trying to do here. Me and George have a great rapport. We talk every day about the things that I need to do. And hopefully he sees I can come in and do the things he needs for me to do."

Graham is battling to fill the 13th, and presumably final, spot on the Nuggets' roster. If he makes the team, that would leave his competition for that space, swingman James White, on the outside looking in. Though the NBA allows up to 15 players on the roster, the Nuggets usually keep just 13, though Karl said he'd like to keep more.

If Graham makes the team, his one-year contract would become guaranteed on Jan. 10.

But Graham isn't thinking about that right now. The former Oklahoma State standout is simply trying to earn his way onto the roster.

"All I can do is control the things that I can control and leave the rest up to the Lord," Graham said. "I can control coming out here playing hard every day in practice and playing hard in the game. Hopefully I can show them that I do deserve to be on this team."

 

[chris boshs neck]

Man I Swear James White never gets any shine, give the man a roster spot smh

 

[executive76]

Carmelo Anthony has shown glimpses of leadership in the past, but based on his performance in training camp, the Nuggets' star has taken it to another level.

"Melo's really taken a big piece of leadership role on the team," guard Chauncey Billups said. "Guys are looking up to him. Melo always, since I've been here, he's been our best practice player. He goes hard. When you've got your best player going extremely hard like that and playing and competing every single practice, it makes everyone else around him say, 'He's doing it, I better do it.' He's been great."

While Nuggets coach George Karl said he has seen Anthony's leadership manifest itself "by his approach and his actions more than just his words," Anthony insists none of what he's done in the preseason was a calculated decision.

"Nah, it's just natural," Anthony said. "Being a leader isn't something that you go home and go, 'Man, I'm going to be a leader today.' It was always instilled in me. But I'm a leader in my own way. I come in, I play hard. It just so happens it's coming out more.

"Guys are starting to ask me questions now. I feel like a veteran now. When you start getting that, your confidence goes up and your leadership just grows even more."

Anthony's effort has transferred over into the exhibition games. He's averaging 22.6 points on 52.9 percent shooting, and five rebounds, in just 22 minutes per game.

His 21 points and seven rebounds paced the Nuggets in a loss at Portland on Sunday.

"It's my best camp ever. By far," Anthony said. "I just feel different. It's a (great) feeling right now. You can't really explain it, though. You're excited to be here. You're excited to practice. You're excited to make everybody better."

Is he enjoying basketball more than ever?

"We see the light at the end of the tunnel now," he said of a team that advanced to the Western Conference finals last spring. "Whereas before we had to figure out ways to make it to the seventh or eighth seed in the West. Or make it out of the first round to come back the next year and figure out how we're going to make it out of the first round again. I had to deal with that."

And Anthony, once the student, has become the teacher.

Kind of.

"I'm still a student, though," Anthony said, smiling. "I'm like a teacher's assistant."

2009-10 Denver Nuggets Preview
By Shawn Clarke, NBA Contributing Editor
(Sports Network) - When the Denver Nuggets traded for Chauncey Billups last November, they had no idea what the Colorado native had in store for his hometown team.

Billups and two other players from the Detroit Pistons were shipped across the country to Denver in exchange for future Hall of Famer Allen Iverson, and Billups impressed right away with his unselfish play and determination. The University of Colorado product played 77 regular season games with the Nuggets, averaging 17.9 points and 6.4 assists, and led them all the way to the Western Conference Finals.

He seemed comfortable to be back at home after spending six full seasons in the Motor City, and directed an offense alongside superstar Carmelo Anthony. The Anthony/Iverson experiment never panned out, as evidenced by the blockbuster trade, then Billups entered the equation as a perfect complement to the team's perennial All-Star. Billups and Anthony finally ended five years of first-round exits in 2008-09 and helped Denver reach the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 1985.

Now that Billups is ready for his first full season with the Nuggets. head coach George Karl has to feel confident in the team's chances at making another extended run in the 2009-10 campaign. The 19th head coach in Nuggets history and one of the top NBA coaches ever, Karl is shooting for another 50- plus win campaign and the team's seventh consecutive postseason appearance.

The loss to the Los Angeles Lakers in the conference finals has to be still lingering on the minds of the Nuggets, who are bound to make another run at an NBA title. With all the so-called 'bad seeds' gone in Iverson and Marcus Camby, Denver played improved, more cohesive basketball and made better shots. Center Nene enjoyed a productive campaign as Camby's replacement as top defender, while J.R. Smith and Kenyon Martin ignited their games as well.

Expect the Nuggets, who have finished atop the Northwest standings twice in the past four years, to battle with Utah and Portland for division supremacy this season. Minnesota and Oklahoma City will not be a factor in the Northwest for the next few seasons.

2008-09 Results: 54-28, lost to LA Lakers in Western Conference Finals

ADDITIONS: G Ty Lawson, G Arron Afflalo, F James White, F Joey Graham, F Malik Allen

SUBTRACTIONS: F Linas Kleiza, G Dahntay Jones, G Sonny Weems

PROJECTED STARTING FIVE:

PG- Chauncey Billups SG- J.R. Smith SF- Carmelo Anthony PF- Kenyon Martin C- Nene

KEY RESERVES: Anthony Carter, Ty Lawson, Aaron Afflalo, Chris Anderson, Johan Petro

BACKCOURT: Billups, who has been to the playoffs every year since 2001, is the leader of Denver's potent offense and also serves as a coach on the hardwood. Not every team in the NBA is blessed with such a talented point guard, so the Nuggets better make sure they keep Billups in the fold until his retirement. The 32-year-old Billups has averaged at least 12.5 points per game for eight straight years and no less than 5.7 assists per outing for six consecutive seasons.

Billups is getting older and says his skills won't fade because of that. He obviously ran the point better than Iverson did and his defense is top notch. That being said, Billups is not getting any younger and the chances of him winning a second NBA title are getting slim too. A three-point threat when left alone outside, Billups has all the tools necessary for success.

Shooting guard J.R. Smith hopes to get the starting nod this season, but will have to wait seven games due to his suspension after he pled guilty to reckless driving in a 2007 accident resulting in the death of a passenger in Smith's car, Andre Bell. Smith, who was also suspended for two games at the start of the 2007-08 season due to the crash, spent just over three weeks in jail this summer for the incident. Smith later met up with Billups in Las Vegas to work out, and the two bonded with the time they had together.

Smith called Billups a 'mentor' and said he's trying to follow in the all- world point guards footsteps. Billups noted how he feels Smith has the potential 'to be one of the best players in the league'. With Linas Kleiza out of the Denver picture, Smith is poised to put up more numbers and sharpen his defensive skills too. He'll battle newcomer Arron Afflalo for time now that Dahntay Jones is with the Indiana Pacers.

FRONTCOURT: Anthony is the star of the show and hopes to rebound from an 'off' year that saw him average 22.8 points a game, his lowest output since recording 20.8 ppg during his second year in the league in 2004-05. Anthony is one of the few pure scorers in the league and finally got a taste of postseason success last season with Denver's run to the West Finals. He average 27.2 points, 5.8 boards, 4.2 assists and 1.8 steals in 16 playoff contests. The two-time All-Star certainly saw his all-around game improve after the Billups trade.

Martin is coming off his second consecutive productive season after two injury-plagued campaigns, and hopes to have the same juice that helped him post 11.7 points, 6.0 rebounds and 1.1 blocks in 66 games in 2008-09. The athletic Martin is dominant presence on defense and intimidates the opposition with his no-nonsense approach. Martin has played no less than 66 games in the regular season in each of the previous two years.

Denver was worried that its defense would miss a beat in 2008-09 after dealing center Marcus Camby to the Los Angeles Clippers. Fortunately that didn't happen thanks to the solid play out of Nene, who posted career-highs in points (14.6), rebounds (7.

and minutes (32:36). The 6-11, 250-pound native of Brazil averages more than a block a game and is a very underrated player. Nene is more athletic than Camby ever was with his quick feet and tough defense inside, and plays in a tough division loaded with talented big men.

BENCH: Denver has a few bench players fighting for a starting nod, including guard Arron Afflalo, who was acquired in the offseason from Detroit. Forward Chris Anderson is a shot-blocking specialist and averaged a career-high 2.5 blocks per game in 2008-09. The 'Birdman' is quick down the court for the running Nuggets. With forward Linas Kleiza in Greece, more minutes will be available for Anderson and Malik Allen.

Rookie Ty Lawson will spell Billups at times this season, while guard Anthony Carter was re-signed to provide experience and veteran leadership. Forward Renaldo Balkman is back to help inside.

COACHING: Karl is one of the best coaches in the NBA. If he was able to deal with Iverson holding the reigns, then Karl should have no problem with any high-maintenance athlete who crosses his path. The legendary coach has the knack for mixing veterans with reserves and younger players, which is why the move for Billups last season was so crucial to the success of this mingled bunch. If there's one aspect of Denver's game that needs adjusting is the effort on defense. Karl has amassed a 225-143 record with a 13-22 mark in the playoffs with the Nuggets, and is 10th all-time with 933 regular season wins. With or without the controversial Iverson on the roster, Karl is still the best candidate for this job.

STEVE SCHWARZ'S FANTASY FOCUS: All five starters have fantasy value, although Martin's isn't what it used to be. Anthony and Billups are stars while Smith is useful for 3-pt shooting (180-3pt goals) and Nene (14.6 ppg, 7.8 rpg) has become a solid center.

OUTLOOK: The Nuggets enter the 2009-10 campaign with high expectations after their tough loss to the eventual NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. The addition of Billups to play alongside maturing superstar Anthony paid dividends immediately, and the two are trying to win a second consecutive Northwest Division title. Utah and Portland, however, will put up the biggest fight to stop that from happening. Karl hopes that Smith's mind is in the right place because a lot is expected from the suspended guard now that Kleiza and Jones are elsewhere. Another 50-win season is not much to ask from the high-flying Nuggets as long as they stay healthy, and a trip to the NBA Finals is a strong possibility

[h1]J.R. on tuneup mission[/h1]
By Chris Dempsey
The Denver Post

Posted: 10/16/2009 01:00:00 AM MDT


As if preseason practices weren't important enough, they are even more so this year for Nuggets guard J.R. Smith.

In these sessions Smith will get the work he needs to knock enough rust off his game to be able to hit the floor running after his seven-game suspension at the start of the season.

"My feeling is he's got to prepare by practicing," Nuggets coach George Karl said. "I think he's got to tune up and start playing every possession in practice and stay involved. So when he's not on the court, the rust that comes with that is overcome by his repetitions in practice."

Smith has averaged 23 minutes per game in the first few exhibitions, but the minutes aren't the point. Karl is going to start homing in on rotations and the combinations of players he's going to use those first seven games - five of which are on the road. That means Smith will get less playing time leading up to the season opener at month's end.

The NBA suspended Smith as a result of his guilty plea this summer to reckless driving during a 2007 auto accident that killed his friend Andre Bell.

"I'm going to have to adjust on the fly," Karl said of not having Smith. "I'm going to have to manage the first seven and then another six or seven with J.R. figuring it out."

Smith declined comment for this story.

Nuggets coaches have been generally pleased with Smith's practice sessions. His 3-point shot has been solid and he appears to be picking up where he left off last season in terms of expanding his game to make plays, defend and rebound, in addition to drain long-range shots, his specialty.

Smith has experimented with a new free throw, standing a couple steps off the line, similar to the way former Nugget Nick Van Exel shot free throws. Last season, Smith hit 75 percent from the line in the regular season but dipped to 54 percent during the playoffs.

It's not clear how long Smith will continue the new technique, but Karl isn't a fan of it.

"It makes no sense," Karl said. "It's like a 5-foot putt and an 8-foot putt. If you're an 80 percent putter from 5 feet, you're going to be a 72 percent putter from 8 feet."

Footnotes.

Guard Arron Afflalo hasn't heard yet if the Nuggets will pick up the option on his contract for the 2010-11 season. The Nuggets have until Oct. 31 to decide. . . . The Nuggets will have their annual open practice today at Metro State College, starting at 9:30 a.m., for 1,500 Denver public school students.

 

[executive76]

Nuggets Trim roster to 13

The Nuggets were high on high-flying dunker James White, but he ultimately couldn't get ahead of Joey Graham and couldn't get on the court in the preseason, and so Denver waived White today.

White averaged 7.3 points per game in the preseason, but he didn't play in recent games, not even in Denver's Tuesday blowout against Minnesota.

It appears the Nuggets' roster is now set with 13 players, heading into the season opener Oct. 28.

Earlier in the day, the Nuggets waived guard Dontaye Draper and center Kurt Looby, the team confirmed this morning. Neither played extensively in the preseason and were more practice players. Draper appeared twice, averaging 1.0 point, 2.5 assists, and 1.0 steal in nine minutes per game. Looby only played against Partizan Belgrade on Oct. 3 and had two points, two rebounds and a block in the contest.

The Nuggets, who beat Minnesota 129-120 on Tuesday night, continue their preseason schedule Thursday and Friday against the L.A. Lakers in California. The regular season begins Oct. 28 at home against Utah.

 

[executive76]

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[h1]Nuggets' Martin unveils work on outside shooting[/h1]
The Denver Post

Posted: 10/25/2009 01:00:00 AM MDT


SAN DIEGO - Early into Friday's preseason game, Kenyon Martin held the ball in the right corner, the defender a couple of counties away. So, Martin launched a 3-pointer. Splash. A few minutes later, the Nuggets' Martin had a similar situation on the left wing. Clank.

Such is the gamble power forward Martin is willing to take this season. The confident veteran has been working hard on his jumper, and he hopes to shoot more than previous seasons.

Optimists wonder if this intangible could push Denver over the Western Conference hump. Some skeptics wonder if Martin should defer more.

"I think his energy has been great," Nuggets coach George Karl said. "I think he wants to be a little more of an offensive efficient player for us. During training camp, we've let three or four players have a little longer rope to experiment with their offensive games, and we're going to have to tune that up come the first game of the season (Wednesday). Kenyon wants to be a more effective scorer when they roam off of him. We run a lot of our offense through the high post, he's good at decision making and efficient, but I think he wants to do more."

Karl pointed out that there will be much dialogue among himself, his staff and Martin in regards to offensive decision- making, and that while the preseason was more free-flowing, Karl and guard Chauncey Billups will dictate more of the possessions in the regular season.

Thus, fans will see whether Martin becomes a more dangerous shooter. One thing's for sure, though - on the other end, he'll make it miserable for opposing shooters.

"He's a defensive leader for us," Karl said. "He's one of the best man defenders in the game."

[h1]
[/h1][h1][/h1]

[h1]Nuggets' "Birdman" Andersen eager for bigger role[/h1]

Coming soon is Bird 24/7.

Chris "Birdman" Andersen is already larger than life on a mural on the side of a downtown building. He'll soon have a radio segment, tentatively called "Bird's Eye View" on KEPN 1600 AM. A superheroesque Birdman will appear on drinking glasses at Arby's, a special set of three to be released soon.

This is Year 2 of the Birdman reclamation story.

In the past year, he has gone from endangered species to the winged warrior. He has shown he can get back on his feet. Now, the question is: Can he handle the fame and fortune that comes with his new life?

He has a new contract, new "flock socks" tattoos - a string of birds on each leg near his calf area - a fiancee and a renewed sense of self. He embraces the community and the challenge of a larger role on a Nuggets team that expects to contend for the Western Conference championship. He is having the time of his life, on a rocket-ship ride from being banned by the NBA for two years for violating its substance abuse policy to his stunning comeback a season ago, to playing an even larger role on one of the best teams in basketball.

"He's having a bounce-back part of his life," Nuggets coach George Karl said. "He's very excited about playing, and excited about giving back. He's just really comfortable to be around."

It seems everyone is noticing.

"I've been with Birdman when he was at the bottom - all the way under the ground," teammate Carmelo Anthony said. "I've seen him come a long way. I'm happy for him."

And this is just the beginning. Ander-sen's new beginning. If last season was Andersen's coming-out party, then this season is his burden of proof. Andersen was second in the NBA in blocked shots (2.46) a season ago, playing only 20 minutes per game, an incredible rate of production.

But then, Andersen has made a habit of proving skeptics wrong, ever since working his way into the NBA from a hardscrabble background as an undrafted free agent.

Yet there is payback. NBA players have memories like an elephant. Those who fell victim to his blocked shots and arms-flapping celebrations will want their pride back. And they will be more than willing to snatch it back.

"It's not going to be a cakewalk," Andersen said. "That's for sure. But I'll be fine."

And Andersen, 31, will get more playing time. Karl plans to increase his minutes to about 25 a game. Birdman has expanded his offensive game to include a midrange jumper. He vows to take on more responsibility at the offensive end.

Karl is open to the idea of a more aggressive Andersen on offense, as long as the Nuggets get Birdman "touches where we get good shots and good decisions."

It's not like the 6-foot-10, 228-pound Andersen will be expected to greatly improve upon his 6.4 points per game average. His strength will always be at the defensive end, rebounding and blocking shots.

Birdman said he remains more focused on what the Nuggets will do as a team, rather than what he does.

"Now that we've been to the Western Conference finals, we know what it takes. We know how hard we have to play to get there," Andersen said. "And we can do it. Everybody knows how great we are now.

 

[executive76]

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[h1]Nuggets coach Karl tightens reins going into regular season[/h1]
The Denver Post

Posted: 10/26/2009 01:00:00 AM MDT


At the conclusion of the Nuggets' practice Sunday, instead of a few perfunctory words, coach George Karl spoke at length about a number of topics, including offensive decision-making and the most effective ways for his players to maximize possessions.

In other words, with the Nuggets' regular-season opener against Northwest Division rival Utah set for Wednesday, the time for 6-foot-11 power forwards to randomly launch 3-pointers is probably over.

Karl has allowed his players more freedom on offense this preseason, with mixed results.

"And now it's time for me to make those decisions a little bit more, instead of allowing them to continue making experimental decisions," Karl said.

To be fair, the Nuggets'
preseason laboratory included more than Kenyon Martin and Chris Andersen pushing the envelope in terms of shooting range. Karl said there were attempts to let Nene and J.R. Smith take control of contests.
"We wanted those two to be a little more aggressive," Karl said. "We didn't get that done from Nene as much as I would have liked."

Karl also made reference to his team's "turnover problem." Denver averaged more than 21 miscues a game during exhibition play - a figure that Martin agreed was too high.

"That's the only thing I can see that was a problem in the preseason," he said. "Other than that, the guys are ready to play. It was a long, grueling preseason, with a lot of travel, but that's over now and the guys are focused on the 28th."

Injury report.

Martin sat out Sunday's workout with a right shoulder strain. Although the team listed him as "probable" for Wednesday's opener, the forward insisted the injury "isn't something that's gonna keep me out of no games."

"I just aggravated it the other day and it was bothering me a little bit," Martin said. "I missed a dunk and got it caught in somebody's arm."

Swingman Joey Graham was also listed as probable; the newcomer is suffering from a sprain of his right big toe.

 

[bangdak]

goddamn, those blobs of text are not interesting.
and i like how this page is mostly articles, with no comments whatsoever...

 

[executive76]

I tried

this thread does suck though

 

[bangdak]

loyal fans though, cant hate. keep doin your thing

hightlight the important stuff though, aint nobody readin that