Over the next month until opening night on October 31, I?ll be previewing one NBA team a day. Starting in the Eastern Conference, I?ll be starting with my lowest ranked team and continuing to the best, then switching conferences. Enjoy.

Carmelo and…George Karl?
I’m on record saying Carmelo Anthony would be the best player in the 2003 NBA Draft Class. Whoops. He’s been phenomenal (26.5 PPG last year) and has made the playoffs each of his first three seasons. But the Nuggets appear to be content with making the playoffs and losing 4-1 in the first round. They made no big efforts in acquiring someone like Jason Terry or Peja Stojakovic that could help out Anthony. They’re a team good enough to make the playoffs but do nothing when they’re there. That’s frustrating.

Overview
I’m just not sure what Denver is doing. They canned Kiki Vandeweghe in the offseason, the same guy that got the Nuggets back into the playoffs on a yearly basis. Then there’s George Karl, the coach who enjoys blowing up his relationship with players and management a couple years into his tenure. Bad news Nugs, Karl is in year three. It might be time. Aside from Anthony, they have some solid but unspectacular players. Andre Miller, Kenyon Martin, and Marcus Camby will be solid but won’t be the true sidekick that Carmelo and the Nuggets need. But at least they still have Earl Boykins. Who doesn’t like Boykins? If you dislike Boykins, close your browser immediately. Read the rest of this entry »