Nuggets Return to the Garden

The Denver Nuggets start a 4-game road trip out east today against the New York Knicks. I probably don't have to remind you of what happened in December of last year, but in case you don't remember you can check out the youtube clip. Let's rewind to December. Denver was playing some of its best basketball of the season, the Nuggets were winning big and still had all of their starters in the game (a big F-YOU from George Karl to Isiah Thomas). Thomas ordered his players to get rough and JR Smith was horse collared by Mardy Collins. The Denver Nuggets lost two of their best players for a significant amount of time and the franchise decided to pull the trigger on the Allen Iverson trade. We were never able to regroup as we would of hoped and finished the season with a quick playoff exit to the Champion Spurs. Here we are today, Denver stands at 2-1, and the team is predicting a 60 win season.

Believe it or not, I think that since the time of the brawl our team has transformed from a team that was slightly above average, to a team that has the ability and certainly the talent to win an NBA Championship. Due to the loss of our two best scorers (Melo and JR's Suspension), we brought in Allen Iverson. Would we have brought AI in if Melo and JR weren't suspended? No one can definitively answer that question, but my inclination is that it would not of happened. Carmelo Anthony suddenly realized what kind of impact his actions on and off the court affect not only him and his family but also the entire Denver Nugget's franchise, the City of Denver and the NBA. This realization has lead to a more mature, and dedicated Carmelo Anthony. He has become a leader on and off the court and his focus is on becoming not only a great player and great teammate, but a better person.

These two events have led me to believe that because of the brawl in MSG, we have become a better team. Obviously the influx of a talent like AI helps, but I think just as important is the maturation of Carmelo Anthony. Sometimes you have to take a step backward to take two steps forward. Let's hope the Nuggets can take those steps!