2007-2008 NBA Season Preview: Denver Nuggets

Mountaineers once mined mountains and caves of the Denver mountain ranges searching for treasure with hopes of finding a fortune. For the NBA's Denver Nuggets, they've spent a fortune hoping for real treasure.

Despite making no significant roster additions in the offseason via trade or by the draft, the Nuggets are pushing forward with the goal of making the playoffs their official playground.

Having traded for Allen Iverson, Denver had high aspirations in making a big jump into contending for a possible championship in the 2006-2007 season, but the lack of time for the team to gel made on-court harmony and awareness somewhat problematic. Star forward Carmelo Anthony's absence for 15 games due to suspension also made for an interesting arrival when he was finally paired with Iverson. Point guard Steve Blake was also traded to Denver in the previous season for fan favorite and sixth man Earl Boykins, who went to Milwaukee. Blake's presence allowed for Iverson to play off of the ball where, he had most of his success in his career, but a series loss to the eventual champion Spurs, paired with his free agency and re-signing with the Portland Trail Blazers (from whom he was traded in 2006 to Milwaukee) shows a hole in the Denver backcourt.

While Iverson will most likely slide back to point guard, allowing shooting guard J.R. Smith to re-enter the starting lineup, the Nuggets will be more apt to be concerned with the re-entry of former All-Star forward Kenyon Martin in the Denver mix for the upcoming season.

Martin, who missed virtually all of the 2006-07 season with microfracture knee surgery, will now have to compete with center/forwards Marcus Camby and Nene, as well as forward Eduardo Najera. While Camby and Nene have proved to be especially valuable to Denver in the past two seasons, with their individual play at times meriting All-Star status, Martin has become a malcontent in the Nuggets organization, butting heads with head coach George Karl and becoming the ever-present subject of trade rumors.

The key for future Nuggets success, though, rests entirely on the main cast of players and their ability to play effectively. Largely, Iverson will have to pull back and become a legitimate second option, as Anthony has blossomed beautifully in each of the past couple of seasons, showing true superstar ability, with short and gratifying stints with USA Basketball.

If Martin can control his temper and realize his abilities within a system of other big men present on the team; if Iverson can legitimately accept being the second option, pass, and not over-dribble and shoot horribly; if Anthony can continue show his powerful ability to score on the outside as well as the inside, then expect the Nuggets to go far into the Western Conference playoff scene.

If all fail to materialize, the Nuggets will have still paid a rich man's ransom, but a treasure might not come to Denver in 2008.