Nuggets Golddigging for Wins, 2nd Round

Carmelo Anthony's Olympic gold medal is a great accomplishment for him and the NBA as a whole, but the truth of the Denver Nuggets is clear: They have not lived up to their potential in the five years since Anthony came to Colorado, and it will be up to him to diversify his game and for his teammates to play to their potential or else...no playoffs and a possible team break-up.

Anthony has started to exploit his opponents with his post games as a rebounder and a scorer around the basket, but he lacks much dimension elsewhere. His ball-handling needs work for the NBA game, extending the range on his jump shot wouldn't hurt, and he could stand to pass more; but there's not much else to complain about. Allen Iverson will probably be playing shooting guard exclusively with Chucky Atkins or Anthony Carter starting at point guard. There's not much negative to say, and actually, Iverson is still valued, but his addition to the team hasn't changed the fortunes of the Nuggets' hopes like it was intended.

Marcus Camby, the team's starting center for the past three years or so, was traded away to the L.A. Clippers during the 2008 summer offseason, which may be a good thing as far as clearing the middle for Nene, who is coming back from a debilitating disease and myriad injuries. Nene is a more natural fit for the middle, anyway, and having Kenyon Martin being next to him at power forward is going to get them both some normalcy that has been absent for the tandem in the past three years.

The great thing about Denver, otherwise, is the bench. J.R. Smith has been re-signed and looking to grow as a scorer; normally, he'd probably be a starter, but with the wealth of talent in the starting five, he'll do well in relief, and the same goes for emerging swingman/big man Linas Kleiza. KIeiza, a post player in college at the University of Missouri, found his stride as a sharpshooting combo forward in 2007-08, and may end up being a starting forward alongside Carmelo Anthony, as both of their games compare and compliment each other nicely, being dual inside-outside threats. "The Birdman" Chris Andersen, the Rodman-esque Renaldo Balkman, shot blocker Steven Hunter, and the aging Juwan Howard will provide a nice big man rotation from the bench. Nick Fazekas will also get an opportunity to play as a perimeter-shooting power forward. Ultra-athletic Dahntay Jones and the self-proclaimed "Kobe Stopper" himself, Ruben Patterson, makes a return, as both players will look to provide strong wing defense and offensive penetration at the shooting guard and small forward spots, in tandem. Even Smush Parker, a known also-ran and malcontent, will get an opportunity at the point and shooting guard positions.

In the end, the Nuggets aren't truly equipped with elite-level talent to go farther than the second round of the NBA Playoffs, but if they get there, even that will be an accomplishment.