Expectations in Denver are much more modest than they were
a year ago, even though this Nuggets team is still loaded with talented big men,
solid point guard play and a go-to star.
Nene's season-ending knee injury was a harbinger of tough times
in Denver, where the Nuggets never lived up to lofty expectations, bowing out to
the lower-seeded Clippers in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.
The Nuggets were fifth during the regular season in scoring
(100.3 points per game), but they collapsed in the playoffs, averaging just 87.4
points, 15th among the 16 teams
Nene was re-signed to multi-year deal despite the injury, and
will be expected once again to join Kenyon Martin and Marcus Camby in forming
one of the best frontlines in the NBA
The 2006-07 Denver Nuggets team is going to look very similar to
the Nuggets teams from the last few years. The Nuggets will continue to see
opposing defenses pack it in and dare them to shoot from the outside. J.R. Smith
should be able to spread the court a little, and Joe Smith should help bolster
an injury-prone front court. Overall, expect more or less the same out of most
of the Nuggets and hopefully a healthy season.
The Nuggets has the talent and the coaching to pick up where it
left off two seasons ago; among the NBA's best. They certainly figure to be
among the NBA's most improved teams, if only because their disappointing 44-win
season shouldn't be tough to top.
Season Opener:
Nov. 1 @ LAC (10:30 p.m. ET, TNT)
Get
Nuggets Tickets Home Opener:
Nov. 3 vs. MIN (7 p.m. ET)
