Denver Nuggets 2013-14 season preview
By Josh Sanchez
Key Questions
How important is Danilo Gallinari?
For all the talk about how the 2012-2013 Nuggets didn’t have a star player, they sure fell apart when Gallo went down for the year with a knee injury. Ty Lawson played spectacular basketball in the team’s first round loss to the Golden State Warriors, but it was also clear that he needed another player to shoulder that load. The Lawson-Gallinari combination might be enough for this team in lieu of a superstar, but we won’t know until Gallo is back and healthy.
How will JaVale McGee do as a starter?
Supposedly McGee’s minutes were a point of contention last season and might have nudged Karl out of town. The thing is, limiting McGee’s minutes might have masked some of the fundamental mistakes he made and allowed us to focus more on the positives he brought. Will starter’s minutes this season make McGee’s weaknesses more glaring?
Are there trades on the horizon?
As the Nuggets try to mold this roster into Shaw’s system, they might need to shuffle pieces around. Kenneth Faried has found himself the subject of trade rumors, and surely veteran point guard Andre Miller will once again be mentioned. With depth comes the ability to make deals, and as the Nuggets figure out who fits for Shaw, they might be more inclined to make those moves.
Which player can make a big difference?
Wilson Chandler. Many are upset about the loss of Iguodala and his combination of offense and lock-down defense. When healthy, Chandler is capable of bringing that same combination, and he is arguably a better offensive player (certainly a better shooter). If Chandler stays healthy he can minimize the sting of losing Iguodala.
Will the Nuggets make the playoffs?
Yes, but barely. This team was built to win right now under George Karl. It’s not clear that the same is true under Shaw, and they will need to take the time to develop these players into Shaw’s system and then see how they stack up with the rest of the conference.
The Nuggets aren’t starting over, but they are choosing to take a step backwards now to (hopefully) build sustained success later. It might yield positive results down the road, but it might have turned the Nuggets into a fringe-playoff team, at best, for the 2013-2014 season.