Jerry Schemmel

Schem's Blog

• Looking Ahead to 2007-08
• Upsets Happen
• A Question Worth Answering
• Flying Under the Radar
• I Think We're Getting There
• What A Post Season It Has Been
• Where Do We Go From Here?

Looking Ahead to 2007-08

What a crazy season! Fun, at times, but quite crazy! First, Kenyon Martin goes down after two games with another knee injury and is lost for the season. Then there was the fight in New York and the subsequent suspensions of Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith. Then there was the Iverson trade. Then the Blake trade. Then Coby Karl’s second cancer diagnosis. Then a late season surge. Then a game one win in San Antonio. Then another quick playoff exit. I can’t think of a zanier team in the NBA this year than these Nuggets. Nor can I think of a crazier Nuggets season in the 14 years I’ve been here. What a seven months! Equal parts hope, sadness, excitement, and disappointment.

So, I guess now it’s time to look ahead. It seams to make sense, at least to me, to try to keep this team together. There is simply a lot of talent here. Some moves do need to be made. If we are unable to re-sign Steve Blake, another point guard seems a priority in that situation. Some more outside shooting would be helpful. But if you look at the core of the team, and see all that talent, you have to be optimistic. Carmelo had an incredible year, a year where he flirted for a long time with the NBA scoring title. Nene, after February 1st, became a big-time power forward, even a force at times. Linas Klieza drastically improved. J.R. Smith, despite a suspension and knee surgery, had by far his best pro season. Camby was the league’s top defender. And Allen Iverson was, well, Allen Iverson.

Word is Nuggets management would like to keep this group together. Tinker with the personnel a little, but keep this bunch in tact. It seems prudent to give George Karl a healthy roster, which might well include Kenyon Martin, and a full training camp with that roster. It was a crazy 2006-07 Denver Nuggets season. But now we look ahead. And when we do, we should see a cupboard that is pretty well stocked.
Looking ahead, we should see a great deal optimism. -Schem

Upsets Happen

Upsets. They happen all the time in sports. Fans of all kinds love them, including Nuggets fans. Maybe especially Nuggets fans. One of the great moments in Nuggets history, perhaps even Denver sports history, was the team's upset of the Seattle Supersonics in the first round of the playoffs in 1994. And now, 13 years later, Nuggets fans are hoping for a repeat performance. And if it happens, it may well be as monumental as that spring afternoon in Seattle so many years back. As the Nuggets head into the NBA playoffs against the powerful San Antonio Spurs, people around these parts are daring to use that word again. They seem cautious when saying it, but the word upset is on the tongue. And perhaps for good reason. The match up features the very talented but very inconsistent Nuggets against the big, bad defensive-minded giants, the Spurs, who have won two of the last four NBA titles. If the Nuggets are to actually do this, to dare to become the victorious underdogs, they must, in my mind, do a few key things.

A Question Worth Answering

Question: What do you get when put the top two scorers in the NBA on the same team?

The answers seem to vary from sportswriter to sportswriter, talk show host to talk show host, even Nugget fan to Nugget fan. There are generally two views. The quieter and softer voice says that Allan Iverson and Carmelo Anthony together spell “trouble,” while the majority screams “trouble for the rest of the league.”

Pairing the number one and number two scorers together might be a gamble, but its dice that nearly every NBA general manager would throw if given the chance. Especially the GM of a team that has been first round playoff losers three straight years. It might not work. But it might. And the fact that it might work, that there is now a chance that the Nuggets could contend for an NBA championship, or at least be elevated somewhere close to that level, is something very new for this franchise. Think about it. And answer this. When, honestly, was the last time you thought the Nuggets might have a shot at a championship? I thought so.

Hey, it might not happen. But it might. Because of the trade, it could. So if it were to happen, what has to happen?

In my view, a couple things. First, the Nuggets must get better defensively. Poor defensive teams have a nasty habit of getting bounced out of the playoffs. And for this Nuggets team, improving at the defensive end is not a matter of a need for different schemes or different personnel, it’s a matter, in my mind, of more intensity. A commitment to playing intense defense all the time presently doesn’t exist. And it needs to. The encouraging thing is that this team is quite capable of playing great defense. They have the personnel. Camby can block. Iverson and Anthony can steal. Boykins can disrupt. Diawara can harass. They just need to commit to doing it. It must become a mindset.

Secondly, and in my mind, more importantly, Melo needs to make it happen. I think Allan Iverson is going to be Allan Iverson. Every night. He will play with great intensity and give great effort every time he laces them up. He will score when he has to and pass when has to and play defense because he has to. At the least, he is going to be the same AI we’ve always known. At the most, he may be that plus a better passer.

It just might be Melo who has to adapt. It might be Melo who has to take nothing but good shots within the offense. It might be Melo who has to think win first and score second. It might be Melo who has to share the spotlight. It might be Melo who might just have to accept that doing less might produce more.

I have a prediction. I predict Melo will do it. I think he’ll rise to the occasion. I think he’s too competitive not to. Carmelo Anthony has done some things he regrets. Several, actually. But look how he’s responded, look at the way he has stood back up after falling down. He has apologized and taken responsibility because he’s actually a very good person. Despite what you might think. And he loves to play. And he loves to win. Please trust me on that.

So what do you get when the top two scorers in the NBA are on the same NBA team? Well, the Nuggets might not win a championship. But they might. At least now, after the trade, they might. And I’ll bet we have a whole lot of fun watching.

Flying Under the Radar

The 2006-07 Denver Nuggets seem to be flying under the radar of those who make a living at predicting success in the NBA. Unlike last season, no one seems to be talking about the Nuggets as a threat in the Western Conference. Unlike last season, no one seems to like the new additions to the team. And unlike last season, no one is tooting the Nuggets horn. At all.

After making the playoffs in 2004, after nearly a decade without them, then bringing in George Karl and finishing 2004-2005 with an incredible flurry, the Nuggets were one of the most hyped teams in the NBA entering last season. Many were predicting a 52 to 55 win campaign and some even a western conference championship. The team, obviously, did not live up to the hype. Was it because they felt the pressure of those expectations? Did the big things that people predicted for this team cause it to play tight and cautious? I think there may be some truth to the theory.

Although injuries, I believe, were the biggest factor in the disappointing season of a year ago, I do think the pressure of great expectations somehow got to the team. I’m sure the players would deny it, but I think it was a factor, at least at some level. But that does not appear to be the case the season. And perhaps this year’s team can use that lack of attention, that absence of any hype and championship talk, to its advantage. Perhaps the quiet treatment will allow the team to play loose and more relaxed, maybe get them back to some semblance of the squad that did the almost unheard of in the second half of the 04-05 season, when they struggled to lose games. Perhaps if you leave them alone and just let them play, they play well.

No one is expecting much from the Nuggets. They are flying under the NBA radar.

And, hopefully, that’s just fine.

I Think We're Getting There

The on the court weaknesses of the Nuggets, which have been discussed extensively ever since the playoff series loss to the Clippers, and even a fair amount prior to it, appear to be getting addressed. Perhaps not how some would desire, but we have to admit that efforts are being made. Progress is happening.

The lack of outside shooting, especially from the two guard spot, and an almost complete lack of low post scoring, weaknesses the team admitted it had prior to last season, became even more evident in the post season. Management knew the problems had to be addressed in the off season. And management has done that, at least in my eyes.

The re-signing of Nene will go a long way in addressing the lack of inside scoring for this team. Some have criticized the move as overpaying for a guy who has never put up the numbers. But I believe it's a great decision, for a number of reasons. First, it gives you a low post scoring presence that was completely lacking last year after Nene's injury. Karl Malone he is not, but the guy can put the ball in the hole within the paint and will only get better at doing it as his career progresses. He hasn't been a big scorer in his short and injury-affected NBA stint, but he has always been a high field goal percentage guy, which says the scoring numbers will only go up. He has incredible physical tools for a guy his size, maintains a terrific attitude and is only 23 years old. I think the Nuggets looked around the league at free agent inside scorers and saw the most attractive one on their own roster.

The move for J.R. Smith is a great one as well, almost a no-brainer to me. The Nuggets basically gave up a second round pick for a young, extremely athletic, probably underachieving two guard who has terrific upside, and who doesn't cost the team a big salary number. Please keep in mind that this kid, in his first season in the league and fresh out of high school, was Western Conference Rookie of the Month three months in a row. Oh yeah, did I mention he was only 20 years of age? His upside is scary.

Is Smith the immediate answer at two guard? Probably not, but it's clearly a move in the right direction at that position. And with so little risk. I have always thought that Smith would be a perfect sixth man in the NBA. He can come off the bench and run, jump, dunk and up the energy level. The combination of Smith and Earl Boykins coming off the Nuggets bench, to me, is intriguing. Put them in the back court together and just let them fly!

And then there is the new Carmelo Anthony contract. This was something the Nuggets knew they wanted to do three years ago. A 26 point per game scorer and one of the emerging stars in the league had to be re-signed. A tip of the hat to the Nuggets for getting it done so quickly. And even more importantly, an ovation for Carmelo for being so eager to agree to it.

While LeBron James and Dwyane Wade insisted on shorter deals to give them the opportunity to leave their teams earlier, Melo sent the message that he wanted to be a Nugget. Perhaps for a very long time. When Anthony first arrived in Denver, I got the sense that he wanted it to be a short stay. He told me his life-long dream was to play for the Knicks. Instead of signing the extension with Denver, he and his agents could easily have said no, become a free agent after next season and maneuvered his way to New York. Trust me, he could have made that happen. But he didn't. He stayed and made it very clear he wants keep us company here in Denver for the long term.

Add it all up and, to me, needs are clearly being addressed!

I think we're getting there! - Schem (Sept. 2006)

What a Post-Season It Has Been

For those who believe NBA basketball is boring, stagnant and without flare and drama, (and I’ve heard from these folks for years) I give you the 2006 Playoffs.

The first round match-ups, as expected, had their share of blowout games and predictable series outcomes. But beginning with the second round, the competition has been, at least in my mind, nothing short of spectacular. Night after night, beginning with round two, we have seen tight, emotional, physical, hard fought contests. And plenty of dramatic finishes.

I probably shouldn’t admit this, but normally I don’t find myself watching a lot of the Playoffs once the Nuggets season is over. It’s a combination of a desire to get away from the game for a while after going hard for seven or eight months, as well as being envious of the fans and broadcasters who still have their teams playing and contending. The Playoffs are so intense and so much fun that when they’re over early for the Nuggets, as they have been in recent years, I get just a bit jealous. (I know, I know, I could use some good counseling). But this year is different. The games have been so good and so much fun to watch that I can hardly resist.

And I’m making an educated guess that the Finals will be just as fun. I have been pondering, as I do every year at this time, how far the Nuggets are from being in the same position as Dallas or Miami – playing for an NBA Championship. Are the Nuggets getting there? Are they moving in the right direction, toward a championship caliber roster? If so, how far, or how close, are they?

We can begin by looking at the match-ups the Nuggets had with the two conference champions. The Nuggets swept Miami. And although Denver lost three of four to Dallas in the regular season, they quite easily could have won three of four. They squandered a big second half lead in a game in Dallas and lost an overtime game at home.

But those regular season match-ups, I believe, only tell a small part of the story. Regular season games are a far cry from playoff match-ups. The better question is this. What do the Mavericks and Heat have that the Nuggets do not?

The biggest difference, in my mind, between the Nuggets and the title contenders, is the difference in weaknesses. The Nuggets have them and the Heat and Mavericks really do not.

In the regular season, the Nuggets were good in a lot of areas. But the inadequacies have been well documented. Perimeter shooting, especially from beyond the three-point line, and an almost complete absence of a low post offensive game plagued the Nuggets all year. And especially in the Playoffs. Defensively…the Nuggets, although they had their moments, were inconsistent. Miami and Dallas simply don’t have those weaknesses. In fact, neither team has any glaring weaknesses, period.

All three teams have their offensive stars, which is almost mandatory. But the supporting casts are obviously much better in Miami and Dallas; and as a result, the weaknesses are fewer, if at all. Both teams are simply very solid in every aspect of the game.

So where does that put the Nuggets? What has to be done to get closer to the levels achieved in Dallas and Miami? Addressing those weak spots seems the high priority to me. Outside shooting and a big man or two who can score in the paint would probably go a long way toward getting the team a peg or two closer to the Mavs and Heat. But that is just the way I see it.

Anyway, what a post-season this has been!

The Playoffs have been, in my mind, a blast. And I think the Finals will be every bit the same. I’m looking forward to watching them on TV.

I guess the only thing more fun than watching the Finals on TV, for me, would be watching the Finals from press row. With the Nuggets in them.

Where Do We Go From Here?

With a so-called "disappointing" regular season win total of 44, a suspension of a star player for insubordination during the playoffs, a third-consecutive first round flare-out of the postseason, and then a parting of ways with a general manager, what direction do the Nuggets now head in? What do they do? How do they regroup? Where in the world do we go from here?

Let me see if I can sort it out just a little.

First, don’t be surprised if the naming of a new general manager doesn’t come for a long period of time. This one may well take a while. With only one second round pick in this year's NBA Draft, the 49th overall, deep preparation is not mandatory. With the remaining player personnel people the franchise has in place, identifying candidates and selecting the player for the 49th pick should not require a new GM to be on hand. And don’t be surprised if that new player personnel boss, whenever he might be hired, comes from within the organization.

It’s also a pretty sure bet that the team will try to move Kenyon Martin this summer. It seems only logical to try to do it when looking at the relationship he and the team seem to have. I happen to like Kenyon a lot personally. He has always been courteous and respectful to me and has picked up more than one tab on the road. I still think he has a big heart and a competitive drive, which I would hate to see go. But I also know, after 16 years in the league, how difficult it can be to mend broken relationships between a player and coach and a player and his team’s fans. The marriage might be irreconcilable.

It also seems quite logical that the team tries to strengthen its roster and address its personnel needs this summer. I believe that playoff basketball in the NBA always exposes your weaknesses, which is exactly what the Clippers did with Denver. George Karl, I believe, did a masterful job of covering up the Nuggets’ lack of perimeter shooting and low post scoring during the regular season. But the Clippers glaringly exposed those two soft spots in round one and have left the team with no choice but to try to shore them up. I don’t foresee any blockbuster trades, but I do think there will be some fairly drastic changes with the roster between now and October.

So, where do we go from here?

The important thing to remember is that there exists a talent base with this Nuggets team - there are some very good players that remain on this roster. "Rebuilding" is not necessary. "Revamping" might well be where we go from here.