Maybe George Karl is unaware of his basketball history, but he's been talking about shattering the Nuggets' all-time record for wins. Back in 1975, Denver won 65 games.
As good as the Nuggets are going to be, they're not going to come close to that figure. Of course, that's an ABA mark. If Karl is talking NBA only, his team only needs to win 55 for the record.
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| Being on the most talented team of his career has Allen Iverson in a happy-go-lucky mood. (AP) |
Allen Iverson opens his first full season in a uniform other than Philadelphia's believing that he's on the cusp of something big. He'll tell anyone who will listen that he's on a winner that offers him his best chance at earning a championship.
Kenyon Martin is back and looks healthy. Nene is getting paid, so he's happy. Chucky Atkins was brought in to team with Iverson in the backcourt and help take some pressure off him. Coming off another first-round exit under Karl, the third in a row, the Nuggets' championship aspirations seem ambitious, but for the sake of argument, let's humor them.
If for some reason, the Western Conference regresses and a new champion has to emerge, Denver could follow Cleveland's blueprint to unprecedented success. If LeBron James can get it done, it's conceivable that Carmelo Anthony should be able to do the same.
He's not the all-around threat James is, but he does exude greatness, able to put the ball in the basket as well as anyone in the game. All that has been missing are key ingredients like maturity and help. He feels he has both now. Excuses are out the window.
CBSSports.com believes in Anthony and the Nuggets, predicting they'll overcome Utah in the Northwest Division. If they fail, it had better be a result of the scenario Karl believes possible, where Utah simply outperforms them and wins more than 60 games. That's unlikely, but if it happens, Denver has every right to shake off the disappointment and feel good about its season.
If for some reason, injuries or inconsistency derail Denver, then there's no other conclusion left, even at this early stage of their careers, that critics are right about the difference between James and Anthony. One makes the players around him better and the other doesn't. Anthony has Iverson as his primary running mate, not to mention reigning Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Camby. James has Boobie Gibson and Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Get the gist?
Although many already do, it would be unwise to bet against Anthony. He's not destined to be the new Dominique Wilkins, a volume shooter who isn't going to succeed in a team game. He's someone who has improved every season he has been in the league, a force who has become one of the most feared scorers in the world and who is a proven winner, the driving force behind Syracuse's national championship in his only season of college.
What Anthony has to prove now is that he can be successful in a team dynamic at the highest level. A lot of that depends on how he co-exists with Iverson, a player who has dealt with similar criticism throughout his career. This is a big year for both.
Denver won nine of its final 10 regular season games last April before running into San Antonio in the playoffs and gave the defending champs the toughest run they had en route to a championship. That was without Martin or Atkins. The pieces are there. Expect this to be the season where it all starts to come together.
Karl might be dreaming if he believes his team can win more than 60 games, but winning the division and competing for a title isn't far-fetched at all.
| Denver Nuggets |
| Power Ranking: Ninth |
| Projected Record: 48-34, first in Northwest |
| Best-case scenario: Anthony builds on his nearly flawless form in international play, teaming with Iverson to form the most potent one-two punch in the league. A lot depends on the chemistry between those two and both are talented enough to drive Denver to heights few even dream of. |
| Worst-case scenario: Marcus Camby, Nene and Kenyon Martin all miss time, robbing Denver of what could be a devastating post trio. Compromised defensively and on the boards, the Nuggets struggle just to stay above .500. |
| X-factor: Martin finally took the proper time necessary to recover from microfracture surgery. He seems healthy and if he remains that way, the Nuggets will have a boost off the bench few teams enjoy. |
| Early season schedule: After welcoming Kevin Durant into the league in a home game with the Sonics on Halloween night, the Nuggets will hit the road for five of their next six games. |
| 2007-08 NBA Team Previews | ||
| Eastern | ||
| Atlantic | Central | Southeast |
 Boston Celtics |  Chicago Bulls |  Atlanta Hawks |
 New Jersey Nets |  Cleveland Cavaliers |  Charlotte Bobcats |
 New York Knicks |  Detroit Pistons |  Miami Heat |
 Philadelphia 76ers |  Indiana Pacers |  Orlando Magic |
 Toronto Raptors |  Milwaukee Bucks |  Washington Wizards |
| Western | ||
| Northwest | Southwest | Pacific |
 Denver Nuggets |  Dallas Mavericks |  Golden State Warriors |
 Minnesota Timberwolves |  Houston Rockets |  Los Angeles Clippers |
 Portland Trail Blazers |  Memphis Grizzlies |  Los Angeles Lakers |
 Seattle Supersonics |  New Orleans Hornets |  Phoenix Suns |
 Utah Jazz |  San Antonio Spurs |  Sacramento Kings |
