'11 Nuggets Post-Melo = '04 Pistons?

[PosImpos]

From Michael Wilbon's ESPN chat this afternoon:

These Nuggets, my friend Jon Barry says, remind him of the Pistons of 2004 which won the championship...Great story very much worth following, especially these last two weeks of the regular season as the Nuggets go into some very tough wrap-up games...

What do you think?  

I'm skeptical, I don't think they have that level of talent or defensive ability, and I think their run recently has been mostly due to a generally easy schedule and a team of players hungry and eager to prove they have worth after being "disrespected" by their teams.  That doesn't mean the way the Nuggets have played since the Melo trade isn't really impressive.

I would love to see a Nuggets vs. Lakers series.

[BballTim]

  I think... not so much.

[CelticG1]

I don't understand how this is similar at all. I must be missing something

[Surferdad]

I see the similarity in that neither team had a true superstar and both are faily deep, but that's about it.  Nuggets don't have nearly as good a defense.

Remember when other teams were looking to copy the '04 Pistons approach of no superstar, but solid 1 though 8?

[zerophase]

They're good but they don't have that defensive presence of Ben Wallace or even Prince. I remember Detroit playing a full game with only 2 turnovers. Also who takes the big shots on their team? You could argue that Detroit didn't have a superstar but they did have a clutch shooter in Billups. Who's that for the Nuggets? Who's the leader?

[CelticG1]

They're good but they don't have that defensive presence of Ben Wallace or even Prince. I remember Detroit playing a full game with only 2 turnovers. Also who takes the big shots on their team? You could argue that Detroit didn't have a superstar but they did have a clutch shooter in Billups. Who's that for the Nuggets? Who's the leader?

I'd say Kenyon Martin could be looked at as their leader. Not sure about taking big shots but he is a veteran defensive presence who has been to the finals a couple times.

I really don't see what the similarities are to that pistons team though

[PosImpos]

They're good but they don't have that defensive presence of Ben Wallace or even Prince. I remember Detroit playing a full game with only 2 turnovers. Also who takes the big shots on their team? You could argue that Detroit didn't have a superstar but they did have a clutch shooter in Billups. Who's that for the Nuggets? Who's the leader?

I'd say their big shot guy at this point is either Gallinari or J.R. Smith.  Nene is a good enough free throw shooter that he can be a go-to guy inside (to score or get fouled or whatever) late in games, too.

I agree, though.  They don't have a lockdown defender, and they don't have a Mr. Big Shot. 

Still, I think it's an interesting comparison.

[mgent]

Definitely not.  04 Pistons were one of my favorites teams and one of the all time best defensive teams of the modern era.  Nene, KMart, and Gallo are nothing close to Sheed, Big Ben, and Prince.

I really don't see any comparisons.  They are still a pretty good offensive team without Melo, but in what other way are they even close to the championship Pistons?  Who has the leadership of Chauncey?  How are they going to get out of the first round?

[PosImpos]

Definitely not.  04 Pistons were one of my favorites teams and one of the all time best defensive teams of the modern era.  Nene, KMart, and Gallo are nothing close to Sheed, Big Ben, and Prince.

I really don't see any comparisons.  They are still a pretty good offensive team without Melo, but in what other way are they even close to the championship Pistons?  Who has the leadership of Chauncey?  How are they going to get out of the first round?

If they continue to play at the level they've been playing, winning in the first round is definitely a possibility.  They're most likely going to face the Thunder.  They're playing the Thunder twice this week, so we're going to get an idea of what a playoff matchup between the two teams might be like. 

Winning more than one round, though, is probably not in the cards.

[xmuscularghandix]

No.

 

[jdz101]

It would be hilarious if Denver got to the second round and New York didn't. Can definitely work out that way aswell. Miami or Boston will slaughter new york.

[PosImpos]

It would be hilarious if Denver got to the second round and New York didn't. Can definitely work out that way aswell. Miami or Boston will slaughter new york.

I think there's a very solid chance of that happening.

[mahonedog88]

yeah in order for that to happen the nugs would need to win the title this year and that aint happenin...

i do however see them making a surprise playoff run...i see them beating the thunder who will most likely be there first round opponent and then i think they play the lakers in the second round right?  And i predict they take the lakers to a 7th game and ultimately lose.

EDIT: my b, theyd play the spurs if the lakers don't catch them, but then i still predict them taking the spurs to a 7th game.

[fairweatherfan]

A. No.  At least not this year.

B.  Ironically, the 04 Pistons should've had Melo.

[Edgar]

in 2004 whole league was a mess
This years league is just too much for those Nuggets
I like the streak though
and hope they can keep the pace if the meet the fakers