One of my favorite bloggers just so happens to pen a blog about The Nuggets, so when this whole thing went down and our favorite teams swapped players The Nugg Doctor and I decided to ask each other some questions about “The Trade.”
N4S: When you heard of the rumors did you think the deal could actually go through?
The Nugg Doctor: I’m glad you asked this question. During the summer, there was a rumor going around that Denver and Detroit were essentially going to switch a vast majority of each team’s respective starting five and I was all for it. The way I looked at it was the Pistons are a team that have enjoyed quite a bit of success over the last few years while Denver hasn’t yet been out of the first round of the playoffs since drafting ‘Melo. Unfortunately, that trade never materialize, but evidently both teams still stayed in contact. As for the Nuggets trading AI for Chauncey, I hadn’t really heard much stirring about the deal before it was all but agreed upon which is pretty much par for course with Nuggets brass being so tight lipped. However, I am extremely happy that Denver’s native son is coming home.
N4S: Denver finally got their PG, was Chauncey always at the top of the list because he heard rumors of a deal this summer involving Carmelo and Billups?
The Nugg Doctor: I do think Chauncey was always high on our list, if not the top choice. He’s from Denver. Denver would love to see him back in a Nuggets uniform considering how pitiful we were when he was a Nugget previously in his career. And, I think it would be nice for Billups to finish his career in Denver as a capstone to an otherwise spectacular career. However, due to their age discrepancy I do not think the Nuggets would have ever done a deal that would have sent Carmelo Anthony to Detroit.
N4S: We know AI, but tell us something you were not expecting to see and did when he landed in Denver?
The Nugg Doctor: One thing that Pistons fans have to look forward to is a warrior night-in and night-out. Sometimes we hear that kind of description thrown around for this player or that player, but with AI there really isn’t anyone who can compare to what he brings every night. He’ll play hurt, tired, and sick without any excuse or not playing hard. He will fit right in with the city of Detroit’s blue collar style, and hopefully with the Pistons style of play.
N4S: Chauncey was the Pistons captain, do you see him taking on the roll in Denver?
The Nugg Doctor: I think he’ll have to. ‘Melo is not much of a vocal leader and with the departure of Camby over the off-season, and AI now gone, Chauncey’s veteran leadership is going to be invaluable to Nuggets. Additionally, the acquisition of Billups is going to be tremendous to the continued development of J.R. Smith. Plus, Billups has been to the NBA promise land and tasted the fruits of an NBA championship which is also going to be tremendous for the psyche of this franchise.
N4S: Does Billups get Denver out of the first round of the Playoffs?
The Nugg Doctor: Let’s hope so! Along with your Pistons, the Nuggets are one of only four teams in the NBA to have made the playoffs in the last five consecutive years and the only one not to make it to the conference semis even once. There is certainly going to be a lot of pressure on him to make the difference that AI never could, but if there is one thing that “Mr. Big Shot” is capable of it’s seizing the opportunity and rising to the occasion.
Thanks to The Nugg Doctor for taking the time to fill in the blanks for Pistons fans. You can see my answers to his questions over at The Nugg Doctor!
It’s always nice when great bloggers can come together and grant their readers some insight from a fan’s perspective, as opposed to listenint to interivews where players pretty much all say the same thing.