No Melo, No Problem

San Antonio Spurs head coach Greg Popovich said, "George [Karl] has been incredible. Over the years, one of his strong suits is when things are going bad. He toughens up and figures out a way to keep everything together. If there's some sort of disturbance going on or a situation that is difficult for most, he seems to shine in those situations. He's done a great job this year under the circumstances." Although Karl heard support from many of his friends in the coaching business, the constant Carmelo Anthony drama could not have ended soon enough. After learning Anthony had been traded to the New York Knicks, Denver Nuggets head coach George Kark said, "I'm glad its over." Melo was the center of trade talks since he didn't accept the Nuggets three-year, 65 million dollar contract extension during the summer. The season-long trade saga could not have ended soon enough for Karl and the Nuggets organization, especially with their team fighting for a playoff spot in the western conference.

While the fans in New York could not have been more thrilled with their acquisitions of Carmelo Anthony along with Chauncey Billups, many people forgot about the other end of the trade. The Nuggets received Knicks starting point guard Raymond Felton and starting forwards Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari in the trade. When the Nuggets traded Anthony, they were only seven game over five hundred with a 32-25 record. They are currently 47-29, 18 games over five hundred, and are in fifth place in the western conference. Since dealing Anthony, the Nuggets are 15-4 including a current six game win streak and wins over the Lakers on the road and the Celtics at home. In the Nuggets 19 games since the trade, they are allowing 94.8 points per game on the defensive end, which is about 10 points less than they did before the trade. They have reduced their opponents’ field goal percentage from 50.1 to 47.8 since the deal as well. Karl said about his team's imrpoved defense, "We're pretty focused at both ends of the court...The defensive end of the court never was our forte. I think you're seeing a team that could be not only a good offensive team, it might become a special defensive team. We have size, we have speed. We're not giving up transition points. Our transition defense is the best it's ever been since I've been here." Karl also took a jab at Anthony saying that the team's improved defense is a result of  not having to “handle what Carmelo gives you” on the defensive end every night.

Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler have combined for nearly 30 points a game and more than 10 rebounds per game. The key to the Nuggets success has been the play of their two speedy point guards Ty Lawson and Raymond Felton. Felton and Lawson have both averaged just about 6 assists per game since the trade and have been leading the charge for the new look Nuggets. The new look Nuggets no longer have to just give the ball to Carmelo and let him go one on one. Their ball movement has greatly improved and it has shown with different guys stepping up in different games. Nene has looked much more assertive in the post and J.R. Smith has scored in double figures in 14 of the teams 19 games since the trade. Al Harrington has also seen added minutes since the deal and has made the most of it including scoring 27 points against a three point win over the Spurs on March 23rd. Stephen Jackson of the Charlotte Bobcats said, “They’re playing more open. I think they have four or five guys on the court that are aggressive instead of waiting for ‘Melo to shoot all the balls. They’re playing with two point guards, so they’re making plays and everybody is getting shots. They’re not depending on one guy to score.”

Karl said, “I think we’re waking up more excited than most teams right now. I don’t think there’s any question right now that we’re going to the gym and getting things done at a high level. We have good energy. The trade came at a time where most teams are going through the NBA blues and are trying to find the light at the end of the tunnel to get into the playoffs or start playing the playoffs. We kind of got a new spirit, a new camaraderie, a new togetherness, and fortunately we won some games. We think we can be good and I think people think we can be good, too... You gotta enjoy how we’re playing. Very few times in your career of coaching does your team kind of spark together and come together like this team has come together in a very short period of time against odds against them."