Nuggets

[barkleynash]

Likely not trading any of the guys in BOLD

Starters

PG Jarrett Jack $5
SG Ray Allen $4
SF Harrison Barnes $5
SF/PF/PG LeBron James $20
PF/C Amare Stoudamire $7




Bench

PG Keyon Dooling $1
SG/SF Brandon Rush $2
PF Anthony Tolliver $1
PF/C Al Harrington $2
C Ryan Hollins $1

Starter salary: $41

Total Salary: $47


Inactives:



Orlando Johnson $1
Malcolm Lee $1
Freeland, Joel $1
Murphy, Kevin $1

Min Rotation:

PG: Jack min/ 35 min/ Dooling 8 min/ Lebron 5 min
SG: Ray Allen 28 min/ Rush 20 min
SF: Barnes 35 min/ Rush 7 min/ Lebron 6 min
PF: Lebron 29 min/ Tolliver 11 min/ Amare 4 min/ Harrington 4 min
C: Amare 28 min/ Hollins 10 min/ Harrington 10 min

Rundown: Back to back NBA Champion and 2-time Finals MVP Lebron James has a new versatile cast with him in the Mile High City where they plan on running wild all over the league! Imagine the countless open 3's from knockdown shooters RayRay, Jack, Barnes, Rush, Mason Jr and Tolliver. The team can cause matchup nightmares with the team going really Big with Lebron at the pg or small ball with the best of them with Lebron at the pf. The 8 min Lebron is off the court Amare becomes the primary option. This team has all the components of a championship formula: A) An MVP type player (doesn't get more obvious then LBJ), B) A solid defense anchored by lock down defender Lebron, all nba defensive 1st teamer and runner up for the DPOY. C) A variety of ways to score: This Nuggets squad can run and gun, get points off turnovers, points off penetration, the pick and roll, work you over from the post (Lebron and Amare), or light you up from down town. C) Gotta have vets, the championship is rarely won by young teams. You don't want to be over the hill either, nice to have a good mix which these Nuggets certainly do.



Jack just had the best season of his career and an even better playoffs (17ppg in 35 min.) The guy is a perfect fit with Lebron with his sweet stroke (40% from 3) and his clutch play and tough D. Keyon Dooling will get the same 8min/game he got during the Griz playoff run giving steady play and shoots a nice 38.5% from 3. Lebron will get the rest of the minutes at pg when the Nuggets go to their BIG line up causing all sorts of match up nightmares for opposing teams.



Harrison Barnes at 6'8 and extremely athletic, who can attack the rim or knock down the tripple (36%) is a very tough matchup for any wing and really stepped up in the playoffs with an expanded role getting 16 ppg in 38 min. Factor in that Barnes will always have the weakest wing defender guarding him from the other team and will often be left wide open will only make life easier on him and make his impact that much more. Tough life playing with King James. Rush will get similar benefits from playing alongside the reigning MVP and may even make teams pay even more then when they leave Jack or Barnes open since Rush shoots 50% from the field and 45% from 3!!! Brandon is also a solid defender so he can get it done on both ends of the court. And if either ? or Rush are having an off game or are in foul trouble the ever ready 3 point specialist (41.5%) Roger Mason Jr will get a chance to let it fly from downtown.



SF: Lebron James, best player on the planet, enough said!



PF/C: Amare Stoudamire had alot of bad luck this season again with his health (which thankfully isn't an issue here) but he did show with his play that he's still a very, very good finisher! In 23.5 min per game he averaged 14 pts on 58% shooting and 80% from the line, 5 reb, and 0.7 blocks. Give him 8 more min a game which a healthy Amare can certainly handle and he'd get around 20pts 8 reb and lil over a block which is slightly under his career averages and about what he averaged in his last 3 games when the Knicks boosted his minutes before he was re-injured. Amare will be the 2nd option when playing with Lebron which isnt that bad considering Lebron is a much more willing passer then Melo, but the 10minutes Lebron is resting Amare will be the primary focus of the offense. Amare is not a defensive guy but he will be well protected by Sanders,Lebron and AK47. For the majority of the time Amare is playing center Anthony Tolliver will be his stretch 4 sidekick much like when Fyre served that roll for him in Phoenix. Tolliver is a a def threat from downtown at 34% but can get very hot from 3 as he did in the playoffs going 63% (7 for 11 in 6 games)!!!