Recently a 1,500-pound rodeo bull named Edgar was on the loose in the rural community of Penrose, Colo., just a half hour south of Colorado Springs. Edgar is, or should I say was, an absolute, uncompromising machine. Fifteen-hundred pounds of horns, muscle and flesh went on a mini rampage, ripping through flimsy fences and outdated out-buildings. This rodeo bull was primal, and absolute in his readiness to gore and gash anything that stood in his way. An unstoppable, grass-fed, horned beast, which one hopes to never cross paths with. Edgar the ornery menace tore through much of the small town, and did as he willed for approximately 24 hours.
Edgar the Bull had a good run, but was ultimately put down.
The NBA has their own version of Edgar the Bull: The Golden State Warriors.
The Warriors roamed from town to town on a rampage of their own in 2016-17, and, unless they go mad, there is no slowing down in sight. Even when playing against the best the NBA had to offer in 2017, the Warriors looked bullish.
In round one of the NBA Playoffs, Portland rolled over and played dead against the bigger, badder beast. In round two, the Utah Jazz had no shot in quieting the Warrior animal. In the Western Conference Finals, the Spurs barely left a mark on the Warriors, and were little more than a nuisance. Even Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavs looked minor and no match for the Golden State super team in the Finals. Much like Edgar the bull, not much is going to stop the Warriors from doing whatever they want. Not much is going to stop them from winning multiple titles.
So what are the Denver Nuggets to do? How do you compete against such an animal? How do you take down the Golden State Warriors and give yourself a shot at being more than a fly to be swatted away?
The Denver Nuggets, those pesky flies on the backside of the NBA, actually bested GSW once in each of the last two last seasons. Showing themselves as a team who can keep up with anyone offensively, Denver ranked third in points per game with 111.7 last year.
However, the Nuggets last season were out to pasture while on defense, getting slaughtered with 111.2 points per game allowed – second-to-last in the league. This must change if they are going to compete in the west, with Golden State or anyone else for that matter.
So how do they get better on defense?
Get some veteran attitude. Get someone to take the bull by the horns.
The Nuggets are young, really young. Six players on the current roster are 22 years old or younger.
Budding star Nikola Jokic is only 22, as is Gary Harris; Emmanuel Mudiay and Juancho Hernangomez are 21; and Jamal Murray and Malik Beasley are both under the legal drinking age at 20 years old. This is great for the Nuggets future, but for now, age is more than just a number, it’s a real issue.
With these players, with this youth, the defense will develop and get better. Defense in the NBA is something of a lesson to be learned and that lesson is coming, however, if they want to compete now, compete in the wild west, they have to do something now. The Nuggets, in order to not get butchered, may have to do something drastic.
The Nuggets have the No. 13 pick in the NBA draft, and while there is probably some young talent to be had at 13, the better way to use it is trade that uncertain asset and go get a sure bet. In my humble opinion, the Nuggets, need to trade their first-round pick, but for who?
Paul Millsap and DeAndre Jordan are both rumored to be available to the highest bidder.
Either one of these two are beefy All-Stars that you can play on both sides of the court. Both guys have skills, both have attitude. These are players who can play now, and help you win now. The No. 13 pick might help you win, might not. Millsap or Jordan will help you win now, and possibly help teach the others how to win later.
The Nuggets need a rim protector and Jordan is one of the best around. He ranks fourth in blocks per game (1.8) among current players and 29th total in NBA history. While he may not be able to make many free throws, no one is doubting his presence in the paint.
Millsap, while not as good a defender as Jordan, is as efficient a player as they make. Millsap currently ranks in the top 100 all time in efficiency and is ranked in the top 50 in plus-minus with +3.4.
For a team like the Nuggets, who missed the playoffs by a slim margin, Millsap or Jordan would make all the difference. It would give the Nuggets more steak, because all they are now is a whole lot of sizzle.
For the Nuggets, this is not a matter of money. The Nuggets have to spend the dollars to reach the salary cap floor regardless.
It’s also not a matter of assets. They can use future picks and use some of the depth they have on their current roster.
These two names might be a long shot, but with money to spend, picks to trade, and young assets to use, the Nuggets are in a rare position to get better, and get better now.
I am not saying trade the farm, because the Nuggets seem to be heading in the right direction, but if you truly want to run with the bulls, or for this matter the Warriors, you need to do something drastic.
