The Iverson Crystal Ball

So, Mr. East ... what us nerdy blog fans want to know is this: will Iverson make the Nuggets a better team? Will they win more games because of him? Will they go further in the playoffs?

So far, the Nuggets stand at 16-13 and are 2-4 with him on the team including an embarrassing home loss to the 76ers (yes, Seventy Sixers!). Granted, Melo and JR Smith are still suspended but that record sucks.

The Iverson Crystal Ball, Mr. West Version:

A) What will the Nuggets record be with AI in the line-up now? 32-27.
B) Will the Nuggets land in the playoffs? Yes, around a 6 or 7 seed.
C) How far will they go in the playoffs? Likely lose in 1st round.
D) Will Iverson be on the Nuggets next year? Yes though not in 2008-2009.
E) How many teammates of Iverson want him on the team? Zero.
F) How will Coach Karl and Iverson get along? Not well but well enough.

Summary: Iverson will act like the good boy scout for the remainder of
the year, a la Sprewell on the Knicks after the choking incident. The
Nuggets don't get better in the Win-Loss column, though. And Carmelo is
pissed because his career year is now part of the AI traveling circus.
Typical NBA team bullshit will be spewed ("we needed time to get used to
each other" or "with a year of practice as a unit we will be ready next
year to compete for the championship" etc.) all summer. Iverson will
overtly hog the ball next season and someone (Carmelo or Iverson) will
be traded.

The Iverson Crystal Ball, Mr. East Version:

A) What will the Nuggets record be with AI in the line-up now? 35-24.
B) Will the Nuggets land in the playoffs? Yes, they'll be a 6 seed.
C) How far will they go in the playoffs? They'll lose in 1st round, but if they do advance, they'll go deep into the playoffs.
D) Will Iverson be on the Nuggets next year? Yes.
E) How many teammates of Iverson want him on the team? Now? One or two. In a few months, almost everyone.
F) How will Coach Karl and Iverson get along? A sucessful Love/Hate relationship.

Summary: Iverson is trying to fit in early on by sharing the ball, and shooting less. He'll continue most of the time, even when Carmelo gets back. The thing is, at the end of the game who takes the shot. I believe it's Iverson every time, unless he kicks to an open Anthony. That's just me though and there are plenty of arguments the other way. As I see it, the worst case scenario here is that the entourage situation that is rarely discussed by the mainstream media could blow up. Iverson's entourage and Carmelo's entourage will either coexist, or they won't. If they don't the locker room will be forever divided, and things will turn ugly. On the court issues are not a problem. The rest of the Nuggets don't need the ball to be effective. Camby is a brilliant off the ball guy. Smith can shoot from the perimeter and will get plenty of open looks. Reggie Evans and the rest of the cast are all great role players.

I think this team has a shot at a title. They could surprise a lot of people if it's all peace and harmony in Denver. If the pieces find a way to mesh, it could be one of those 1999 playoff runs that Camby and the Knicks made. The problem is that they play in the strong West. A lot of things would have to fall their way to beat out Dallas, San Antonio, and Phoenix. I think they are potentially better than the rest of the Western Conference and could find themselves in the Finals this year or next if the Big Three knock each other off. Stranger things have happened. My prediction, no titles, but a lot of exciting basketball.