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Analyzing Nuggets so far depends on your perspective
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Anthony and the Nuggets will look to end a two-game losing streak Tuesday in Chicago.
Trying to get an accurate read on the Nuggets after seven games essentially comes down to your personal perspective.
Glass half-full: With one of their leading scorers serving a seven-game suspension to start the season, the Nuggets were still able to dominate offensively and go 5-2, good for third place in the Western Conference and a game and-a-half lead in the division.
Glass half-empty: A rather soft early schedule propelled Denver to a unrealistic 5-0 start, but against two quality opponents on the road the team has looked flat and out of sync, losing the games by an average of 16.5 points.
The optimist sees that Denver, along with Boston, opened the season with a league-best five-straight wins and that the last two losses were an aberration because the team's best defender, Kenyon Martin, was severely limited to injury in the first loss and held out completely in the second.
The pessimist sees that unfortunately some of the team‘s old flaws are still very present: an over-reliance on one-on-one play offensively and a lack of front court depth defensively, creating too many easy scoring opportunities.
Somewhere in between the realist knows the Nuggets aren't going to win 60 games but sees enough proof to that Denver is an elite team, that with some improvement, can evolve into a serious title contender.
If the Nuggets have looked like a team that could use a spark after their two-straight losses to Miami and Atlanta, then they're about to get a full-fledged fire starter. Having completed his suspension, J.R. Smith, aka lighting in a bottle, is set to make his debut Tuesday night in Chicago against the Bulls.
It will be the team's fifth road game in eight nights, and the third in a row against a team that made the playoffs last year.
It's safe to say the Nuggets will welcome Smith's return. Two years ago against the Bulls Smith had a career game, scoring 43 points, including 23 in the fourth quarter.
After losing two of its first three, Chicago has won three straight and is now 4-2.
Like the Heat, the Bulls are tough defensively, allowing just 92.3 points per game-- a far cry from the 109.3 points the Nuggets average. Miami was able to frustrate Denver, holding the Nuggets to a season-low 88 points while forcing 19 turnovers.
It will be interesting to see if Chicago is able to do the same, or whether Denver is able to make some adjustments. Tip is set for 6 p.m. (MT).
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