Post by arrestinu on Jan 21, 2010 19:48:34 GMT -6
The 1993 roster shakeup in Denver means that only PG Eric Murdock will be making a return appearance as a Nugget starter. All of his starting mates from last season have moved on to new real estate and new teams. So, how does that make things look with the Starting 5 in Denver? Here's how it projects to shake out:
Center: Shawn Bradley - The Nuggets didn't trade away David Robinson and land the #3 pick in the draft with the intention of securing a bench player. So Bradley finds himself thrown into the ITP fire from Day 1, and will learn on the job. Although he has limited offensive abilities, he will be expected to establish himself as a shot blocker. He will need to add some pounds to his stick-frame to take the pounding that comes down low in the ITP.
Bradley projections: 8.4 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 2.6 bpg
Power Forward: Olden Polynice - The 28-year-old Polynice will be counted on for hard-nosed defense and leading the team in rebounding. He lacks much ability to score, and will not be counted on to provide much of anything there. Along with Bradley, he gives the Nuggets a nice 1-2 punch at the defensive end though.
Polynice projections: 9.1 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 2.0 bpg
Small Forward: Clyde Drexler - The "old fart" on the team can still ball. At least that's what the Nuggets are counting on, or else their flipping of fan-favorite Drew Sharman will make them look foolish. Aside from his injury-filled 1987 season, The Glide is coming off his worst scoring season, but still put up 22.2 ppg. Denver will be counting on him to stay around that mark for another season, as well as use his solid defense to stop the likes of Schrempf, Pippen and Kukoc.
Drexler projections: 22.1 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 4.1 apg, 2.5 spg
Shooting Guard: Latrell Sprewell - 23-year-old "Spree" was the gem return in the trade that sent Schrempf back to Minnesota. You know the kid has a lot of potential when he swaps teams in exchange for the ITP's #2 scorer from last season. He put up pretty good numbers in his rookie year last season, despite being traded from the 76ers to the Wolves. He will be expected to use his year of experience to improve on those numbers here in Denver.
Sprewell projections: 19.7 ppg, 3.6 rpg, 3.7 apg, 2.1 spg,
Point Guard: Eric Murdock - Murdock enters his 3rd year with the Nuggets, and his 3rd as a starter since being drafted here. His leadership skills are unparalleled, and he will once again be counted on to steer this team to wherever it ends up. His scoring numbers jumped by 6 ppg last season as a result of being an offensive focus, but his FG% and apg numbers suffered as a result. Still, he will need to put up points this season for the Nuggets to make up for less scoring coming from the frontcourt.
Murdock projections: 17.2 ppg, 9.5 apg, 2.4 spg, 2.3 topg