{"id":180,"date":"2016-08-31T12:54:29","date_gmt":"2016-08-31T17:54:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonprobasketball.com\/?p=180"},"modified":"2016-08-31T12:54:29","modified_gmt":"2016-08-31T17:54:29","slug":"the-denver-nuggets-biggest-mistake-ten-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2016\/08\/31\/the-denver-nuggets-biggest-mistake-ten-years\/","title":{"rendered":"The Denver Nuggets Biggest Mistake In The Past Ten Years"},"content":{"rendered":"

Once upon a time, the Denver Nuggets <\/strong>were known as the model for consistency in a daunting Western Conference. <\/strong>This blissful moment in\u00a0time was from\u00a02003 to\u00a02013, better known as a golden era in Nuggets basketball. Denver made the NBA Playoffs<\/strong> in each of these seasons, with incredible team play being executed at a breakneck speed. The Nuggets were able to rely on Carmelo Anthony, Kenyon Martin, J.R. Smith, Marcus Camby, Chauncey Billups, Nene Hilario, Allen Iverson, Ty Lawson, Kenneth Faried<\/strong>, and many others\u00a0during this time. There was plenty of talent that called the Pepsi Center<\/strong> home. These teams were expertly coached by George Karl<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The Denver Nuggets Biggest Mistake In The Past Ten Years<\/strong><\/h2>\n

The Mistake<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Any coach can take talent, put it on the floor, and make it look talented. It takes a special coach to get a talented team to unify as one and play for a common goal. Denver will not look back on trading Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups as the worst mistake the franchise has made in the past ten years. Masai Ujiri’s <\/strong>sins against the Nuggets salary cap aren’t the worst either. Stan Kroenke<\/strong> letting Kiki Vandeweghe <\/strong>exit stage left? It pales in comparison. Those debts have been long forgiven.<\/p>\n

The worst mistake that the Nuggets\u00a0have made in the past ten years was letting George Karl walk out of the Pepsi Center<\/strong> at the end of the 2012-13 season. A season in which he was named NBA Coach of the Year<\/strong>. George Karl made the Denver Nuggets a more talented team than the talent on the floor. A team cannot replace that by changing the name outside of the coaches office.<\/p>\n

Before The Mistake<\/b><\/h3>\n

George Karl took over a young, athletic, and talented Nuggets squad mid-way through the 2004-05 season. During his tenure, Denver went an incredible 423-257, winning a ridiculous 63% of the time. They made the NBA Playoffs<\/strong> 9 consecutive times under George Karl, winning the Northwest Division<\/strong> 3 times and finishing second 6 times during that span. Through multiple roster changes, the product on the court remained consistently competitive in the Western Conference.<\/p>\n

What Caused the Mistake?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

A domino effect led to George Karl not returning to the Denver Nuggets for the 2013-14 season. While the Nuggets enjoyed consistent success under George Karl, they often came up short in the NBA Playoffs. When GM Masai Ujiri bolted to Toronto<\/strong>, Denver began expunging the leftovers from former GM Kiki Vandewegh’s era, including George Karl.\u00a0 Nuggets ownership made an overhaul of the coaching staff and front office for the 2013-2014 season, prompting the end of an era in Denver.<\/p>\n

Since the Mistake<\/b><\/h3>\n

Will Smith<\/strong> said it best on Fresh Prince Of Bel Air, <\/strong>\u201csee, what had happened was…\u201d. That doesn’t begin to describe the train-wreck known as Denver Nuggets since parting ways with George Karl. Playing with the same talent, the team began to under-perform. The product on the court\u00a0became sloppy, and the brand of basketball had changed. Without notice, a proud franchise lost it’s identity. Since the end of 2012-13, the Nuggets have endured two coaching changes in three seasons. During that time, they have posted a record of 99-147, winning only 40% of the time.<\/p>\n

Without question\u00a0the biggest mistake that the Denver Nuggets have made in the past ten years was letting George Karl ride off into the sunset.\u00a0Of course\u00a0there are a number of things that could<\/em> have been done differently that might<\/em> have created a different result, but we will leave that for the pundits. One thing is certain<\/em>, losing George Karl did<\/em> create a different result in Denver. Addition by subtraction only works when you subtract the right pieces.<\/p>\n

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Do you love the Denver Nuggets, and love to write? If so, I am looking for you! LWOPB is searching for talented writers passionate about keeping the conversation going. If you think you’ve got what it takes, check out our Write For Us<\/strong> section and contact me at: LWOSChadKooiman@gmail.com<\/u><\/a><\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n

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Main Photo:<\/p>\n

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Embed from Getty Images<\/a><\/div>\n