Denver Nuggets Tickets

The Denver Nuggets seem to have found their way behind a matured Carmelo Anthony and could be one of the team's to beat in the Western Conference this season.

Anthony has become a monster this season, vaulting to the top of the scoring leaders. The forward always seems to sit in the rankings of top scorers but usually hangs around the middle of the pack. This year, he got off to a blazing hot start and really hasn't cooled off much, helping the Nuggets hold first place in the Northwest Division.

He is averaging over 30 points per game and has also impressed head coach George Karl with the way he has worked harder to improve all parts of his game. Anthony no longer feels that need to go out and take every shot, and he has learned the importance of getting after opponents on the defensive end of the floor.

Point guard Chauncey Billups is Anthony's right hand man. The clutch scorer didn't come up big in last year's playoffs, but he is still putting up over 17 points and five assists per game.

J.R. Smith seems to be maturing and coming of age, which has helped the team deal with some of their free agent losses. Smith is averaging nearly 16 points per game and is no longer a distraction because of his off-the-court issues. His three-point percentage is down a little bit, but the key is that he is finding other ways to score.

Despite getting rid of center Marcus Camby for salary reasons, the Nuggets have managed to hold their own in the low post with Kenyon Martin, Nene Hilario and Chris Andersen. Hilario has always had a ton of talent, but something always seems to get in the way. Thankfully, it looks like he is past last year's cancer scare and ready to make an impact.

The selection of point guard Ty Lawson in this year's NBA Draft couldn't have been a better pick. He is the perfect fit for the Nuggets up-tempo style and has done a terrific job as the backup point guard to Billups. The most surprising aspect of his game so far has been his outside shooting, which was one of his weaknesses coming into the league.

In fact, Lawson has been so impressive the Nuggets have to be entertaining the thought that he could be the heir apparent to Billups and a future starter in the league.

The Nuggets made a strong run at the Western Conference title last year and came up just a little bit short against the eventual NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers. Their only major loss was Camby, but the team seems to be finding ways to compensate.

Denver has plenty of talent and, more importantly, Anthony. He seems like a guy playing possessed and wanting to show that he involves in the conversation of the league's best players. He also wants to win an NBA title to show that he is more than just a scorer, but a winner, too. I don't think the Nuggets have enough players around Anthony to get it done, but don't count them out.