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The Denver Nuggets lost in the first-round of the NBA Playoffs to the Golden State Warriors, four games to two and the question of the day seems to be what’s next for the Nuggets? It’s a pointless question because we all know what’s next.
The Nuggets will lose a player or two this offseason, and then add a player or two. George Karl will return as the head coach and the Nuggets will once again win 50-55 games in 2013-14. That will be followed by another first round exit in the 2014 playoffs; we know this is going to happen so why do sports talk shows waste time talking about it?
Are the Nuggets going to go after a big name in free agency or via a trade? Not a chance in Hades. Are they going to make drastic changes to their roster? No, they will say what they always say about this time of year. It will sound something like this: “We won 57 games. We just got a bit unlucky in the playoffs. Our goal next season is to get back to that point, and hope the result is different.”
The problem with that is they have been saying that for nine of the last ten years, and yet the next year always ends like the one before it. Everyone knows that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. There’s no better way to describe the Nuggets who obviously believe that eventually their approach is going to work even though history says it won’t.
There have been more than a few people who have said in the wake of another playoff disaster that we should all remember how bad the Nuggets used to be, so therefore we should be thankful that they make the playoffs every year.
Hogwash!
The idea is to continue to get better and make progress, but the Nuggets have been stuck in the same place for years. Yes they won a team-record 57 games in the regular season, but how does that feel today? Bottom line is they are still packing up their lockers again after the first round. This year is even worse because the Nuggets were the favorites; they were supposed to advance to the second round; they had home-court advantage and still lost.
A lot of people want to see a coaching change, but it’s never going to happen. I’m not for or opposed to the idea because it’s a moot point. Remember the Nuggets don’t change, they just assume that eventually their plan will work and a part of that plan is Karl.
So when people start to ask me what’s next for the Nuggets, I stop them and say what’s next is what has always been. A good regular season followed by another playoff disaster; it’s what they do.
Follow me on Twitter @Jemorrone7
