The Denver Nuggets are coming from their best season in the team's franchise history and such outcome was coincident with the arrival of Chauncey Billups to the roster. Billups brought leadership and a high basketball I.Q. to a team that was lacking those skills and suddenly all pieces were in the right place in the puzzle. However it is a huge error to consider that Billups was the only reason why the Nuggets to stepped it up last season.  We must not forget that Carmelo Anthony finally matured into a great player, Chris "Birdman" Andersen inspired the Nuggets' defense and their bench and finally, Nene Hilario and Kenyon Martin remained healthy all season long. These pieces together were the true reason why the Nuggets were successful last year. I remember that the Nuggets were tied 2-2 with the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals and in two games of those series, the Nuggets committed 2 silly inbound pass plays down the stretch that could have changed the final result.

Going into this season, the Nuggets were the only top team that didn't add any substantial piece in the off season and this might sound weird for their fans. The Lakers added Ron Artest, the Spurs added Richard Jefferson, the Blazers added Andre Miller, the Jazz kept Boozer, Dallas signed Shawn Marion, the Cavs added Shaq, Boston added Sheed Wallace, the Magic traded for Vince Carter, but the Nuggets didn't bring any big fish. I can't make any critic of such decision because the Nuggets don't have available salary cap to get another top player and so, we must remember that last season they traded Marcus Camby for basically nothing and the Nuggets still had the season we all know and so, we have to respect the Nuggets' front office.

Undoubtedly Chauncey Billups had an instant impact in the team and the Nuggets got an absolute steal when the team traded him for Allen Iverson. Billups averaged 17.9 points per game, while shooting 42% from the field and dished 6.4 assists per contest. Basically, he had the same numbers as when he was in Detroit. The biggest difference was the intangibles he brought for the team. The Nuggets were a fast paced team, but with him, they now execute much more effectively in the half-court and defensively they learned the word "aggressiveness" thanks to Billups.

Coincidence or not, with Billups's arrival, Carmelo Anthony has also become a better player. It might sound weird, but statistically Melo dropped his overall numbers. He scored 22.8 ppg (career low in his last 4 seasons), while shooting 44.3 % from the field (once again it was a career low in his last 4 seasons) and grabbed less rebounds (6.8 boards per game) when compared to the previous season. The biggest change was his understanding of the game and his overall improvement in the defensive end. He's still a terrific scorer and probably he is in the top 3 true scorers of this league. I have to remember that Melo scored a NBA record 33 points in a quarter last season against Minnesota and this says it all about his offensive talent.

Kenyon Martin has also improved his conduct last season and became the defensive captain of this team. He may not play at the level his huge contract should demand, but K-Mart at least can bring some well needed toughness and his quickness combined with his physicality makes him an reliant and aggressive defensive player when focused. The Nuggets need him to command their defense and Martin apparently has finally achieved such standards. K-Mart combined with Nene a solid frontcourt last season. Nene battled through a tough cancer situation in the past and health was a problem for him. Luckily for him and for the organization, he stayed healthy through the season and missed only 5 games in the regular season. Nene averaged 14.6 ppg, while shooting 60.4 % from the field - only Shaquille O'Neal had better numbers - and grabbed 7.8 boards per game, with all these numbers being career numbers for him. Nene has the potential to bring even better numbers to the court if he manages to be even more aggressive in the offense, however being healthy is the priority number one for him and for the team.

The most significant loss for the Nuggets was Dahntay Jones for the Pacers. Jones was a good defender and had his particularly highlight in the playoffs while defending Kobe Bryant. To his place the Nuggets signed Arron Afflalo from the Pistons and they hope that Afflalo can replace what Jones brought to the table, as he showed in Detroit that he can play some defense as well.

Denver doesn't have the deepest bench of the league, however they have the unit that can most rapidly change the game with their impact in both ends of the floor. Chris Andersen led the NBA in both blocked and altered shots per minute last season and only his presence was enough to energize the team and the fans. Meanwhile, J.R. Smith was their 6th man and he provided instant offense and is a deadly long-range shooter, although he persists to take bad timing shots. Smith averaged 15.2 ppg and his name was involved for the best 6th man award, however he's been suspended for the first seven games of this season and the Nuggets will need to address his absence. Just a quick note: 5 of the 7 first Nuggets games will be played on the road.

The potential biggest addition for the Nuggets this season is the former North Carolina star Ty Lawson. His quickness and ability to get in the lane makes him a potential top player in the forthcoming years and the good news is that he can smoothly develop behind Billups and competing with Anthony Carter for the backup PG job this season.

The Nuggets believe that last season's core of players is enough for them to get to the finals. Looking at the positive side, they were only 2 games away from that goal, however all the perennial contenders boosted their rosters this season, while the Nuggets are returning with the same key players. Finally they know the feeling of winning in the postseason and look them to be hungry and aggressive like never this season.