As the Nuggets coaching search continues I thought we should look back at one of the top Candidate’s first time in the Mile High City. Mike D’Antoni was named the Nuggets head coach for the lockout shortened season of 1998-1999 after a successful stint in Italy guiding Benetton Treviso and capturing Coppa Italia in 1995 and the national league title in 1996. This Nuggets team was very much like the current Nuggets Squad. A few years removed from a franchise season the Miracle 8 over 1 upset of the Sonics and coming off a terrible season in which they went 11-71 and drafted “El Busto” Tony Battie with their top pick.
This was to be the team’s last season in McNichol’s arena as they would be moving to the Pepsi Center the following season. There was a positive buzz and hope for the Nuggets to turn it around after what appeared to be a successful draft night and a key return in free agency. With the 3rd pick they had selected two time All-American and Paul Pierce’s teammate from the University of Kansas Raef LaFrentz who at the time seemed like the better prospect than the future hall of famer Pierce. Man did scouts get that one wrong and obviously Nuggets brass who passed over Pierce, Antawn Jamison, Vince Carter, and Dirk to take the Kansas center. They had also traded El Busto and the 23rd pick Tyronn Lue to the Lakers for speedy point guard Nick “The Quick” Van Exel. But the big addition was getting Antonio McDyess to return after just trading him half a season earlier. A major overhaul quite similar to what we might expect this summer and from the upcoming draft.
But unfortunately as we know things didn’t improve despite Antonio McDyess having a stellar season averaging 21 points and 10 boards while being selected 3rd team all NBA. The team finished 14-36 on the season good for sixth in the Midwest division and twelfth in the West. They only scored 93.5 points on average compared to their opponents who averaged 100.1. So it’s not like Nuggets fans got to see D’Antoni’s run and gun offense take advantage of the Altitude. Or maybe it was his bad defense which is usually people’s first complaint about D’Antoni’s coaching style. Their defensive rating was the worst in the league with D’Antoni leading the ship. But not many fans witnessed it first hand as attendance ranked 2nd to last in the league in McNichol’s sad last year.
Overall it was a disappointing season with few bright spots. Even a mid-season trade for a local legend failed to get things heading in the right direction. Like D’Antoni, Chauncey Billups first joined the Nuggets organization in the lockout shortened season of 1999. On January 21, 1999: As part of a 3-team trade, the Nuggets traded Dean Garrett and Bobby Jackson to the Minnesota Timberwolves; a 1999 1st round draft pick (Jonathan Bender was later selected) to the Toronto Raptors while acquiring Billups and former University of Rhode Island star Tyson Wheeler from the Raptors. But there were few bright spots during Billups stint and he was traded the next season at the deadline. Billups like D’Antoni didn’t get a fair shot to show his talents to Denver and was thrown out and labeled a bust. But we now know that to be a lie. Billups returned after becoming a star and led the Nuggets to the Western Conference Finals before falling to the Hated Lakers.
The rest of the story is simple D’Antoni was fired after just one season. He returned to Italy with more success, become a hit in Phoenix with his 7 second offense and has bounced around since having trouble meshing with stars. His record in Los Angeles and New York is nothing to brag about but when he ran in Phoenix he was considered a genius. That’s what we do in Denver, we run. The Nuggets best years have come when the offense was moving at a blazing pace. If Management is looking to run D’Antoni is the guy to lead.
So why not give D’Antoni that second shot like Chauncey. I’m not saying it will turn into a Western Conference Finals appearance but, hey even after that we showed Chauncey the door again. Denver has always been about second chances and people coming home again. Dan Issel coached the team twice and countless players have returned from Andre Miller to Antonio McDyess. Even the Birdman flew home to the Mile high city again. Why not give D’Antoni a chance to soar in the Altitude with his high powered offense and amazing pick and rolls.
At a time when the Nuggets are looking to shake thing ups and rebuild. I say we look to the past and bring in Mike D’Antoni. The situation the Nuggets are in is very similar to when he was hired the first time. But, let’s give him a fair shot at a rebuild this go around, invest in the future and tear this roster down. We need to remove the guys from the old regime, the ones who don’t want to be here or don’t fit the new direction. Then, we can see if D’Antoni’s offense was meant to be played in Mile High Air and run opposing teams off the court. The Nuggets need change. But is Mike D’Antoni the change we need? I believe so, but that decision will be up to Josh and Tim to decide.
