Hopefully, many of you that read my article about two weeks ago are reading this now. I received some good feedback and that a lot of people were interested in that type of article, so I am going to be writing a similar one now. This one will be on a larger scale, comparing the Nuggets to other teams in the West and whether we can reasonably say that our group is better than their group. Hopefully this goes well. I am optimistic that we will see positive results.

I am going to take a different stab in my comparisons of player to player. It is impossible in my opinion to compare a player apples to oranges with a player on another team because the situations are entirely different, so I am going to try and apply a point system. Here's how it works:

Its the LAW SON's Player Point System

Superstar Player - 10 (aka a top 20 player)

Star Player - 7

Solid Starter - 5

Weak Starter/Strong Role player - 3

Average Role Player - 1

Bench Player - 0

This is not the be all end all for how valuable a certain player is to a certain team. It also doesn't take into account solid systems that are in place like San Antonio. I would accept adding a bonus to certain teams based off of chemistry/coaching but for now I won't focus on it. I am going to go in order of last year's standings and then rerank the teams at the end.

San Antonio - 40 points

Superstars: 0, Stars: 3 (Duncan, Parker, Leonard), Solid Starter: 2 (Green, Splitter), Starter/Role Player: 2 (Ginobli, Diaw), Average Role Player: 3 (Belinelli, Mills, Bonner)

It's always interesting when looking at the makeup of the Spurs. They don't have a superstar caliber player anymore, but their chemistry and roster quality is fairly solid. All of their starters are at least solid, and they have quality players off the bench as well.

Oklahoma City Thunder - 42 points

Superstars: 2 (Durant, Westbrook), Stars: 1 (Ibaka), Solid Starter: 0, Starter/Role Player: 4 (Collison, Morrow, Jackson, Adams), Average Role Player: 3 (Lamb, Perkins, Roberson)

Obviously, OKC benefits from having their top three players rank so high. I consider both Durant and Westbrook superstars, so that helps. Beyond the top three, the rest (as James Harden would say) are merely role players.

Los Angeles Clippers - 41 points

Superstars: 2 (Paul, Griffin), Stars: 0, Solid Starter: 2 (Redick, Jordan), Starter/Role Player: 3 (Crawford, Barnes, Hawes), Average Role Player: 2 (Farmar, Davis)

When I think of the Clippers, I think of Paul, Griffin, and a solid supporting cast. I thought that they would be higher on this list, but their end of rotation depth was surprisingly lacking after Crawford and Hawes.

Houston Rockets - 41 points

Superstars: 2 (Harden, Howard), Stars: 0, Solid Starter: 3 (Beverly, Ariza, Jones), Starter/Role Player: 2 (Montiejunas, Gee), Average Role Player: 0

While the starters on the Rockets are excellent, the bench is terrible. This is a team that is primed to take a tumble if they have any injuries to the starting five, especially Howard who they cannot replace in any way.

Portland Trail Blazers - 37 points

Superstars: 1 (Aldridge), Stars: 1 (Lillard), Solid Starter: 2 (Batum, Matthews), Starter/Role Player: 2 (Lopez, McCollum), Average Role Player: 4 (Kaman, Blake, Wright, Robinson)

The PDX roster is fairly barren if you consider Lillard just a star as I do (he and Lawson are fairly equal IMO). I'm surprised they did so well last year with basically the same roster. If they get some injuries, they are done.

Golden State Warriors - 42 points

Superstars: 1 (Curry), Stars: 2 (Iguodala, Thompson), Solid Starter: 2 (Lee, Bogut), Starter/Role Player: 1 (Livingston), Average Role Player: 5 (Speights, Rush, Barnes, Green, Ezeli)

No real surprise here. GSW has a great roster as long as everyone plays up to their potential. If Iggy and Barnes play better this season and Steve Kerr does well, they may be a top 4 team in the West.

Memphis Grizzlies - 34 points

Superstars: 0, Stars: 3 (Conley, Randolph, Gasol), Solid Starter: 1 (Allen), Starter/Role Player: 1 (Prince), Average Role Player: 5 (Lee, Carter, Pondexter, Koufus, Udrih)

This was a little surprising to me, but makes sense. The Grizzlies make up for a lack of offensive talent with stifling defense. I think that they are good, but the Nuggets can overtake them.

Dallas Mavericks - 30 points

Superstars: 0, Stars: 1 (Nowitzki), Solid Starter: 3 (Chandler, Parsons, Ellis), Starter/Role Player: 1 (Harris), Average Role Player: 5 (Wright, Nelson, Aminu, Felton, Crowder)

I don't understand what the hype of the Mavericks is. Nowitzki is nothing more than a basic star now, Chandler has lost a step, Ellis is good offensively but what else? Parsons got waaaay overpaid too. If this team goes above a 7th seed, I will be surprised.

Phoenix Suns - 35 points

Superstars: 0, Stars: 2 (Dragic, Bledsoe), Solid Starters: 2 (Thomas, Plumlee), Starter/Role Player: 3 (Morris, Morris, Green), Average Role Player: 2 (Tucker, Len)

Phoenix is so guard heavy. If you noticed, I included Bledsoe, who hasn't been signed yet but will likely accept a qualifying offer to become a UFA next offseason. I won't think too much of Phoenix until they acquire some more front court depth, so I bet Denver will be better than them next season.

New Orleans Pelicans - 34 points

Superstars: 1 (Davis), Stars: 0, Solid Starter: 4 (Holiday, Gordon, Evans, Asik), Starter/Role Player: 1 (Anderson), Average Role Player: 1 (Rivers)

The strength of the starting core is very strong, but beyond the top six guys, it's hard to see any respectable players. Davis may be elite, but how's he going to cover for everyone else? If he plays 38 minutes a night, he will get hurt no ifs ands or buts about it.

Denver Nuggets - 39 points

Superstars: 0, Stars: 2 (Lawson, Faried), Solid Starter: 2: (Gallinari, Afflalo), Starter/Role Payer: 4 (Mozgov, McGee, Chandler, Foye), Average Role Player: 3 (Hickson, Arthur, Robinson)

What a strong roster for no having a superstar. It is safe to say watching FIBA that Kenneth Faried has moved into the star category. Afflalo is on the verge if he can do it for another year. Gallinari could come back and make a play for that spot. Then there's the depth. All of the 4 'starter/role player' guys have started and performed well in the past. This group has some strong abilities and should perform very this season.

***

I don't feel like doing anymore teams, as none of them (Los Angeles Lakers, Utah, Minnesota, Sacramento) will compete for the playoffs this season. Here's the player point standings:

T-1. Oklahoma City (42)

T-1. Golden State (42)

T-3. Los Angeles Clippers (41)

T-3. Houston Rockets (41)

5. San Antonio Spurs (40)

6. Denver Nuggets (39)

7. Portland Trailblazers (37)

8. Phoenix Suns (35)

T-9. Memphis Grizzlies (34)

T-9. New Orleans Pelicans (34)

11. Dallas Mavericks (30)

I wouldn't mind a 6th seed. Of course, some of this would be blatantly wrong (Spurs are way better, so is Memphis), but I believe our standing is correct. What say you Stiffs? Did I do well?