How to get more attendance at games? (response @TyLawson3)

Did not vote in the poll yet, but I was a sports management major at Metro State in 2013. So far, it is not like, "cool" to be at the Pepsi Center. For example, you see Marc Cuban sitting courtside at every game in Dallas, or Jack Nicholas or Spike Lee for example. When you watch Nuggets games even on TV, they do not have that famous fan or owner showing that he is reppin' the team whether we are winning or not. It makes it appear that fans do not have to be loyal, they can just be bandwagon. Many responses say, "if you win they will come." But the Broncos would sell out whether we are 15-1 or 1-15.

With the Broncos John Elway is there everytime. It gives credibility to the team. It is obvious Elway is one of the top 5 most important people in Colorado, and here he is, showing support. Of course it leads to the rest of us understanding how important the Denver Broncos are.

Josh Kronke is not a public face like that. Neither is Tim Connelly a famous GM type like Phil Jackson or Pat Riley. Then our own players are not full of tattoos, promoting on tv commercials (like Von Miller), not involved in the tabloids (like JR Smith or Rajon Rondo) not local favorites (like Derrick Rose to Chicago or formerly Chauncey Billups) not a new facility (like Brooklyn's Barclays Center)

I do not get discouraged though about the lower attendance because I think this is all by design. The team wants a lesser personality player, not a superstar type. They want people who are loyal to Denver like Wilson Chandler penning the letter before last season, or Will Barton saying clearly he does not want to be traded from Denver. We jettisoned the DJ Augustin types, who have tattoos and that flashy kind of game, in favor of Jameer Nelson, a mentor, typical "veteran" type. We resign Darrell Arthur, there is no pursuit of Paul Millsap. I think it goes all the way back to the Andre Igoudala and Javale McGee days. Those guys burned us.

"Teamness"

Having said all of that opinion, this team the Nuggets now is the closest. Genuine George Karl "Teamness." This is the way the Nuggets have to win, Denver is not a superstar type of town.

That going to London changed something. The players said it, Jokic said it, Faried got a new perspective on that trip about a large crowd (he even took flak on this site about telling the truth, which was a low blow... they ask, he answers, that's it.)

I was watching Will Barton on Instagram Live Video clowning on the chef, it was hilarious!

This is the first Nuggets team that I see that steps up to the Free Throw line and concentrates, and tries to make it. It always feels like they are going to go 2-2. The team tries to do the little things.

It is the first Nuggets team that boxes out. It is the first Nuggets team that moves without the basketball, by cutting.

Tonight in Phoenix, Chris Marlowe pondered, was this the best win of the year? And I know what he meant. When 2 of the starters go out of the game (Jokic and Mudiay), the role players (who have clearly defined roles) step up. Gallinari went out there and scored a season high. Right when Nelson hit a 3 pointer to put us up 66-63 in the 3rd, I said to myself, "Nuggets are not going to trail the rest of the game."

It is not like the Carmelo Anthony Hey-day type of Nuggets, where anything could happen (it was more entertaining back then, more fannies in the seats at Pepsi Center back then) ---- but this 2017 Nuggets is a more complete team. They have a better foundation.

Kenneth Farid, Nikola Jokic, Danilo Gallinari - you know what they don't have? Tattoos. Jamal Murray, the new young rookie with potential (alluding to Ty Lawson) - he meditates before every game. You're not going to see him with 3 DUIs, skipping youth basketball camps.

During the telecast today they made many references to Kansas vs Kentucky and the small rivalary between Murray and Arthur. Like the team is more involved in real life relevant events.

Apologies

I gotta to apologize to Emmanuel Mudiay. I was very critical of him in my last article on December, especially his athleticism. He must have been hurt. I still have the same opinion on Nurkic, does not take his time enough in the paint and does not value the basketball enough (too much turnovers.) I do think we should keep Nurkic on our team he is still on a rookie deal and he obviously fits our culture being Euro and having no tattoos, law enforcement father -- surely he can mentally take a backseat to Gallo and Jokic, those guys are his friends. Better to have friends in Denver than be lonely on the East Coast somewhere. But certainly the Nuggets play better with Nurk on the bench.

That day (around December 15, 2016) was a rock bottom for this franchise, after the roadtrip where we were down by 29 points 3 times in 6 games. We had to make a lineup change. It tested the Nuggets as men. Jobs and philosophies were on the line. It was like a look at yourself as a man in the mirror moment.

But actually to hit rock bottom can be a great place to be, because there is no where to go but up.

Mike Malone, our coach, he responded. They made a lineup change. He shaved his beard. We (and this is the first time I have said "we" in a while, usually I say "the Nuggets") have added some wrinkles to our game plans. Once again, clearly defined roles. Who is a starter, who is on the bench, who is a scorer, who is a shooter, who gets our boards, who starts the fast break.... we know who does what. We are going up in the standings.

I went to the game this week at home versus Pheonix. Jokic is going to be alright, I saw the hip injury right in front of me. He's a tough guy. He just needs a break, does not want to play all the way through the All Star Game/ Rising Stars game all the way through to the playoffs. This is his intermission. It coincides with Mudiay, who is also out. They are going to come back in March and April and make a real playoff push.

Farid could probably win most improved player award. And what I mean by that is not like his stats are better, but his leadership and his ability to impact the game is on another level. He is a veteran now. He is a starter, unquestioned. It is good we did not trade him. Good move, to stand pat. Really smart Tim Connelly.

We need to figure out what seed we are going to take. It would great to play to play the Los Angeles Clippers. Faried would eat Blake Griffins lunch. Jokic would outplay Jordan. And Jameer Nelson would outplay the backup Austin Rivers. Only would have to stop JJ Redick and Jamal Crawford, but that would have to be Gallinari who outplays them.

Would not want to play Golden State, we got to be better than 8th seed, you know. San Antonio, stay away from them, they have better coaching than us. Jazz we would win. Thunder probly would beat us. Memphis, I dont follow them enough to know. We would give the Rockets a good series because they depend on the 3 pointer too much.