Nuggets starting to take on new look

Denver Nugget fans don't have to be dangled a mile high now waiting for the new staff to be put into place.  Recently, the Nuggets hired assistant GM Tim Connelly from the the New Orleans Pelicans (formerly the Hornets).

After interviewing several candidates that included former coaches Lionel Hollins, Vinny Del Negro and late candidate San Antonio Spurs assistant Brett Brown, the Nuggets have finally made their decision.  Late last night, news had broke that the Denver Nuggets had chosen Pacers Assistant Head Coach Brian Shaw to become the heir replacement to George Karl. 

Shaw finally gets his first chance at being a head coach in the association.  The pressure to finally land that elusive first job is finally over for Shaw and he has never felt so relieved he told the Denver Post.

"It's been a grind, to say the least, but I'm just very appreciative of the opportunity to lead this team. ... It's been years, 11 or 12 interviews I've gone through. And I've felt I've been prepared by the best of the best."
 

Yes, Shaw has been prepared by the best.  Shaw has been apart of five championship teams in his NBA career.  He comes in having been a player with the LA Lakers that won titles in 2000 and 2001 and then as an assistant under Head Coach legend Phil Jackson from 2010-2012.  He was an assistant under Jackson from 2005-2011 and left after Jacksons retirement.  He interviewed for the Lakers position but was passed over for Coach Mike Brown, and he then in turn took a position with the Indiana Pacers staff for 2011 and 2012. 

His name has been tied to many coaching vacancies in recent years, but speculation that having fallen from the Jackson coaching tree may have been a knock against him in that he may implement the Triangle offense wherever he may go.  But with this opportunity he has with the Nuggets, he understands that this isn't a team built for such, his early observations show that he is going to keep doing what they do best.

"Running was one of them. And I'll continue to build on things they did well and get more of a feel for the personnel and what I think will be conducive to everybody's ability."

In Shaw, he may be the best fit with the Nuggets, both Del Negro and Hollins left their teams on bad terms, leaving a bad taste in previous team's mouth.  With 47 year old Shaw, you have a fresh start with a young team whose average age was just under 25 years old, third youngest in the NBA, and that's with guys like Andre Igoudala who is 29 and Andre Miller who is 37.  This is also a squad who just eclipsed it's highest win total in franchise history with 57 wins.

Shaw also has been known for being a players coach, and having helped the game of Paul George over the last couple seasons.  George in his first season in the NBA averaged 7.8 PPG & 3.7 RPG.  Since Shaw's arrival, his PPG total increase to 12.1 and 17.4, and also averaged 19.2 in the 2012 postseason.  His RPG also increased from 3.7 to 5.6 to 7.6. 

It will be up to Shaw to work with a young squad that has shown potential with plenty room for improvement, has some playoff experience, and work with management to develop it's young guns such JaVale McGee.  It will be up Shaw to do what Karl could not do, win a title and bring the Larry O'Brien trophy to the rocky mountains.  But given the talent that the Nuggets have, the youth of Shaw, the experience of having won a title as a player and a coach, Shaw may be the best fit and hire for the Nuggets and this young squad moving forward.