The Denver Nuggets, 40-27, are on pace for a 49 win season. But if the playoffs were to begin today, they would be on the outside looking in. Short of moving the team to the East coast, how can the Nuggets get to the next level and whose responsibility is it to get them there?

On Sunday, Denver set an NBA season high for points in a game with a 168-116 rout of the Seattle Supersonics. Last night, they gave up 136 points in a 136-120 loss to the Detroit Pistons. Such is the enigma that has become the Nuggets. They are equal parts offensive brilliance and defensive incompetence.

Typically, great team defense begins with a team's best player and trickles down to the supporting cast. Perennial All-NBA defenders Tim Duncan and Kevin Garnett set the tone for their teams defensively. The Nuggets have 2006-2007 Defensive Player of the Year Marcus Camby but Carmelo Anthony is Denver's best player. Anthony has never been committed defensively and aside from Camby, Melo's teammates have followed his lead. [Read]

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