The Nuggets need small forward Joey Graham to step up while Carmelo Anthony is out of action due to injury. Graham has played in 35 games (14 starts) for the Nuggets and he is averaging 13.0 minutes, 4.3 points, 1.9 rebounds and 0.3 assists per game. The Nuggets need him to start helping out more on offense because the Nuggets will likely have some problems scoring without Carmelo Anthony in the starting lineup.

Kenyon Martin has been playing some great basketball for the Denver Nuggets this year, particular in the past month.  With the Nuggets’ star player Carmelo Anthony missing a lot of games lately, the Nuggets have needed some players to step up their scoring.  No Nuggets player has stepped it up as much as Kenyon Martin.  In the past month Anthony has missed 10 games, and in those 10 games Martin has averaged 17.7 points and 10.5 rebounds on 55% shooting.  Martin is only averaging 12 points per game this season, so he has really stepped up his game on the offensive end.  The Nuggets have needed the extra scoring with Carmelo out, since he is leading the league in scoring at 29.7 points per game.  Nuggets fans have to be happy with Martin’s play, as he is finally playing up to his huge contract.

When the Nuggets acquired Afflalo from the Pistons no one was expecting him to be a key player for them in 2009-2010. But, Afflalo is a solid player who does the little things that winners do and I think he learned how to put the team first from Chauncey Billups who he played with in both Detroit and Denver. Afflalo has played in 48 games (41 starts) for the Nuggets this season and he is averaging 9.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.8 assist per game. Afflao is shooting pretty well from everywhere on the court this season hitting 49% from the floor, 45.1% from the three point line and 74.1% from the free throw line. As “The Rock” of pro wrestling used to say, “Know your role” and Afflalo seems to making him a perfect fit with the Nuggets.

J.R. Smith was a 38% career three-point shooter coming into this season, and was a 40% shooter from three the last two seasons.  Well, something has happened this season as Smith’s sharpshooting ways have been a thing of the past.  He is only hitting 31% of his threes this season and he just can’t seem to get himself out of this long shooting slump.  In the last three games he has gone 3-17 from three, so it doesn’t look like his shooting woes are going to end anytime soon.  His overall FG% isn’t very good either at 40%, but this hasn’t stopped Smith from continuing to chuck them up.  Smith is very athletic and can get to the hole easily, so I would like to see Smith put it on the floor and be more aggressive driving the ball.  Perhaps some more trips to the free throw line could help him get out of this shooting slump, as he is only attempting 2.5 free throws per game.  The Nuggets are a very solid club and J.R. Smith is a big part of that, but they are going to need him to step up is shooting when the playoffs roll around.

Carmelo Anthony may be the star and the number one guy for the Denver Nuggets, but I think it is Chauncey Billups who is the most important player for the Nuggets.  As soon as Billups became a member of the Nuggets last season, they immediately became a much better team.  Billups was the key to all of the success the Detroit Pistons had in recent years, and I don’t know why they ever gave him up.  The Nuggets sure are happy that they did though, because Billups has not only made the Nuggets a better overall team, but he has brought the best out of his teammate Carmelo Anthony.  Billups does have the ability to put a team on his back, which he showed in last night’s 123-118 win over the Golden State Warriors where he dropped 37 points, 8 rebounds, and 8 assists on 11-19 shooting.  That is not the norm for Billups though, as he usually puts his ego aside and only scores that much when the Nuggets need it.  Billups usually just runs the point, letting Carmelo be the main scorer.  Billups is averaging 18.8 points, 5.7 assists, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.2 steals on the season.  Billups’ knack for hitting the big shot is also a huge asset for the Nuggets, especially when the playoffs roll around.