The 2015-16 Denver Nuggets is a new era of basketball in the Mile High City, and the team has the opportunity to solidify themselves as a team on the rise against the Detroit Pistons.

The Nuggets are 5-5 in their last 10 games and have hovered around the bubble of mediocrity all season long; however, the Nuggets are a team that has had a reformation of culture this season, and the team’s work ethic and tenacity proves that.

The Nuggets hit rock bottom during the Brian Shaw era, but since Michael Malone took the helm the team has gone through a rebirth in 2015-16.

Shaw ran his players into the ground, called them out publicly, and had no sense of leaderships as a coach.

Malone quickly changed the culture surrounding the Nuggets by establishing leadership, order, and unity in the locker room.

Wednesday’s game against the Pistons provides the Nuggets and coach Malone the opportunity to take a big step in the right direction and put the Shaw era behind them.

The Nuggets went 30-52 last season and were 20-33 at last year’s All-Star break.

This year the Nuggets are 21-32 and are already within nine games of matching last season’s win total.

The Nuggets are a much-improved team compared to last year, and Wednesday they have an opportunity to put the Shaw era in the rear view mirror.