Denver Nuggets' Potential Playoff Opponents Dependent upon Own Desitiny

For most of the season, the Denver Nuggets were seated in a comfortable third, far away from playing either the San Antonio Spurs or the dominant LA Lakers, who sit in first and second respectively.

If the playoffs started today, Denver, sitting in the seventh spot in the Western Conference, would play the dreaded Spurs. For all you Nuggets’ fans that have forgotten, San Antonio beat Denver 4-1 in both series the two teams have faced each other in the past five years.

For Denver to finish seventh and have to face the Spurs, it would spell almost definite first-round elimination for the sixth straight year in a row.

All is not lost for the Nuggets, however, as they are only one game out of being in the familiar and more secure third place once again. And, Denver is barely trailing division leader Utah by half a game.

This is truly crunch time for the Nuggets, as they need to win as many games as possible in the corset-tight West.

As Karl put it on Tuesday when he told the Denver Post, it would take “52 or 53” wins to lock up home court advantage in the playoffs. Denver was eighth in the West last year, with 50 wins, and the fourth best team totaled 55.

Is it likely the Nuggets could accomplish such a feat though?

They won one of the last 17 games, beating Oklahoma City handily, 112-99, in a game where the score was closer than the action on the court really showed. Denver was up as much as 21 in the first half and continued to let the Thunder into the game, even in the fourth quarter.

The Nuggets’ next five games are against relatively beatable opponents in the Clippers, Nets, Grizzlies, Wizards, and Suns. Phoenix may be Denver’s toughest opponent of the five, and is still vying for a playoff spot in the West. The Nuggets also play the Knicks, Clippers, T’Wolves, Thunder, and Kings in their final 16.

If the Nuggets can take eight of 10 games against these opponents, it would help them immensely down the stretch.

If Denver does secure home court, look for them to face division rival Utah or Portland in the first round. The Northwest division is very strong and tight this year, with the top three teams currently in the playoffs, and only separated by half a game.

Either series would be a great contest, in which the Nuggets would have a decent chance at advancing.

Utah would pose more problems, though, than Portland for a few reasons.

The Jazz play physical, old-school basketball that gets on Carmelo Anthony and other players' nerves. Jerry Sloan loves his players fouling hard rather than allowing easy lay-ups, and it works.

Also, Utah has star power in Deron Williams, Carlos Boozer, and Mehmet Okur. The three are all young and play great basketball together. They pose both match-up and style troubles for the Nuggets.

Portland, conversely, is even younger than Utah, with fewer great players.

Brandon Roy is their best player, but at age 24, he is not ready to lead his team to greatness. His numbers are impressive at 22.9 points and 5.1 assists per game, yet he does not have the talent around him to beat Denver this year.

Joel Przybilla is Roy’s best supporting player, and is an OK center at best. He tries hard, but is not athletic enough to start on most teams in the league. That’s the reason the Blazers drafted Greg Oden, who is currently hurt again, a few years ago.

Overall, Denver still controls their own fate with less than a fifth of the season to go. If they can win a baker’s dozen of these next 16 games, they will be sitting pretty, playing home games in the beautiful Pepsi Center.

Although, this does not mean they will win the series. Denver hosted a series in the 2006-07 season and lost to the Clippers in five games.

Denver needs to focus on playing together, being unselfish, and putting themselves in a position to win a series or two. If the Nuggets cannot advance this year, George Karl’s job should be in question following the 2008-09 season.