Denver Nuggets: Possible Playoff Opponents Expand to OKC, Dallas
The Denver Nuggets (48-30) are currently in the midst of the most important stretch of their season.
Starting with the Lakers on Sunday, Denver's five games this week are not only challenging the new Nuggets resolve, playing four against playoff-caliber teams, the contests are crucial in terms of playoff seeding as well.
The Nuggets are 2-1 this week, with wins over the Lakers in LA (95-90) and against the Mavericks in Dallas (104-96) Wednesday night, and lone loss to Oklahoma City in Denver (101-94) Tuesday.
Currently, Dallas is third in the West, six-and-a-half games back of first, while OKC is in fourth and the Nuggets trail both teams in fifth (11.5 GB).
And while it seemed for weeks that the Nuggets and Thunder would meet in the first round, Wednesday night's games have opened up new possibilities.
As Denver defeated Dallas, the Thunder thumped the Clippers, which not only cemented OKC's first Northwest division title (ending the Nuggets' two-year reign as champs), it also moved the Thunder within only one game of the Mavs for third.
And since the Thunder own the season series against Dallas, Oklahoma City also owns the tie breaker if the two teams end the season tied record-wise.
After losing to the Thunder and beating the Mavericks this week, Denver seems to match up better with Dallas than OKC.
However, don't forget that the Mavs were hurt by injuries Wednesday night. Both starters Jason Kidd and Tyson Chandler sat, which would have certainly made the game closer, if not swinging the advantage in Dallas' favor.
Also remember the Nuggets are without key pieces too, as Arron Afflalo, Chris "Birdman" Andersen and Timofey Mozgov all sat out Wednesday due to injuries.
Still, if all teams were at full health, Dallas still seems to be the team Denver would rather play.
The Mavericks are old, which cuts their lineup down due to injuries, and Dallas' bench is basically Jason Terry and JJ Barrea. The Nuggets love to run the floor, and it's unlikely the Mavs could match their athleticism in a series.
Also, Denver owns the season series (3-1) and the Nuggs beat the Mavs two years ago in the playoffs handily.
Conversely, the Thunder are young like the Nuggets and they can more easily match Denver's dashing offense that loves to capitalize on missed shots by running the floor.
Plus, Russel Westbrook's size presents problems for the Nuggets' smaller point guards, making Afflalo's health even more important since he would likely guard Oklahoma City's thunderous point guard in a series.
And Nuggets' head coach George Karl agrees, "If we had to pick and choose on it, we would probably say 55 percent Dallas, 45 percent Oklahoma City, only because Oklahoma City is athletic like we are and they have two great players."
Karl continued today on ESPN 103.3 FM's Galloway and Company, "They (OKC) have two All-Stars who are really in their prime and have never won on the playoff stage. I just think right now our speed might have more effect against Dallas than it will against Oklahoma City."
Of course, no one can truly tell how either team will react to the high-pressure situations of the playoffs, and Denver is easily the least tested and experienced squad of the three.
Friday night's contest in OKC will be Denver's fourth playoff-like game in six days, which should be preparing the new Nuggets for the rapidly approaching playoffs, and it will be yet another measuring stick from which to gauge Denver's playoff preparedness.
No doubt Denver will be looking for revenge after Tuesday's tough loss at home to the Thunder, and if the physical play was any indication, Friday's game will be a battle as well.
At one point Tuesday, Nene and newly added center Kendrick Perkins of the Thunder got into a tussle and sized one another up as they exchanged pleasantries under the hoop.
Later in the game, Denver's Danilo Gallinari bumped into Kevin Durant, and Durant shoved him back—there was a feeling of nastiness between the two teams as it seemed a mini-rivalry was born.
Whether or not those hostilities grown into a true rivalry remains to be seen. Friday's game will be an indication and if the two indeed meet in the playoffs, sparks should fly as these two intense teams collide.
Next Game:
Denver plays the Thunder in Oklahoma City, Friday at 6 p.m. MDT.
He said so:
During halftime of the game against Dallas, Arron Afflalo told Altitude's Scott Hastings about his injury, "My objective is to win it all this year, and I want to be 100 percent healthy for that."
Apparently Afflalo is confident in his new Nuggets making a run in the postseason, it should be interesting to watch to say the least.
Rich Kurtzman is a freelance journalist actively seeking a career in journalism. Along with being the CSU Rams Examiner, Kurtzman is a Denver Nuggets and NBA Featured Columnist for bleacherreport.com, the Colorado/Utah Regional Correspondent for stadiumjourney.com, a weekly contributor to milehighhoops.com and a contributor to milehighreport.com writing on the Denver Broncos.
Rich also heads up PR for K-Biz and Beezy, a Colorado-based rap group.
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