Strike 1: One year ago yesterday the Denver Nuggets blew out the Memphis Grizzlies 113-97 and effectively locked up the top seed in the NBA’s Western Conference for what would become an historic championship run.
What a difference a year makes. This time around, the Nuggets are in a battle royale for that same top spot, even though their record (45-19 after that Memphis game) is almost identical to what it is today (42-19.) The West has gotten that much better.
The Nuggets are riding a six-game winning streak following the All-Star break, and have four straight home games coming up – including key battles with Phoenix on Tuesday and the east-leading Boston Celtics on Thursday. They need every single win in what is a vice-grip tight four-team race. Their slate is probably the most favorable, including three more games against one of their key foes, the Minnesota Timberwolves, and one more against the Los Angeles Clippers.
But perhaps instead of focusing just on what lies ahead for the Nuggets, we should also look at what the three teams they’re battling for playoff seeding with are up against? After all, this four-way race isn’t going to be easy for anyone.
The Nuggets have already dropped the season series, 3-1 to west-leading Oklahoma City. Those two teams won’t meet again in the regular season. But the young Thunder have the toughest remaining schedule of the four contenders. That includes a three-games-in-four nights eastern trip to take on the New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76’ers and Boston, the latter two a back-to-back. Three straight losses is entirely possible.
OKC also has to travel to Milwaukee, Toronto and New Orleans for a similar four night trip, as well as hosting the powerful Bucks. It’s been a magical ride for the Thunder to this point, and they’ll be a factor in the playoffs. But will they be able to survive all that and end up the top seed?
As for the T-Wolves, they still have back-to-back at Indiana and Cleveland, as well as two games in three nights in LA against the Clippers and Lakers, plus two games in three nights in Utah, where winning consistently is tough on every opponent. Then there are the three matchups, two of which are at a Mile High, against our defending champs.
The veteran (aging?) Clippers still have a pair of games against Milwaukee and two more with Philadelphia. There’s one more matchup between Denver and LA as well. The Nuggets lead that season series 2-1.
We’re entering the point of the season where we start to find out who is made of championship material. Can the young Thunder or T-Wolves pass the test their first time through? How about the veteran laden Clippers team, is there enough in that tank?
And don’t forget that the Nuggets didn’t exactly have to sweat much down the stretch last season. They haven’t proven they can withstand a tough stretch run, either.
If you’re the wagering type, however, the Nuggets, as flawed as they are, might be the best bet.
