2013 Nuggets Playoff Preview

In my Nuggets mid-season report, I blathered on for 1900 words about how the quality of this year’s team was a refreshing surprise even to the most optimistic Nuggets fan (me).  I predicted 55 wins, a three seed in this year’s playoffs, and an NBA Championship.  Well, the NBA regular season is over, and YOUR DENVER NUGGETS finished with 57 wins and a three seed.  Are the Nuggets going to win an NBA championship?  I have no doubt that they are. 

As I see it, the only real question is can we hoist the National Basketball Association's coveted golden orb without Danilo Gallinari?  That’s not a real question; I’m being dramatic.  OF COURSE the Nuggets can win without their sharp-shooting small forward.  Galo is clutch, and I’m not trying to insult anyone here, but a healthy, driven Wilson Chandler is a better fit for the 2013 Nuggets squad. 

Again, trying to spare as many feelings as possible, but I’m not convinced that Anthony Randolph isn’t an adequate replacement for the basketball player formerly known as Italian Ice.  At 6’11, Randolph creates some match up problems in the three spot, and his takes are SO STRONG.  We don’t have to get into that part of Danilo Gallinari’s game- let’s just say I’d rather have Randolph touching my rack. 

With his rebounding prowess, an absent Kenneth Faried would be a impediment to our championship hopes, but living up to his nickname, the Manimal has stated, “if I can walk I can play,” and he figures to be back by game two of the first round.  Will his injury affect our team’s playoff chances?  I kindly doubt it, we’re talking about Kenneth Faried, NOT Kobe Bryant. 

Believe it or not readers, I’ve found myself at a loss for words.  This is by FAR the best Nuggets squad that I’ve ever seen. There is literally nothing that I can say to do this team justice.  All I know is that I am going to have the loudest, most obnoxious fan in the Pepsi Center during the playoffs.  I’m going to have the most-clever sign at our championship parade.  I can’t wait for the playoffs to start this afternoon.  

First round prediction:

 

Nuggets in 4. 

2012 Nuggets Playoff Preview

Earlier this season I wrote a blog where I apologized for being a bad Nuggets fan.  I compared the 2012 Nugget’s season to season 4 of The OC, and, promised to double my efforts as a supporter of the team. 

(Perhaps because,) I was a better fan in the second half of the season; the Nuggets are a 6 seed in this years playoffs.  I’m ready to eat my OC comparison, because the OC got canceled midway through its 4^th season, and this year’s Nuggets are going all the way.

Well maybe not all the way, (I was insulted by the frantic effort of the Thunder to knock the Nuggets down to a seven seed, but I understand that we don’t have what it takes to get through the Thunder.  I don’t think any team can match up with Ace and Gary, but if I’m Scott Brooks, the last thing I want is a first round matchup with a team that came from fucking nowhere to roast the big potato in 2011,) but enough of the way.  Dare I say all the way out of the first round of the playoffs?

I dare.

The Nuggets enter the playoffs having won 11 of their last 15 games.  Lawson is confident, Afflalo is in shape, McGee is blocking shots and molding high lob passes into nasty dunks.  My man K-Fed, (I’m all for the Manimal nickname, but how do you just skip past K-Fed?  The best place to hide is in plain site.) has made a legitimate case for rookie of the year, we have some crafty veterans (Harrington, Andre Miller,) an offensive force who can come off the bench and wreak havoc, (Brewer,) and for the first time since the beginning of the season, we are a Rudy Fernandez (Which could be a huge loss.  During a trip to Israel in January I hung out with some players from the national team, and Maccabi Bazan Haifa. All they would fucking talk about was how sick Ferandez is.  We haven’t really seen that side of him this NBA season, but it doesn’t bode well for the US team in the Olympics.  I’m very curious to see what impact Feranndez has next season,) away from a full roster that is the deepest in the NBA.

This deep roster includes 3 seven footers, and a 6’10” weak side shot blocker who can wiggle his way into our 5 hole.  4 eligible centers = 20 hard karate chops delivered to Bynum’s forearms, and he is going to LOSE it.  Mark these words, a suspension will keep him out of the late games in the series, or he will be benched when the frustration stemming from constant fouls renders him ineffective. 

So we just have to worry about Kobe.  Or do we?  I’m not trying to be cryptic, (rape charges aside,) I have a lot of respect for Mr. Bryant, but I have to wonder about him sitting out his last few games.  Conceding a scoring title to Kevin Durant is the least Kobesque thing I’ve ever heard of.  Either the man has belatedly developed an enormous generous streak, or his injuries are more serious that he is letting on.  Either way, the Lakers are in trouble.

Because Kobe is going to have to shoulder an ENOURMOUS burden to win a championship with this Lakers squad.  I’m talking enormous in a greatest player of all time sense.  I’m in the Jordan camp, but if Kobe wins it this year there has to be an argument, especially if he sticks around long enough to win a scoring title.

What the fuck am I saying?  Kobe is absolutely not the best player of all time.  He’s just conceded a scoring title to a school nerd with a backpack.  He’s about to get absolutely clowned by Aaron Affalao.  Michael Jordan has literally never conceded anything, especially a scoring title, and especially to a school nerd.  No offense to my man, by Jordan would rip A squared’s heart out. 

None of this matters, because, (pardon the blasphemy,) not even Michael Jordan could lead the 2012 Lakers to an NBA championship.  The long and short of the series is that the Lakers shouldn’t be able to match up with these Nuggets.  They don’t have any players who can stand in-front of Ty Lawson.  They will be out coached, and outworked by our bigs, (Timofinsanity!!)

Nuggets in 5.