2018-19 Western Conference Playoff Race

skywalker33 · Post #181 » by **skywalker33** » Wed Nov 21, 2018 6:11 pm

I think we have about 8-10 more games before we see a return, whether it be IT2 or Barton, looks like it be be whzt can help us maintain playoff status and maybe gain some ground back.

Post #182 » by **NuggetsWY** » Wed Nov 21, 2018 10:10 pm

skywalker33 wrote:I think we have about 8-10 more games before we see a return, whether it be IT2 or Barton, looks like it be be whzt can help us maintain playoff status and maybe gain some ground back.

Here's hoping Barton comes back first - I'd love IT back as well but Morris is doing quite well there. IT can take over a game though and I think he'll fit nicely with either Jokic or Plumlee.

If we consistently score 120 plus - we'll win. Last year we averaged 110 while the league average was 106. This year we are averaging 110 while the league average is 110. Scoring is up, way up, but not in Denver.

I'm content at center (although we could use a third center in case of injury).
I'm rather content at guard, especially when Thomas is back.

I just think forward is where we need the most help and I'm far less concerned about defense than I am about offense. Barton can score & Millsap's offense is adequate - together they are scoring 23 ppg added to Jokic, Harris, Murray's total of 52 ppg we have 75 ppg from our five starters. (Wishing that could be higher and it probably should be higher.) But with Barton out, Hernangomez is 8 ppg (season) & Craig is 4 ppg - losing Barton's 16 ppg means we are losing 8-12 ppg depending on who is starting at SF - and that is what I think is hurting us.

Post #183 » by **THE J0KER** » Thu Nov 22, 2018 5:08 am

Denver beat Minnesota on the road, and there are a couple other good results for Nuggets like Portland and New Orleans loses on the East. Memphis and Sacramento upset on the road San Antonio and Utah, but I'm not sure anymore is that a good news? The really bad news is that Golden State without Curry and D.Green awarded some unexpected wins in the past 10 days to several WC candidates like Clippers, Spurs, and Rockets, and right now Oklahoma leading +14 at halftime in Oakland (I will count it already as OKC win in standings). The next game vs Orlando at home is the only "must win" game we have in the next two weeks, so it is really important to not make Brooklyn-like upset until the end of 2018.

Post #184 » by **THE J0KER** » Sat Nov 24, 2018 7:10 am

Our standings are good right now, but last 3 games in November (@OKC LAL @POR) are all against potential WC-TOP5 seeds rivals, and our final grade for November will depending much of how many wins we will win in these three games: 0, 1, 2, or 3.

Talking about current Western standings, it is good that teams like Memphis, Clippers, Sacramento, and Dallas are overperforming, while teams we used to be our more serious competitors as Utah, San Antonio, and Minnesota are in troubles, but only if UTA/SAS/MIN prove lately that they are better teams than MEM/LAC/SAC/DAL.

Post #185 » by **NuggetsWY** » Sat Nov 24, 2018 8:33 am

THE J0KER wrote:
Spoiler:

Our standings are good right now, but last 3 games in November (@OKC LAL @POR) are all against potential WC-TOP5 seeds rivals, and our final grade for November will depending much of how many wins we will win in these three games: 0, 1, 2, or 3.

Talking about current Western standings, it is good that teams like Memphis, Clippers, Sacramento, and Dallas are overperforming, while teams we used to be our more serious competitors as Utah, San Antonio, and Minnesota are in troubles, but only if UTA/SAS/MIN prove lately that they are better teams than MEM/LAC/SAC/DAL.

and it is a long season ...

Post #186 » by **THE J0KER** » Sun Nov 25, 2018 4:27 am

Great night for Nuggets, win vs most dangerous division rival on the road has double value. Let's hope Harris injury is not serious. Several others result is in Nuggets favors. Actually, every win of teams from East, GSW, and PHO vs WC teams is good news for Nuggets, and today CLE beat HOU, WAS beat NOP, GSW beat SAC, and MIL beat SAS. We discussed should we write-off Memphis and Clippers from this race, but how equal this race seems right now on the West, it is smarter to add even Kings and Mavs. Nobody takes Mavs seriously right now, but their owner has a long history of improving the team via trades during the season, and if they stay around .500 in December too, maybe they are in better position to surprise anyone in playoff race than Grizzlies or Kings, small market teams in big problems to attract FA stars or take star via trade.

Post #187 » by **THE J0KER** » Mon Nov 26, 2018 3:33 am

Knicks upset Grizzlies in Memphis, and even better news is Orlando upset Lakers in LA. Magic has a great start of the season (Orlando, not Lakers GM), so our routine win from couple days ago looks even better now.

Post #188 » by **THE J0KER** » Wed Nov 28, 2018 4:33 am

Playing without two starters, we beat on the road Oklahoma and have blowout win vs another WC TOP5 seed contender, LA Lakers!?

I said several times before the start of this season that our real mission this season is not just playoff, but a TOP5 seed. But maybe our real goal should be TOP3 seed on the West, which means home-court advantage in the 1st round of the playoff, and no GSW in WC semifinal series!

skywalker33 · Post #189 » by **skywalker33** » Wed Nov 28, 2018 3:28 pm

Coming into DEC, it's exciting to imagine what this team will look going forward. Harris should rejuvenate after a few days off, Barton and IT2 look to join/re-join the lineup...look out WC opponents !!

skywalker33 · Post #190 » by **skywalker33** » Thu Nov 29, 2018 12:40 am

UTH just traded for Korver, they needed shooting, they just got it. Not a move for the future but they needed a boost

Post #191 » by **The Rebel** » Thu Nov 29, 2018 3:18 am

skywalker33 wrote:UTH just traded for Korver, they needed shooting, they just got it. Not a move for the future but they needed a boost

With the way the Western conference is shaping up and the Warriors look like they may be coming to an end than I can see more of these types of deals coming with teams wanting to make the playoffs and teams realizing they are a ways away from doing anything.

Post #192 » by **THE J0KER** » Thu Nov 29, 2018 7:42 am

Korver is a much better deal for Utah than it seems. Their bench is bottom-10 this season after #5 last season, and their 3pt% drop from about #10 last season to bottom-5 this season. Good attempt to back some important things on last season level.

BTW, for the first time after that 9-1 start, Denver Nuggets is once again TOP3 team in official Western standings and both projections! Let's hope it will not changes until the end of the regular season.

Post #193 » by **THE J0KER** » Sat Dec 1, 2018 6:59 am

Denver is 4-0 vs division rivals so far, despite only vs Utah we played at home. Nuggets are 6-4 on the road now, with several notable away wins already, so we are safe to say that together with defense and bench, team significantly improved on the road attitudes compared to the previous season.

Post #194 » by **THE J0KER** » Sat Dec 1, 2018 7:08 am

NuggetsWY wrote:I divide the NBA into three groups
1. Teams the Nuggets should beat home & away
2. Teams the Nuggets should beat at home but not away
3. Teams the Nuggets will struggle to beat period
Then I add some "gut calls" based on scheduling

Oct 5-2
Nov 10-5
Dec 9-3
Jan 11-5
Feb 7-4
Mar 8-7
Apr 3-3
OVERALL: 53-29

But I honestly expect the Nuggets to lose some games they should win and to lose some games that are close, that they just can't finish out.

According to this preseason NuggetsWY prediction from page-5 of this thread, Denver is on his way to 53-29 record. How tied are West this season, 53 wins should be enough even for #2 seed, and it would be a sure bet for a home-court advantage TOP4 seed.

skywalker33 · Post #195 » by **skywalker33** » Sun Dec 2, 2018 4:29 pm

With the dysfunction going on in both GSW and HOU, what do you think the odds of our Nuggets getting to the WCF this year ?? I'd say they're better than 50-50 baring injuries, what to you guys say ? And on a side note I can honestly say I think this will be the first year LBJ misses the finals, and I'd LOVE the Nuggets be the team to send him packing.

Post #196 » by **THE J0KER** » Mon Dec 3, 2018 3:37 am

Look who is on the top of the West, at least for one day! How many times in the past Nuggets lead the Conference after more than 25% of the regular season? This Denver generation is very special, and best things are still to come from them if we see how young this team is.

Everyone talking how tied is West this season, but that is more related to the overall playoff race. For Denver real goal this season, TOP4 seeds status, I see right now only 5 serious contenders. GSW as #1, Oklahoma, Houston, and Lakers, and Nuggets of course.

Post #197 » by **NuggetsWY** » Mon Dec 3, 2018 9:35 am

THE J0KER wrote:
Spoiler:

Look who is on the top of the West, at least for one day! How many times in the past Nuggets lead the Conference after more than 25% of the regular season? This Denver generation is very special, and best things are still to come from them if we see how young this team is.

Everyone talking how tied is West this season, but that is more related to the overall playoff race. For Denver real goal this season, TOP4 seeds status, I see right now only 5 serious contenders. GSW as #1, Oklahoma, Houston, and Lakers, and Nuggets of course.

Even more amazing - - - The Nuggets still aren't consistently playing their best game!

Post #198 » by **THE J0KER** » Tue Dec 4, 2018 4:12 am

After beating Portland and Toronto on the road, Denver is now favorite to win rest of the 3 games from this road trip. But it will not be so easy like it seems, because Nuggets must play these 3 games in just 4 days.

skywalker33 · Post #199 » by **skywalker33** » Tue Dec 4, 2018 4:12 am

In reality, this was a must win for us, we needed to keep pace to stay ahead of OKC and LAC

Post #200 » by **THE J0KER** » Tue Dec 4, 2018 4:51 am

skywalker33 wrote:In reality, this was a must win for us, we needed to keep pace to stay ahead of OKC and LAC

I can't see Clippers as our serious long-term contender this season. Also, GSW is too good. So, our real enemies this season are Oklahoma, Houston, and Lakers! It will be mini-race on the West for TOP4 seeds.