2018-19 Western Conference Playoff Race

[skywalker33]

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.

Well, who knows where Clippers end up but they are playing some great ball, tying us for 1st place in the Conference. I'd agree they are playing over their heads and when does Gallo come up lame, who knows ??? However I guess the same could be said for us in reality, this is the 1st year we've player this well since 2011. As for your prognostications, HOU doesn't look anything like they have that past three years, at least not defensively. The Lakers we beat once, should have been twice, I'd take GSW over them. OKC is playing real well, we have to play just as well or better to beat them. Road doesn't get any easier for us, we'll see how long we can keep this up.

[THE J0KER]

]
This would be a perfect night for the Nuggets, but unfortunately, Brooklyn has one of the biggest chokes in NBA history, wasting 20 points lead in the 4th quarter against Oklahoma. Basically, instead, to watch all that wild bunch of team fighting for a playoff in the West, we should be focused only on OKC, HOU, and LAL, our #2-4 seeds challengers.

[THE J0KER]

Lose vs Hornets is not that bad, thanks to loses of Oklahoma and Lakers tonight. But the real reason why this game can cost Denver Nuggets very much in the fight for TOP3 seed on the West is Millsap broken toe injury. Depending on which toe and how badly is broken, I think that kind of injury requests about 3-5 weeks pause, which means Millsap is done with 2018 calendar year.

Talking about West, I think Memphis should officially add into a list of serious playoff contenders. They lack depth, but according to debut, seems that former DPOY and all-star Joakim Noah is way more useful than people think (13-5-3 in just 16 minutes vs great Pelicans frontcourt line).

[THE J0KER]

Latest back-to-back loses vs Hawks and Hornets downgraded everything we build before, but at least good news is that some other Western contenders have also some shocking loses in the past 3 days.

[THE J0KER]

An important win today against Memphis without 3 starters. But our injuries are not the only problem we have right now, the other bad news is that Oklahoma and Lakers, our projected biggest rivals in the battle for TOP3 seed playing well lately. OKC is 17-4 after 0-4 start of the season, and Lakers are 13-4 after a bad start, so only Houston out of West TOP 5 teams are still in a deep slump.

[NuggetsWY]

An important win today against Memphis without 3 starters. But our injuries are not the only problem we have right now, the other bad news is that Oklahoma and Lakers, our projected biggest rivals in the battle for TOP3 seed playing well lately. OKC is 17-4 after 0-4 start of the season, and Lakers are 13-4 after a bad start, so only Houston out of West TOP 5 teams are still in a deep slump.

538 & CBS seem to be agreeing that Denver has a much higher ceiling than they projected not too long ago.

[THE J0KER]

Great two days for a Nuggets despite team didn't play. All other 4 teams from current West TOP5 suffered a defeat!

[skywalker33]

Have to say it's a good day when BOTH Los Angeles teams lose

[THE J0KER]

Denver is 5-0 vs division rivals this season so far, and we just swap OKC 4-0 in 2018 calendar year! They are the perfect matchup for Nuggets out of NBA elite teams. So, the perfect playoff scenario for Denver for me would be #1-GSW #2-DEN #3-OKC #4#5LAL/HOU #6-8-Whoever where Nuggets would take home court advantage in the 1st round, and in 2nd round vs Oklahoma.

[NuggetsWY]

What I find so very encouraging is that while Golden State is rising through the ranks, in their last 10 games they are 7-3 and in our last 10 games we are 8-2. Meanwhile OKC is 6-4 and LAC are 5-5 with the Lakers at 6-4. Even with the injuries, we are doing well and that is quite impressive!

[THE J0KER]

What I find so very encouraging is that while Golden State is rising through the ranks, in their last 10 games they are 7-3 and in our last 10 games we are 8-2. Meanwhile OKC is 6-4 and LAC are 5-5 with the Lakers at 6-4. Even with the injuries, we are doing well and that is quite impressive!

I'm still with my original projection that apart from GSW, the only true TOP3 seed contenders would be Denver, Oklahoma, Lakers, and Houston. Clippers just overperformed in the first third of the seasons, and their fairy tale will be over soon or later, and the same we can say about Rockets current nightmare.

[THE J0KER]

We swept 2-0 Toronto team, which terrorized other Western teams this season. West playoff race is amazing, but we should be focused now on TOP5 teams only (DEN, GSW, OKC, LAL, and HOU) and TOP3 seeds race, and the good news is that Lakers lose tonight in Washington.

[NuggetsWY]

We swept 2-0 Toronto team, which terrorized other Western teams this season. West playoff race is amazing, but we should be focused now on TOP5 teams only (DEN, GSW, OKC, LAL, and HOU) and TOP3 seeds race, and the good news is that Lakers lose tonight in Washington.

With due respect to Joker; and I totally understand and agree with his intent regarding focusing in on those teams, we all know we need to focus on Tuesday's game. If you watch each game, when our team gets ahead, we still "let up", allowing our opponent to get back into the game. Our young team needs to focus on one game at a time. Any other focus is dangerous IMO.

{{{But if we did look past the Mavericks, the Clippers are next Saturday. }}}

[THE J0KER]

"WE" are related to Nuggets fans here what to watch in this thread (WC PO race) the most, not to Denver players

For me, since the start of the season, it is HOU, OKC, and LAL, which OKC and LAL proved lately, and I guess Rockets will join the group the soon (but I hope it is already too late for Houston to reach TOP3 at the end).

[TunaFish]

It appears that Denver now has the second lowest remaining strength of schedule (after Utah) in the Western Conference. 3 games remaining with Golden State are the toughest to come. Because the Eastern Conference is so bad the leaders in that Conference have the easier schedule. Not so in the Western Conference but only Denver and Utah have a strength of schedule remaining with combined opponent records less than 50-50

http://www.tankathon.com/remaining_schedule_strength

[THE J0KER]

It appears that Denver now has the second lowest remaining strength of schedule (after Utah) in the Western Conference. 3 games remaining with Golden State are the toughest to come. Because the Eastern Conference is so bad the leaders in that Conference have the easier schedule. Not so in the Western Conference but only Denver and Utah have a strength of schedule remaining with combined opponent records less than 50-50

http://www.tankathon.com/remaining_schedule_strength

Unfortunately, this is strictly based on the current rankings, so teams like Clippers, Memphis, and Sacramento, has a higher rating than Houston, Utah, New Orleans... which is not realistic IMO.

[TunaFish]

It appears that Denver now has the second lowest remaining strength of schedule (after Utah) in the Western Conference. 3 games remaining with Golden State are the toughest to come. Because the Eastern Conference is so bad the leaders in that Conference have the easier schedule. Not so in the Western Conference but only Denver and Utah have a strength of schedule remaining with combined opponent records less than 50-50

http://www.tankathon.com/remaining_schedule_strength

Unfortunately, this is strictly based on the current rankings, so teams like Clippers, Memphis, and Sacramento, has a higher rating than Houston, Utah, New Orleans... which is not realistic IMO.

Utah has problems and so does New Orleans. They may or may not snap out of it or they may have let go some key rotation pieces in the off season. That is not to say they can't get hot but the inconsistency in team play is alarming. Houston is a major surprise. They may have lost some key defenders as well. I am not so sure that you should put aside actual records for it is certainly trend worthy analysis.

The great "Tuna" once said, "you are what your record says you are."

[psimanic1]

Barton is updated to "Expected to be out until atleast Dec 22nd" and Vanderbilt is updated to Game Time **** Decision

[skywalker33]

Barton is updated to "Expected to be out until atleast Dec 22nd" and Vanderbilt is updated to Game Time **** Decision

Would LOVE to get first look at Vanderbilt in a Nuggets uniform

[THE J0KER]

Denver tied about 40 years old franchise-best record with a 21-9 start after first 30 games. Lakers have the 3rd loss in past 4 games, and despite 4-games winning streak Houston is still far away, so maybe we can talk about BIG3 on the West now. I guess soon or later healthy Warriors will overtake us but is nice to see Nuggets ahead all others, so you can see now how big are our two wins vs Oklahoma, our 2018-19 #1 enemy.