May 2, 2013; Oakland, CA, USA; Denver Nuggets point guard Andre Miller (24) drives in against Golden State Warriors point guard Jarrett Jack (2) during the second quarter of game six of the first round of the 2013 NBA Playoffs at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

The end of a season brings out two extreme, polar-opposite forms of fans:

1. The Happy Fan: Those fans gleefully cheer on their team and players regardless of how the season ends. These fans are sweet, innocent bystanders who think highly of every player on the team and think everyone should return next season. They stray away from cynicism and believe that no one on the team can do wrong, ever.

2. The Mad Fan: These guys want to blow the team up immediately. They’re calling for the head coaches head and don’t want anybody on the roster to be on the team next season. They destroy three or four TVs a season.

What would these fans say about the the players on the Denver Nuggets roster after Thursday night’s disappointing end to the season? Ahh, I’m so glad you asked.

Corey Brewer

Happy Fan: Corey! I just love the energy Corey brings every game. He’s so awesome! Those shots just weren’t falling against the Warriors but the team really needed him out there anyways. He’s such a funny, genuine guy. I hope we resign him just because.

Mad Fan: BREWER THAT BALDING ASS-CLOWN. HE PRACTICALLY LOST THE SERIES FOR US. WHAT WAS HE? 1 FOR 30 FROM THREE? YO COREY DON’T YOU KNOW THEY’RE PLAYING ZONE HOPING YOU’LL SHOOT THE BALL? TRADE HIM IF HE HAS ANY VALUE.

Wilson Chandler

Happy Fan: haha he has so many tattoos! I just hope that it doesn’t hinder him from getting a job one day because I care about him and his well-being so much. He REALLLYY stepped up when Gallo went out. When Gallo got hurt–bless his soul–I was like “at least we have Wilson Chandler, ya know?” Can’t wait to watch him next year!

Mad Fan: WHY IS CHANDLER SHOOTING MID RANGE JUMPERS WITH STEPHEN CURRY GUARDING HIM? JFAIGJIADFJGIAFJ. HE COULDN’T HIT ANYTHING ALL SERIES. FRUSTRATING PLAYER TO WATCH. TRADE HIM MORE MONTA ELLIS. 7 MILLION DOLLARS IN 2015-16? WAY TO GO UJIRI

Kenneth Faried

Happy Fan: It’s just like, you know, he’s the glue guy. He’s the face of the organization! He’s the greatest hustler in the history of history. So much upside! I love his hair omg.

Mad Fan: Shouldn’t have played game 2 practically lost game 2 because he wasn’t healthy. I’m glad he hustles but Jesus he can’t guard anyone. Got burnt all series by HARRISON FREAKING BARNES. NEXT.

Evan Fournier

Happy Fan: Evan’s the future! He really is! He’ll be Manu Ginobili one day! Just watch! Poor guy was thrown into the fire too early but just give him time! Greatn3ss!

Mad Fan: WHY WAS HE EVEN ON THE FLOOR? WHY WAS HE EVEN IN THE LOCKER? PRACTICALLY LOST EVERY GAME EVEN GAME 6 WHEN HE DIDN’T PLAY. BAD PERSON. WORSE PLAYER. AWFUL PICK. TRADE HIM.

Danilo Gallinari

Happy Fan: When the Rooster went down, I cried. I cried for days. I cried for weeks. I never met him but I felt like I did. <3 you bro get well soon.

Mad Fan: Reserving my right to not speak.

Jordan Hamilton

Happy Fan: The future! Him and Evan! I’m so sad he’s in Karl’s doghouse

Mad Fan: WHY DIDN’T JORDAN HAMILTON PLAY GEORGE KARL YOU OLD FART HE’S THE ONLY GUY WHO CAN SHOOT FROM DISTANCE AND HE SAT AT THE END OF THE PINE THE ENTIRE SERIES.

Andre Iguodala

Happy Fan: GOAT. Max contract! Do what you gotta do! Keep Iggy #Iguodaladalabillsyall

Mad Fan: CAN’T EVEN FRONT HE’S DOPE

Kosta Koufos

Happy Fan: OMG did you see Kouf hit that three? How awesome?! What a moment! But seriously maybe he can be a stretch 5? Who knows!? Upside’s there, just put it together!

Mad Fan: UNFGUAFHGUAJUGJ. TERRIBLE PLAYER. GOT BULLIED BY BOGUT. PRACTICALLY LOST THE SERIES. HIS HEAD LOOKS LIKE A ROTTEN PEACH. HE’S THE UGLIEST PERSON ALIVE. HE’S CHRIS KAMAN’S FACE WITH FELTON SPENCER’S SKILL-SET. RELEASE HIM. WAIVE HIM. GET HIM OFF THE TEAM.

Ty Lawson

Happy Fan: He’s so fast I swear! It’s like he’s a race car on the court hehe. He plays defense, he scores inside, he’s the leader of the team! Top 5 PG in the league! wWEEEEWHWEWEWOEWOE

Mad Fan: hmm, this is what I think: CAN YOU WIN WITH LAWSON AS YOUR STARTING PG? WELL MAYBE IN THE REGULAR SEASON. AWFUL AT DEFENSE. SCARED TO SHOOT OUTSIDE. OVERPAID.

JaVale McGee

Happy Fan: Okay I don’t like to tell people this but McGee’s like my favorite player ever and I think he can be a top 3 center in the league! He’s soo athletic. If he can just put it together he’s going to be a legend!

Mad Fan: JIDJFJSIFJIDJGIJFDSGSIFJQRJUF8AUR8Q7U547Q8RFACU HF7DAY 78AYCF7DSAHFU7DHAYS7F8YAF78DY7DSAYF7ADY DF7YC7FVYV FUAHFUAHDSFUAHDUFHAD

Andre Miller

Happy Fan: Why is everyone blaming Old Man Dre?! We NEEDED his #VETERANLEADERSHIP and he won Game 1 by himself! Sure he’s lost a step but have you seen his post game?!  He’s the x-factor! We live and die by Miller and that’s okay with me! hehe

Mad Fan: WORST PLAYER IN THE LEAGUE. HE COULDN’T CHECK KIRK DOUGLAS. YO DRE WHY ARE YOU IN THE GAME? WHY ARE YOU IN LOVE WITH DRE, KARL? GODDDD. HE LOST THE SERIES. THAT’S IT. HE SHOULD PLAY WITH THESE GUYS:

CUT HIM. WAIVE HIM. SEND HIM TO A NURSING HOME IDC. JUST GET HIM OUT OF A NUGGETS UNIFORM.

Quincy Miller

Happy Fan: umm, who?

Mad Fan: what he said.

Timofey Mozgov

Happy Fan: Timofey lol I just love the way he spells that. It’s just so much fun. Almost as fun as his game. He’s REALLY good. He rebounds, he’s got touch, he hustles! I can’t wait to see what the future holds for him.

Mad Fan: *sighs* I’M SO MAD I DON’T KNOW WHAT TO SAY

Julyan Stone:

Happy Fan: OMG Julian [check spelling] is just what we need. He doesn’t complain about minutes and plays hard every second he’s out there. Great piece to have moving forward. Most Improved next year? I think soooooo..

Mad Fan: BRUH, THIS MAN WOULDN’T HAVE GOTTEN CLOCK ON MY AAU TEAM. DROP.

Anthony Randolph

Happy Fan: Super talented! Him and JaVale are like Tim Duncan and David Robinson! Seriously they have that much potential! He’s going to get paid one day! lol

Mad Fan: Yo I’m out ya’ll…

***

Thanks for reading and follow me on Twitter @lashy.

January 13, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Ty Lawson (3) drives to the basket against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) during the first half at the Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

The Denver Nuggets have finished the regular season at 57-25.  Their best regular season record ever.  Let that sink in.  With all the hoopla surrounding the Lakers offseason acquisitions, the dominance of Miami in the Eastern Conference and the worst season Brandon Knight will ever have, the Nuggets have evaded the public eye and the experts for most of the year.  It’s been ignored everywhere outside of Denver, and even by some in Colorado, that this is probably the best basketball team that has ever come out of the Mile High City.

It’s with that in mind, I’d like to say that no matter the outcome in the playoffs, basketball has been blessed to have a team like the Nuggets.  In stark contrast to the superstar-laden behemoths that ball in LA, New York, Miami and Oklahoma City, the Nuggets have flipped the basketball script.  Executive Masai Ujiri traded away a disgruntled scoring All-Star, brought in an underrated defensive ace and kept only one player on the roster after shuffling the entire roster.  All this time, the Nuggets have won, while other teams who lost franchise players (Cleveland, Orlando, Phoenix, Toronto) have resorted to tanking and playing the NBA’s lottery.

What the Nuggets have is a team built to run.  A team that leads the NBA in points per game, is 2^nd in rebounds per game, and is 3^rd in assists per game.  The Nuggs have six players who average double figures in points and brandish a rotation that goes 10 deep.  George Karl has assembled a basketball purists’ dream team without superstars; one he hopes will buck the notion of one player being more important than the team.

With that said, here are some musings on the League’s playoff prospects:

• Damn the injustice of injuries.  The loss of Danilo Gallinari to an ACL tear, coupled with a gimpy Ty Lawson these past few weeks, and the absence of Kenneth Faried to a sprained ankle has put a dampener on the Nuggets’ season and the hopes for any more Italian celebrations on the bench:

• Will Stephen Curry’s ankles hold up?  The sharpshooter has always been one of my favorites from his days at Davidson, but his three years in the NBA have been plagued by ankle troubles.  No basketball fan wants to see Curry go down, but they can’t ignore that any time he hits the floor or lands awkwardly there’s an underlying fear that his body will give out.
• Grantland’s Zach Lowe is both amused and afraid of the “Wild Child” front court that the Nuggets employ, which is the perfect way to describe it.  The Anthony Randolph and Javale McGee combo is something straight out of a retrospective E! News or VH1 special.  You know ,”So much talent and potential, but… well, you get the picture.”  Personally, I love these players.  They give their all every night and have really stepped into their roles and the team well.  I’m of the opinion that their potential will be attained with the coaches, mindset and teammates in the Nuggets organization.  The two enigmas have a chance to rewrite their NBA careers in Denver, and that all starts with this playoff series.  We could be in for an awesome rebounding, dunking, crazy athletic expo with these two, or we could have something equatable to this:

Please, in the name of the Father, Son and Javale McGee and Anthony Randolph… I’m praying for the first.

• The Lakers made the 7th seed in the playoffs.  I don’t know who to be more mad at, the Rockets for shooting themselves out of the game against a hobbling Lakers team, or the general ineffectiveness, no… ineptitude, no… just overall “suck” that the Utah Jazz displayed against the Grizzlies.  Geez Utah, you have a chance to make the playoffs, put the heat on a crumbling Lakers team to miss the playoffs, lose their lottery pick to Phoenix, and set off a series of munchkin like celebrations in the collective cities of Orlando, Phoenix, and any other basketball city that lost something to the Lakers… And you score 70 points.  Go home Utah… Go home.  As for Houston, enjoy your buzz saw matchup with the OKC Thunder, you’ve earned it.
• Pau Gasol is doing his best vengeful ignored girlfriend impression with LA.  After being benched, being blamed as the cause of chemistry problems and after numerous trade rumors involving his name, he’s averaged 17.5 points, 12.1 rebounds, and 6.6 assists over the month of April.  Well done Pau, time for another team to step in as the “sensitive guy” and rescue him because, you know, he deserves better.
• Wilson Chandler is an important cog to the Nuggets right now.  Like I wrote when he first got back into the lineup, Chandler is that glue guy that stretches opponents D, plays great defensively and can initiate contact on the way to the rack.  Without Gallo, Wilson is even more important.  With occasional matchups against David Lee and with perimeter D being a paramount focus against Golden State, Chandler will have to come up big if the Nuggs want to take care of business.

More musings to come during the course of the playoffs.  Go Nuggets!