Jan. 21, 2012; New York, NY, USA; Denver Nuggets power forward Al Harrington (7) complains after a call is made during the first quarter against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Debby Wong-US PRESSWIRE

It has been a trying season for the Denver Nuggets, full of injuries, lineup changes and brutally long road trips. The season has had its highlights and lowlights, but with only 15 games left Denver holds a 27-24 record and is currently on the outside looking in on the playoff race.

While it is easy to fault injuries, in-season lineup changes and the coach for the Nuggets lack of success, but the bigger question is this team even talented enough to be a playoff team? It doesn’t have a superstar like Kevin Durant, Kobe Bryant or even LeBron James to depend on and their all-around talent level may not be at the playoff level – at least not yet.

Denver does have the size, speed and depth to cause havoc with most teams. However, youth, defensive struggles, the lack of a low-post threat, as well as shooters will continue to be their shortcomings.

Youth 

Not many playoff teams have a rookie in their starting lineups and it would be tough to find a team in the postseason featuring a starting lineup with the oldest player barely 26 years old. But that is where the Nuggets are, and like most young players they will wow you one day and have you scratching your head the next.

Perimeter defense

It’s a little baffling on why Denver struggles on the perimeter defensively. There are some that think it is George Karl’s flawed defense, but somewhere along the line the players have to be held responsible. In Wednesday’s loss to the Toronto Raptors, Andre Miller and Ty Lawson each fell asleep on Jose Manuel Calderon when the ball went in to the paint and both times Calderon was able to get open for a 3-pointer.

Arron Afflalo, who used to be the Nuggets’ defensive stopper, struggled to stay with DeMar DeRozan. DeRozan would work off picks, drive to the basket and attack the offensive glass and by the fourth quarter Afflalo’s frustration was very vivid.

Kenneth Faried continues to go through his rookie struggles and chalk Andrea Bargnani as another veteran big man that had his way with Faried. But it wasn’t just Faried though, Bargnani took advantage of JaVale McGee and Wilson Chandler too. None of Denver’s defenders were aggressive with Bargnani. They let the Raptors’ big man pick and choose his spot and than they would fall for Bargnani’s patent pump fakes.

Lack of a low-post scorer

Quick question, when was the last time a Nuggets’ player drew a double-team? It has been a while, partly because none of Denver’s big men aren’t skilled enough offensively to draw a pair of defenders and the rest of the team is too perimeter oriented. Needless to say, even if the Nuggets make the playoffs they won’t be able to make it far if a team forces Denver into a half-court offense. If this team can’t get out and run it will not be successful.

Lack of shooters

With Rudy Fernandez and Danilo Gallinari both injured, the Nuggets don’t really have any skilled shooters. Afflalo and Lawson are more of set shooters, who work off of their teammates. Wilson Chandler and Corey Brewer are too inconsistent to depend on as 3-point threats. Al Harrington may be only player in the rotation who can stretch the floor, but once again his shot is inconsistent. If Denver’s shooters can’t keep defenders honest, they will see a lot of zones.

Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried (35) goes up for a shot against Minnesota Timberwolves forward Wes Johnson (4) and forward Kevin Love (42) during the foruth quarter at the Target Center. The Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets 117-100. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-US PRESSWIRE

After an impressive win over the Chicago Bulls on Monday, the Denver Nuggets have gone north of the border and will face some familiar faces in the Toronto Raptors.

The Raptors have made it a habit of collecting former Nuggets as Sonny Weems, Gary Forbes, Anthony Carter and Linas Kleiza have all played with Toronto. Weems is currently playing overseas and Carter was recently waived, but Forbes and Kleiza are each in the rotation for the Raptors. Forbes scored a career-high 21 points on Monday against the Orlando Magic, while Kleiza is averaging 9.6 points this season.

Toronto also tried to sign Wilson Chandler when he returned from China, but couldn’t free up enough money to lure the small forward to Canada.

The Nuggets have beaten the Raptors nine straight games and if the streak is to continue, Kenneth Faried needs to contain Raptors’ big man Andrea Bargnani.

Bargnani missed the first game between the two teams and is averaging 18.8 points – while shooting only .42 percent from the field. He isn’t a great post player and does most of his damage on perimeter – which is where Faried usually struggles on defense. Antawn Jamison (33 points), Josh Smith (33) and Dirk Nowitzki (33) have all taken advantage of the rookie’s inexperience on the perimeter and no doubt Toronto will attempt to do the same.

One matchup that should be in Denver’s favor is at point guard. Ty Lawson is coming off of a game in which he scored 27 points against the Chicago Bulls and will be facing a depleted Toronto backfield. Backup Jerryd Bayless suffered a season-ending injury on Monday, leaving Jose Manuel Calderon as the only true point guard on the roster.

Like the Nuggets, the Raptors are better against non-conference opponents. They are 7-9 against Western Conference foes, winning three of their last four against the West. Two of their wins were against the Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies and earlier this month they nearly defeated the Los Angeles Lakers.