Denver Nuggets 5-on-5 Roundtable

The Nuggets have won four straight, currently sitting 5 games out of the playoffs. Do you think they can still make a run at the 8th seed in the west?

TD: Well Denver’s draw after the all-star break was ranked 6th easiest in the league, and with the 5-2 run on this homestand, I honestly reckon the Nuggets can make a push for that 8th seed. It’s just a matter of teams like Houston, Portland and Utah dropping some easy games to give us a chance.

EW: I don’t think the Nuggets will make the playoffs, regardless of their improved play recently. They have won four straight and Mike Malone really has re-established the culture here in Denver. However, Denver’s last 16 games aren’t easy by any stretch of the imagine. The Nuggets have to play Miami, Atlanta, Cleveland and the Los Angeles Clippers all on the road still. That’s not even including the final four games for the Nuggets. where they play Oklahoma City, San Antonio, Portland and Utah. So given a tough schedule down the stretch and the fact that their five games out still, I don’t see the Nuggets making a postseason trip this year.

AU: I think it’s plausible with the underachieving Rockets and so so Jazz standing ahead of them, but with 16 games left it would require one of those two teams to really stumble and for the Nuggets to catch fire. This late in the year, I think it makes for a nice goal to shoot for, but I just don’t see it happening as the team would really need to play consistent basketball which seems to elude them at times. Winning three in a row against Dallas, New York and Phoenix is a good sign that the team is beating teams they SHOULD beat, but they will have some tough games ahead with Oklahoma City and San Antonio coming to town, along with a road game against the Clippers. In any case it’s a win-win situation. If they play well down the stretch and just get in or just miss out it can only be a good development for the young nucleus on the team now.

AN: I think they’ve won four straight, and I definitely think they could, but wouldn’t bet any money on it. Still, the Mavericks are struggling and the Jazz are doing even worse, dropping 7 of their last 9 games. It would definitely be a humongous morale boost for the young squad, as well as an entertaining first round, even if it would cost us lottery odds.

JD: It’s possible given that Memphis, Dallas and, Utah all have tough schedules and have been struggling of late. It would take a big implosion especially from the Grizzlies, but if Denver can string a couple of W’s together, its definitely still possible. Not sure if this in their best interests though, as they should be chasing a better draft pick.

Next: Could Blake Griffin be coming to Denver?