Denver Nuggets: The perfect playoff situation

What does the ideal playoff bracket look like for the Denver Nuggets?

The Denver Nuggets haven’t quite clinched a spot yet, but in just over a month they will most likely make their first playoff appearance since 2013.

Getting there has been the goal since the beginning of the year. And after the Nuggets showed they were legit with a great start to the season, the goal has been the conference finals.

That means winning two playoff series. An expectation for most No. 2 seeds, but a pretty big ask for the second-youngest team in the NBA with no playoff experience together.

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A big factor in whether or not they can make it to the Western finals — and all but assuredly a matchup with the Warriors — is who they have to face on the way.

Until as recently as last week, the Lakers were probably the last team the Nuggets want to see in the first round. Now, it looks like the Lakers probably won’t make the playoffs — and by some miracle if they do, they’re in no position to make a splash.

Now that distinction probably belongs to the Jazz — who sit in the sixth seed, just a half-game up on San Antonio.

But who is the Nuggets ideal first-round matchup? More so, what does an ideal playoff situation look like.

Let’s take a look at that, along with a more likely and worse case scenario.