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Denver Nuggets: The perfect playoff situation

By Chris Bolin

OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 8: Monte Morris #11 of the Denver Nuggets handles the ball against the Golden State Warriors on March 8, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - MARCH 8: Monte Morris #11 of the Denver Nuggets handles the ball against the Golden State Warriors on March 8, 2019 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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DENVER, COLORADO – JANUARY 13: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets is guarded by Jusuf Nurkic #27 of the Portland Trail Blazers at the Pepsi Center on January 13, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO – JANUARY 13: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets is guarded by Jusuf Nurkic #27 of the Portland Trail Blazers at the Pepsi Center on January 13, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

A perfect world

1. Golden State Warriors                                 5. Houston Rockets

2. Denver Nuggets                                            6. Utah Jazz

3. Portland Trail Blazers                                 7. Los Angeles Clippers

4. Oklahoma City Thunder                             8. San Antonio Spurs

At first glance it seems like a no brainer that the Nuggets would want to steal the No. 1 seed from the Warriors and clinch home court advantage throughout the playoffs.

But when you think a little deeper, it probably isn’t the best thing for them. Or at least that’s what I’ll keep telling myself after the Warriors beat Denver Friday to take a two-game lead for the top spot.

If the Nuggets stay at the two seed, they will turn into Blazers fans down the stretch. Though Portland has been great this season, they would be a much more welcome second round matchup than Oklahoma City or Houston.

But the Blazers will have a bit of ground to make up if they want to snag the third spot. They’re a game behind both the Thunder and Rockets. But they have to make up two games on the Thunder — as OKC holds the tiebreaker. They only have to make up one game on the Rockets — winning the season series 2-1.

But to get to a quarterfinal bout with Portland, Denver will have to win their first round series — hopefully against the Clippers.

When Los Angeles traded Tobias Harris and a few pieces to Philadelphia before the trade deadline, most — including myself — thought they were postitioning themselves for free agency and would drop out of the playoffs.

And both are likely still true. But the Clippers haven’t lost any ground. They are 8-4 since the deal and hold a one-game lead over the Spurs for the seed. But they will need to finish ahead of the Spurs because San Antonio holds the tiebreaker with a better conference record.

The Clippers have the 16th toughest remaining schedule, while the Spurs have the 21st.

This bracket would guarantee the Nuggets would only have to face the Rockets OR the Thunder before the conference finals.

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