Denver Nuggets: Ranking Denver’s playoff opponents

The Outlook

Nuggets Record vs. Playoff Teams: 13-10

Though that 13-10 record may not look spectacular, the Nuggets do matchup pretty favorably against the majority of playoff teams.

They will likely be favored in any series vs. any team but the Warriors or Rockets, though they would be a favorable upset pick against the Thunder or Jazz — or any team for that matter, as there’s a general sense of doubt hanging over this team nationally.

With five games remaining against West playoff teams, the Nuggets have the chance to finish as good as 18-10 or as bad as 13-15.

So who knows how the bottom half of the Western Conference will shape up — or even the top half to an extent. So it will be all about matchups.

If the Nuggets finish with the top seed, hopefully the Clippers fall to the eighth seed. If the Nuggets fall to No. 2, hopefully L.A. holds at No. 7.

An ideal second round matchup would probably be the Blazers — though the Spurs and even the Thunder have a good chance of making the second round.

Ideally, Rockets and Warriors have to face in Round 2 — whether that be a 1-4 matchup or a 2-3 — forcing one of them out before a theoretical Conference Finals matchup.

However the playoffs shape up, the Nuggets have to like their chances. They’ve surpassed 50 wins for the first time since 2012-13 and are in their best position in years to make a deep playoff run.