Miked Up: Denver Nuggets First Round Preview?

Nuggets fans,

We beat our pending potential first round playoff match up, the San Antonio Spurs, with the same amount of violence which the Warriors throttled us last night.

Take a whoopin’.  Give a whoopin’.

And tonight a whoopin it was…

The Nuggets are now a league best 11-1 on the back end of back to backs.  Thirsty, unsatisfied Bronco fans are spewing into the Pepsi Center by the boatload this season, happy and promised by the young playoff teams of the Avalanche and Nuggets Josh Kronke has assembled.  (Less we forget about Kronke also owns the Los Angeles Rams)

After being humiliated on the road against the all omnipotent Golden State Warriors, the Nuggets were fuming following getting slapped around by Western Conference big brother, led by Boogie Cousins, who showed Jokic USA vs Euro big man play.

As we break down the tape tonight, I must be honest.  I took subpar notes during the first and second quarter, as I was conversing with my dear friend and fiancee as she cooked tacos.  They turned out great and we were happy at saving the money eating out versus going out.  I digress.

Without further ramble, take aways from tonights home win against the Spurs..

Has Malik Beasley turned into one of the biggest keys to this team’s hopes in the post season?  How did this happen?  The silver lining this season, through all the critical injuries, has been the deep rosters ability to step up to prove themselves.  It’s hard to overlook Monte Morris, but Malik Bealey MUST be in the same conversation.  In today’s NBA, to have a team compete in the regular season you need at least two dependable options down the stretch.  For the playoffs?  In this West? You need a dependable THREE.  Now, I feel good about Gary Harris, Will Barton, Monte Morris being able to step up any night. Recently has Beasley now become that staple for us?   Feels weird to say but I am pretty sure it’s true.  Good for Beasley and good for us.

Oh man, Plumdog Millionaire continues to be the best.  Just what a treat.  If we talk having the best back up PG in the league in Monte Morris, who says we don’t have the best backup in Mason Plumlee at center.

People forget he was a Duke first rounder, starting for one of our biggest rivals, before getting traded and Jokic happening.  Team player through and through.  To boot, his style now just has me laughing at the television.  See how he has picked up the Jokic-rebound-cherry-pick-toss after a rebound?  He is actually good at it, too (per above)!  We don’t even need to talk about his reverse dunks.

That guy never parks his car nose in first.  Never.  Refuse to believe.  BIG fan of the Plumdog.

Quick note on the coaching dynamic. Pop added yet another feather in his cap by breaking the NBA record tonight of getting ejected the fastest out of a game in 63 seconds.  What an era for the team under him.  Out of all world sport organizations, Spurs are top five in winning percentage, within their respective league, for the last 30 years.  Tip of the cap.

The Nuggets approach a home and home against the surging Portland Trail Blazers to begin the last few games of the season.

Tonight was the Nuggets’ 5th game in just seven nights.  Too much is at stake to sit and rest for the playoffs.  Stumbling still for the battle of first place last night, Denver is a near lock for home court advantage in the first round. It looks like the first game will be a week from Saturday at the Pepsi Center.  First time in four years for a playoff game in Denver.

Two years overdue but if we play like we played tonight? Look forward to the Western Conference Finals.