We're two days into March, and the Denver Nuggets are 37-24, fifth place in the West, just half a game ahead of the No. 6 Lakers. They're clinging to their top-six seed. If it weren't for Devin Booker and Dillon Brooks' injury absences, the No. 7 Suns would be even more of a threat.
Imagine knowing at the beginning of the season that, as a fan, you'd have to keep a close eye on Phoenix in the standings. That's not supposed to be a slight at the Suns, who have been an unexpected surprise in the West after trading Kevin Durant and waiving Bradley Beal. They embraced a culture change — one they've benefitted from.
This isn't about Phoenix, but about Denver. Yes, the Nuggets have dealt with more injury blows than the Suns, but they were supposed to finish as a top team in the West. They still can, as they're one game behind the No. 3 Rockets, but time is ticking with a little over a month left in the season.
Denver has played uninspiring basketball these past few weeks. Nikola Jokić's return after missing 16 games with a hyperextended knee didn't serve as the reset the Nuggets needed. They're 2-4 since returning from the All-Star break, losing their last two games, and are in danger of falling into play-in range.
Nuggets are only 2.5 games ahead of the No. 7 Suns
You can't write Phoenix off because of its injuries, as Booker, who has missed the last four games with a hip injury, should return sometime this week. Jordan Ott said so on Monday after the guard practiced five-on-five. The Suns have been abysmal without Booker and Brooks, but having the former back in the lineup will be a big boost.
Brooks will remain out until the end of the month or the beginning of April with a broken hand, so if it comes down to the very end (and it looks like it will), he might be available to push Phoenix over the finish line.
Denver's remaining strength of schedule isn't on its side, either. Literally. The Nuggets have the toughest remaining schedule in the league. Based on the way they've looked, there is no reason to believe they'll make it through just a little unscathed.
Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson's returns will help, and hopefully, both will come sometime in the next week. The sooner, the better. Denver will play Utah on Monday, and that isn't a guaranteed victory, but it needs to get back in the win column before playing seven straight games against top-six talent from both conferences, including matchups against the Thunder, Spurs, and Rockets.
The Nuggets started this season with the hope of winning a second championship, and that's still the goal. They've been dealt an unlucky hand along the way, but that's no excuse for the kind of collapse that would result in having to reach the playoffs via the play-in.
There isn't a world in which Phoenix should finish higher than Denver in the standings, but unfortunately, it could become reality.