Don't adjust your color settings or contrast on your TV. The court will look loud for a reason. The Denver Nuggets kick off the opening game of the NBA Cup against the Phoenix Suns, and the funky home floors are just one quirk of the NBA's in-season tournament. The Nuggets haven't advanced out of the group stage in the last three years, but they should hope to make a run this year, because it bodes well for their chances at season's end.
Three out of the last four NBA Cup finalists have made the NBA Finals. In fact, last year's NBA Cup Final was a preview of the NBA Finals. The New York Knicks faced off against the San Antonio Spurs, and the Knicks won both trophies. So the NBA Cup does a decent job of previewing the rest of the season.
The Nuggets are in West Group A, and they've got a favorable draw that could set them up to finally get out of the group stage.
The Nuggets could finally break through to the knockout round
Only four teams from each conference advance from the group stage to the knockout round. There are three groups. The group winner is determined by head-to-head record, and then the second-place team with the highest point differential across the groups is the wildcard team.
The Nuggets have drawn the Suns for the opening game in the group stage, and they'll take on the Houston Rockets on Nov. 20th at Ball Arena for the second game. They'll face the Dallas Mavericks at home on Nov. 24th, and then head back on the road against the Utah Jazz for the final game of the group stage on Nov. 27th.
Last season, the Nuggets were 12-3 against those four teams, so the hope is to see the Nuggets at least go 3-1 to put themselves in position to advance. They've been 2-2 each of the past three years and have watched the knockout rounds from the sidelines.
The Nuggets need to make the energy stick to advance
The Nuggets have been off to a rocky start to the season, even drawing boos directed at them in the home opener at Ball Arena after a lackluster three quarters where they lacked energy on defense before storming back to win in an epic fourth-quarter comeback against the New Orleans Pelicans.
But they looked great against the Pelicans in their last game, a 104-91 win that featured a balanced scoring effort and really good team defense. They had great energy in the last five quarters they've played against the Pelicans, and if that same energy sticks, they can go 4-0 in the group stage.
The NBA Cup should be fun. The Nuggets have a chance to add another trophy to the case at Ball Arena. And it offers a cash bonus, which is huge for some of the lower-paid bench guys.
And with the prior history of what the Cup means, it would be great to see the Nuggets advance to the knockout round for the first time to make a run at winning it.
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