Ranking the Nuggets' potential first-round playoff matchups from easiest to hardest

Hardest: Golden State Warriors

Say what you will, but the Warriors are still the scariest team on this list and they’d prove to be the hardest matchup. They’ve struggled for much of this season and they’re clearly not the same team that won four titles.

But lately, they’ve been figuring things out, playing very well (just ignore Sunday’s smackdown in Boston), and creeping up the standings. With Draymond Green back in the fold, they’ve looked like an elite defense again, and the offense has come along with it.

Steph Curry is still Steph Curry and that’s not somebody you want to see in a playoff series. They’ve finally found something with their young players, as Brandin Podziemski, Moses Moody, and Jonathan Kuminga, all of whom have been starting and playing big minutes lately.

Their play has helped rejuvenate the Warriors and coming off the bench seems to have sparked Klay Thompson as well. Andrew Wiggins isn’t with the team for personal reasons, but before his leave, he had started to play well again and Gary Payton II is finally back from injury.

Like every other team on this list, Denver should certainly be able to take care of the Warriors, but I can’t say it would be shocking if a team with this much championship pedigree gave the Nugs some trouble. They still have one of the best offensive and defensive players in the world, and if the complementary talent can step up they may have one last playoff run in them.