Nugs should be able to hold the 3rd seed without Ty
“If the Nuggets were to fall to the fourth seed and Memphis were to rise to the third, Denver would catch the Clippers in the first round. That’s a far less desirable match up for the Nuggets – obviously.”
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Your Denver Nuggets have eight regular season games left to be played – three this week, two next week, three the week after that. Their season concludes on April 17th versus Phoenix at Pepsi Center. The face Dallas twice, Houston, San Antonio, Portland, Milwaukee and the Suns each once.
I can see the Nuggets going 5-3 in this final stretch, with two losses coming on the road and one, in the game against the Spurs, at home. That would give them a final record of 55-27. If that’s the case it would be tough to imagine Memphis or the Clippers eclipsing them. Assuming Denver can retain the third seed, they’ll play Golden State in the first round.
If the Nuggets were to fall to the fourth seed and Memphis were to rise to the third, Denver would catch the Clippers in the first round. That’s a far less desirable match up for the Nuggets – obviously.
It’s crucial that the Nuggets not play the victim with Lawson recovering from a foot injury. They can’t feel sorry for themselves. The “next man up” concept must be their credo. The Nuggets have been selling depth for two seasons now. If they truly are the deep team that we have been told they are then one injured point guard should not impact their winning ways very significantly. Yes, Ty Lawson is one of Denver’s best players, but he’s not irreplaceable – at least not for this short stretch.
The Nuggets need Lawson more for the post-season than they do now. Resting him should not be seen as throwing in the towel. Hopefully, that’s not how the players see it. These next eight games are spaced in such a way that they will have plenty of rest over the next three weeks. Hopefully, they will take advantage and not let off the throttle.
