In the span of three months, the Nuggets have gone from one of the NBA’s most disappointing teams to one everyone around the league is buzzing about.
But should the sixth-place Nuggets, 23-2 since the all-star break, be considered among the NBA’s best heading into the playoffs?
“Obviously, if you go (23-2)you should be looked at like that,’ said Detroit guard Chauncey Billups, a Denver native and Finals MVP a year ago. “If you think about it, that was what was being said at the start of training camp.’
Count Mavericks owner Mark Cuban among the believers, too.
“Just shows the impact coaching can have on a team,’ Cuban said, referring to the Nuggets’ resurrection under George Karl. “George has done a great job; the (Nuggets) are energized.’
While it’s difficult to find anyone around the NBA not counting the Nuggets as a serious threat in the Western Conference, not everyone is convinced they should be grouped with the league’s best.
If San Antonio forward Tim Duncan recovers from his ankle problems, most observers consider the Spurs the favorite to come out of the West. Those who don’t look to Phoenix, which is battling to hold off the Spurs for the No. 1 seed.
“If (Duncan’s) gimpy, Phoenix has a shot at it,’ New Orleans coach Byron Scott said. “The way Denver’s playing right now, I think they have a shot at it. Houston has a shot.
“But if (Duncan’s) healthy, to me they are the best team on both ends of the court. They play together. They play hard. They’ve been together. They’ve won championships, so they know what it takes. Overall, they are the best team.’
Before the season, the Nuggets were projected by many to be one of the top teams in the West because of the addition of forward and the fact they made the playoffs a year ago.
It’s the unusual route Denver took to getting near 50 wins that has stunned everyone, with two coaching changes and a 17-25 record in late January before one of the great post-All-Star Game sprints in league history.
Since Karl’s arrival, the Nuggets are 30-6. Under Karl, second-year forward has played much better, center has become an NBA defensive player of the year candidate and ownership added two veterans who have ignited the team off the bench, Eduardo Najera and Wesley Person. But Karl is getting much of the credit for the turnaround.
“He’s demanding and they’re listening,’ San Antonio coach Gregg Popovich told the San Antonio Express-News. “They’re doing what he’s asked them to do. When a team buys into whatever system is being employed, it really helps. They’ve done a great job.’
Karl said his team has the confidence that they believe anything is possible.
“They like what is going on and they don’t think they should lose,’ he said. “It has nothing to do with the opponent that we are playing, they don’t think they should lose. Whether it’s San Antonio or New Orleans, they feel like if they do things the right way they should win. And you have that belief you don’t have to get overly nervous.’
Said Martin: “Whether people talk about us or not is irrelevant. We’re all about winning ball games at the end of the day.’
As for the Nuggets contending for the NBA title this spring, don’t count them out.
“They have a chance to win the West,’ Golden State forward , a former Nugget, said. “That’s what I think, a legitimate chance. Obviously, San Antonio is going to be tough. Besides that, they play the Phoenix-type of game and now they’re playing a lot better defense. It just depends on matchups.’
Said Minnesota center Ervin Johnson: “They could do very well in the playoffs. Different teams create different matchups, but hey, they’re doing a great job. Whoever they’re going to play is going to be in for a dogfight.’
Staff writer Marc J. Spears can be reached at 303-820-5449 or mspears@denverpost.com.
