Just like last year, the Nuggets are a bottom- four seed against a glistening title contender. But entering this seven-game series against the Lakers, Denver Post staff writers Benjamin Hochman and Chris Dempsey look at seven reasons this year’s Nuggets team surpasses the postseason team of a season ago.
1
Mature Smith.
Last postseason, the Nuggets decided they could win without him. This postseason, they can’t. Fortunately, J.R. Smith, left, has matured since last season, when his bad attitude led to his benching against the Spurs. In March and April of this season, Smith has found his groove, averaging 15.5 points, making clutch 3-pointers in big games and becoming that all-important third scoring threat.
2
Kenyon’s back.
Kenyon Martin, left, didn’t play in the 2007 postseason because of his knee injury. Of late, he is playing the best basketball of his Denver tenure. He also is Denver’s best one-on-one defender, and he will likely spend time on Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom and maybe even Kobe Bryant.
3
Happy home.
In one year, the Nuggets at the Pepsi Center went from average to avenging. In 2006-07, they were 23-18 at home, winning just one more at home than on the road. But in 2007-08, Denver was 33-8 at the Pepsi Center, which was the sixth-best home record in the NBA. Players such as Allen Iverson talk all the time about how they feed off the frenzied fans.
4
Chemistry.
Iverson has had a full season with the Nuggets, something he didn’t have a year ago after he was thrust into a new situation with the midseason trade to Denver. The continuity gained from a full season should pay dividends this postseason.
5
Linas’ education.
Linas Kleiza’s improvement over the last two seasons has been marked. His playoff experience from April 2007 should help Kleiza, right, be a more effective postseason player this year.
6
Carter knowledge.
Anthony Carter was signed at playoff time last season and didn’t know the system well enough for coach George Karl to be comfortable giving him significant minutes. Yet Carter played well in the 14 minutes he was given in Game 5 against the Spurs. Now, he has been the starting point guard the entire season and is the team’s best perimeter defender.
7
No Spurs.
No matter how well the Nuggets have played San Antonio during the regular season of any particular campaign, the fact remains in two of the past four postseasons the count is Spurs 8, Nuggets 2. At least this is a fresh start against a new team.
