Having watched the Nuggets throughout the season, it’s hard to be disappointed by their first-round playoff vanquish at the hands of the Lakers.
What, like we didn’t see it coming? Like there were expectations? Like it was a fluke the Nuggets were the No. 8 seed in the Western Conference?
Allen Iverson put it best: “This was a message sent to us — we’re not there yet. We just got beat by a better team.”
The loss to the Lakers serves as a reality check for the few, the proud, the Nuggets holdouts. I’m talking about those people who can’t fathom why a team with two monster scorers in its starting lineup can’t contend for a championship.
Ask yourself this. Do you believe the Lakers would trade Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol for Iverson and Carmelo Anthony? Or how about Utah? Would the Jazz deal Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer for A.I. and Melo?
And what about Phoenix? Would the Suns trade Steve Nash and Amare Stoudamire for the Nuggets’ two franchise players? Or the Spurs? Would they deal Tim Duncan and Manu Ginobili for Iverson and Anthony?
The answers to the questions are no, no, no and did I mention no? That’s no, as in the kind of chance the Nuggets’ current cast of players has of winning a championship.
The Nuggets are a good team. A very good team, in fact, as is any NBA team that wins 50 games.
They’re just not good enough.
Follow Jim Armstrong’s daily sports commentaries on The Jimmy Page midday during the week. And read his columns on Sundays at .
He can be reached at 303-954-1269 or jmarmstrong@denverpost.com.
