1. How much will lingering injuries hurt the Nuggets chances of advancing past the first round?

Kalen: Hardly any. Even if Faried misses the first game he’s still gonna play the majority of the series, unless of course he gets injured again. The Nuggets went 8-1 down the stretch with Lawson and Gallinari mostly out of the lineup. Lawson’s now back and he hasn’t missed a step. Unless something catastrophic happens, the Nuggets are just too deep to let injuries derail them.

Tom: Not very much. Ty Lawson looked great in the last three regular season games, putting up 10 assists and three steals with no turnovers against Portland and a team-high 26 points — including the game winner — against the Bucks. Kenneth Faried’s recover appears to be progressing nicely, though he may not be 100 percent when the playoffs begin. Even without Gallinari, the Nuggets have been very good — especially at home, where they finished with the eighth best home record in league history.

Matt: I don’t think it will hurt all that much for the first round. The Nuggets are still better than the Warriors and Andre Iguodala has been playing out of his mind lately. Add in what looks like a healthy Ty Lawson with the emergence of Evan Fournier and I think the Nuggets will be fine. But after that, things become tougher.

Charlie: The injury factor has the potential to prolong what should be a fun series. Starting in the afternoon on the first night of the playoffs won’t give Kenneth Faried time to practice or even feel out the ankle on game day. The Nuggets are off until Tuesday after that so I expect him to miss at least one game and return only when he’s ready to start and play big minutes. There will be some adjustment there so I can see the series going six or seven games, but Denver advances with the return of a healthy Manimal.

Joel: With home court advantage and a deep, competent bench, Denver’s chances of getting beyond the first round shouldn’t be diminished too greatly. Chandler has really cranked up his offense of late, Fournier is helping a great deal on both ends of the court, and Randolph can provide some of the length on defense that was lost when Gallinari went down. The only caveat is that if Faried can’t return to full strength as quickly as advertised, Denver’s rebounding could seriously suffer.

2. Which player-vs-player match-up is most critical to the Nuggets success?

Kalen: Andre Iguodala vs. Klay Thompson. Lawson and Curry are going to likely cancel each other out. The Nuggets are also gonna make Curry a top priority given all the hype he’s acquired lately. But Thompson can be just as deadly as Curry from long range. He finished the year third in the NBA in 3-pointers made and shoots above 40 percent from downtown. If Andre Iguodala can suffocate him, Curry can make all the 3-pointers he wants and it won’t make a difference.

Tom: Steph Curry broke Ray Allen’s league record for three-point makes in a season. He also averaged nearly seven assists per game as the focal point of Golden State’s offense. Meanwhile, Andre Iguodala is in the running for the Defensive Player of the Year award, having routinely forced opposing guards into nights they would rather forget. Whichever player can impose his will on the other will dictate how the series goes.

Matt: David Lee vs. Kenneth Faried. Faried has always struggled to defend Lee and with a bum ankle it won’t be any easier. This seems like one of the two real matchups that the Nuggets will struggle to win. This season Lee averaged 23.3 points on 56 percent shooting, 10.3 rebounds and 5 assists. Lee going for 30 a couple of times wouldn’t surprise me at all — nor would it be good news for Denver.

Charlie: Steph Curry against the Nuggets’ defense by committee. Curry’s been so hampered by injuries throughout his career no one’s quite sure just how good he really is. Many think this postseason setting is where Curry will take the next step and blossom into a superstar. I think that’s the only way Golden State advances and it should be fun to see what happens. Expect the Nuggets to throw a lot of different looks at him and trap aggressively in spots.

Joel: David Lee vs. Faried. Steph Curry, Klay Thompson and Jarrett Jack are often muttered in the same breath when the Warriors’ offense is discussed. But Lee is their second leading scorer and has pretty much had his way with Faried this season on both ends of the court. Defending the perimeter may be Denver’s glaring weakness in this series, but controlling the paint and the glass will be huge in limiting the dimensionality of the Warriors’ offense and denying second chance scoring.

3. What trend/statistic scares or encourages you most about this series?

Kalen: The fact the Nuggets are 38-3 at home this year and are currently on a 23-game winning streak at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets just don’t lose at home. In the playoffs the atmosphere has double the intensity and energy of regular season games. If the Nuggets get out and run at home with the crowd behind them, it’s lights out for Golden State.

With Gallinari out for the foreseeable future with a torn ACL…

1. How much will his absence affect the Nuggets in terms of overall production on the court?

Kalen: Honestly, I don’t think the Nuggets will take too big of a hit. The one aspect of his game they’ll miss the most is three-point shooting. Without Gallo there are very few players on this team who can knock down 3-pointers with consistency. Other than that, Chandler and Brewer should be able to make up for most of his offensive and defensive production.

Matt: The offense will hurt a bit because when Gallo got hot from the outside it provided a huge threat, but I think Chandler will do well enough to make up for the scoring. Where the injury really hurts is on the defensive end as Gallo really allowed the Nuggets to get creative with matchups, especially against OKC when he would cover Durant and let Iguodala play Westbrook. That flexibility is now lost and could lead to trouble for Denver.

Tom: Gallinari has attempted and made the most free throws on the team, plus he shoots an excellent percentage from the line. Chandler, Fournier, and Hamilton can all spread the floor, and between them they can replace his rebounding and passing, but nobody else on the team can draw fouls and convert them into points at nearly the rate Gallo does. That’s the area where the Nuggets’ production will suffer most.

Charlie: The Nuggets still have enough weapons to provide a reasonable replacement for his on-court production. What we don’t yet know is how much his extended absence will affect the balance and rhythm of a rotation that’s been so key to their success. Gallo’s range and versatility have made Denver’s small-ball lineups work while masking obvious weaknesses like three-point shooting. Denver has what they need to succeed but it’s a big adjustment for coaches and players to manage on such short notice.

Joel: Moderately. Gallo’s production was already in decline from the beginning of the year (Jan. 19.3 ppg, Feb. 16.3 ppg, Mar. 13.7 ppg), including missing a few games due to injury, so the Nuggets had already been relying on his scoring less than before. Chandler seems capable of filling in some of the vacuum, and Fournier’s scoring prowess has been a revelation. Those two will need to replicate Gallo’s grit in getting to the line, especially on the road, and they should be capable of doing so.

2. Are the Nuggets chances of securing the three seed and succeeding in the playoffs now in jeopardy?

Kalen: Somewhat, only because the West is so cluttered and winning every game is so essential. In the West you basically need to have a perfect season in order to make it out alive. Finding the right chemistry with two weeks left in the season is concerning, as is the Nuggets’ remaining schedule, but I also think there’s a really good chance they surprise all of us and play even better basketball than they have been.

Matt: Sure. Anytime you lose one of your best three players things get tougher and the Nuggets schedule down the stretch is not easy. Until Lawson comes back the Nuggets are going to be in the middle of a chemistry rebuild as players adjust to new roles. That is really tough at any point in a season, especially now in the fight for the three seed and beyond.

Tom: The Nuggets’ chances for the third seed were very good before and are now only moderately good. The Nuggets currently have the advantage, but the race is tight, and one extra loss could put the team in position to face tougher matchups in the first two rounds of the playoffs.

Charlie: Yes. The Nuggets are already locked in a tight race with hardly any margin for error. They are spread dangerously thin without two key starters and face a schedule equal in difficulty to Memphis and LAC, both of whom are entering their stretch runs under much better circumstances. Achieving home court is the most crucial element to the Nuggets’ chances of advancing in the postseason.

Joel: No. Three seed, no. They’ll likely keep it. The Nuggets have more home than road games remaining, and are guaranteed to clinch third even if they lose one game. Just one loss each for the Grizzlies and Clippers makes keeping the No. 3 quite probable, and since they play each other they can’t both win out. Playoff success, possibly, but if they start strong with home court advantage and the bench guys step up, anything can happen.

3. What types of numbers do you see Wilson Chandler putting up with starter minutes?

Kalen: I’m really hoping Chandler takes this opportunity to shine. He’s been relegated behind Gallo his whole career. Now is his chance to prove just how good he can be. If he stays healthy, I see Karl riding him hard the rest of the year. If he could average something like 17 points and six boards with his typical Grade A defense, that would be more than enough to make up for Gallo’s loss in production.

Matt: Right now per-36 minutes, Chandler is averaging 17.8 points, 7.4 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game so he is more than capable of performing well for the Nuggets. While I assume we won’t see as much of Chandler at the four or getting quite as many shots as he did off the bench, I think he can perform somewhere just below those numbers. I will say 14 points, 5 rebounds and 1 assist per game from here on out.

Tom: When Chandler gets starting minutes, he can be expected to produce around 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 assists. He has a tendency to shoot and pass better when he’s on the court for extended minutes as well.

Charlie: There’s no reason Chandler can’t maintain his averages and continue his solid season provided the Nuggets manage his minutes accordingly. He’s dealt with a complicated recovery from hip surgery and a recently separated shoulder to boot. Chandler in a starting role is an easy adjustment but I’m not sure he can be counted on to fulfill the same long stretches of play Gallo routinely did. Fatigue has bothered Chandler before and the Nuggets need to be weary of it.

Joel: The best of his career. From 2008-09 to the first half of 2010-11, Chandler started in over 80% of the games he played for the Knicks. During that time he averaged 15.2 pts, 5.5 reb, 2 ast, 1 blk and 0.8 stl in 34.4 minutes. So the baseline of what he’s capable of is solid to begin with, but now it comes with improved efficiecy, as he’s shooting 3-pointers better and getting to the line more often than he ever has.

4. Which deep bench player (Fournier, Hamilton, Stone, Randolph, Q. Miller, Mozgov, etc.) should George Karl utilize most?

Kalen: I think it should be a combination of Fournier and Hamilton. As I said above, the Nuggets will miss Gallo’s 3-point shooting more than anything. As good as Fournier has played recently, Hamilton is still perhaps the best long-distance shooter on the team. The Nuggets will need to spread the floor in the playoffs and Hamilton gives them the best opportunity to do so.

Matt: Honestly, none of the above. One of the biggest changes come playoff time is that rotations shorten and the Nuggets still have an eight-man rotation that should get the majority of the run in the postseason. For the rest of the season I see no harm in using Hamilton, but once the pressure ratchets way up it’s not fair to ask him or Fournier to provide quality minutes after not playing much all season.

Tom: I’d like to see a combination of Fournier and Hamilton pick up the slack. Both can spread the floor adequately. Hamilton should be used in weaker rebounding lineups, while Fournier should be used in lineups with less playmaking.

Charlie: There are two that have stood out and proven themselves capable of reliable spot minutes. Randolph should see any available front court minutes and Fournier looks like the best fit when guard depth is needed. As the playoffs approach it’s much more important Denver’s current rotation players step up and get healthy because the time for a bench guy to come in and prove himself has pretty much come and gone.

Joel: Fournier, who overnight made a case for an expanded role after Lawson went down. He’s a rookie in name only; the polish and poise he displays is that of the pro he was in France. He brings specific skills Denver may miss from Gallo: driving, getting to the line, floor-spreading range, very good defense. And his fearlessness is exactly what the Nuggets will need when they hit the big stage.

5. How will the Nuggets approach the 2013 offseason?

Kalen: This changes everything. I didn’t think it was a given that Ujiri would try and move Chandler in the off-season; now it’s hard to imagine him even exploring the idea. I also thought, even as good as Brewer has been this season, that the Nuggets wouldn’t move heaven and earth to try and re-sign him. Now, I can’t see how they’d let him go. This injury likely puts major roster transactions on delay for an entire year.

Matt: It makes bringing Iguodala back imperative. I think the Nuggets should have brought Iguodala back even before the Gallo injury, but now it’s about as big a must-do as possible. Without Iggy next season the Nuggets would be down their two best defenders and playmakers outside of Lawson. It would also keep the versatility to stay big or go small that the Nuggets like. What was a should-do situation just became a must-do.

Tom: I didn’t expect the Nuggets to make any major moves this offseason, and I still don’t. Most of the rotation will return. It’s possible Brewer will walk and the Nuggets will pursue a better shooter like Kyle Korver as a replacement. There might be a little bit of tinkering with the end of the roster, maybe involving Mozgov and a pick. The major action this offseason will be with team doctors and trainers, working on getting the whole team healthy and having guys in game shape for the start of next season.

Charlie: It’s business as usual for Masai Ujiri and Josh Kroenke. The first order of business remains securing Masai’s future as GM, the draft and then free agency. Gallo’s injury is awful but not nearly serious enough for Denver to reconsider any offseason goals. Long-term personnel decisions should be made strictly on a long-term basis, and this changes nothing in regards to that.

Joel: The short, simple answer: No differently than if Gallo hadn’t been injured. They will attempt to re-sign Iguodala if, as he’s suggested, he opts out. Most likely Brewer as well. They’ll keep the core intact (including Gallinari), but perhaps tinker around the edges in order to bring in a shooter such as Kyle Korver. But their swingman depth alleviates the need to make panic replacement moves for Gallinari, whose injury won’t change their team building plans.

1. Should the Nuggets consider trading a key rotational player before the deadline at the risk of damaging the team’s current chemistry? 

Kalen: No. I know this is a disappointing answer to some Nuggets fans, but the fact is: Denver is playing its best basketball since the Melo era. Another big-impact trade would likely devastate this team more than it would help. The Nuggets are a young group that have grown together over the last several years and are finally hitting a stride. Too big of a trade could threaten the team’s chemistry, and above all else, give George Karl yet another reason to lose more games than he should.

Matt: If the move can somehow make the Nuggets better, then yes, they should consider moving a key rotational player. Chemistry or not, this team’s ceiling seems pretty clear. They can win a first-round series and maybe make someone’s life hard before bowing out in the second round. We haven’t seen this team win on the road consistently yet and come playoff time many of the opportunities they get right now will probably dry up. This team needs to add a shooter and if it costs a rotation piece so be it.

Charlie: I think the Nuggets are still in the early stages of building a good team and lack the kind of chemistry you’d worry about damaging. It’s naive to think that at least several current Nuggets aren’t open to a change of scenery and new opportunities elsewhere. Chemistry is a concern but it should be secondary to the Nuggets’ main goal of developing all the young talent they have.

Tom: The Nuggets have solid but not spectacular chemistry.  The potential downside to chemistry in a trade of a key player is real but small. There are plenty of remaining regular season games for any new teammates to get integrated into the lineup before playoff time. Rotation players shouldn’t be traded to save money, but trades that upgrade or consolidate talent are worth considering.

Joel: Probably not. At the very least, the core of Lawson, Iguodala, Gallo, Faried, Koufos and McGee should remain untouched. Outside of that, it’s questionable that the value they might bring back for any combination including Miller, Brewer and/or Chandler would be worthwhile. Unless an “Offer You Can’t Refuse” caliber player is put on the table (and are any even on the block right now? I don’t think so), it’s hard to see Denver finding a trade that messes with the rotation players which improves their prospects while keeping chemistry and morale intact.

2. Which one player on the present roster should be totally off limits?

Kalen: Iguodala, without question. Just like Chauncey Billups saved the Nuggets (and Karl’s job)  in 2008-09, Iguodala is undertaking a similar task this year. He’s changed this team’s fortune. No longer are the Nuggets an awful defensive team who only hope to outrun their opponent to victory. The Nuggets now have at least some semblance of an identity on defense and it’s all thanks to Iguodala. Without him, Karl is exposed yet again and the Nuggets are a surefire one-and-done in the playoffs.

Matt: To me this answer is quite clear based on what we have seen in the month of February. Ty Lawson should be completely off limits for anyone but a superstar. Lawson has been able to control games with his driving and passing abilities recently and just signed a contract that, if he continues to grow or even plays at the level he has in February, is a bargain. He has also shown the ability to shoot better this year which would make him even tougher to defend. This team should be building around Lawson.

Charlie: Gallo has picked up his play at the right time and is proving to be an indispensable presence on both ends. The Nuggets have not really been able to gauge his development thus far thanks to health issues and a lockout, neither of which have been a problem this season. There are some pretty good players on the market currently but not one who’s a clear upgrade and a better fit than the Rooster.

Tom: There are no truly off-limits players on the Nuggets roster. If a top tier player like Kevin Durant was on the trading block, every Nuggets player would be a potential trade asset. Kenneth Faried is the closest thing to untouchable — given his age, rebounding ability and two more years on his rookie contract. He would be very difficult to part with except for a top-tier player.

Joel: Gallinari. If I could name two or three I’d include Lawson and Faried. There’s a good argument to be made that they both excel in their fortes more than Gallo does in any area of his game. But Danilo is the most complete player on the Nuggets roster. He’s a skilled defender; he has the most diverse scoring skill set on the entire team; his height creates invaluable mismatches; he’s never tentative in making the big play (as Lawson can be sometimes); and he’s a competent distributor. Emotionally, it would pain me more to see Ty get traded, but objectively, Gallo is a more rare and valuable commodity.

3. Which one player on the present roster should be on the trading block?

Kalen: Andre Miller. Andre Miller. Andre Miller… Did I say Andre Miller? His comments about not being content to accept a backup role were it for me. He’s been a mild disappointment ever since returning to Denver several years ago and has morphed into Karl’s most dangerous crutch since Anthony Carter. Mark my words: If the Nuggets do not trade Miller he might very well end up being the downfall of this team come playoff time.

Matt: Andre Miller. He doesn’t fit the up-tempo style the team wants to play, says he wants out and now has let his unhappiness seemingly affect him on the floor (see: Boston). I doubt the team can get much for him but this seems to have gotten to the point where they shouldn’t have to get more than a draft pick to move him. The relationship has turned sour and the Nuggets cannot afford to let it cost them games, like it already has.

Charlie: Corey Brewer. Great guy, better teammate, and a questionable long-term fit. He should rightly seek a raise and a bigger role this summer, neither of which make sense for a team that already has Gallo, Hamilton, Fournier, Chandler, and Quincy Miller clogging up the wings. And that’s without Iguodala being re-signed, which presumably the Nuggets will do. Brewer is a luxury Denver can’t afford without a significant reshaping of the current roster.

Tom: Andre Miller. He is a poor fit on a fast, athletic team that relies on aggressive defensive switching. He has expressed discontent with his limited role. His minutes often come at the expense of better players. But he is still valuable enough to bring back a solid return in a trade.

Joel: Mozgov. His combination of modest expiring contract and big 7-1 frame should make him an appealing trade target for any team looking to bolster their size and/or trim some fat financially. He’s already effectively out of the rotation, which squarely locates him in “easily expendable” territory, but he’s still young enough that a team might take a flier on their chances of developing him into a regular rotational player. This may be a cop-out answer, since it’s long been rumored that he’s already on the block, but he’s there for a reason and it’s a good one.

4. What is a realistic trade scenario the Nuggets would greatly benefit from?

Kalen: The Nuggets trade Wilson Chandler, Andre Miller, Anthony Randolph and Timofey Mozgov to the Lakers for Pau Gasol and Jodie Meeks. As we all know, the Nuggets are still a limited team until they acquire more All-Star caliber players and the ever evasive “superstar.” Yet, not long ago Gasol was considered the premier big man in the game. All he needs is to get out of L.A., clear his head and he’ll start to produce once again. Meeks is the sniper the Nuggets need. Meanwhile, Denver only gives up one major rotational player (Andre Miller) and opens up more time for Hamilton and Stone in the process.

Matt: The Nuggets trade Wilson Chandler to Milwaukee for Mike Dunleavy and Tobias Harris. This is a tough one since I think there are really only two players that are available and would help the Nuggets. J.J. Reddick would cost the Nuggets too much, making Mike Dunleavy the target. This trade gives the Nuggets a shooter in Dunleavy who is also a good passer and rebounder and brings in Harris, who seems to have fallen out of favor in Milwaukee and would give the Nuggets a player who can score in the post. The Bucks on the other hand gain Chandler who can give them much needed front-court scoring.

Charlie: The Nuggets trade Jordan Hamilton and Wilson Chandler to Milwaukee for Tobias Harris and Luc Richard Mbah a Moute. Milwaukee takes on just a tiny amount of extra salary to bolster their playoff push with two guys who can really fill it up. The new-look Bucks, under Jim Boylan, need to upgrade their scoring badly, while Denver has too much depth on the wings to accommodate Chandler and Hamilton long term. Meanwhile, consummate role player “LRMAM” immediately shores up the Nuggets’ biggest area of weakness: front-court defense. Tobias Harris also fits nicely in Denver’s stable of long, versatile athletes who can fill a variety of roles in the George Karl system.

Tom: The Nuggets trade Chandler, Brewer, Mozgov, and Hamilton to Dallas for O.J. Mayo and Shawn Marion. The Nuggets turn depth into quality, picking up a pair of players who can stretch the floor and create shots for themselves and their teammates. Marion is also a strong defender, a great locker room presence and a capable center when Karl goes small. Dallas can begin rebuilding with two young and versatile players in Chandler and Hamilton, a pick from Denver and potentially more picks from flipping Brewer and Mozgov to contenders.

Joel: The Nuggets trade Mozgov to the Timberwolves for Derrick Williams. A large part of why Minnesota would do this is predicated on the notion that they are in the process of trying to move out Nikola Pekovic, who may demand too much in free agency for the Wolves to pay for. And the coaching staff has apparently given Williams an ultimatum on his work ethic. He’s struggled this season, but the Nuggets do well with struggling players (see JaVale McGee), and would really benefit from having a stretch four. Unfortunately, Ryan Anderson is not available, and Williams might be the best – and least costly – prospect out there.

5. At the end of the day, how active will the Nuggets be at the deadline and what do you predict will ultimately transpire?

Kalen: They’ll get a lot of calls and they’ll listen. If the offers get lopsided enough Ujiri will not hesitate to pull the trigger. But I don’t see that happening. Ujiri and Karl are most likely very satisfied with where the team is at right now. The Nuggets have a great chance of landing home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs and perhaps even winning a round… for once. That’s something Nuggets fans have been desperate for during Karl’s tenure and something Ujiri won’t want to pass up just for the sake of making a tiny improvement to the roster.

Matt: I think the Nuggets will be active but in the end I don’t see anything of significance that gets done. There just doesn’t seem to be a lot of useful players on the market that are worth the prices that teams are asking for. So while the Nuggets may be trying to use Chandler, Mozgov and Miller to get useful parts, I don’t think any team would see a package built around any of the three players as enough. This deadline seems set up to produce a whole lot of smoke but in the end, no fire.

Charlie: The Nuggets are letting it be known they aren’t actively seeking a trade, and it’s probably time to believe them. Denver already has lots of depth and scarce playing time has led to a growing backlog of young talent who can’t get minutes. Unless they can trade Chandler to a team willing to send them back less long-term money, there isn’t a win-win deal to be made. I expect the Nuggets are resigned to the fact they can’t win in this current market.

Tom: Masai Ujiri has given every indication that he’s willing to make big moves to make the team better. I predict he’ll keep the starting five together along with JaVale McGee, but will move at least three bench players and make yet another trade-deadline splash.

Joel: Minimally active, if at all. Ujiri, while unafraid to make a big move, stated at the onset of this season that this team as currently constructed deserves a chance to play. With the team having started slowly, and with Chandler having only recently returned, I suspect he still has a foot firmly planted in the “they’re still getting it together” camp. My prediction is that if any deadline moves are made, they will be tinkerings outside or on the fringes of the rotation, and that bigger moves – if Ujiri deems them necessary – will not go down until summer.

1. Who has been the Nuggets’ MVP through the first half of the season?

Charlie: Pepsi Center. This Nuggets team started the year with aspirations of competing for the Northwest Division and a top-four seed, but only seem interested in trying to meet those standards at home. That crutch needs to go away eventually, but even with a lousy road record the Nuggets have been good enough at home to keep hope alive.

Matt: Kenneth Faried. While every Nugget has been a bit inconsistent this year, the one that has had the least amount of those stretches is Kenneth Faried. He already has 19 double doubles, including 19/19, 21/15, 26/14, and 18/17 performances, with plenty more impressive double doubles that I didn’t list. While he has struggled defensively, the energy has been there in almost every game and kept the Nuggets in games when the rest of the team came out flat. Without Faried who knows where the Nuggets are right now.

Joel: Kenneth Faried. Denver is a team that thrives on energy, and nobody brings it harder, with more regularity. The fact that Faried has 19 double doubles illustrates his consistent production. On a team that misses so many jumpers, his offensive rebounding has been invaluable. He still needs to work on his defense, but he is improving in that area, and in a season when Lawson has disappeared far too often as the team’s engine, Kenneth has more often than not been there to drive the team.

Tom: Faried. He leads the team in win shares and is second in PER. He brings constant energy and hustle, and makes positive plays on both ends of the court. He’s also been the most consistent Nuggets player, with more great games and fewer terrible games than anyone else.

Kalen: Corey Brewer. Never in a million years did I think I’d be saying this at the start of the season, but I can’t think of anybody else who has been more consistent, played better defense and embodied everything George Karl tries to pass to his players on a daily basis at practice. On a team full of players who only flirt with reaching the pinnacle of their abilities, Corey Brewer is accessing every nook and cranny of his. I cannot even count how many games Brewer’s energy has saved his team from floundering.

2. Who has been the Nuggets’ biggest disappointment through the first half of the season?

Charlie: No one has been bad enough to warrant an unusual level of concern, but Ty Lawson sputtering out of the gate for as long as he did was a big disappoint for me. In his first two years in Denver, Ty wasn’t getting the trust or minutes he deserved and you saw unrelenting hustle and drive in whatever small opportunities he was able to get. Complacency and a sense of entitlement has crept into Ty’s game this season, which I never expected to see from him.

Matt: Ty Lawson. Beyond just the numbers drop so far this year the biggest reason Lawson tops this list is his terrible play in crunch time. It is becoming a reoccurring theme with Lawson that the Nuggets keep a game close until the end, and Lawson does all he can to make sure Denver can’t win the game. Turnovers, missed shots, bad shots, and now not even getting a shot up to end regulation in a tie game. It is a troubling problem for someone that was supposed to lead the Nuggets and continue to grow as a player following his extension.

Joel: Ty Lawson. After landing his big extension, this was supposed to be the season he took his game to the next level, but instead almost every aspect of his game has diminished. The slippage from last season goes straight across the stat sheet, with poorer shooting percentages in all categories, fewer rebounds, more turnovers and .072 win shares per 48 to last season’s .157. Even more disturbing is how his lack of aggression and confidence has held the team back as they tend to rise and fall due to his efforts.

Tom: Andre Iguodala. He’s the highest paid player, by far, but he’s barely keeping pace with Corey Brewer in terms of production and overall effect on the game. I expected a bit of an adjustment period, but it’s midseason and he still looks uncomfortable. The constant-switching defensive system has hindered his effectiveness as well.

Kalen: I don’t see how you could point to anybody other than Andre Iguodala. I’m almost intrigued at how disappointed I’ve been with him — and that’s a hard thing to do. Most of the time when someone disappoints, you become frustrated and intolerant. But with Iguodala, I’m just bewildered. The hype surrounding this guy coming to Denver was feverish. The sentiment was that finally, the Nuggets had a star! Instead, he’s been quite possibly the fifth best player on the team.

3. What is the Nuggets biggest weakness through the first half of the season and how can they fix it?

Charlie: What separates the Nuggets from the other top teams in the league are intangibles. Call it a lack of commitment, leadership, mental toughness or whatever. It’s obvious when you look at the other top teams that losing hurts more for them than it does for Denver. This team just needs more attitude and nastiness top to bottom. I do get the sense this is a group of Boy Scouts so enamored with not offending anyone that they share to a fault instead of just taking charge of the game.

Matt: Shooting. The Nuggets rank 29th in the league in three-point percentage; ahead of only the dreadful Timberwolves. What compounds this issue is the system that George Karl employs, one that is built on transition buckets, shots in the paint and threes. Unfortunately for the Nuggets there isn’t anyone on the roster that looks like they can fix the problem themselves. Jordan Hamilton can shoot but doesn’t get minutes and Gallo is turning out to be a very streaky shooter. The Nuggets need to make a move, or offense will start to come harder as teams pack the paint more and more.

Joel: Turnovers. With so many weaknesses it’s hard to isolate just one, but this is a problem that should be fixable. Denver’s style of basketball is fast and loose, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be able to play with greater discipline in taking care of the ball. Many turnovers occur as a result either of poor communication or one player playing hero ball rather than trusting his teammates. All of the players need to hold themselves to a higher standard of focus in controlling their ball handling and passing.

Tom: Free throws. The Nuggets have 120 more free-throw attempts than their opponents this season, but only 22 more makes. Poor free throw shooting has been a major factor in at least two losses (Jazz, Wizards) and could prove to be costly in the second half of the season. Ty Lawson is shooting better after a poor start; the rest of the team needs to make the same improvements.

Kalen: Consistency. The Nuggets have accrued all sorts of talent. They are a young team, but one capable of beating anybody, anytime, anywhere. Unfortunately, they’ve also proven to be a team capable of losing to anybody, anytime, anywhere. Growing up I was always taught that playing down to the level of your opponent was a sign you were lacking mental toughness and composure. If that’s the case, then the Nuggets have the cerebral consistency of Jell-O. A more strict, more demanding George Karl would certainly help.

4. Should the Nuggets make a move at the trade deadline or stand pat and continue to build continuity?

Charlie: There aren’t too many compelling reasons to stand pat with this group and expect to win in the playoffs, but making a deal for the sake of dealing doesn’t make sense either. I would love to see the Nuggets get anything for Mozgov and perhaps pare down some of their depth for a future asset or more flexibility going forward. I still expect moves by the deadline, but not necessarily earth-shattering ones.

Matt: Make a move. The Nuggets need to add a shooter, plain and simple. While it isn’t exactly clear right now who would be available, the Nuggets have to listen to any and every offer they get that would include a shooter. J.J. Redick and Mike Dunleavy come to mind as players that may be available but who knows what else pops up as teams fall out of playoff races. But to continue to get better the Nuggets can’t stand back. There just isn’t any help from inside coming to fix the shooting problem.

Joel: Make a move. The chemistry of this team clicks at times, but more often they’re not on the same page (unless that page is “chaos”). Things have improved, but Denver is jelling too slowly to compete at the highest level anytime soon. Save perhaps for Faried, no player is indispensable to the Nuggets’ future. The roster is deep, but there is a talent redundancy accompanying unmet team needs. A roster shakeup carries risk, but the chance to improve balance and cohesion supersedes it.

Tom: If a great opportunity presents itself, the Nuggets need to jump on it. But don’t shake things up just to make a lateral move.

Kalen: Although I’d be tempted to ride the season out and see what this current roster could do in the playoffs, I’m also a realist and understand the opportunity to improve your team is always priority number one. During his tenure with the Nuggets, Masai Ujiri has never passed on the chance to parlay his assets into what he perceives are better players. With so many big-time names on the trading block this year, I have a hard time believing he sits this one out.

5. Fill in the blank: For the Nuggets to be successful in the playoffs this season they must ________.

Charlie: Commit to a common goal and start holding each other accountable for trying to reach it. That means playing games on the road and expecting to win. It means having the willpower to change your own circumstances rather than lamenting how tough they are. It means making fewer excuses and instead looking closer at what the Nuggets themselves can do to build a championship culture.

Matt: Defend like the end of the Golden State Warriors game. The best stretch that the Nuggets played all year came in the end of the third quarter and most of the fourth quarter against the Warriors on January 13. The team caused turnovers, limited good clean looks and rebounded the ball. It led to a convincing win and plenty of tweets saying this is what we expected the Nuggets to be this year. If the team can get there consistently the team we expected to be a threat in the West will show. If not, the inconsistent shooting will continue the inconsistent season.

Joel: Fire George Karl. Yes, I know this won’t happen. But the problems that drove Nuggets fans nuts in the Melo era – those we expected to disappear along with the so-called “Thuggets” – continue to plague this team: too much switching and laziness on defense, deflated first-quarter efforts, poor screen setting, just plain bad (if existent at all) plays out of timeouts, giving up big leads in fourth quarters, etc. Nearly the entire roster has turned over, but the song remains the same. That’s on Karl, and the tune won’t change until he’s gone.

Tom: Implement and execute better strategies on both ends of the court. This will probably require a coaching change.

Kalen: Look, George Karl has proven to be an extremely underwhelming playoff coach. Though the Nuggets have had a vast array of talent pass through Denver under his watch, he’s never been able to really make anything substantial out of it. But I want to see what he can do this year. He finally has a team he’s been asking for, so it’s time to put up or shut up. If the Nuggets play good defense and run plays (yes, it’s that easy), I have no doubt they could make another trip to the Western Conference Finals.

1. What’s the one word you would use to describe the 2012-13 Nuggets season?

Jeremy: Pivotal. The Nuggets have compiled a very deep and talented team capable of defeating any other team in the NBA. However, can they beat the league’s better teams often enough to advance to the franchise’s first Finals appearance since the NBA/ABA merger? There are a lot of fans and analysts who will be pulling for the Nuggets to defeat the conventional wisdom that a team needs multiple superstars to win a title. Another postseason flame-out would be deflating.

Charlie: Opportunity. The Nuggets seem to know they can be contenders in the West with the roster Masai has assembled. There’s a genuine excitement surrounding what this team can do and expectations seem higher than normal in the recent Karl era. Fans shouldn’t be expecting a title but it’s time for this talented core to start taking significant steps toward contention.

Joel: Rebirth. Ty Lawson is the only holdover from the Melo days (though Andre Miller is a transplant), Andre Iguodala brings a new pedigree as the team’s only All-Star and Olympic gold-medal winner, JaVale McGee brings… well, we’ll find out. But whatever it is, it’s new to this team. The symbolism of the new gold skyline alternate jerseys officially harkens the beginning of a new era. The buzzwords “youth” and “potential” will (rightfully) hover over this new team all season and the unfolding of its growth and development is a drama many NBA fans (not just those of us in Nuggetsland) are looking forward to watching.

Kalen: Crucial. This team is young, this team is inexperienced, this team really has all kinds of excuses it could use to justify losing more games than it should. But what about the ones it can’t use? Like, for example, the fact that Ty Lawson is about to explode. Or that the Nuggets just picked up an All-Star/Olympian? Or that they’re probably the deepest team in the league? If the Nuggets have just another “met expectations” type of year, something needs to change.

Joe: Different. Surprise, surprise, Masai Ujiri made another big move. The Andre Iguodala acquisition is as large of a move as the departure of Carmelo Anthony. Defensively, this team is not the same. Injuries killed the Nuggets last season in the development of Danilo Gallinari and the return of Wilson Chandler in a way that should not repeat itself. Throw in improvements from Jordan Hamilton, the arrival of Evan Fournier and the preseason emergence of Kosta Koufos and Corey Brewer (did I just write that sentence?) and you’ve got something here.

2. Which player on the Nuggets roster will be most improved from last season?

Jeremy: Jordan Hamilton. Players like Kosta Koufos and Corey Brewer enjoyed fantastic preseasons but the player who will show he has improved the most will be Hamilton. Thanks to his smooth stroke from behind the arc and the Nuggets’ dearth of dependable 3-point shooters, Hamilton should get minutes. When he is on the court he will prove he is more than just a long-range sniper.

Charlie: Kosta Koufos. He’s coming off a solid statistical year in which he wasn’t much more than a fill-in big. I think this is the year the Nuggets are ready to feature him in a regular role. If McGee can ever get it together Koufos has proven to be the ideal big man to pair with him. He’s earned the coaches trust and I think he’ll continue to produce steadily in limited minutes.

Joel: Based on his preseason performance it would be tempting to go with Corey Brewer. But the smart money is on preseason games being unreliable in predicting regular-season performances, meaning Brewer should regress back to his normal career trajectory. It will be most beneficial to the Nuggets if the correct answer to this question ends up being JaVale McGee. However, I believe that given his very limited role as a rookie last season and his hard work over the summer, Jordan Hamilton is poised to make the biggest leap, as long as he can prove to Karl that his defense and decision making won’t be too big of a liability to leave him on the court for significant stretches.

Kalen: Kosta Koufos. Here’s the thing: Jordan Hamilton, barring sufficient playing time, might have the biggest jump in production but it doesn’t mean he was the most improved. He just didn’t play last year. If he had, people would have realized how talented he really is. Koufos on the other hand — he actually got playing time and while he played well, he wasn’t spectacular by any means. That could all change this year. Koufos looks on pace to have a true breakout season — perhaps similar to the one Nikola Pekovic had last year with the Timberwolves.

Joe: There’s two answers here: the one that you’re searching for and the obvious one. An improved Javale McGee could make the Nuggets a major player for a title this year. That said, it seems like we’ll see more of the same, which could be great if you like “Not Top 10″ type of publicity. The clear choice is Corey Brewer. He’s over 40 percent from the 3-point line this preseason and has been the best player on the court in many of those games. I’m interested to see how Karl will work his rotation and if any personnel decisions will be made if Brewer continues to surprise.

3. Which player on the Nuggets roster is the most critical to the team’s overall success?

Jeremy: Danilo Gallinari. The players who would be most difficult to replace are Ty Lawson and Andre Igoudala, as no other players on the roster can duplicate their abilities. However, my answer is Gallo. When the Rooster is scoring efficiently the Nuggets are much more difficult to beat. Gallo can also be one of the team’s best passers and defenders and Denver will need his contributions in both of those areas. Most importantly, he must stay healthy, as last season he struggled to return to form after recovering from injury.

Charlie: Danilo Gallinari. The Nuggets are still a team that gets by with offense and they need their most dynamic scorer to be effective. Gallo can make plays with his passing and defense but he’ll be counted on as the primary source of scoring and shooting from the wing. Whether Gallo finds himself as a scorer this year is up in the air, but he needs to be more consistent either way. The Nuggets can’t afford the frequent duds Gallo has become known for in his brief Nuggets career.

Joel: Ty Lawson. By now, the evidence is clearly in the books (nowhere more vividly than in the last playoff series against the Lakers) that this Nuggets team pretty much lives or dies by Lawson. When he asserts himself as a force to be reckoned with — attacking the rim and using drives to set up easy scoring opportunities for his teammates — Denver’s offense is at its best. When he concedes the helm and defers too much to his teammates the Nuggets’ sense vitality seems to wither on the vine. Lawson owning his responsibility to pilot this team is a prerequisite for it to break through to the next level.

Kalen: McGee and it’s not even close. The NBA is all about size. You dominate with height first, then on down the ladder to other positions. Lawson, Iguodala and Gallinari should all have good seasons; everyone is expecting that. But what if McGee finally turns the corner? His combination of length, athleticism and size — if used correctly — is something very few of his counterparts in the league can tame. McGee has the potential to be a dominate force up front, similar to Andrew Bynum. If Denver has an Andrew Bynum on its roster, its an entirely different team. 

Joe: This answer is the broken record of broken records. Ty Lawson is the key to making this team a contender. He has unrivaled speed and a great ability to get in the paint and make things happen for himself and his teammates. He also tends to take quarters over. However, it never seems to be in the fourth quarter and his effort seems inconsistent on a nightly basis. I think Lawson has the ability to go get 20 and 10 if he can keep the turnovers down and shoot more consistently. Look for the Nuggets to go only as far as Lawson takes them.

4. Are the Nuggets being overrated by the national media, who regularly has them finishing as a top two seed in the West?

Jeremy: Regular season success and postseason success are two completely different things. If Denver stays healthy and George Karl can concoct the best rotations to maximize Denver’s depth and talent, I would not be surprised to see the Nuggets toy with 60 wins. I do think some of the prognostications are aided by wishful thinking. Who does not want to see this Nuggets team succeed?

Charlie: It’s a little too much for me. Now that Oklahoma City has arrived I think there’s a natural inclination to think they’re done getting better. OKC is clearly a cut above the rest in the West even if the Nuggets are a worthy challenger. I just cannot bet that an improving OKC core finishes with a worse record than Denver. I like the Nuggets’ chances to challenge for the division but too many things need to go just right in order for them to be better than OKC.

Joel: Definitely. While it’s not entirely out of the question that fortuitously simultaneous development jumps from Lawson, Gallinari and McGee will combine with injury and/or chemistry troubles for the Thunder and Lakers — it is improbable. The good news for Denver is that its formula of bench depth, youth and an altitude-driven homecourt advantage adds up to a product custom made for regular season success. But the team from the West in last season’s NBA Finals (OKC) and the the Lakers, who’s starting five has four guaranteed Hall-of-Famers (not entirely out of their prime), must still be regarded as the favorites to win the top two seeds.

Kalen: Without question. Unless Steve Nash, Dwight Howard, Kobe or Durant goes down with a serious injury I don’t see any scenario in which the Nuggets can finish as a top two seed in the West. And what happened to the Spurs? Last I checked they still have their big three intact as well as one of the smartest coaches in NBA history and have finished as the top seed in the West the last two years. The Clippers got better and still have two perennial All-Stars. Until the Nuggets can prove they can hang with the big dogs, I will remain skeptical.

Joe: Although many see the Nuggets as a top-seed candidate, very few expect playoff success. I have argued in the past that much of the reason the Nuggets can’t get out of the first round is that they do themselves no favors. Finding ways to play the Spurs, Lakers or Thunder are not ways to give your team confidence. Given the lack of continuity on many of the contenders in the West and the style of play the Nuggets work with, I do believe that it is possible to be the top seed if all goes right. However, I think it is more likely to see the Nuggets fighting the Clippers and Spurs for that 3-5 seed range.

5. The million-dollar question: How many games will the Nuggets win in the regular season and how far will they go in the Playoffs?

Jeremy: I expect the Nuggets to set a franchise record for wins with 56, which will secure them the third seed in the conference. They will demolish some poor team like Dallas, Utah or Minnesota in the first round before losing a war of a series against the Lakers. If things shake out a little differently and the Nuggets face off with the Thunder in the second round, it will be very interesting. This Nuggets team is built to compete with OKC.

Charlie: I have the Nuggets winning 51 and falling short of a first-round playoff series without home court. I think at least one trade is pretty likely as the Nuggets face a ton of adversity early and often throughout the schedule. Denver really needs to do something special with this group and break the franchise record for wins to land in a top playoff seed like they want to. This team has more than enough pieces to do it but the lack of consistency from the bigs makes for little to no room for error.

Joel: I predict that the Nuggets, barring serious injuries, will accomplish no less than winning 53 games, taking second place in the Northwest Division and advancing to the second round of the playoffs. I’ll also add that this is a really tough team to make predictions for. There are so many variables regarding player development, chemistry, possible midseason trades and importantly, how well this squad can weather the brutal season opening 17 of 23 games on the road. Quite honestly, anywhere from the first to seventh seeds wouldn’t be shocking. Anything less than a fourth seed and a deep playoff run should be considered disappointing considering the talent this team has accrued.

Kalen: People forget: The West is stacked. Yes, the Nuggets improved, but so did everyone else. We still can’t count out the possibility of another big trade which could shake up team chemistry. The Nuggets have an incredibly tough schedule to start the season off. And every year the Nuggets lose about three or four games that make you shake your head in disgust. I’m as excited as I’ve ever been about this team, but I’m also no spring chicken when it comes to tempering my expectations. I say 53 wins, the fifth seed in the West and another bitter first-round defeat in the Playoffs.

Joe: There is no question that the Nuggets are a better team this year. There is not one game on the schedule that they can’t win which has not been the case in previous years. Andre Iguodala is the catalyst to a likely culture change on defense that fans like myself have been waiting for years to see. I see Ty Lawson and Kenneth Faried taking significant steps forward in their careers and making highlights in the process. There are weaknesses though. The center position is a huge question mark and the West has evolved in ways that are impossible to predict. I see the Nuggets as a 55-win team. A second-round matchup with the Lakers or Thunder will be troublesome. Otherwise, I see them advancing to the Conference Finals.

1. Who is the player nobody is talking about could end up changing the outcome of the series?

Kalen: I’ll go with Koufos. People outside of Nuggets Nation don’t realize how big of a role he’s played over the second half of the season. He’s the Nuggets starting center and has turned out to be a pretty reliable one at that. Of all the Nuggets 7-footers he’s probably the best in terms of one-on-one defense and brings a level of toughness the Nuggets sorely lack as a team. Both of these factors could end up keeping Gasol in check for small stretches of the game.

Jeremy: Over at Land O’Lakers I answered a similar question with JaVale McGee. I guess that means I have talked about him and he is disqualified from this discussion; therefore, my answer is Al Harrington. Harrington is the one big man Karl trusts implicitly and he is unafraid of taking big shots down the stretch, plus he did a solid job of defending Gasol on the block in the most recent meeting.

Charlie: Andre Miller. Nuggets fans know all too well how volatile he can be but Miller has the most playoff experience of any Denver Nugget and matches up well with the Lakers point-guard duo of Ramon Sessions and Steve Blake. Miller’s effectiveness will likely be the determining factor in whether Denver’s depth is able to counteract the Lakers size and force them out of their comfort zone.

Brian: The Lakers won’t go particularly deep into the roster, but in terms of off-board selections, look at Devin Ebanks and Jordan Hill. Ebanks will replace Metta World Peace in the starting lineup. He may not have a play called for him all series, but will have two major assignments: 1) Stick to Danilo Gallinari as best as he can, and 2) Crash the offensive glass. Gallo struggled mightily against World Peace in the regular season, and Denver’s offense suffered for it. If Ebanks can continue the trend, L.A. is in better shape. Hill will be the primary big off the bench, and will be asked to patrol the paint, grab rebounds, and most importantly, aggressively attack pick and rolls on the perimeter.

Logan: It’s a toss-up between Corey Brewer and Timofey Mozgov, but I’m going to have to go with Brewer. It’s playoff time and people forget that last year he practically won a game for Dallas against the Lakers. We got a taste of his playoff intensity on Russell Westbrook which was flat out incredible and we can expect more of the same against Kobe during end-of-game situations.

2. Between Mike Brown and George Karl, who will do the better coaching job?

Kalen: Recent history says Mike Brown and it’s simply too hard to discount that fact. Both coaches have made it to the Finals once but have also had their fare share of struggles in the playoffs. The thing is, Karl’s Nuggets teams have been obliterated on a consistent basis, even admitting to having quit at times. If there’s one thing we’ve learned during Karl’s tenure in Denver it’s that the playoffs aren’t where his best coaching occurs. For this reason I have to chose Brown, but I still expect Karl to do a better job than he usually does this time of year.

Jeremy: That is a difficult question to answer. All Brown has to do is play Kobe, Bynum and Gasol 40 minutes a game and shuffle in a few players around the periphery. I do not think George Karl can tell you what five Nuggets players will be on the court to close out the game. Karl will have to make adjustments from quarter to quarter and game to game, but I think he can do it.

Charlie: It’s a toss-up, but I’ll reluctantly say Mike Brown with the caveat that he’s got the easier job. George Karl has seen his roster turned upside down twice in the past year while Mike Brown inherited a recent championship core built around arguably the best player of this generation. Brown is also under a lot more pressure to make a deep playoff run whereas the Nuggets are a young team heading into the postseason with a ton of unknowns. There is just a lot more that could potentially go wrong with Karl’s team.

Brian: I consider Karl the better coach, though I think he has the harder job. With the Lakers, there aren’t a whole lot of choices to be made regarding the rotation or allocation of minutes. Things are relatively straightforward. He’ll have decisions to make, but not quite as many as other coaches around the league. When you have more buttons available to push, it’s easier to make the great move, but also easier to make mistakes. Still, I’ll go with Karl, but don’t think either will make any fatal errors that would override what the talent on the floor does.

Logan: George Karl has and always will be one of the most underrated coaches of all time. People have been calling for his head all year, and his small-trust lineups at the end of games make us cringe. His offensive philosophy however is efficient and under-appreciated. Those small-trust lineups shouldn’t be a problem with the Lakers as it will force Karl to match their size and save the Nuggets from having to watch Kenneth Faried or Al Harrington give up offensive rebounds at the center position. This will have Karl receiving a better grade at the end of the series.

3. Which team’s strength will exploit its opponent more, the Lakers size or the Nuggets depth?

Kalen: I have to go with the Lakers size. The Nuggets bench is going to give the Lakers major problems, especially without World Peace, but the Nuggets don’t have anybody who can match up well with Bynum or Gasol defensively. There will be stretches where the Nuggets temporarily stop the bleeding but Lakers front-court advantage seems to be an internal wound that will inevitably cause extreme damage for the Nuggets throughout the series.

Jeremy: The Lakers size. Denver’s depth will not hurt the Lakers because of the off days between games. I believe the Nuggets depth actually makes George Karl’s job much more difficult.

Charlie: The Nuggets depth. Without Metta World Peace the Lakers are even more reliant on their “Big Three” to deliver. The margin of error is small enough that L.A. really can’t afford another injury or even a sub-par series from Bynum or Gasol. The Lakers size is certainly imposing but the Nuggets can counter with McGee, Faried, Koufos and Mozgov, whereas L.A. lacks a true answer to the sheer depth of Denver.

Brian: If the Lakers want to win, it had better be the former, and since I’m picking L.A., that’s where I’ll go. Certainly the big numbers posted by Bynum and Gasol in four regular season games back up the choice.

Logan: The Nuggets second unit with Andre Miller’s passing skills, Al Harrington’s ability to space the floor and Corey Brewer’s energy is huge. But the overall size of the Lakers starting unit will lead to offensive rebounds, second-chance points and Bynum’s dominance in the post. This will give the Lakers a size advantage that the Nuggets simply can’t top.

4. Can the Nuggets win the series by outrunning the Lakers?

Kalen: Everyone knows that once the playoffs arrive the pace slows down, but I truly believe that if the Nuggets are to win this series they must push the pace as much as possible. To me, that’s the only way they can win the series. The Nuggets are not a good half-court basketball team and will not win if they’re constantly forced to play this way. The Nuggets have the depth and altitude to push the pace, and cannot afford to abandon its identity this late in the game.

Jeremy: No. They will certainly outrun L.A., but that will not be enough. However, if Denver does not get out and score in transition, they have no chance. The Nuggets will have to execute down the stretch when the game has slowed down in order to pull out any victories. Running is a prerequisite to be in a position to win.

Charlie: No. Slowing the Nuggets down will be the primary focus of the Lakers preparation for this series and they have the personnel to do it. The Lakers style is much more suited to playoff basketball where the game slows down and winning is determined by defense and late-game execution. For the Nuggets to compete in this series, they’ll have to grow up and beat L.A. at their own game.

Brian: They’re going to try, I would think. Based on the Synergy numbers the series matches up the 3rd best team in transition offense against the 25th ranked transition defense. Moreover, the Nuggets had more transition possessions than any team in the league. That’s how they roll and it’s probably their single greatest advantage over the Lakers. Not only can their running game be a source of easy points, but it can tempt the Lakers into a much faster paced game than they should play. The Lakers will try to counter by keeping floor balance, and forcing Denver to stay home on the defensive glass. I don’t think Denver can run their way into an upset, but I do think they’ll make it very, very interesting.

Logan: Well, they’re going to have to since that’s the Nuggets philosophy: run, run, run. The Lakers size and half-court defense is just too tough for the Nuggets to overcome, however the Nuggets can beat them by out-running them. There will be points during the game where it will slow down but the Nuggets have shown improvement in the half-court game as the season has gone on.

5. Who will end up winning the series and in how many games?

Kalen: I’ll take the Lakers in seven. My heart desperately wants to say the Nuggets but after watching them fail so many times before I’m simply too jaded to fully invest my soul in some sort of miracle upset. What I do believe however, is that the Nuggets, for the first time since 2009, will actually play extremely competitive basketball in the postseason. And by Nuggets standards, it (sadly) doesn’t get much better than that.

Jeremy: Lakers in six. I fully expect all of these games to be close. The Nuggets have defended the Lakers as well as they have defended any of the playoff teams in the West; however, the Lakers have done just as good of a job defending them. Denver has posted an offensive efficiency of 98.2 against L.A. this season while the Lakers have an offensive efficiency of only 97.7. I believe the Lakers will win in six, but they will be six close, tight games.

Charlie: With the Nuggets playing their best ball all season and the starters really beginning to click, I’m tempted to say this series is a total toss up. It should be very competitive and a lot closer than many think, but Denver has more potential pitfalls to overcome than L.A. For that reason, I give the slight edge to the Lakers, who are a more proven playoff team. Lakers in six, but I’m genuinely conflicted about it.

Brian: I’ve gone back and forth all day between Lakers in six and Lakers in seven. But since I made “Lakers in six” my official prediction over at ESPNLA.com, I’ll have to stick with it here. Can I say L.A. in six-and-a-half?

Logan: The fan in me hurts so bad to say this, but another first-round loss to crush our hearts will happen yet again. Every game in the series is going to be close and the Nuggets will have leads well into the fourth quarter, but the Lakers will end up prevailing due to their experience and grit. Lakers in six.

1. Of the top four teams in the West, which is the most favorable matchup for the Nuggets?

Kalen: The Clippers by a mile. I don’t care what anyone says, the Lakers, Spurs and Thunder are the last three teams in the entire league the Nuggets want to see in the playoffs. The Clippers still scare me — mostly because they have Chris Paul and can exploit the Nuggets perimeter woes — but I think their inexperience could come back to bite them in the ass.

Jeremy: Despite Denver’s two home losses against the Clippers, I believe Lob City is the best matchup for Denver. The Nuggets have shown the ability to contain Blake Griffin and Ty Lawson has the ability to counteract the effectiveness of Chris Paul. Even Andre Miller displayed a knack to time Paul’s dribble and deflect the ball away from him. The two wins the Clippers have had at the Pepsi Center this season were fueled by outrageous shooting nights. The Clippers would need to get four performances like that in order to beat Denver in the playoffs and I think such consistently hot shooting is unlikely. I would give Denver a 40 percent chance of beating the Clippers, which is far higher than I would rate their chances against any of the other top seeds out West.

Charlie: The Clippers will no doubt be the popular answer here but I’m sticking with the San Antonio Spurs. All of the top four matchups will be difficult but the Spurs, like the Nuggets, lack a truly dominant player and rely heavily on their depth and offense to win games. The Spurs play at the fastest pace of all of the top four seeds except for Oklahoma City, and unlike the other teams lack a deep collection of front-court talent that could really punish the Nuggets for going small — and let’s face it, George Karl will being going small. To me, the Spurs could have trouble with their style of offense in the postseason.

Mitchell: It has to be the Clippers, right? Their lack of depth in both the front and back-court should allow the Nuggets to run all over these guys. While Chris Paul is certainly an intimidating matchup and Blake Griffin is, well, Blake Griffin, the rest of L.A.’s roster just isn’t that intimidating.

TJ: The best matchup for the Nuggets in the first round is the Clippers. The Nuggets have played them close in all four meetings this season. Lawson always plays Chris Paul well on both ends of the floor. Kenneth Faried has matched up surprisingly well against Griffin on both ends of the floor and has shown guts by not backing down. Arron Afflalo does a great job playing Caron Butler and Randy Foye. If the Nuggets can get average output from all their starters and limit the damage from beyond the arc, their bench should help them extend a lead they can keep for a win.

2. Of the top four teams in the West, which is the least favorable matchup for the Nuggets?

Kalen: Oklahoma City with the Lakers and Spurs not far behind. The Nuggets just can’t handle Durant, Westbrook, Harden or Ibaka. Not one of them! And yet, they’re all on the same team!?! I don’t even think the Nuggets would win a game against the Thunder if they met in the playoffs. Oklahoma City is on a mission from God to win a title, and the sooner they can get through a dysfunctional team like the Nuggets, the better.

Jeremy: Oklahoma City by a mile. I can see Denver giving the Spurs, Lakers and Clippers a run for their money but I have a very difficult time seeing them pulling out more than one win against the Thunder. The threesome of Durant, Westbrook and Harden is too much for Denver to handle. The plethora of options the Thunder have to score in close games down the stretch is a big reason why they have consistently beaten the Nuggets this season. For example, in the first meeting between the two teams the Nuggets had a five-point lead with only 43 seconds remaining in the game and went on to lose in overtime. The other problematic issue Denver faces against the Thunder is Serge Ibaka who has averaged a monstrous seven blocks per game against Denver this season.

Charlie: It’s easily Oklahoma City. Denver is ill-equipped to deal with Durant, Westbrook or Harden, all of whom have killed the Nuggets at one point in time. With McGee on board the Nuggets match up with Ibaka a bit better but I have doubts about McGee’s role and effectiveness come playoff time, where veterans Al Harrington and Andre Miller will likely see 30 minutes of playing time every game. If there’s one team that’s had the Nuggets number all year, it’s the Thunder, who are a lock to blow past the first round no matter who their opponent is.

Mitchell: The Thunder. No question. They are better at every starting position (outside of center, which is a wash) and have the ultimate late-game combo of Durant and Westbrook. Oklahoma City is on a mission for the Finals, and I honestly can’t see any team in the West stopping them, including Denver.

TJ: The least favorable matchup is the Thunder. Durant and Westbrook are the scoring duo you have to be afraid of. But the main problem for the Nuggets on this team is Serge Ibaka. The Nuggets two main ways to score are in the paint and in transition. Ibaka has taken away half their game whenever he is in. The Nuggets really struggle with a great shot blocker. When there is a shot blocker in the paint, they stop trying to penetrate. If the Nuggets are not driving into the lane, they usually lose the game.

3. Of the top four teams in the West, which offers up the deadliest combination of weapons to exploit the Nuggets biggest weaknesses?

Kalen: While the Thunder have the players, the Spurs seem to have the entire package. Veteran leadership, experience, defense, offense, smarts, schemes and most importantly, a coach who George Karl can only dream of becoming. Greg Popovich is the reason the Spurs are who they are at this point. While Karl has zero micromanagement skills, Popovich is teeming with them. Even if the Nuggets have a better roster, I’d bet on the Spurs 10 times out of 10 to beat the Nuggets thanks to Popovich outsmarting Karl on the regular.

Jeremy: Oklahoma City because the Nuggets have not fared well defending the perimeter this season. Afflalo is exerting too much energy on offense to play the level of defense we came to expect of him after his first two seasons in Denver. Andre Miller has shown increased effort and effectiveness on defense over the previous month, but he cannot stay with Westbrook nor can he handle Harden. Gallinari has had his moments against Durant, but you cannot expect him to put a dent in Durant’s scoring ability. It was not just happenstance that Durant and Westbrook combined to score almost 100 points in one game against Denver.

Charlie: I think it’s Memphis and Oklahoma City, who constantly have a shot-blocking presence in the game and play the kind of pesky perimeter defense that seems to turn the Nuggets into a one-on-one, jump-shooting team. More than anything the Nuggets need to avoid teams that can match the production of their bench and exploit Andre Miller and Al Harrington defensively. It’s another reason the Thunder is the nightmare matchup as we’ll likely see heavy doses of Harrington and Miller on Durant and Harden.

Mitchell: The Thunder. There is no one, and I mean no one, that can stop Durant or Westbrook on Denver’s roster. With Wilson Chandler out, Denver would be lucky to hold the “Durantula” to 25 a game. Meanwhile, Ty Lawson just doesn’t have the size to stay with Westbrook. With James Harden playing the way he is, Oklahoma City’s 3-point shooting would exploit just how truly awful the Nuggets perimeter defense is. The tough defense from Ibaka and Perkins down low would shut down what little post offense Denver has.

TJ: The Lakers are the team with weapons to hurt the Nuggets. Andrew Bynum is the biggest matchup problem for Denver. When the Nuggets play him, George Karl’s “small ball” lineup gets demolished. As if that isn’t enough, you still have Kobe. Then when the Nuggets try to double Bynum (or triple, as they did last meeting), Pau Gasol and Bryant get open jumpers. The Nuggets had trouble defending this group earlier this season and to make matters worse, the Lakers have added Ramon Sessions to the mix.

4. Outside of perennial All Stars (Durant, Westbrook, Paul, etc.), which Western Conference player should the Nuggets fear the most?

Kalen: I’m gonna say Andrew Bynum. Ibaka is a great choice as well but Bynum is a huge threat on offense which the Nuggets can’t handle. For years the Nuggets have been petrified of the Lakers and their big men. Now that Bynum is finally developing into the All-Star center many thought he’d be, it only makes matters worse. Seeing the Nuggets quadruple-team him a few weeks ago was grotesque. Watching four to five straight games of that might be enough to do me in once and for all.

Jeremy: I am going with a shooter from the Clippers and Spurs. Mo Williams and Danny Green both scare me because they are players who could, and have, exploited the Nuggets weak perimeter defense this season. Williams has had playoff experience and despite my desire to see Denver play the Clippers, he is talented enough to be the “x-factor” that carries the Clippers to a series win. Green shredded Denver in the first meeting between the two teams and his heady and steady play allows him to take advantage of situations where the defense is focusing on Parker or Ginobili.

Charlie: Three-point shooters. Denver recently surpassed New Jersey as the worst 3-point defense in the league, allowing their opponents to shoot a ridiculous 38.4 percent from deep. That’s just sad considering the league’s average 3-point shooting percentage is below 35 percent. Richard Jefferson and Matt Bonner are two prime examples of mediocre players who have feasted on the Nuggets soft perimeter defense, but the list of sub-par talents who can seriously hurt Denver from deep is a long one.

Mitchell: It’s a toss-up between Ibaka and Harden. Ibaka had a field day the last time these teams got together and Harden is playing out of his frickin’ mind this season. While Faried has shown he can play with the big boys, Ibaka is just bigger, more powerful and does whatever Faried does even better. Plus, who could stop Harden? Brewer? Afflalo? As good as they are at defense, I just don’t see it happening.

TJ: Serge Ibaka. His shot blocking ability is unmatched. He can also handle himself on the offensive end getting easy dunks or layups. He can rebound very well too. The Nuggets, as I said before, have trouble scoring in the paint when there is a legitimate shot-blocking threat. If the Nuggets don’t score in the paint, they don’t win games. He is the player on the Thunder that can make or break the game for the Nuggets.

5. Ultimately, which team do you see the Nuggets facing in the first round of the playoffs and what will be the outcome of that series?

Kalen: I think the Nuggets win three of their four remaining games to face the Lakers in the first round of the playoffs. Like always, the Lakers will kill the Nuggets with their size, discipline and now defense, while the Nuggets will struggle with the half-court game and playing solid, playoff basketball in general. I’m really not worried about Kobe Bryant. He’ll get his. It’s Bynum and Gasol that bothers me. They’ll likely have a field day with the Nuggets front court. A growing experience for our young players? Maybe. Who knows what excuses we’ll hear this year. All I know: S.S.D.Y. (The “Y” stands for “Year.”) Lakers in six.

Jeremy: I expect Denver to finish seventh in the West and to be matched up with the Thunder. It is the worst case scenario; what did you expect? This is the Nuggets we are talking about. The Spurs closing schedule is a cakewalk so I do not anticipate the Thunder passing them for the top seed. The Thunder are better this season than they were last season, while the Nuggets are nowhere near as good now as they were entering the playoffs last spring. I will say Denver will win a game and lose in five again. You can call it pessimistic; I call it realistic.

Charlie: I will stick with my prediction of a seventh-seed playoff berth and a first-round series with the Spurs. How Denver finishes the season will say a lot about their resolve, and subsequently, their chances against the best teams in the West. The Nuggets are playing better basketball but are still haunted by porous perimeter defense. I hope it doesn’t happen, but the injury excuse is already there and if Denver heads into the postseason without momentum, it’ll be over quick in a vintage 4-1 series loss to the Spurs.

Mitchell: I would love if Denver matched up with the Clippers because I think our pace, energy and size on the wing would equal a series win. And with the Clippers having a much more favorable schedule down the stretch than the Lakers, this matchup seems very likely. Nuggets in six games, and a date with the Spurs in the second round.

TJ: I see the Nuggets climbing to the sixth seed and playing the Clippers. The Nuggets schedule is easier than the Mavericks, which should allow them to jump up a spot in the standings. I also see the Clippers catching and passing the Lakers for the third seed in the West due to a favorable schedule and one extra game. This series will be a very interesting one where I can see both teams trading wins. The outcome will be the Nuggets in seven games.

1. What are the roles of the Nuggets’ rookies moving forward and which player’s minutes will be cut if Karl decides to utilize them more?

Jeremy: The only way the rookies will see consistent minutes for the Nuggets this season is if they continue to be decimated by injuries. With the potential of having a complete roster available and the fact the most physically taxing portions of Denver’s schedule have past, the rookies may be back to cheering from the padded folding chairs. I could see Faried getting some minutes here and there to spark the team, and Stone has shown he could be effective in offensive or defensive situations late in games as a defender. Of course, Karl has shown very little tendency to go that route.

Charlie: Faried is the only one I could see carving out a meaningful role this season. We’ve already seen Birdman’s minutes reduced and it seems like the next step for Faried is to earn that responsibility of backing up Nene full-time. I still doubt Birdman is traded and I think the rest of the season will see him split time with Koufos or Faried depending on the in-game situation. Stone and Hamilton won’t play when the team gets healthy but with Faried’s emergence this month I believe Karl will have a hard time keeping him glued to the bench going forward.

Kalen: Being that Karl recently proclaimed Faried has earned a spot in the rotation, I have no reason to believe otherwise. This should eliminate Birdman almost entirely from the Nuggets rotation, and thus, increases what urgency there is to trade him. Hamilton and Stone, on the other hand, are intriguing for the simple fact that both have shown promise at different times, however, with Fernandez and Miller still around it’s hard to see either of those guys relinquishing their role for a rookie. If the Nuggets continue to falter, Stone and Hamilton could be in line for a few more minutes than they’re used to seeing.

Mitchell: For Faried, being Sixth Man Extraordinaire or the starting power forward at the expense of Birdman, Mozgov and Koufos is possible. The “Manimal” is a double-double machine waiting to happen. As for the other two, I see Julyan Stone playing far more minutes than Jordan Hamilton, and for one reason: depth. Andre Miller won’t be here long (let’s be honest), and Stone is a perfect back-up to Ty Lawson. Jordan Hamilton, unfortunately, plays behind Gallo, Wilson Chandler (when he gets here), Harrington and Corey Brewer, and thus will remain at the end of the bench, a la former Nuggets, Sonny Weems and Gary Forbes.

Joe: I think the Nuggets rookies are in three completely different roles with George Karl. Kenneth Faried is a sure-fire rotation player. Look for Karl to put Nene back in the center spot and utilize Mozgov and Birdman less and less as he develops. It’s unfortunate Julyan Stone is backing up Andre Miller because Karl barely knows anyone else exists at the point guard position. Jordan Hamilton’s shot selection and lack of defensive intensity will continue to hamper his playing time but we’ll see if Karl can coach him up, because as we saw in the Clipper game, he’s a real talent.

2. What lies ahead for the Nuggets on the other side of the All-Star break, more struggles or a return to its winning ways?

Jeremy: I fully expect to see Denver get back to playing the kind of ball that had them as the second best team in the West over the first two months of the season. The good news is they are playing hard, just not particularly well. Once their offensive weapons are back, their defensive shortcomings are not as costly, at least until the Playoffs arrive.

Charlie: I don’t believe the Nuggets are going to return to the team that was 14-5 to start the year. My main concern is the defense which has been spiraling downward as the season wears on with no evidence to suggest it will improve. The Nuggets are struggling to win at home and I don’t see them flipping a switch and reverting to dominance overnight. Realistically I think the Nuggets will play a little better than .500 ball the rest of the way and fight a close race down the stretch for one of the final playoff seeds.

Kalen: It all depends on injuries in conjunction with Wilson Chandler. If the Nuggets continue to remain banged up, even with Chandler, wins will be hard to come by. However, if the team can somehow manage to regain its health, then add Chandler on top of what is an already dangerous lineup, I suspect wins could pile up rapidly in March and April. Sadly, in order for this to happen the Nuggets must virtually win the lottery considering how bad its luck has been this year.

Mitchell: The Nuggets will trend upward unless for some reason injuries continue to haunt the team. With close losses lately, the addition of Nene and Gallinari can only help the Nuggets chances in tight games. Adding Wilson Chandler will benefit the Nuggets greatly, and if Masai Ujiri can package Miller and Birdman for an athletic big (perhaps a Jason Thompson type), the Nuggets will finish the season as the contenders they were at the start of it.

Joe: I think time is the best remedy for the Nuggets woes as we can tell this team is worn down. Al Harrington CANNOT be the best player on the court for a playoff team so when Gallinari, Ty, and Nene regain strength, the team will as well. You’ve got to look for positives as we’ve seen some great upside from Afflalo and Faried recently. I believe by the end of March, this Nuggets team will be more and more recognizable from the team we saw start on such a hot streak.

3. If re-signed, what type of deal do you see Wilson Chandler receiving from the Nuggets and how will he fit in upon his return?

Jeremy: At this point I believe it is a 50-50 proposition that Chandler will sign with Denver this season. I have believed a middle-of-the-road deal such as a three year, $21 million contract makes the most sense for both sides. Should Chandler sign, he will start at small forward as long as Gallinari remains out. And while I would like to see him playing shooting guard in a big lineup, most likely he will be a power forward in a small one. He is not as good of a scorer as Gallinari, but can surely provide a more well-rounded backup role once he returns.

Charlie: I think a three-year deal for Chandler is the most likely as it will allow him to get back to the league now and keep his options open going forward. In a long-term sense, Chandler’s addition replaces the need for Harrington and opens up minutes for the talented young bigs. In the short-term, I think he’ll cut into Rudy and Brewer’s minutes primarily as Karl adjusts to the team being healthy again. He should work fine next to Harrington for now and he’ll help Karl ease Gallinari back into the rotation and perhaps rely on him less, especially in the ultra-small lineups where Gallinari has struggled.

Kalen: As Masai Ujiri stated just a few days ago, the Nuggets are only interested in a long-term deal with Chandler. By long-term, I’m thinking roughly four years at around $32 million. This is basically what Chandler is worth on the open market and unless Ujiri can somehow manage to get Chandler and his agent to give in to a cheaper deal (not likely), this is probably what he’ll get. If he does return, it’s hard to imagine him fitting in perfectly right away. He’ll have some adjusting to do, but within a few weeks, he should settle into a solid backup role.

Mitchell: Wilson Chandler is exactly what this Nuggets squad needs: defense and scoring. For salary cap flexibility in the future, I would imagine Chandler would get a deal somewhere in the realm of three or four years at around nine or 10 million per year. As well as Brewer has played, I like Chandler better in almost every aspect of the game, except maybe energy. It will be interesting to see the internal competition for playing time on the wing moving forward. A five of Ty, Chandler, Gallinari, Faried and Nene would be tough for any team to match up with.

Joe: Wilson Chandler is my soft spot. I believe he is worth six-to-eight million a year but the Nuggets have no reason to panic with the price tag. Every team with interest (Toronto) can only sign him to a cheap deal which is a STEAL for the Nuggets, especially when you realize Birdman would have to be amnestied. Look for Wilson to either sit the season out and play the restricted market, or for the Nuggets to lock him up for a great, inexpensive price. Wilson Chandler can make his own shot, defend four different positions and be a stud in the role Al Harrington is playing now.

4. What is the one thing George Karl can do (besides magically cure his players’ injuries) to ensure the Nuggets get back to winning basketball games?

Jeremy: Hold them accountable to high expectations. The primary weapon a coach has available to him is playing time. It is difficult to sit a player down for not doing what is expected of him when everyone needs to play due to the injuries. We have seen instances where Birdman or Faried has been removed from the game and not reinserted, but on a team with depth and versatility more players need to know, if I do not do what is expected of me, I may not get back in the game. It is a difficult line to hold as you do not want players looking over their shoulder at the coach every time they make a mistake, but they need to know if they are not getting the job done, someone else will.

Charlie: Tighten up the execution in close games. I can think of at least three or four times off the top of my head where the Nuggets have given up a layup late in a game where one stop seals the win. Offensively they aren’t much better as almost every game winning attempt has ended in some kind of isolation with the guards taking forever to get things moving. Improving the defense must be the focus going forward and I think Karl has to realize that — even if it means reduced roles for his “trust” guys in Miller and Harrington.

Kalen: Stop making excuses. I’m tired of always hearing why the Nuggets lost. To fans, it doesn’t matter why they lost, it’s the simple fact THAT they lost! It seems with the Nuggets right now, winning and losing (the entire goal of playing sports in the first place) have become a bit blurry. There are far too many “moral victories” that are being passed off as actual victories. Karl needs to get his team’s mindset back to winning by any means necessary. This requires playing defense, executing plays and finishing games like a professional basketball team — not a pickup squad.

Mitchell: Keep doing what he’s doing no matter what the media says. This team was as hot as any early in the season, but a rash of injuries coupled with a tough schedule made for a couple of rough weeks for Nuggets fan. Once this team is healthy, and if they can keep on running and stay focused on defense, it can, and will, get back to winning ball games.

Joe: George needs to forget his allegiances. If I see Harrington and Miller dominate the ball for 15 seconds every shot clock, I’m not going to be surprised when the Nuggets lose. George needs to put guys on the floor who can move the ball and let the hot hand take over. Much has been said by Nuggets fans about Karl’s deficiencies but to say he hasn’t made this young roster better even with minimal practice is a lie. He just needs to let the young guys have fun again and implore less dribbling.

5. In the end, where do the Nuggets end up being seeded come playoff time and how far can they go depending on that position?

Jeremy: I think it will be very difficult for Denver to get a top four seed with the way Oklahoma City, Dallas, San Antonio and the Clippers are playing. Still, all it would take is one injury for the tables to be turned. Ultimately I expect to see Denver finish fifth and lose in the first round, although they would give any of those teams a difficult series.

Charlie: I’m no longer sold on the Nuggets making the playoffs. There’s been about five or six games where the Nuggets have completely failed to show up and never had a chance at winning. I’m not sure those habits and the poor defense can change overnight. The other thing to worry about is another stretch of bad luck and adversity derailing the team all over again. It’s going to be very close and run down to the wire but assuming the Nuggets do stay healthy they’ll compete for the seven or eight seed. Playoff basketball seems to be Kryptonite for the Nuggets style this year and I think they need more time and experience to win in that slow-down, half-court style of play. A series win as a low seed is out of the question.

Kalen: Like I said, it all depends on injuries and Wilson Chandler, although if I had to bet, I’d say the Nuggets make a strong push for the Playoffs in the second half of the season and ultimately end up being seeded anywhere from eight to four. As long as the Nuggets can get healthy come Playoff time and avoid either the Spurs or Thunder, I think anything is possible. HOW-EVA… if you want my honest opinion, I see the Nuggets once again drawing the Thunder or Spurs and being bounce in the first round — for the millionth time.

Mitchell: The Nuggets need to avoid that dreaded eighth spot at all costs. A first-round matchup with the Thunder will most likely result in a sweep. The Nuggets just cannot match up with them at all. However, I could see them beating a team like the Clippers or the Mavericks without home-court advantage. A visit to the second-round would be overachieving for the team at this point.

Joe: The Nuggets, as constructed, are a playoff team. Whether they achieve this goal is all based on health. At 100 percent (including my boy, Chandler) they are a top four seed in the West. Unfortunately, that promises you nothing in the Playoffs. The Nuggets half-court offense is like watching paint dry and every bit as exciting. Good teams will make you beat them with your offensive sets and force your defense to stop the pick-and-roll which the Nuggets can’t. I unfortunately see an early playoff exit unless we see a major development cycle which is all up to Karl who needs to re-earn his respect with the front office and fan base.