What a crazy year it’s been. I remember it like yesterday; not long after “The Decision” there were rumblings that Carmelo Anthony wanted out of a Denver Nuggets uniform. I didn’t make much of it at first because like any star, there’s always going to be people trying to stir the pot in the national media. But come to find out, this little rumor came to fruition at Carmelo Anthony’s wedding this past summer when Amare Stoudemire, Chris Paul and he decided it would be a genius idea to make a toast to all three of them forming their own “Big Three,” in response to the Miami Heat’s historical colluding accomplishment, in front of many Denver Nuggets associates in attendance. Yes, for the first time those who structured much of their lives around the young “franchise player” got their first dose of “Eh, You’re Really Not That Important To Me” serum, as Melo unloaded his most candid demands vicariously through a toast. Of course, later on Melo would be much more forthcoming and to the point about his desires by laying out a notepad (I’m guessing? Maybe a text? Something along the lines of “Yo. I’m out. It’s either Chicago or New York and make it snappy.) in front of Ujiri with the details where he wanted to go and in what order.

In trying to think back to last summer I get an eerie feeling of complacency, almost like finally realizing you’d been used for a really long time. Before “The Demands” (Melo’s version of “The Decision”) everything was going as good as possible in regards to the Nuggets; Mark Warkentien was just one year removed from winning Executive of the Year, Chauncey and Melo were still in their primes and the team looked poised to be amongst the Western Conference’s elite for years to come. Even before free agency hit we heard rumors that Melo was close to signing a multi-year deal to remain with the Nuggets for the foreseeable future. But, one should never underestimate the fickle emotions that pertain to the human mind , especially jealousy.

You see, when Lebron James decided that he’d pack up and leave his practically hometown Cleveland Cavaliers — the team that drafted him, the team he idolized growing up, the team he probably would have liked to play for his entire career if he actually had some talent on — that was all she wrote for Melo. Looking back, in a way Lebron was keeping Melo in Denver all those years when you consider the brevity in which it took Melo to leave once Lebron did.  The two got drafted the same year, just a few picks apart, and we’re often times compared to one another being that they both played the same position and were some of the highest scoring players in the league at that spot. So as long as Melo saw Lebron sticking with the team that drafted him — the historically inept Cleveland Cavaliers — he probably felt just fine with a franchise sharing so many similarities.

I mean, why would he leave? What good reason did Melo ever have prior to Lebron’s arrival in South Beach, to pack up and leave a team he’d taken to the Western Conference Finals just one year before? He still had a great team around him, was always in the mix for the Western Confrence’s elite, had an owner willing to spend, had an all-time great coach, had an Executive of the Year as a General Manager; what else could you possibly need? Prior to the Summer of 2010, when comparing his situation to counterparts like Lebron, Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade; Melo was in the best position of them all! But… what happens when your close friends and rivals begin to fall into more luxurious situations one after another like a line of dominoes? What do you do then, even when your own situation is still top of the line?

We’re all well aware of what Melo did. He wanted to do something for himself. He looked around and saw everyone else doing it in the historical Summer of 2010 free agency period, and he felt left out. So, he forced the Denver Nuggets to give him what he so dearly desired by trading him to the New York Knicks in February of 2011. It was everything Melo wanted, and he got his wish. Ever since he was little kid growing up on the streets of Brooklyn all he wanted to do was play professional basketball. But not just anywhere. No, some place like Arco or Energy Solutions arena wouldn’t do. It had to be Madison Square Garden. The history, the bright lights, the flare, the attention. For every adolescent growing up in New York City that’s what you dream of, and the more you dreamed the more it becomes engraved within your soul to live that dream and make it a reality. I can’t blame Melo for wanting to play in New York, just as I can’t blame someone growing up in Breckenridge aspiring to be a professional skier. But what I can do is point out the unfortunate circumstances of the career path Melo chose, and the simple fact that to real people, Madison Square Garden is no different than any other arena in the NBA. He should ask his friend Lebron whom he’s so drastically structured his own life around, because today when I was watching the Miami Heat play it’s first collective playoff game, I saw empty court-side seats and half-assed “DE-FENSE” cheers, and all I kept thinking was just how much Lebron actually sacrificed to play with better players. Melo on the other hand, just wanted to be the center of attention in some previously magical arena, that once boasted a tradition of fiery competitiveness, but is now otherwise more famous for Spike Lee’s most recent blustering tirade and the annual NBA Draft.

Yet with Melo’s departure we have received a special gift in return: Danilo Gallinari, Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Timofey Mozgov and Kosta Koufos. What was once the most anxiety-ridden season in Denver Nuggets history has serendipitously turned into, quite possibly, the most exciting thanks in large part to these men. When combined with the Nuggets holdouts of Ty Lawson, JR Smith, Nene, Kenyon Martin, Al Harrington and Chris “Birdman” Andersen, there is a lethal dose of depth unlike anything Nuggets fans have ever seen. Two legitimate starting-five rotations can be put out on the floor at any time, thus creating mismatches galore with whomever the Nuggets opponent has been. Now, we’ll get a chance to see if this eccentric game plan works against one of the best teams in the league, that features two “superstars,” in a best-of-seven series starting tonight.

Nuggets fans across the world have had to endure one of the most neurotic, up-and-down seasons the NBA has ever seen. From the initial “toast,” to hearing the chatter of rebuilding, to playing well, to then not caring whatsoever if we win or lose, to finally trading our franchise player, to finishing off as the hottest team in the NBA — it’s been one wild ride. I can’t believe we’re already here, as the 5th seed playing the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of playoffs, but I’m as excited as I’ve ever been to be a Nuggets fan. I know that if we can stay healthy, there’s not one team in the West we can’t beat in a seven-game series. From the looks of it, everyone will be ready to go this evening, except Afflalo who will be a game-time decision. That’s great news considering how scuffed up we’ve been lately, but Affalo is still a key part of this team, and we’ll likely need his help if we want to win this series.

What you have before you is something you’ll probably never see in the NBA again. It’s one of those things that, later on down the road in life you’re probably going to look back on with sweet nostalgia as accompaniment. Treat every moment with great compassion and attention. Maybe the 2011 Denver Nuggets will be having a parade in downtown Denver sometime this summer? Maybe they won’t even make it past the Thunder in the first round? Maybe we’ll fall once again to the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals? Nobody knows, but what we do know is how special and great this team has been to us in light of all the frustration that resulted from the first part of the season. These guys deserve to win right now and even if they don’t, we should be proud of everything they’ve done thus far. So, treat this one as an encore Nuggets fans, in that no matter how much we felt we may have deserved it, it was never guaranteed. Just appreciate it for what it is.

(UPDATE: Arron Afflalo will not play tonight, as the hamstring is still not fully healed. Considering the Nuggets next game after this one doesn’t come until Wednesday, he should be good to go by then. Nuggets beat writer, Aaron Lopez, suggests Wilson Chandler might start in his place, also states that Karl’s “excitement is palpable” as he is making rounds with players. Again, follow me on Twitter at @24kGoldenChild for constant Nuggets updates and news as soon as it hits the free world! I also tweet my thoughts during games, as well as during any major sporting event, which is usually basketball for me. I know most people get turned off by the name “Twitter” — I was one of them — but I’ve found it’s really a great way to keep updated on your favorite sports team, or whatever it may be you’re interested in. You don’t even have to “tweet” if you set up an account, so it can almost be like a live news-feed you subscribe to. Just a thought.)

Two days ago, the Miami Heat looked unbeatable as they tore through the schedule with ease, winning 19 of 20 games including 13 in a row on the road. Meanwhile, the Nuggets shaky season was starting to come off the rails. After a 3 game losing streak, Josh Kroenke and Masai Ujiri seemed all but certain to blow the lifeless roster up, punching fans in the gut by trading their 2 best players away for future assets and savings. Last night the Miami Heat were the vulnerable ones and the Nuggets were the team doing the punching.

I said in the preview yesterday that the Nuggets seemed to be catching the Heat at their weakest, off a west coast back to back in which their best player was injured. Lebron didn’t play last night and the Heat didn’t have the energy or depth to overcome it. For the second straight game, the Nuggets execute a balanced offensive attack and ride a scoring explosion from the bench to an easy blowout win.

The Heat looked to control tempo and used a zone defense early to start the game. The Nuggets responded with great passing to find the open man but were missing a lot of shots. On the other end, Miami’s offense looked flat footed and settled for too many jumpers.  The Nuggets ball movement was superior, and thanks to 9 early assists they took a 3 point lead into the second quarter despite the slow pace and neither team playing very well.

In the second quarter, George Karl again went to a small lineup featuring Arron Afflalo and four subs. Melvin Ely and Al Harrington did an admirable job defending Erick Dampier and the Heat “bigs”, with Ely filling the Chris Andersen role nicely. On Miami’s end, their already lethargic offense died when Dwyane Wade went to the bench. Mike Miller was passive, Chris Bosh couldn’t get his hands on the ball and the disinterested Heat couldn’t get anything going at all. A key stretch occurred around the 6 minute mark when Ty Lawson hit a driving layup in traffic, then stole the inbounds pass, grabbed an offensive board off his own miss and passed out to JR Smith for an open three. This gave Denver their first double digit lead and they never looked back.

The pace of the game picked up furiously and a confident Nuggets team couldn’t be stopped. An unconscious JR Smith started flame-throwing triples from deep. Arron Afflalo got physical with a tired Wade early and never allowed him to get going. Nene destroyed Ilgauskas and Dampier.  The Nuggets didn’t stop passing and playing hard en route to 31 assists and another 30-point lead going into the fourth. It was a total team effort and a sobering loss for Miami knocking them back down to earth.

It’s easy to look past these wins with the gloom of a post-Melo world hanging over. Denver is a good team at home and bad on the road. The Heat were on a tough back to back and missing the league MVP. Inspired by Jeremy’s post earlier, I can’t put together a clear case against anyone for the current dilemma all Nuggets fans face. I’ve been as cynical as my mind will allow me about this team’s future and the fact Melo won’t be a part of it. I know what the harsh reality of rebuilding means. Yet as a fan, against my best judgment I can’t help but believe in how special this team is – a team with a star at its core that can blow out Miami without really surprising anyone.  Time may be running out for this inconsistent, road weary, small-market underachieving team. But these are the best of times and the worst of times too, and I can’t help but enjoy every fleeting moment we have left.

Additional Nuggets

• Birdman didn’t play and will miss a week to rest his ailing back and knee. Shelden Williams and Melvin Ely stand to pick up the slack and the Nuggets might not miss much. Since he started breaking down last year, Birdman hasn’t had an impact defensively.
• During the TNT broadcast, “The Czar” Mike Fratello stated he had spoken to Nets front office people who disputed reports that Denver backed out of a trade they thought was agreed to. He said it was “not true at all. It never happened and nothing was agreed to.” Fratello is currently part of the local TV broadcast crew for New Jersey.
• JR Smith could have seriously boosted his shooting percentages, as he had a game going similar to Afflalo’s 31 point, 11-14 shooting performance vs Phoenix. Entering garbage time, JR smith chucked a few too many threes early in the shot clock and ended up “only” making 10/17 shots total
• During another point in the broadcast, the TNT cameras caught Masai Ujiri and Josh Kroenke in their club level seats, texting away furiously on their cell phones. I can only imagine TV sets all over the New Jersey area suffered verbal and physical abuse as a result.