Post by Rommie on Jul 9, 2007 22:21:26 GMT -5
The Denver Nuggets, who held a 40-42 regular season record, have danced their way into the Western Conference Finals as the 7th seed. After two 7 game series their prize is the number 1 seed Golden State Warriors. The Nuggets have played above and beyond their 40 win showing to get there.
Lets look at their first round series with the 2nd seed Dallas Mavericks. It wasn't really much of an upset as the Mavs beat them for the Midwest title which was a very close race but hey Denver still ends up with the 7th seed. The Nuggets ended up being to talented though with Stephen Jackson, Pau Gasol, Andrei Kirilenko leading the way with help from other starters in Josh Smith and Delonte West as well as Jerry Stackhouse off the bench.
Game 1 the Mavs beat the Nuggets by just 3 points. The Nuggets held a nice lead at halftime but the third quarter is where the game was won as the Mavs out scored them 29-17 to propel them to victory. Game 2 was much the same as the Mavs won by just 1 point with a big 3rd quarter push again out scoring the Nuggets 29-19.
Game 3 was a whole different story as the Nuggets killed the Mavs. Fired up in the 1rst quarter and out scoring the Mavs 25-6 and winning the game 84-59! The Nuggets managed to create 25 turnovers and dish out more assist, 25-8, giving them a big Game 3 win. Game 4 the Nuggets come out with another victory with a big 1rst quarter scoring 31 points and holding the Mavs to 13. Delonte West had a big game here scoring 23 points and dishing out 10 assist. He missed just one three pointer the whole game a free throw while holding Sam Cassell to no free throw attempts. Game 5 was very close as the Nuggets pulled out a win with a score of 97-96. Sam Cassell led the Mavs with 30 points but just didn't get enough help to beat the Nuggets.
The Mavs had to win Game 6 to stay alive. Dahntay Jones was back after missing the Mavs last three games, the three games they lose. Jones had 24 points to lead the Mavs to a 92-86 victory and set up the deciding Game 7. The Nuggets had big 1rst and 4th quarters and sailed to a 106-82 victory to move on to the Conference Semis.
The Nuggets now had to face the Portland Trailblazers. Game 1 rolls around and they get beat 115-109. Game 2 the Trailblazers beat the Nuggets easily 103-84. The Nuggets came back with a Game 3 win 112-100 led by Pau Gasol's 40 point effort. Game 4 was another Nuggets win as they played a balanced game outscoring the Mavs in every quarter and taking a 114-102 victory to tie the series at 2-2.
The Nuggets pulled out another win in Game 5 getting to the line more and taking a 105-101 win. Game 6 comes around and the Trailblazers edge out the Nuggets 97-94 due to a Stephon Marbury three pointer to give the Blazers the win and tie the series at 3-3. (obviously we don't know that this happened but it sounds better this way. ;D) Now for the deciding Game 7. The Nuggets were able to get more shots off and play just a better game with Stephen Jackson coming out firing and ending up with 30 points while Pau Gasol chips in with 27 points and 18 rebounds. Now the Nuggets are going on to the Western Conference Finals.
So here it is. The Nuggets go through two tough 7 game series and now face the challenge of the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors have an awesome back court and played great all year racking up 66 wins. But the Nuggets only need 4 wins to move on and they do have Pau Gasol and Andrei Kirilenko who could really give the Warriors fits down low. So far the Warriors lead the series 2-1 but as we have seen the first two rounds the Nuggets can come back and make it a series. If a Game 7 rolls around don't count out these Nuggets as they have done it before.
Lets look at their first round series with the 2nd seed Dallas Mavericks. It wasn't really much of an upset as the Mavs beat them for the Midwest title which was a very close race but hey Denver still ends up with the 7th seed. The Nuggets ended up being to talented though with Stephen Jackson, Pau Gasol, Andrei Kirilenko leading the way with help from other starters in Josh Smith and Delonte West as well as Jerry Stackhouse off the bench.
Game 1 the Mavs beat the Nuggets by just 3 points. The Nuggets held a nice lead at halftime but the third quarter is where the game was won as the Mavs out scored them 29-17 to propel them to victory. Game 2 was much the same as the Mavs won by just 1 point with a big 3rd quarter push again out scoring the Nuggets 29-19.
Game 3 was a whole different story as the Nuggets killed the Mavs. Fired up in the 1rst quarter and out scoring the Mavs 25-6 and winning the game 84-59! The Nuggets managed to create 25 turnovers and dish out more assist, 25-8, giving them a big Game 3 win. Game 4 the Nuggets come out with another victory with a big 1rst quarter scoring 31 points and holding the Mavs to 13. Delonte West had a big game here scoring 23 points and dishing out 10 assist. He missed just one three pointer the whole game a free throw while holding Sam Cassell to no free throw attempts. Game 5 was very close as the Nuggets pulled out a win with a score of 97-96. Sam Cassell led the Mavs with 30 points but just didn't get enough help to beat the Nuggets.
The Mavs had to win Game 6 to stay alive. Dahntay Jones was back after missing the Mavs last three games, the three games they lose. Jones had 24 points to lead the Mavs to a 92-86 victory and set up the deciding Game 7. The Nuggets had big 1rst and 4th quarters and sailed to a 106-82 victory to move on to the Conference Semis.
The Nuggets now had to face the Portland Trailblazers. Game 1 rolls around and they get beat 115-109. Game 2 the Trailblazers beat the Nuggets easily 103-84. The Nuggets came back with a Game 3 win 112-100 led by Pau Gasol's 40 point effort. Game 4 was another Nuggets win as they played a balanced game outscoring the Mavs in every quarter and taking a 114-102 victory to tie the series at 2-2.
The Nuggets pulled out another win in Game 5 getting to the line more and taking a 105-101 win. Game 6 comes around and the Trailblazers edge out the Nuggets 97-94 due to a Stephon Marbury three pointer to give the Blazers the win and tie the series at 3-3. (obviously we don't know that this happened but it sounds better this way. ;D) Now for the deciding Game 7. The Nuggets were able to get more shots off and play just a better game with Stephen Jackson coming out firing and ending up with 30 points while Pau Gasol chips in with 27 points and 18 rebounds. Now the Nuggets are going on to the Western Conference Finals.
So here it is. The Nuggets go through two tough 7 game series and now face the challenge of the Golden State Warriors. The Warriors have an awesome back court and played great all year racking up 66 wins. But the Nuggets only need 4 wins to move on and they do have Pau Gasol and Andrei Kirilenko who could really give the Warriors fits down low. So far the Warriors lead the series 2-1 but as we have seen the first two rounds the Nuggets can come back and make it a series. If a Game 7 rolls around don't count out these Nuggets as they have done it before.