5-0 start bodes well for Nuggets

November 6, 1:26 PMDenver Nuggets ExaminerSean Star

Previous Next

Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe

Get alerts when there is a new article from the Denver Nuggets Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.

Email Address   Include other special offers from Examiner.com Terms of Use

Billups and the Nuggets will face their toughest test yet tonight in Miami.
AP Photo/David Zalubowski

It might be hard to refrain yourself from getting a little too excited about the Nuggets' 5-0 start.

After all, the regular season is a mere six percent over.

But if you're thinking to yourself, "This season feels different," that's because it is different. Not only has Denver not started 5-0 since the mid-80s, but during the Carmelo Anthony Era ('03/04-present), the team has never started better than 2-3. And Nuggets fans don't have to be reminded that only once during that span has the team advanced past the first round of the playoffs.

But just how much does a quick start translate to a championship?

Of the past eight league champions, only the '05-06 Miami Heat started worse than 4-1, and that team's 52 regular season victories were the fewest by a league champion since the 1994-95 Houston Rockets.

And with this year's NBA expected to be significantly top-heavy, every regular season win will be crucial in deciding home-court advantage for the playoffs.

With their fast start, the Nuggets have already given themselves a two and a half game lead in the Northwest Division thanks to slow starts by Portland (2-3) and Utah (2-3). Oklahoma City is actually second behind Denver at 2-2.

While the perfect start is refreshingly new, the way the Nuggets are winning isn't. Denver is once again dominating offensively, scoring a league-high 115.4 points per game while leading the league in 3-point percentage and trailing only Phoenix in field goal percentage.

However, those numbers, and Denver's record for that matter, may be a bit inflated thanks to what has been a rather soft schedule so far.

The combined record of Denver's opponents thus far is 6-18, which is certainly worse than expected with the slow starts by Utah and Portland.

Enter tonight's game in Miami. At 4-1 the Heat easily pose the toughest challenge yet for the Nuggets.

While Dwyane Wade has been his usual dominant self, averaging 29.2 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.8 assists, Miami has gotten surprising contributions from its front court.

Jermaine O'Neal, whose career was thought to be all but over, is averaging 14 and 8, and Michael Beasley, who spent part of his offseason in rehab, is averaging 13 and 6. Throw in Udondis Haslem's 12 and 10, and tonight figures to be quite the test for Denver's big men.

Here are three keys for Denver to stay undefeated:

1. Rebounding: Denver has been about average defensively (T-17th PPG, 101.8; T-8th FG %, .430), but it gets in trouble when opponents are allowed second and third opportunities with offensive rebounds. Nene and Kenyon Martin will be counted on heavily to eliminate Miami's second chances.
2. Transition Scoring: Miami has been great defensively, limiting opponents to 91.2 points per game on 40.7 shooting, so it will be critical for Denver to get easy baskets in transition.
3. Control Miami's Second Option: Wade will likely get his 30 or so points, so whether Denver is able to stop him likely won't be the difference. What could be the difference, though, is if the Nuggets are able to limit the Heat's second- and third-leading scorers to under 20 points.