If the Denver Nuggets didn’t know it going into Sunday’s game, then they certainly know it now – the Oklahoma City Thunder are the team to beat in the Western Conference.
Despite a respectable performance at Chesapeake Energy Arena, the Nuggets 124-118 overtime loss will sting for days to come as Denver allowed OKC stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook to score 51 and 40 points, respectively.
To make matters worse, Serge Ibaka recorded his first career triple-double, completing a historic performance as the Thunder improved to a league-best 12-1 (13-1 after Monday) at home this season.
At the end of January, the Nuggets had a short look up to the top of the conference standings behind only the Thunder as they entered the month of February.
Now, the Nuggets are reeling harder than any team in the league, losing seven of their last 10 games in an effortless fashion.
The once short view to the top has now become an epic ascent up the Western Conference Mountain, which will prove to be challenging for a team that sits at No. 8 in the conference standings. If the playoffs started today, the Nuggets would be heading to OKC for a rematch of last season’s first round series. And as Sunday’s performance showed, it wouldn’t end well for Denver.
However, this isn’t even the worst news for a team ranked 26th defensively in the league, averaging over 100 points a game.
Yes, there’s worse news – the team can’t beat anybody above them in the standings. Recently, they have compiled losses against all the Western Conference top dogs-Lakers, Clippers, Blazers, Rockets, including a pair of losses to both Memphis and Dallas in less than a month span. Since Feb. 3, they are 0-7 against playoff teams.
Last Wednesday’s lethargic road loss to Dallas proved the team isn’t hungry. They should have been motivated after losing by ten points to the defending champs a week earlier at home; instead, they came out and played the weakest and softest game of the entire season.
The road doesn’t get easier for Denver following last night’s overtime win against Minnesota. The team travels to take on the Clippers for the third time since Jan. 29 before a two-game home stand against San Antonio and Portland.
This week presents an excellent redemption opportunity. If the Nuggets can right the ship, they can pose a threat in the Western Confer; however, this is not a team close to competing with the league’s best.
Although they held a five-point lead at halftime, the loss to OKC was imminent. Why? They can’t defend.In basketball, defense will always win out. You can’t outscore everybody on your schedule as Denver has attempted to do through their first 33 games. Clearly, the Nuggets need to go back to the chalkboard during All-Star weekend and refigure their strategy for the second half of the season.
Hopefully, Operation Rolling Thunder – Sunday’s much-needed wake-up call – sets this team straight. If not, they will continue to descend down the mountain.
