The Denver Nuggets are the 2009-10 Northwest Division champions, thanks to a Jazz loss. After losing to the Phoenix Suns 100-86 tonight in Utah, the Jazz cemented themselves into the No. 5 seed and a first-round matchup with our Denver Nuggets (No. 4). The Nuggets will get at least one home series and it’ll start this weekend at the Pepsi Center. Schedule after the jump.
Nuggets vs. Jazz Series Schedule (All times MST):Game 1: Nuggets vs. Jazz, 8:30 p.m. ESPN (Saturday 4-17)
Game 2: Nuggets vs. Jazz, 8:30 p.m. TNT (Monday 4-19)Game 3: Nuggets at Jazz, 8:30 p.m. ESPN 2 (Friday 4-23)
Game 4: Nuggets at Jazz, 7:30 p.m. TNT (Sunday 4-25)Game 5: Wednesday 4-28 (if necessary)
Game 6: Friday 4-30 (if necessary)
Game 7 : Sunday 5-2 (if necessary)
The Jazz, like the Nuggets Wednesday night, controlled their destiny and with a win over the Suns could have vaulted to the No. 3 seed and captured the Northwest Division title. But the Suns blistering hot offense once again carried them to victory in impressive fashion.
The wait is over and the Nuggets have a playoff opponent in the Utah Jazz … a face, a familiar face to call our enemy. Sure, Denver went 3-1 against Utah in the regular season, but that record is 0-0 right now and the Jazz and their fans will point to that as well should the Nuggets.
All season long we have been preaching that the Nuggets need to take care of business and just because Denver had some type of paper advantage over a team means nothing. The quicker the team realizes that and comes out fighting with a hunger I'm sure they will have, the better off we all will be.
Let's take a quick look at some numbers in head-to-head matchups this season between some key players from each team. (You like how I say the games in the regular season don't matter and then show you some stats from the regular season? Yes?!)
| vs. Jazz |
Games played |
Points |
Stat 2 |
Stat 3 |
|
2 |
33.5 |
8 rebs |
3.5 assists |
|
|
2 |
27 |
3 assists |
1 turnover |
|
|
Nene |
4 |
15 |
5 rebs |
3 steals |
|
X-Factor: Ty Lawson |
4 |
19 |
5 assists |
1.8 turnovers |
| vs. Nuggets |
Games played |
Points |
Stat 2 |
Stat 3 |
|
4 |
16.8 |
11.8 rebs |
3.5 turnovers |
|
|
4 |
22.3 |
10.3 assists |
4 turnovers |
|
|
4 |
11.3 |
6.5 rebs |
41% 3-pt |
|
|
X-Factor: Paul Millsap |
4 |
12.8 |
6 rebs |
2.3 turnovers |
One thing that these playoffs have in common with last year … Denver will face an elite point guard in round one once again with Deron Williams just like when they took on Chris Paul last year. Paul and Williams are very different guards, but both are deadly with the ball.
There will be a lot to discuss in the coming days as Andrew and I roll out our playoff previews and more … STAY TUNED!
ntimmons73@yahoo.com
Twitter: Nate_Timmons
Photo courtesy of Getty Images: Garrett W. Ellwood
