Are the Golden State Warriors the Denver Nuggets Biggest Foe?

The Denver Nuggets, no doubt, have been one of the the hottest teams in the NBA during the second half of the season, and may very well ride their momentum into the championship. For all those San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder supporters out there, the Nuggets aren’t going to have a difficult time defeating your team. It may seem a bit unrealistic that a very experienced team does this, but I don’t think teams are easy to mess with when they’ve got their game rolling.

January 13, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Golden State Warriors forward David Lee (10) faces off against Denver Nuggets forward Wilson Chandler (21) during the second half at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 116-105. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

With that being said, can the Golden State Warriors stay with Denver?

Many fans, haters and critics immediately say no, but the truth is that the Warriors are as young, as energetic and have as much upset potential as any team in the NBA. The reason they have the upset potential is because they’re a young team, one that has actually been able to stay with the Nuggets in Denver, and have many players and almost as much depth.

Jarrett Jack and Carl Landry are two guys capable of putting up 20 points per game, and in the playoffs, anything is possible.

David Lee is an All-Star, Stephen Curry is a superstar and Klay Thompson, so far, has hit all the big shots to secure some pretty big Warriors’ wins. There’s also Andrew Bogut, who is unhealthy, but a much better center than Kosta Koufos in terms of talent. So think before you reply?

It’s always hard to beat a team that’s rolling, but sometimes that’s just how it is. The Nuggets will have a tough time in Oracle, that goes without saying. What many don’t realize, however, is that the Warriors are capable of playing the defense and getting road wins. They just need to add those two together and beat the Nuggets once in Denver, if they play them in the first round. Other teams like the Rockets have a few scorers, but no defense, and the Lakers are the Lakers, but cannot stay with the Nuggets because they’re blistering.

The Warriors are a team with upset potential, like when they played the Heat in Miami earlier this season. Remember that?

Right, you probably don’t. Draymond Green scored a game-winning layup, then gave LeBron James a hug. Of the four home losses the Heat have accumulated this year, one was against this Warriors squad, who came in there and shocked the NBA. If they can do this to the reigning champions, what makes analysts so sure the Warriors will get crushed in the NBA Playoffs? All season long, I’ve been saying that all the Dubs needed to do was get their foots in the door, and now that they have, they’re going to make some playoff noise, no matter what.

January 13, 2013; Denver, CO, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Klay Thompson (11) drives to the basket while being defended by Denver Nuggets center Kosta Koufos (41) during the second half at the Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 116-105. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Honestly, I do see the Nuggets going to the Finals, and perhaps even beating the Heat, but their biggest challenge on the way there is going to be the Warriors. It’s almost always the first round that’s the toughest to get by, and with the Warriors at a lower seed, they’re going to have a tough time getting past them.

On the Bleacher Report, one analyst said that any of the l0wer seeded teams would be lucky to get the Warriors in the playoffs, but that’s not true. The writer went on to say that the Warriors are preferable because they play no defense. This is the opposite of true, and the author of this article has clearly forgotten the 2007 NBA Playoffs, and all the upsets the Warriors have pulled off earlier this year.