The Denver Nuggets won the NBA title just two short seasons ago.
They won 50 games this season for the third straight time and have three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic on the roster. Sidekick Jamal Murray remains potent, too.
That sounds like a team that figures to be really dangerous in the postseason.
But chew on this — the fourth-seeded Nuggets are likely going to be sent home in the Western Conference first round by the fifth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers.
Being in disarray as the playoffs begin is not a good look.
And it makes it harder to win after the franchise has displayed it was dysfunctional.
Stellar head coach Michael Malone was dismissed with three games left in the regular season after the squad dropped four straight contests.
Apparently, the relationship between Malone and general manager Calvin Booth was so testy that it was affecting other areas of the operation. Booth was fired, too.
Nuggets Vice President Josh Kroenke said earlier this week that he first considered firing Malone in November, which sounds crazy.
But doing it in April is even nuttier — and perhaps Kroenke should be sent in for a brain scan.
Assistant coach David Adelman is now tasked with getting the Nuggets on track.
He does have good bloodlines — his father, Rick, won 1,042 NBA games and is in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. His uncle, Clete, was a highly successful junior-college coach in Southern California for more than a quarter-century.
But throwing a head coaching novice into the postseason fire is quite the gamble.
The 43-year-old Adelman will receive a baptism by facing the Clippers. And he’ll be coaching for his job.
Simply put, if Denver wins this series, Adelman should get the opportunity to be the new coach. If the Nuggets fall short, count on a coaching search.
Jokic is really going to have to carry the Nuggets to keep the club from seeing its seventh straight playoff berth end quickly.
Los Angeles is hotter than lava entering this series, and Kawhi Leonard once again looks like a star.
The Clippers won their final eight games of the regular season and 15 of their last 17.
The two setbacks were against the two conference leaders — the Oklahoma City Thunder in the West and the Cleveland Cavaliers in the East.
The hot finish kept the Clippers out of the play-in round, and they are now one of those teams you don’t want to run into in the postseason.
Bad break for Denver — the Clippers are coming to town, and they aren’t the team you beat by 22 points in December and 23 in January.
Los Angeles now has the better club and isn’t dealing with distractions.
Leonard, a two-time NBA Finals MVP, has scored 20 or more points in each of his last 15 appearances. He had 33 points, seven assists, six rebounds and three steals as the Clippers beat the Golden State Warriors in overtime in the season finale to gain the playoff berth.
His troublesome right knee is cooperating, and he’s running the floor and moving better than he has in years. His shot is on the mark — he made 60% or better in seven of those 15 games.
“Playoff Kawhi” used to be a thing, and his recent performances have proven that the 33-year-old is in a good place entering the postseason.
James Harden has proven to be a good fit with Leonard and has really settled in with the Clippers. Norman Powell had a career season and also gets along well with Leonard.
Not to forget big man Ivica Zubac, who will be going up against Jokic. Zubac has enjoyed a career season with 59 double-doubles and averages of 16.8 points and 12.6 rebounds. How he fares in this series could determine it.
There are no concerns about Clippers coach Tyronn Lue. He’s secure in his job (we think). But he certainly has the better situation right now.
And he will still be coaching next week when Denver is starting the offseason.
