There is some playoff history between the Spurs and Nuggets. San Antonio beat the Nuggets in the first round of the playoffs in 1990, 1995 and 2005 and in the conference semis in 1983, while Denver defeated the Spurs in the opening round in 1985.
The Spurs are appearing in the postseason for the 10th straight year and have won three of the last eight NBA championships. Last season, San Antonio was eliminated in the Western Conference semifinals by the Dallas Mavericks in seven games.
All-Stars Tim Duncan and Tony Parker were once again the Spurs top players during the 2006-07 campaign. Duncan led the club in scoring (20.0 ppg) and rebounding (10.6 rpg), while Parker was the team’s top assist man at 5.5 per game.
Duncan and Parker enter the postseason with a veteran supporting cast that is built to win now. Thirty-six-year-old forward Robert Horry, who has six championship rings, usually saves his best play for the playoffs, while Manu Ginobili will give the team needed energy at critical times and Brent Barry and Michael Finley will provide steady play. Defensive stopper Bruce Bowen is always ready to do whatever it takes to make the opposition’s top-scorer work hard for his points.
Gregg Popovich, who has led the Spurs to three NBA championships during his tenure in San Antonio and was named the 2003 NBA Coach of the Year, is a great leader and obviously knows that it takes to win in the postseason.
The last time the Spurs lost in the first round of the playoffs was in 2000, when they lost to the Phoenix Suns, 3-1.
Denver earned its fourth straight playoff berth. The Nuggets have been eliminated three straight years in the opening round of the postseason, and are 3-12 during that span. They fell in five games in the opening round to Minnesota in 2004, San Antonio in 2005 and the Clippers in 2006.
The last time the Nuggets advanced to the second round of the playoffs was during the 1994 postseason. Denver upset the SuperSonics in five games, 3-2, in the opening round that season, but was ousted in seven games by Utah in the Western semifinals.
The Nuggets are playing their best basketball at the right time of year. However, to say the Denver’s season was boring would a be an understatement. On December 16th, another embarrassing moment for the NBA occurred during the Nuggets’ 123-100 victory over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
Denver had the game in hand and were headed towards victory late in the fourth quarter. However, Nuggets head coach George Karl still had some of his starters on the court, including Anthony, while New York had its reserves on the court to finish out the contest.
With Denver leading 119-100, New York rookie Mardy Collins committed a hard flagrant foul against J.R. Smith on a breakaway layup with about 1:15 left in the contest. Chaos then broke out, as Smith and Knicks guard Nate Robinson started to wrestle and both went onto the ground. Anthony lost his cool and blindsided Collins with a punch that seemed to knock the rookie to the ground. Knicks forward Jared Jeffries went after Anthony, who backpedaled towards his bench and away from Jeffries.
NBA Commissioner David Stern handed down significant suspensions. Anthony received a 15-game suspension, Robinson and Smith were both suspended for 10 games, Collins got six, Jeffries received four and Nene and Jerome James both were suspended for one game. The Knicks and Nuggets were both fined $500,000 for the incident.
Just days after the infamous brawl, the Nuggets made a blockbuster trade when they acquired Iverson on December 19th from the Philadelphia 76ers for a pair of 2007 first-round draft picks, point guard Andre Miller and forward Joe Smith.
The Nuggets struggled, but the team eventually jelled and they put together a season-best eight-game winning streak from April 1-13, which helped them move securely into the sixth spot in the West.
Anthony, who averaged a team-best 28.9 points per game, and Iverson are learning to play together, while center Marcus Camby, Nene, Steve Blake, who was acquired from Milwaukee during the season, and Smith are all doing their part for Karl, who has arguably done his best job as a head coach.
Karl has plenty of playoff experience. He guided Milwaukee to four playoff berths and compiled a 205-173 mark in five seasons with the Bucks. Before joining Milwaukee, Karl coached the Cleveland Cavaliers, Golden State Warriors and Seattle, leading the SuperSonics to the 1996 NBA Finals, only to lose to the Chicago Bulls in six games.
During the regular season, the Spurs were 2-1 versus Denver. The teams split a pair of contests at the AT&T Center, while San Antonio beat the Nuggets, 92-83, on January 10th at the Pepsi Center.
STARTING FRONTCOURT: Duncan is still one of the top forwards in the game, while Francisco Elson, who finished his first season with the Spurs, has been serviceable in the middle and Bowen knows his role and takes a lot of pride in his defensive work.
Camby, who led the Nuggets in rebounding (11.7 rpg), Nene and Anthony will need to step up their games big time if the Nuggets hope to have a chance against the Spurs. Anthony will have to deal with the tenacious Bowen, while Camby’s athleticism could work in Denver’s favor. Nene must work hard down low and produce in the paint.
Duncan and Anthony are going to do their thing. The difference will be if Camby and Nene can outwork their opponents. This is the matchup that Denver has to find an edge.
On paper, this matchup looks good for the Nuggets. But on the court its just not the case. Duncan will rise to the occasion and put up big numbers.
EDGE: EVEN
STARTING BACKCOURT: Popovich could switch his starting backcourt from game-to- game. Parker will always be at the point, while Barry, Finley or Ginobili are all capable backcourt mates for the All-Star Parker.
Parker has a solid all-around game and fits perfectly into Popovich’s style of play. Barry is steady, Finley excels in transition and Ginobili is very dangerous when his game is on.
Iverson and Blake have become a formidable backcourt. Iverson, who led the Sixers to the 2001 NBA Finals and is a former NBA MVP, lives for this time of year. He will have something to prove and will bring his best play to this series.
Blake is dangerous from the perimeter and seems to be comfortable with his role in Denver. He needs to knock down his shots to help open up the court for Anthony and Iverson.
Any San Antonio combination will be tough defensively for the Nuggets backcourt duo to handle. As great as Iverson is, this is his first test in the Western Conference playoffs.
EDGE: SPURS
BENCH: Experience and depth gives the Spurs the advantage. Horry and whichever two guards (Barry, Finley, Ginobili) give Popovich three solid options off the bench. The Spurs’ general will have flexibility, as all are capable of playing multiple positions.
Matt Bonner is a decent reserve forward who can score, while guard Beno Udrih and center Fabricio Oberto will log minutes when needed for the Spurs.
Karl will look to Reggie Evans, Linas Kleiza, Eduardo Najera and Smith to give him valuable minutes off the pine. Smith will provide an offensive spark, while Evans, Kleiza and Najera are not afraid to get their hands dirty. If the Nuggets have to rely on their bench, they will be in big trouble.
EDGE: SPURS
PREDICTION: The Spurs play a complete game and have all the pieces in place for another championship run. The Nuggets improved and made major strides at the end of the season, but it won’t be enough help them overcome Duncan and the rest of the Spurs.
SPURS IN FIVE
Denver Nuggets 
San Antonio Spurs 
