After speaking with the Nuggets today at practice, they sound very much like a team that is up 2-0, not down 2-0 in their series with the Lakers in the opening round of the NBA Playoffs.

That could be because up until the Nuggets hit the practice court on Friday, every other team that was up 2-0 so far, has lost. The numbers, as they say, don't lie.

The Nuggets are a team not in turmoil (as many suggest), they merely seem like a team that is not outmanned, but just outhustled. Case in point, head coach George Karl said that his team could win games giving up a ton of points (average of 125 through the first two games), though him just floating that idea seems a bit odd. However, it does show, in a strange way, that he thinks his squad can defeat the top seed in the Conference
even without addressing their biggest team liability-----defense.

Also, add the much needed "home sweet home" factor as a possible advantage. The Nuggets were 33-8 at 1000 Chopper Circle this season. However, none of those 33 came against the Lakers. The closest Denver came to winning against the top seed in the West was a 107-100 loss at the Pepsi Center back in December. The average margin of defeat has been 16.3 points. The odds don't look good, but I think the chances they rise to the occasion, at least on Saturday do.

Enjoy watching the series continue on Saturday, I will have a blog up Sunday with my thoughts and as always would like to hear yours at zmehenti@cw2.com

-"z"