For yet another season--a fifth straight--if you are counting, the Nuggets are done playing basketball way before they wanted to be. So what is next for the players and coaching staff? The logical thinking says a major shakeup is in the works for this franchise after being handed another opening round parting gift, but financially due to some salary cap limitations, I think there is a decent chance the team comes back more intact than many think.

The Nuggets won 50 games this season and were 33-8 at home. Those are impressive numbers and can be seen as building blocks. Although, as the Nuggets are finding out, the balance of power has perhaps never been tilted more towards the Western Conference than it is now. That means its going to be even harder for them to compete in years to come. Let's face it: When you win 50 games and it's seen as disappointment, the bar has been raised. The question now becomes are the Nuggets going to rise to the occasion?

The coaching staff is a question, although the reports this weekend seem to indicate it is not. Head coach George Karl is set to return, if he wants to. His critics will point to the theory that his players may have tumed him out or quit on him as one player indicated. All season long, Karl stressed playing defense and the team's downfall was their lack of defense. Karl is talking. The question now is, is anybody listening?

I have been a big proponent of Allen Iverson since he was traded to the Nuggets. His desire is unmatched as evidenced by his leading the NBA in minutes played at the age of 32. He shows no signs of slowing down. After the game, he admitted that the focus of this team going forward has to be their work on the defensive end of the court. They have two of the most prolific offensive players in the NBA, now if that same tenacity they have on offense can just be channeled into the same level defensively, maybe the second round awaits them next season.

Enjoy your Tuesday everybody.

-"z"