So which surprises you more from a numbers perspective? That the Nuggets won 50 games in the regular season or that the Rockies are only eight games out of first place in the National League West? That seems easy.

Our basketball team hadn't won that many regular season games in 20 years. That achievement alone deserves considerable merit. Then, take into account, they did in a year in which the Western Conference was maybe as strong as it has ever been and it bolsters their case even further to be the choice between the two options.

Although, as we have come to see, accomplishments are for the regular season and leagcies are made in the postseason. Therefore, to me the answer is the Rockies. Alright, so on the surface, being in third place in a division that has one team with a winning record isn't marvelous but the Rockies have one element that the Nuggets do not: Potential.

The Nuggets were swept by the Lakers. The Rockies have just swept the Indians. The Nuggets knew their season was about to come to a rather screeching halt once they saw their Playoff opponent. Simply put, the Nuggets and Lakers met eight times combined in the regular season and postseason. The Lakers won all eight games. On the other hand, the Rockies, unlike the Nuggets, do not seem to be overmatched by any opponent they may face.

Their offense has struggled and the pitching, outside of Aaron Cook (yeah, I was wrong) has been medicore. Their young stars are either injured or have injured egos that are being nursed in the minor leagues. However, as they showed last year, no deficit seems too large for them to overcome. They are only eight games back of Arizona and we are only in June. Last year, they did not even get going until late August/early September, all culminating in "Rocktober." Of course, you never want to wait that long, but if you haven't reached your standards offensively, defensively, or in terms of pitching------ and you have the feeling nothing has gone right for you this season----- and you are still right in it well before the All-Star break, you have to take some positives out of that.

Put another way, they will start hitting (they are too proficient not to eventually) and once they do, that offensive output may be able to help to withstand any leaky pitching issues. The Rockies will give us some hope, the Nuggets will give us only a tease. Take the Rockies.

Have a nice weekend.

-"z"