[Izulde]

I'm quite annoyed to read in many of the national papers, both hardcopy and online editions, that the overwhelming majority of sportswriters consider the Clippers/Mavericks matchup to be the real West Conference finals. Yes, we played like crap against Utah, but we're still the three-time defending champs. You'd think they'd give us more credit than that.

Oh well, let's see what the local press has to say.

"Following a shocking full-limit series against the Utah Jazz, doubters aplenty have sprung up about the Nuggets, especially given the dominance of the Dallas Mavericks and the Los Angeles Clippers in their first round series. Portland is also an extremely tough draw for Denver, who need to revert to the form they're capable of if they wish a fourpeat.

Point Guard
Paulinho Buboltz vs. Jerian McCrary
Buboltz is having the finest postseason of his career so far, averaging 15.6 points, 11.4 assists and a steal. While he isn't as careful with the ball as Nuggets point guards traditionally are, his point totals and his willingness to shift to a dual threat rather than solely be a shooter more than make up for it. On the other hand, he got lit up at times by A.J. Dunkley in the first round.

McCrary may be a better two than a one and only an average passer and defender, but he had an astounding first round, exploding for 21 points and 8.3 assists in a performance that he's never had in the postseason and echoed his 2017 regular season when he averaged 20.5 points in 14 starts after returning from a torn MCL injury. He's also got a big size advantage over Buboltz at 6'6, 224 lbs, making it difficult to say whether or not he'll be to duplicate his opening showing.

Advantage: Draw

Shooting Guard
Mateen Yeaton vs. Sonny Boxler
Don't be fooled by his 20 points, 4 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.3 blocks average from the Utah series. Perhaps the biggest reason why the Jazz took the Nuggets to seven games was because Yeaton had his second worst non-injured playoff series ever, shooting just 44.1% from the floor. The last time he was that bad? All the way in 2011 with the Pacers. If Denver wants to advance, they'll need Yeaton to snap back to form.

Boxler may be just the remedy Yeaton needs. Unlike big, defensively talented Chris Gearheart, Boxler's short and still lax at surrendering points. His ability to make highlight plays on defense wll be mitigated by Yeaton's excellent ball security. Still, Boxler's 20.4 points, 5.6 rebounds, astounding 3.6 blocks and 2.6 steals against Minnesota is a line so impressive that he can't be regarded lightly.

Advantage: Draw

Small Forward
Victor Gipson vs. Charlie Joseph
Gipson was limited to 4 starts in the first round by back problems, but still averaged 8.6 points, 7.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks. He used his size to shut down Grant Fomby when he was in against Utah and given his success last year in limiting Kevin Durant, he should enjoy the same defensive prowess here.

Especially since Durant's out with a broken finger. This means the young Joseph in his stead, who averaged 9.9 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks versus the Timberwolves. But Joseph is no great source of offense, nor a frightening defender. While he is a very good rebounder, Gipson surpasses him in that category and 6'9, 264 lbs does not match up well against 7'2, 303 lbs.

Advantage: Nuggets

Power Forward
Vinston Henry vs. Marcus Honeycutt
Henry got lit up by Henry Fisher in his first ever playoff outing. More troublingly, he shot just 43% against an anemic defender, taking some of the shine off his 14.3 points and 7.7 rebounds, the latter of which displayed his growing excellence at pulling down the boards.

It's even more worrying considering Honeycutt has a well-deserved reputation as a lockdown defender, even given Jonte Jones's brutalizing of him last postseason. On the other hand, Marcus has never shot higher than 37.9% in the playoffs and while he should see improvement over his 32.5% from the first round and hence, an increase in his 8.4 points and 1.1 steals, he won't suddenly turn into a Durant.

Advantage: Draw

Center
Jonte Jones vs. Terrence Howard
Jones didn't take as many shots as he normally does against Utah, which accounts for his 18.6 points, 12.1 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.7 blocks. We anticipate him taking a much more active role in scoring this round, especially with Honeycutt shadowing Henry.

Howard doesn't have the scoring instincts to be a Jones, but he's an excellent rebounder and shotblocker with passable defense. He's also strictly an inside scorer, having attempted just 2 three point shots in his entire 10 year career, both misses. Howard's also an atrocious free throw shooter, with a career conversion of 48.1%. That said, he's a true center, unlike previous glorified fours posing as fives the Trailblazers have had over the years (Zach Randolph, LaMarcus Aldridge, Honeycutt).

Advantage: Nuggets

Bench
The stats are somewhat inflated by 3 starts, but Tyrus Thomas was still a major force in the first round, averaging 12.4 points, 5.9 rebounds and 1.6 blocks. Curiously enough, the team seemed to play worse defense when he started, a point in favor of Jim O'Brien's belief he should be on the bench. Louis Mertens showed very good scoring and passing form with 6.9 points, 5.4 assists and a steal, while Tzvetan Kishishev averaged 4.7 points in just 8.6 minutes.

Charles Howard was brilliant in shooting the Timberwolves, silver bulleting his way to 13.4 points a game. But he's also been unhappy about not getting a starting job, especially after Durant went down three games into the series. Brent Short is a very good perimeter defender and passer, averaging 4.6 points and 5.4 assists, but Portland's bench depth is abysmal, especially at C and they may be force to try and play Durant with a broken finger in an emergency situation.

Advantage: Nuggets

Final Thoughts
Missing Kevin Durant is going to cost Portland this series. With him, this series is a tossup, possibly even favoring the Trailblazers slightly. Without him, even with Denver's dysfunctional first round showing, the Nuggets should advance fairly easy. We're not quite willing to believe it'll be so simple, though and in fact project another seven game series that sees Denver win due to home court advantage.
Prediction: Nuggets in 7

Rough, but fair summary. Every round this playoffs is likely to prove a war. Our best chance at an easy go was in the first round and we blew that one.

Game One
Jonte Jones grabs all the headlines with 31 points and 13 rebounds, but it's Victor Gipson who shocks me with his beautiful 22 point, 16 rebound, 6 assist performance. Paulinho Buboltz contributes 21 points and Tyrus Thomas is a bench beast with 17 points. Portland looks completely lost without Kevin Durant and an angry Charles Howard continues to agitate with 22 points off the bench for the lone Traiblazer highlight in our 20 point rout to open the series.
Final - Portland 99 Denver 119

Game Two
I'm not taking this one with any sort of ease. Remember, we spanked the Jazz in Game 1 last series, too. What follows is offense and lots of it. Sonny Boxler thunders for 26 points, Jerian McCrary looks like a real, live point guard with 10 points and 14 assists and Charles Howard and Billy Humphrey each net 13 bench points. We counter with another nice game of 15 points and 12 rebounds from Victor Gipson, 24 points from Jonte Jones, 21 points from Mateen Yeaton, Paulinho Buboltz's 14 points and 15 assists and another sensational bench showing of 16 points from Tyrus Thomas. It adds up to another dominating win and a crisp, clean, refreshing 2-0 series lead. Oh, all five starters scored 12 or more.
Final - Portland 103 Denver 129

Game Three
It's going to be interesting to see how we handle the move to Portland. Short answer: Not well at all. Sonny Boxler abuses us for 32 points, Marcus Honeycutt scores 20, Jerian McCray unleashes for 23 points and 13 assists and Charles Howard continues to have the kind of series that makes me put him on the shortlist for free agent signings next summer with 14 bench points. We muster 16 points and 23 rebounds from Jonte Jones and 18 points and 15 assists from Paulinho Buboltz, but when Portland's scoring 59.3%, we just can't win and instead get our asses kicked from one end of the court to the other. 2-1.
Final - Denver 99 Portland 120

Game Four
Can we snap back to prevent an even series? The bells are tolling ominously as Sonny Boxler scores 31, Terrence Howard finally breaks through for 17 points and 12 rebounds, Jerian McCrary doubles for 18 points and 11 assists and Charles Howard stays ridiculous with 13 bench points. We try to match with Victor Gipson's 20 points and 13 rebounds, Jonte Jones's 16 points and 15 rebounds and Louis Mertens's 13 bench points, but our backcourt has given up the ghost and Mateen Yeaton is shooting 37.9% for the playoffs. We lose by a deja vuing 11 and just like that, it's all knotted up.
Final - Denver 100 Portland 111

Everyone's playing at least one more game.

Game Five
If we can't manage a home win here, our season's pretty much done. Happily, we put the clamps on Portland's offense, allowing only 29 points from Sonny Boxler and 10 points from reserve Jerian Taylor. In contrast, Jonte Jones rules the court with 24 points, 18 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 blocks and a steal, Victor Gipson garners 18 points and 17 rebounds and Louis Mertens powers the second team with 15 points. But the biggest and happiest moment of all is Mateen Yeaton breaking the cold streak for an 11/19 night and 28 points. It's a statement win, a bonecrusher that has it 3-2 us and hopefully signals the return of our star SG.
Final - Portland 93 Denver 115

Much to my surprise, everyone's going to at least six games. Some really intense, heated playoff basketball this year, that's for sure.

Game Six
I would dearly love to close out here in Portland, especially if a certain someone can show being 33 and having a two month layoff hasn't put any more rust on him. I'm sick to my stomach after watching Jonte Jones's 27 points and 14 rebounds and Vinston Henry's 17 points and 11 rebounds go to nothing. It isn't Sonny Boxler's 20 points or Jerian McCrary's 17 points and 17 assists that dooms us. It's that our reserves play like complete shit and the Traiblazers' bench has their way with us, Charles Howard and Jerian Taylor scoring 14 and 12 points a piece. We got the snot kicked out of us and we have to back to Denver.
Final - Denver 92 Portland 114

The East sees the Knicks and Raptors ousting the Bucks and Magic respectively, setting up a 1 vs. 2 conference final. The West is seeing both series go to 7 games.

Game Seven
I'm on the point of hyperventilating and I nearly pass out as I sink into my box suite chair shortly before tipoff. There's an impending sense of doom ringing all throughout me. Terrence Howard rises for 22 points and 12 rebounds, Jerian McCrary is peerless with 17 points and 19 assists and Charles Howard erupts for a furious 24 points and he's pretty much earned his way to a big money contract from somebody in the summer. Jonte Jones has an awful night, scoring just 4 points. We're down 63-49 at the half and the doom sense is growing even more discordant and shrill. But then we rally in the second half, coming out of the locker room with determination and an icy fury at everyone who doubts us. The end result? A 61-34 reversal in the second half and we win!!!. Victor Gipson shows once again why Jim O'Brien's trust in him is valid with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Paulinho Buboltz betters McCrary with 22 points and 19 assists and Louis Mertens and Tzvetan Kishishev each score 10 points off the bench. But you already know who the shining star, the MVP of this game was. Yes, it was none other than Mateen Yeaton, pouring all his heart and energy into 33 points and 11 rebounds to will us to victory. In the end, we advance and that's all that matters right now.
Final - Portland 97 Denver 110

Our conference finals opponent is....

the Dallas Mavericks.

The NBA brass is ecstatic, the TV execs are thrilled and I'm happy too.

The storylines are already being written.

For what greater story is there than Marcelino Augusto, a probable Hall of Famer when all is said and done, going up against the team he wanted out from and the GM who traded him?

Jonte Jones having to play against the team that drafted him, the one he initially didn't want to leave?

The return of both Augusto and Zelipe Gama, the Spanish PG I still miss sometimes, to Denver?

A struggling Mateen Yeaton, paired with the player forever linked with him, Paulinho Buboltz, in our backcourt?

All of this and more, for on the line is not only our quest for a fourpeat, but our efforts to reach our seventh straight NBA Finals.