[Izulde]

It's been quite a few years since we've been in this position of having to chase from behind rather than the one being pursued. I don't like it, but it's what we have to go with.

Things get off to a bad start as we split a doubleheader. Memphis beats us 98-83 as everyone but Jonte Jones (26 points, 20 rebounds) and Mike Vines (23 points) has an awful night. It doesn't help that Mateen Yeaton's battling an abdominal strain. Fortunately, we shred the Hornets 108-86, Jonte Jones coming up with 29 points and 16 rebounds, Mike Vines grabbing 15 points and 10 rebounds and David Jackson bursting through for 23 points off the bench. Nice to see 50 Ninja come alive again.

We pretty much throw away any chance we have at catching Utah in losing the next back-to-back. The Timberwolves tip us 92-39 as we can't come back from a horrendous first quarter, not even with Jonte Jones's 25 points and 19 rebounds or Carlton Goree's 16 bench points. The less said about our 116-102 loss to the Supersonics, the better. Jonte Jones is great with 34 points and 10 rebounds, Mike Vines has 15 points and 10 rebounds and Carlton Goree adds 12 points off the bench, but it seems like for some reason, it seems like we play worse with Jones than without him.

Balanced offense keyed by 22 points from Mike Vines and 12 and 10 reserve points respectively from David Jackson and Carlton Goree leads us to a 106-82 spanking of Golden State, who I feel a little sorry for. Louis Mertens wasn't even really worth a late 1st round pick, let alone what now appears to be a lottery selection.

Mike Vines and Jonte Jones score 24 points each, Jones tacking on 11 rebounds as we roll over the Hornets by 20, 111-91. Nolan Hill contributes 12 points and 12 assists and that same 12 points is what David Jackson gives us off the bench.

We crush the Grizzlies 117-81 in the rematch as Mike Vines scores 33, Jonte Jones adds 20 points, Nolan Hill is off the hook with 15 points and 18 assists, Carlton Goree chimes in with 14 points off the bench and David Jackson snags 11 bench boards. We beat the Rockets the next night 107-95 on Jonte Jones's 28 points and 17 rebounds and Tzvetan Kishev's 10 points to headline the second team.

Unfortunately, we're still 1.5 games behind the Jazz. We need to win out our final doubleheader and some helpful losing from Utah if we want the division and the #1 seed. Our part's taken care of as we whip the Suns 127-106. Jonte Jones and Mateen Yeaton score 21 and 20 points and Carlton Goree chips in 10 points off the bench, but the most amazing thing about this game is Tzvetan Kishishev channeling the God of Shooting, hitting a blistering 15/18 from the floor for 34 points. In our 104-97 regular-season ending win over Portland, Mateen Yeaton finally looks healthy with 32 points, Mike Vines continues his strong stretch run play with 22 points, Jonte Jones doubles with 15 points, 15 rebounds and Carlton Goree issues 13 assists off the bench.

But was it enough?

No.

56-26 gives us the #2 seed.

West Conference Seedings
1. Utah Jazz (58-24)
2. Denver Nuggets (56-26)
3. Dallas Mavericks (50-32)
4. Sacramento Kings (42-40)
5. Minnesota Timberwolves (48-34)
6. Portland Trailblazers (43-39)
7. Houston Rockets (41-41)
8. Los Angeles Lakers (40-42)

This is the first time since 2009 the Denver Nuggets haven't won the Northwest. Ironically, it was also the Utah Jazz who took the crown in 2009. It's also the first time in my tenure we've failed to win the division title.

Maybe I made a mistake with the Augusto trade, but it's too late now.

East Conference Seedings
1. Toronto Raptors (59-23)
2. Orlando Magic (56-26)
3. Detroit Pistons (50-32)
4. New York Knicks (50-32)
5. Milwaukee Bucks (49-33)
6. Cleveland Cavaliers (48-34)
7. New Jersey Nets (47-35)
8. Charlotte Bobcats (45-37)

The 42-40 76ers and Hawks both had to stay home. The road's wide open for the Raptors to get back to the Finals.

Points
T1. Nigel Abel (MIA) - 26.7
T1. Marcelino Augusto (DAL) - 26.7
3. Justin Richler (TOR) -26.1
7. Mateen Yeaton (DEN) - 23.0
8. Jonte Jones (DEN) - 22.2

Heh. Fitting our top scorers end up right next to each other.

Assists
1. Kenny Graham (SAC) - 12.0
2. A.J. Dunkley (UTA) - 11.4
3. Bernard Kelly (MEM) - 10.9
8. Zelipe Gama (DAL) - 9.5
17. Nolan Hill (DEN) - 8.3

Makes you wonder what kind of numbers Hill would've put up if he'd started all 82 games.

Rebounds
1. Greg Oden (TOR) - 14.7
2. Dontay Williamson (LAC) - 14.0
3. Jonte Jones (DEN) - 12.2

Blocks
1. Dontay Williamson (LAC) - 3.4
2. Patrick Riley (SAC) - 3.2
3. Martin Beerbohm (NOR) - 3.0
14. Victor Gipson (DEN) - 2.2

Steals
1. Derrick Sterett (NJ) - 2.4
2. Pete Latham - (SAN) - 2.0
3. Kyle Smith (CLE) - 1.7

Rookies

Points
1. Austin Forte (LAC) - 13.6
2. Brad Smalls (WAS) - 12.6
3. Jon Ward (PHX) - 11.8

Assists
1. Brett Archibald (POR) - 3.7
2. Austin Forte (LAC) - 3.4
3. Ray Smith (NYK) - 3.2

Rebounds
1. Terry Vinson (CHI) - 6.9
2. Jon Ward (PHX) - 5.0
3. Clifton Snyder (GSW) - 4.3

Blocks
1. Jon Ward (PHX) - 1.7
2. Brad Smalls (WAS) - 0.9
3. Terry Vinson (CHI) - 0.3

Steals
1. Brad Smalls (WAS) - 1.5
2. Jon Ward (PHX) - 1.3
3. Austin Forte (LAC) - 1.0