Spurs vs. Nuggets predictions

Michael A. De Leon | ProjectSpurs.com webmaster and Spurscast host/producer
SPURS IN SIX: With the Spurs ability to set and keep the pace against quicker teams, the Nuggets speedy style shouldn’t be a big difference-maker. On the other end of the court, the Nuggets don’t have enough of a defensive game or dedicated defenders besides Marcus Camby to stop the Spurs big three.
The Nuggets do have some great players in Allen Iverson, Carmelo Anthony and Marcus Camby who all have the edge in their positional matchups. Those players as well as a group of reliable shooters (Smith, Kleiza) and defenders (Najera, Evans) give the Nuggets enough firepower to take two games in this series, possibly games 3 and 4 at the Pepsi Center.
Jeff Garcia | ProjectSpurs.com writer and Spurscast co-host
SPURS IN 5: The Spurs ended the season on a 3 game losing streak but don’t let that fool you. The Spurs rested their star players and the team is chomping at the bit to get these playoffs going. The Spurs, battle tested veterans, take on George Karl and the Denver Nuggets.
With that being said, the Nuggets, show casing AI and Melo, provide the Spurs a formidable foe in the opening round. The Nuggets, though mostly young guys like JR Smith and Steve Blake, have players who have been tested deep in the playoffs. AI, and Marcus Camby have been to the NBA Finals before and knows what it takes to get there. But will they have enough help on their roster to get them there let alone defeat the Spurs? No. They are too individualistic.
The Spurs have taken on teams in the past in the opening round who were on winning streaks, for example the Nuggets in 2005. Currently the Nuggets go into this years playoffs with some winning momentum, winning 10-11 of their last games. Still, this Spurs squad is too playoff tested to let any Denver upset occur.
Tale of the tape: Denver’s strengths are their offensive explosiveness with AI and Melo, athleticism, and running game. Spurs strengths consists of their championship pedigree, defense, team concept, can control the tempo of the game, and perhaps their most distinctive advantage, Tim Duncan.