With the Jason Richardson-less, Matt Barnes-less, Mickael Pietrus-less, Warriors playing in New Orleans today, Denver had a real opportunity to gain some breathing room in the Western Conference. They hold the tiebreaker over #9 Golden State, and a win over the Kings would've given them a 1-game advantage with six games to play.

However they lost last night, 118-115, and it might be all the Warriors need to break into the playoffs. Carmelo Anthony scored 47 points and the Nuggets finished with 100+ points for the seventeenth consecutive game. But this team can't stop anybody, and I mean anybody. They allowed Francisco Garcia, Mikki Moore, and Kevin Martin to score 88 points. Ron Artest and Brad Miller weren't even playing and they still lost.

The Nuggets final six games are in Seattle, at the Clippers, at Golden State, at Utah, versus Houston, and versus Memphis. Now let's say they don't beat the Warriors, and they don't beat Utah, and they beat everyone else: they finish 50-32.

The Warriors final six games are in New Orleans, against Sacramento, against the Nuggets, against the Clippers, in Phoenix, and versus Seattle. If they lose their two road games against Phoenix and New Orleans, they finish 50-32.

Because the Warriors division record isn't as good as Denver's, the Nuggets hold the tiebreak. If the Warriors are going to get in, they need to either exceed 50 wins or hope Denver falters somewhere and finishes with 49. Last year, the Clippers lost late in the season to Sacramento and it gave the Warriors the advantage in the standings to make the playoffs. Golden State will need that fortune again if they hope to get in.