I didn't think I'd see the day where I'd be excited again for Denver Nuggets basketball, but here I am feeling like their on the verge of something special that I can't ignore.

Growing up in Denver, I was fanatical about the Nuggets, almost on equal par with the Broncos. They always had fun teams with exciting players that made every game attractive. The last exciting moment I had with Nuggets basketball was in 1994 when they knocked off the 1st seeded Seattle SuperSonics in an exciting 5 game series after being down 2-0. They fought hard against Utah in the next round but the hometown Salt Lake City crowd, and referees, were too much to overcome in game 7.

That 94' team had favorable matchups against both Houston, who they would have met in the West Finals and either the Knicks or Pacers in the Finals. Dikembe Mutombo was a force that intimidated Hakeem Olajuwon in all their battles; The DREAM got shut down, always. They had a nice mix of great outside shooting, good defense, and decent inside scoring that made them difficult to match up with.

I thought the team would mature on go on to greater things in 1995, but they digressed and became much worse barely beating the Kings out for the 8th and final seed in the west. After that, the Nuggets really had nothing to cheer for. The organization wasn't trying, the players weren't very good, and they were just tough overall to watch.

Then 2004 came with the prize of Carmelo Anthony leading the Nuggets to their first playoff appearance in nearly a decade. Just like the last time they were in the playoffs, the 1st seeded Spurs made quick work of them. For the next four seasons after Carmelo's rookie year, they would be disposed of in the 1st round.

Worse off from the quick exits for me was the manor in which they lost. Allen Iverson was supposed to bring some leadership and experience, but all it did was turn me off to the team even more. Iverson brought his "ME" attitude to the team, along with a tattoo membership for everyone to use, that made the team look more like the ME" guys from the "And 1" tour. They were selfish, didn't pass, didn't help on defense, and basically didn't understand the fundamentals of the game.

Apparently George Karl agreed and found a team willing to take Iverson. What was surprising was that someone was willing to give up a top notch player in a trade, and not just a couple of throw ins. The team would have done well without Iverson, but Karl got lucky when Joe Dumars offered Chauncey Billups for Iverson because he was tired of just making the East Finals. Dumars thought Iverson could be that player to take the team over the hump in the less competitive East.

Upon hearing of the trade I was immediately intrigued, apprehensive, but somewhat excited. Billups was a player I had watched and admired at George Washington high in Denver and then turned down big time scholarships to stay home and go to Boulder and attempt to take the lowly Buffaloes to another level, which he did while there. Taking the Colorado scholarship showed me a ton about his character.

I was excited when the Nuggets acquired Billups from Minnesota, but he didn't get much playing time and then eventually found his niche in Detroit where he honed his skills as a leader, became tougher, learned how to run the best half court offense, became a better  shooter, and eventually became an NBA Finals MVP. How Joe Dumars was tired of that, I don't know.

Immediately, things changed in Denver. Carmelo cut his Lady Vols braids and seemed willing to let Billups shoulder the leadership role - funny how a ring commands that type of respect. Carmelo's game became better and more effective instantly.

After making an instant splash in the win column with Denver, the Nuggets tailed off a bit and struggled against some weaker teams, but with about a month to go in the season, the team put it all together and went on a 14-2 run going into the playoffs.

So here I am watching every game and seeing how well they play together in a team format and I have the fever. They have good off the bench role players that all play great defense and give a boost of intensity every time they step onto the court. The fever I have has me delirious in thinking they can beat the Lakers in the West Finals and then maybe even take the Cavaliers in Finals. I see so many different areas of unselfishness and toughness that has me thinking they look more like San Antonio than a Denver team.

I have been delirious in the past with Dan Issel, David Thompson, Alex English, Fat Lever, and of course the '94 team, but I feel I'm older and wiser at this point and am looking from abroad as someone not so infatuated with the team that has my judgment clouded. I'm long over wearing the face paint and jersey, but this team looks like it may have me ordering at least a 2009 NBA Champions hat.