The Nuggets are going to miss Danilo Gallinari in the playoffs, but Wilson Chandler and Corey Brewer can fill in some of his production and points.
But they aren’t going anywhere in the postseason without Ty Lawson. Andre Miller is a great point guard off the bench but Lawson is the engine that makes the Nuggets offense run in another gear.
And he could be back from a torn plantar facia this week — he went through five-on-five practice on Tuesday. Then after the game coach George Karl said this, tweeted by the official Denver Nuggets account.
https://twitter.com/denvernuggets/statuses/321731991290662912
He shouldn’t rush back — if he needs to sit out until Game 1 of the playoffs he should. But if he’s ready to go and can ease his way back in over the next week then all the better.
With him, Denver is a real playoff threat. They also want to keep the three seed (meaning likely Golden State in the first round, an easier matchup than Memphis or the L.A. Clippers). Having Lawson back makes it more likely Denver can get the wins to hold down that spot. Currently the Nuggets are the three seed, one game up on Memphis and two up on the Clippers (L.A. will be no lower than the four seed as they won the Pacific division, but that doesn’t guarantee them home court in the first round).