Seventeen of the Denver Nuggets' first 23 games have been on the road. The team is 11-12, a record worse than many predicted after an offseason trade landed All-Star and Team USA member Andre Iguodala in town, replacing Arron Afflalo and Al Harrington. However, their second half is going to be easier than most other teams'. That fact has head coach George Karl not feeling too bad about the team's disappointing record, and the Denver Post has a great story about it:

"I don't know what George (Karl) did to commissioner (David) Stern, but their schedule is brutal," Timberwolves coach Rick Adelman said with a chuckle.

"If you see us at 17-15 on January 1, we'll have a celebration," Karl said. "That's how tough our schedule is."

Once the calendar turns, the schedule gets significantly easier. Of the Nuggets' 15 games in January, 12 will be at home. Those home contest include games against the Magic, Jazz, Cavaliers, Wizards and Pacers, all of which the Nuggets should win.

For a team that has struggled to gel, despite getting some stalwart individual performances from Kenneth Faried and JaVale McGee, consistent home play will go far, especially for Iguodala and the up-and-down Ty Lawson.