SB Nation's NBA Power Rankings for Week 4 just came out, and it's unfortunate that they were completed before the Denver Nuggets' trouncing of the Golden State Warriors, 106-89. As it stands, the Nuggets check in at No. 7 this week in the Western Conference rankings. Seth Pollack of Bright Side of the Sun and SB Nation Arizona had the write-up this week:
Denver went 2-2 last week with wins over the [sic] New York and New Jersey and losses to Phoenix and Portland. So why are the Nuggets ranked this high? Because voters were pre-adjusting for the return of The Birdman!!!
Fly, be free!
There's just a bit of humor in there about Chris "Birdman" Andersen's return, but his return last night could bode well for the team. The Nuggets now have a deeper bench, though Shelden Williams probably doesn't like that much. He's already lost playing time to Andersen. Now, when Kenyon Martin returns, this team should be rolling.
The Nuggers actually rank higher than the two teams they lost to last week: the Portland Trail Blazers and the Phoenix Suns. They are Nos. 8 and 9, respectively. One could swap all three teams in this range, because, as Seth Pollack writes, "we've reached that point in the rankings where 2-2 is a good week." (Note: The Suns went 2-3, but all things considered. . . .)
The two teams the Nuggets beat, the New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets, are Nos. 9 and 12 in the Eastern Conference. Does Carmelo Anthony really want to go either of those teams and play in such a weak conference?