The Denver Nuggets ended their five-game road trip with a 3-2 record, losing the last two games. However, the Nuggets slipped only one spot in the latest SB Nation NBA Power Rankings. As last week's rankings noted, the Nuggets fail to inspire fear into other teams, beating those that they should and losing to those that they should as well.
↵However, look at the five-game road trip results: victories over the Washington Wizards, the Detroit Pistons and the Cleveland Cavaliers. None of those teams is in the playoff picture, and the Cavaliers just lost their 21st straight game. Those were all teams the Nuggets were supposed to beat. Then why losses to 76ers and the Nets?
↵Oh, sure the Sixers currently hold a playoff--with a sub-.500 record. It's partly poor defense (the Nuggets have allowed 100-plus points in four of their last road victories) and poor shooting (something Melo has had issues with this season). Despite Melo's 37 points, the Nuggets played as though they were uninterested in the game against the Nets for long stretches of time..
↵Chances are the Nuggets will still be in this spot in the power rankings next week.
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