Carmelo Anthony’s Nuggets Playoff Run

Carmelo Anthony’s Nuggets Playoff Run

2008-2009 Denver Nuggets: Advancing

The stretch of his career that put his name on the NBA map was his time with the Denver Nuggets, and small forward Carmelo Anthony gave Denver basketball fans plenty to talk about while leading the Nuggets as their biggest superstar. One thing fans kept bringing up, though, was that Anthony and the Nuggets had never gotten out of the First Round of the playoffs. Anthony and company knew that if they wanted the “one and done” talk to end, they would have to advance past the First Round.

A Franchise-Best Regular Season

In the 2008-2009 NBA season, the Denver Nuggets went 54-28, finishing in a tie for first place in the Northwest Division with the Portland Trail Blazers. Thanks to a better divisional record, the Nuggets got the edge and won the division. The Nuggets went 33-8 at home on the Pepsi Center floor and 21-20 on the road, and they went 12-4 in divisional play. Month by month, the Nuggets went 11-5 in November, 9-6 in December, 10-4 in January, 8-4 in February, 10-6 in March, and 5-2 in April.

The Trade That Changed Everything

The significant trade that set the wheels in motion for the Nuggets came on November 3, when shooting guard Allen Iverson was sent to the Detroit Pistons in exchange for power forward Antonio McDyess, center Cheikh Samb, and point guard Chauncey Billups. The first two would never see the court for the Nuggets, but Billups gave the team a huge spark, finishing with 1,375 points, 491 assists, and 90 steals, while making 160 of 390 3-point shots and 409 of 448 free throws.

Statistical Leaders

Carmelo Anthony once again led the team in scoring with 1,504 points, 450 rebounds, 222 assists, and 75 steals, making 63 of 170 3-point shots. Shooting guard J.R. Smith had 1,233 points, 227 assists, and 78 steals, making 180 of 453 3-point shots. Power forward Nene Hilario had 1,123 points, 598 rebounds, 95 steals, and 101 blocks, making 428 of 709 field goal attempts. Small forward Linas Kleiza had 813 points and made 87 of 267 3-point shots.

Power forward Kenyon Martin had 769 points, 96 steals, and 74 blocks, making 14 of 38 3-point shots. Center Chris Andersen, nicknamed “Birdman,” had 452 points and 442 rebounds, making 160 of 292 field goal attempts. Shooting guard Dahntay Jones had 429 points and made 11 of 17 3-point shots. Point guard Anthony Carter had 412 points, 364 assists, and 96 steals, making 21 of 88 3-point shots.

During the regular season, the Nuggets went on an 8-game winning streak that began with a 101-88 win over the New Orleans Hornets on March 25 and ended with a 122-112 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder on April 8.

Breaking Through in the Playoffs

The main challenge that had been plaguing the Nuggets was their inability to advance past the First Round of the playoffs, but 2009 finally brought a breakthrough as they eliminated the New Orleans Hornets 4 games to 1.

First Round: Nuggets vs. Hornets

In Game 1 on April 19 at the Pepsi Center, the Nuggets pounded the Hornets 113-84. Chauncey Billups had 36 points and 8 assists, making 8 of 9 3-point shots. J.R. Smith added 19 points and 4 rebounds. In Game 2 on April 22, the Nuggets won 108-93. Billups had 31 points, 4 rebounds, and 4 assists, making 4 of 6 3-point shots. Carmelo Anthony had 22 points, 3 rebounds, and 9 assists, making 2 of 5 3-point shots. Smith had 15 points and 4 rebounds, making 3 of 5 3-point shots.

The Hornets picked up their only win of the series with a close 95-93 victory in Game 3 on April 25 at the New Orleans Arena. The Nuggets responded by taking Game 4 on April 27, routing the Hornets 121-63. Anthony had 26 points and made 2 of 3 3-point shots, while Billups had 17 points, 3 rebounds, and 8 assists, making 2 of 4 3-point shots. The Nuggets then closed out the series with a 107-86 win in Game 5 on April 29 at the Pepsi Center. Anthony had 34 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 4 steals, and Smith had 20 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists, making 5 of 8 3-point shots.

Western Conference Semifinals: Nuggets vs. Mavericks

Having finally advanced past the First Round of the Western Conference playoffs for the first time in Carmelo Anthony’s career, the Nuggets faced the Dallas Mavericks in the Western Conference Semifinals and eliminated them 4 games to 1.

In Game 1 on May 3 at the Pepsi Center, the Nuggets beat the Mavericks 109-95. Nene Hilario had 24 points, 3 rebounds, and 5 assists, while Anthony had 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists, making 2 of 3 3-point shots. In Game 2 on May 5, the Nuggets won 117-105. Anthony had 25 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists; Hilario had 25 points and 8 rebounds; and Smith had 21 points and 3 assists, making 3 of 7 3-point shots.

In Game 3 on May 9 at the American Airlines Center, the Nuggets edged the Mavericks 106-105. Billups had 32 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists, making 3 of 7 3-point shots, while Anthony had 31 points and 8 rebounds, making 2 of 2 3-point shots. The Mavericks picked up their only win in Game 4 on May 11 by a score of 119-117. The Nuggets shut the door on Dallas by winning Game 5 on May 13 at the Pepsi Center, 124-110. Anthony had 30 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists, making 4 of 7 3-point shots. Billups had 28 points, 7 rebounds, and 12 assists, making 3 of 6 3-point shots, and Smith had 18 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists, making 4 of 10 3-point shots.

Western Conference Finals: Nuggets vs. Lakers

The Western Conference Finals would be as far as the Denver Nuggets went, as they faced a team that was simply too good in comparison. The Nuggets fell to the eventual 2009 NBA champion Los Angeles Lakers 4 games to 2. In Game 2 on May 21 at the Staples Center, the Nuggets held on to beat the Lakers 106-103. Anthony had 34 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists, and Billups had 27 points and 4 assists, making 2 of 4 3-point shots. In Game 4 on May 25 at the Pepsi Center, the Nuggets won 120-101. Billups had 24 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists, while Smith had 24 points and 4 assists, making 4 of 9 3-point shots. Denver’s rebounding was key to this win, as Kenyon Martin had 15 rebounds, Chris Andersen had 14 rebounds, and Nene Hilario had 13 rebounds.

A Changing of the Guard in Denver

The 2009 playoffs would prove to be Carmelo Anthony’s best chance at winning a title with the Denver Nuggets, but he preferred not to stay the course in Denver and chose a different path in his career. Prior to the 2011-2012 NBA season, following more early playoff exits, Anthony was traded to the New York Knicks, and the Nuggets moved on with a new roster.