DENVER — The Denver Nuggets are attempting to become the worst defensive team to make the playoffs since the Golden State Warriors in 1991-92.
Let that sink in for a moment. No team has allowed their opponent to score more points per game than this year’s Nuggets squad, (who’s giving up 111.4 per contest) and qualified for the playoffs since Tim Hardaway and Chris Mullin surrendered 114.8 per game 25 years ago. That year the Warriors still grabbed the third seed in the West but were upset by the Sonics, who were led by Shawn Kemp, Gary Payton, Ricky Pierce, Eddie Johnson and Derrick McKey, and scored at least 115 points on Golden State in every game that series.