DENVER — The Denver Nuggets looked as prime as any recent champion to break the trend of NBA parity, ready to repeat and along the way earn every benefit.
Now, all they have are doubts. The doubts are laid bare, smacking them directly in the face with long arms, steely eyes and a focus that should look familiar to their own.
They’re wearing the look of frustration, the look of summer vacation coming a month earlier than they originally planned. They look out of answers after two games in the Western Conference semifinals.
It’s not just that the Minnesota Timberwolves dismantled them in Game 2 of their best-of-seven series Monday night, a 106-80 thrashing at Ball Arena.