Nuggets Aiming for Homecourt Advantage

Despite the major roster shakeup at the trade deadline, George Karl still has lofty goals for his ballclub. From the Denver Post: “It’s understood that the Spurs, Mavericks and Lakers will (likely) be the top three seeds, but George Karl believes that Denver (yes, Denver) can compete for that fourth spot — and, thus, home-court advantage in the first round. ‘I think if we finish up February well and have a good March, what I’d like to do is get those two April games against Oklahoma City (which is No. 4 in the West),’ said Karl. ‘I have a feeling that it will be a fight for home-court situation. And I think you’ll have to beat Oklahoma City twice to get the home court.’ Only three games separate teams five through 10 in the Western Conference (eight teams make the playoffs), though it’s possible Utah will suffer down the stretch after the trade of its best player, Deron Williams. The Hornets, Trail Blazers, Grizzlies and even the Suns join the Nuggets as teams battling for the final four playoff berths. ‘All I know is from March 15 to April 15, there’s going to be a lot of pressurized games,’ Karl said. ‘Scoreboard watching is going to start a little earlier this year.'”