(Denver-CO) The Denver Nuggets have a chance tonight to do something they haven't done since Hector was a pup (credit Chris Marlowe and Scott Hastings for the saying). Tonight, the Nuggets have a chance to advance to the second round of the NBA Playoffs for the first time since the 1993-94 season when they were the Cinderella story of the postseason after defeating the Seattle Supersonics, who won 63 games that season, as the eighth seed. It was the first time an eighth seed had ever upset a number one seed in the NBA playoffs since the NBA changed its playoff format in 1984 and the Nuggets did so by coming back from a 0-2 in a five game series.

15 years, Nuggets Nation. 15 long years.

And, keep in mind, the connection we still have from that unbelievable feat: George Karl. Coach Karl was the Head Coach of the Seattle Supersonics when the Nuggets upset them. He was also an assistant Coach with the Washington Bullets when the now Wizards blew a 3-1 game lead back in 1978 to the San Antonio Spurs before being eliminated.

So, they say we study history so that it doesn't repeat itself (at least not negatively). Tonight is an opportunity for George Karl to exorcise some of his demons from the past, including those with the Nuggets in the last few years, and take this team to the next round where the Mavericks, a team Denver beat all four games in the regular season, is waiting.

My hope is that this is just the begining of a magical run for the Mile High City and its uber-patient fans. I was just eleven years old when the Nuggets upset the Sonics back in 1994 and that's a long time to have been waiting for another opportunity to advance to the second round...

The Nuggets need to mentally prepare for tonight's game as if THEY were the ones beaten by 58 points in game four and put this series in the books in front of the Mile High faithful. My prediction is New Orleans will come out seeing red and with an incredible amount of energy of which the Nuggets need to match before the Hornets even think they can extend this series. The Pepsi Center will be rockin', the Bird will be blockin', shots will be droppin', and Chris Paul will be floppin' but none of that matters as long as the Nuggets keep poppin' their collars into the second round.

Go Nuggets!

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