(Denver-CO) The Denver Nuggets have history on the line tonight. If they win, they will match a franchise best 6-0 start set back in the 1985-86 season. Standing in their way is Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat. In addition, tonight’s game is the first for the Nuggets against a winning team this season. The Heat, 4-1 so far, suffered their only loss to the Phoenix Suns back on November 3rd after winning three straight.

When looking at Miami it becomes apparent that they are not going to beat you as a team or with teamwork. The Heat average just 18.6 assists per game of which Dwyane Wade (4.8 apg) and Mario Chalmers (5.0 apg) combine to make up more than half of that mark. To me, this shows that the bulk of Miami’s offense comes from one-on-one scoring and the best way to beat a team that plays so individually is to gang up on them defensively. This means, if Wade wants to try and be a one man show the Nuggets need to support their first line of defense with great defensive rotations and a relentless team-first, defend the basket mentality.

As for how the Nuggets should attack on the other end, let’s just say that Miami isn’t the kind of team that’s going to allow you to shoot lay-ups. The Heat are currently allowing the second lowest FG% in the NBA (40%) and are not sending their opponent to the free-throw line very much either. So, for the Nuggets to match their league-high average of 115.4 ppg, my prescription is for Denver to pile up the assist column with fast break points and the best way to do this starts on the defensive glass. The Nuggets are a middle of the pack rebounding team thus far into the season, but that statistic is a tad bit deceiving because Denver plays at such a fast pace (obviously, to score that many points) that their opposition gets that many more possessions per game, and hence, Denver has more rebounding opportunities. And in all reality, rebounding has been Denver’s weakest attribute so far, and against a team like Miami, who plays good-to-great defense, if the Nuggets do not find other ways to score this game could go either way depending on which team’s star player(s) is having a better night.

With all that being said, this Nuggets team is definitely capable of beating the Heat. Denver has piled up some huge totals in the assist column and, on paper, Denver has the superior personnel. In fact, Denver’s top five scorers are averaging a whopping 81.4 ppg, or if you prefer, less than ten points fewer (91.2)than Miami is allowing per game. Furthermore, Denver has won eight straight against the Heat overall and five in a row at Miami.

I want a share of history tonight, Nuggets Nation.

Go Nuggets!

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