Nuggets make you imagine the possibilities

Carmelo Anthony (right) had a big game against Ron Artest and the Lakers. (NBAE via Getty Images)

The Lakers have an air of invulnerability about them even though they have been more vulnerable over the past few seasons than some people realize. The Rockets took them to seven games in the 2009 Western Conference semifinals despite missing Yao Ming for the second half of the series. The Nuggets were a couple of Trevor Ariza steals away from at least forcing a seventh game in the conference finals that year. Last-second put-backs saved Los Angeles from potential seven-gamers against the Thunder (first round) and Suns (conference finals) last season.

That’s the thing about champions, though — they win when they have to, and they develop the mystique and confidence that come with winning those games. And in the process the public perceives them as unbeatable when in fact they have been near the precipice before.

Denver’s 118-112 home victory against the Lakers on Thursday was a small reminder of that — a reminder of how closely the Nuggets played the Lakers in that 2009 series, and that George Karl’s team does not fear Los Angeles.

But as much as you might want to believe otherwise, a win on Nov. 11 changes nothing about the big-picture narrative for Denver. Carmelo Anthony (who had 32 points on 14-of-25 shooting to go with 13 rebounds Thursday) is still a pending free agent who appears to have no intention of signing the three-year extension that has been on the table for months. Chauncey Billups is still an aging point guard whose $14.2 million deal for next season carries only $3.7 million in guaranteed money. Nene can opt out of his 2011-12 deal, J.R. Smith is on track to be an unrestricted free agent and the emerging Arron Afflalo will be a restricted free agent.

The chances of an Anthony trade and a trip to the lottery probably remain as strong today as they did before Denver’s fun comeback Thursday.

But you know what? Ignore all of that for a second and think about how fun it would be if Denver took its chances and kept Anthony all season, and the players developed a “one more for the road” mentality in pursuing a title with the vigor they showed Thursday. That team would be loads of fun, and it might be the team the Lakers would fear most in the postseason.

There was a possession Thursday that reminded me of that 2009 series. With about 1:45 left in the third quarter, Anthony got stuck guarding Pau Gasol. Denver spent much of the game playing small, with Anthony at power forward and Al Harrington (working his butt off) at center. Gasol immediately went to post up on the left block, and the jostling that ensued between Gasol and Anthony was among the most physical you’ll see without a foul call. Gasol tried to move Anthony with his arms and his back, and Carmelo did everything he could to maintain his position. He got his legs under Gasol, he gave him a forearm to the back for a split second before raising his hands in the air (I didn’t do it!), and he had one arm ready to poke away an entry pass.

It was ferocious defense, the kind Anthony’s critics say he doesn’t play. Gasol eventually missed a jump hook he probably makes 75 percent of the time. Anthony grabbed the rebound and went coast-to-coast for layup that got the crowd going nuts.

This is the Anthony we love. This is the guy who spent that 2009 playoff series brutalizing Kobe Bryant in the post, taking turns defending Kobe and flirting at times with working hard on the glass. Anthony wasn’t an especially efficient scorer in that series, but he played the brand of hard-nosed ball Denver needs him to play in big games.

That version of Anthony, combined with a healthy front line, the speedy Ty Lawson and a new stretch 4 in Harrington, can give any team fits. Harrington is playing as hard as he has in years, and Nene, despite dealing with some nagging injuries, was taking Gasol off the dribble and cutting right through the Lakers’ defense when Gasol shifted off him to help on the strong side. It was a joy to watch.

This Denver team will never be a defensive juggernaut, and Anthony will always take some questionable shots (just like Bryant did Thursday in shooting 11-of-32). But the Nuggets can be a scary postseason team if everything goes right. The problem is that everything could go right, and the Nuggets could lose Anthony in the offseason and set themselves back years.

What a job for Denver’s front office, huh?