Nightmare Spurs scenario could surprisingly become blessing in disguise

The Nuggets are dangerously close to falling into the play-in, and as a potential 7th seed, could end up as San Antonio's first-round opponent. They've struggled to find themselves ever since Nikola Jokic returned from injury, but that doesn't mean they'll be a pushover in the postseason. The 3x MVP would be quite the challenge for first-timers like the Spurs, but it could also be exactly what they need.

The Spurs' postseason run could be propelled by a huge first-round win

No matter how Denver is playing right now, everyone knows that's a veteran team with championship experience. Knocking them out of a seven-game series will be difficult. That's a hell of a first opponent for Victor Wembanyama and his young teammates, but there's a gift and a curse in that fact.

The Joker is one of the greatest players we've ever seen because he plays the game with high intellect. He'll challenge the entire Spurs crew, including the coaches, all series long. Coming out of a battle like that with a victory will fuel San Antonio's confidence and give them a wealth of experience quickly.

We can't ignore how dangerous of a proposition it is either. In 2015, the Silver and Black were fresh off a title and looking to go back for seconds when they ran into the Clippers in the first round due to a loss in the final game of the season to the Pelicans. It was the difference between a two- and a six-seed during a time when the NBA was still rewarding division winners with home court advantage.

The league ended that practice the next season, by the way. But the damage had been done. The Spurs were forced to match up early against a team they should have had more time to ramp up for, and they couldn't get it done. The circumstances leading to these scenarios may be different, but the realities of the challenge a top-tier opponent in the first round can pose are similar.

Spurs won't back down from the challenge

If there's anything we've learned about the team this year, it's not to doubt or underestimate them. The playoffs can be a different game, but we can't skip through time. We can only go based on what they've shown thus far, and they've been showing how capable they are all season.

The amount of winning they're doing is that of a real top-tier contender—not one with a long shot, puncher's chance. This is a real threat. San Antonio has won low-scoring grinders and shootouts. They've silenced star players and picked apart defensive schemes with that old-school Spurs precision.

That experience will be invaluable if they're forced to take on the Nuggets in the first round. Funny enough, Mitch Johnson's ball club will face Denver two more times after tonight's game, so they could very well be assisting a potential first-round meeting with a juggernaut. But it is what it is.

Everyone in the playoffs is a threat to be respected, so they might as well knock out the biggest guy they see as soon as possible. Do that as a team so young, and the rest of the Western Conference playoff bracket will truly realize the threat on their hands in San Antonio.