2010-2011 Record: 50-32; Predicted 2011-2012 Record: 32-34
Due to contractual obligations to their Chinese teams, J.R. Smith, Kenyon Martin and Wilson Chandler cannot return to the NBA until late February or early March. By that time, the Denver Nuggets will be too far behind to really contend for a spot in the Western Conference Playoffs.
| Date | Visitor | Home | Prediction | Predicted Record |
| 12/26/11 | Denver Nuggets | Dallas Mavericks | Mavericks | 0-1 |
| 12/28/11 | Utah Jazz | Denver Nuggets | Nuggets | 1-1 |
| 12/29/11 | Denver Nuggets | Portland Trail Blazers | Trail Blazers | 1-2 |
| 12/31/11 | Denver Nuggets | Los Angeles Lakers | Lakers | 1-3 |
| 1/1/12 | Los Angeles Lakers | Denver Nuggets | Lakers | 1-4 |
| 1/2/12 | Milwaukee Bucks | Denver Nuggets | Bucks | 1-5 |
| 1/4/12 | Sacramento Kings | Denver Nuggets | Nuggets | 2-5 |
| 1/6/12 | Denver Nuggets | New Orleans Hornets | Hornets | 2-6 |
| 1/7/12 | Denver Nuggets | San Antonio Spurs | Spurs | 2-7 |
| 1/9/12 | New Orleans Hornets | Denver Nuggets | Nuggets | 3-7 |
| 1/11/12 | New Jersey Nets | Denver Nuggets | Nuggets | 4-7 |
| 1/13/12 | Miami Heat | Denver Nuggets | Heat | 4-8 |
| 1/15/12 | Utah Jazz | Denver Nuggets | Nuggets | 5-8 |
| 1/17/12 | Denver Nuggets | Milwaukee Bucks | Nuggets | 6-8 |
| 1/18/12 | Denver Nuggets | Philadelphia 76ers | 76ers | 6-9 |
| 1/20/12 | Denver Nuggets | Washington Wizards | Wizards | 6-10 |
| 1/21/12 | Denver Nuggets | New York Knicks | Knicks | 6-11 |
| 1/25/12 | Denver Nuggets | Sacramento Kings | Nuggets | 7-11 |
| 1/27/12 | Toronto Raptors | Denver Nuggets | Nuggets | 8-11 |
| 1/29/12 | Los Angeles Clippers | Denver Nuggets | Clippers | 8-12 |
| 1/31/12 | Denver Nuggets | Memphis Grizzlies | Grizzlies | 8-13 |
| 2/2/12 | Denver Nuggets | Los Angeles Clippers | Nuggets | 9-13 |
| 2/3/12 | Los Angeles Lakers | Denver Nuggets | Lakers | 9-14 |
| 2/4/12 | Denver Nuggets | Portland Trail Blazers | Trail Blazers | 9-15 |
| 2/6/12 | Houston Rockets | Denver Nuggets | Nuggets | 10-15 |
| 2/8/12 | Dallas Mavericks | Denver Nuggets | Mavericks | 10-16 |
| 2/9/12 | Golden State Warriors | Denver Nuggets | Nuggets | 11-16 |
| 2/11/12 | Denver Nuggets | Indiana Pacers | Nuggets | 12-16 |
| 2/14/12 | Phoenix Suns | Denver Nuggets | Nuggets | 13-16 |
| 2/15/12 | Denver Nuggets | Dallas Mavericks | Mavericks | 13-17 |
| 2/17/12 | Denver Nuggets | Memphis Grizzlies | Grizzlies | 13-18 |
| 2/19/12 | Denver Nuggets | Oklahoma City Thunder | Thunder | 13-19 |
| 2/20/12 | Minnesota Timberwolves | Denver Nuggets | Nuggets | 14-19 |
| 2/22/12 | Denver Nuggets | Los Angeles Clippers | Clippers | 14-20 |
| 2/23/12 | San Antonio Spurs | Denver Nuggets | Spurs | 14-21 |
| 2/29/12 | Portland Trail Blazers | Denver Nuggets | Trail Blazers | 14-22 |
| 3/2/12 | Denver Nuggets | Houston Rockets | Rockets | 14-23 |
| 3/4/12 | Denver Nuggets | San Antonio Spurs | Nuggets | 15-23 |
| 3/5/12 | Sacramento Kings | Denver Nuggets | Nuggets | 16-23 |
| 3/7/12 | Cleveland Cavaliers | Denver Nuggets | Nuggets | 17-23 |
| 3/9/12 | New Orleans Hornets | Denver Nuggets | Nuggets | 18-23 |
| 3/11/12 | Memphis Grizzlies | Denver Nuggets | Nuggets | 19-23 |
| 3/13/12 | Atlanta Hawks | Denver Nuggets | Nuggets | 20-23 |
| 3/15/12 | Oklahoma City Thunder | Denver Nuggets | Thunder | 20-24 |
| 3/17/12 | Boston Celtics | Denver Nuggets | Nuggets | 21-24 |
| 3/19/12 | Dallas Mavericks | Denver Nuggets | Mavericks | 21-25 |
| 3/21/12 | Detroit Pistons | Denver Nuggets | Pistons | 21-26 |
| 3/23/12 | Denver Nuggets | Utah Jazz | Jazz | 21-27 |
| 3/25/12 | Denver Nuggets | Minnesota Timberwolves | Nuggets | 22-27 |
| 3/26/12 | Denver Nuggets | Chicago Bulls | Bulls | 22-28 |
| 3/28/12 | Denver Nuggets | Toronto Raptors | Nuggets | 23-28 |
| 3/30/12 | Denver Nuggets | Charlotte Bobcats | Nuggets | 24-28 |
| 4/1/12 | Denver Nuggets | Orlando Magic | Magic | 24-29 |
| 4/4/12 | Denver Nuggets | New Orleans Hornets | Hornets | 24-30 |
| 4/6/12 | Phoenix Suns | Denver Nuggets | Nuggets | 25-30 |
| 4/7/12 | Denver Nuggets | Golden State Warriors | Nuggets | 26-30 |
| 4/9/12 | Golden State Warriors | Denver Nuggets | Warriors | 26-31 |
| 4/11/12 | Minnesota Timberwolves | Denver Nuggets | Nuggets | 27-31 |
| 4/13/12 | Denver Nuggets | Los Angeles Lakers | Lakers | 27-32 |
| 4/15/12 | Houston Rockets | Denver Nuggets | Nuggets | 28-32 |
| 4/16/12 | Denver Nuggets | Houston Rockets | Rockets | 28-33 |
| 4/18/12 | Los Angeles Clippers | Denver Nuggets | Nuggets | 29-33 |
| 4/21/12 | Denver Nuggets | Phoenix Suns | Nuggets | 30-33 |
| 4/22/12 | Orlando Magic | Denver Nuggets | Magic | 30-34 |
| 4/25/12 | Denver Nuggets | Oklahoma City Thunder | Nuggets | 31-34 |
| 4/26/12 | Denver Nuggets | Minnesota Timberwolves | Nuggets | 32-34 |
Click here to see predictions for all 990 games of the 2011-2012 NBA season
2 comments
Nathan Turner says:
December 23, 2011 at 12:32 pm (UTC -7)
Love these… you really don’t watch basketball much do you? They are going to make the playoffs and thats at a minimum… They lost JR and got Fernandez who has just as much of a hot hand, but plays better D. They got the more solid backup in Miller, a few prospect bigs as well as a decent wing backup in Brewer. Not to mention the leaps forward that both Lawson and Galo have made. These guys are at least going to go over .500 and make the playoffs. I think you have a little too much of a biased opinion and stick to your fantasy league
random nba fan says:
December 23, 2011 at 3:16 pm (UTC -7)
Nathan,
In my opinion losing those three guys (particularly Kenyon Martin) will be a little too much for the Nuggets to overcome. Statistically, Rudy does not shoot the ball as well as J.R. does. For his career Rudy shoots 39.4% from the floor and 36.4% from three. J.R.’s career marks are 42.8% and 37.1% respectively. Last season, J.R. exceeded his career numbers while Rudy’s production fell off.
I do like the pickup of Andre Miller, but I am not convinced that Ty Lawson at 5’11″ and 195 can endure as a full-time starter for a full season.
And with more games in fewer days that is an even greater concern this season.
I admit that I may be overestimating Martin’s importance to this team. But last season he was definitely their toughest, most-committed defender. Without his presence I am not sure how much toughness this team will exhibit this season.
And in a compacted 66-game season mental and physical toughness will make all the difference.
The season will start soon and we will see what happens. If any coach can navigate a playoff road for these Nuggets, George Karl is the guy.