25-year old shooting guard Arron Afflalo really stepped up for the Nuggets last year. Afflalo played in 69 games (all starts) for the Nuggets last year and he averaged 33.7 minutes, 12.6 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists per game. He was very efficient as he shot 49.8% from the floor, 42.3% from three point range and 84.7% from the free throw line for the Nuggets last year. Afflalo has now played in 300 games (161 starts) in his first four years in the NBA and he is averaging 22.5 minutes, 7.4 points, 2.6 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. Afflalo is a player on the rise and the Pistons will wish they never dealt him.

Starting center Nene Hilario is really stepping up against the Oklahoma City Thunder in the first round of the playoffs. He has played in 4 games (all starts) for the Nuggets so far this year and he is averaging 32.8 minutes, 15.8 points, 9.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 1.0 steal and 1.0 blocked shot per game. He is shooting 51.4% from the floor as he is matching up pretty well against Kendrick Perkins and Nazr Mohammed in this series. The Nuggets need Nene to keep up the good work if they are going to have any chance of making a big comeback in this series.

23-year old point guard Ty Lawson was outstanding for the Nuggets in March.  Lawson played in 13 games in March for the Nuggets and he averaged 33.2 minutes, 16.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 7.5 assists and 1.5 steals per game.  He also shot 53% from the floor, 40% from three point range and 88.4% from the free throw line as he was solid in March.  Lawson has now played in 74 games (25 starts) for the Nuggets so far this year and he is averaging 26.0 minutes, 11.3 points, 2.5 rebounds, 4.6 assists and 1.0 steal per game.  Lawson has done an outstanding job since replacing Chauncey Billups in the starting lineup and the Nuggets need him to keep up the good work.

25-year old shooting guard J.R. Smith is starting to get hot again for the Nuggets. Smith is averaging 28.0 minutes, 24.5 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists and 2.0 steals per game in the Nuggets last two contests. He is also 14 of 24 (58.3%) from three point range over the last two games as he is red hot. Smith has played in 64 games (6 starts) for the Nuggets so far this year and he is averaging 24.7 minutes, 11.9 points, 4.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game. The Nuggets need Smith to stay hot because the offense really rocks when he’s nailing the long shots.

28-year old center Nene’ is stepping up for the Nuggets. In his last five games, Nene is averaging 32.8 minutes, 15.4 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 1.8 steals and 1.0 blocked shot per game. He has now played in 58 games (all starts) for the Nuggets so far this year and he is averaging 30.8 minutes, 15.0 points, 7.3 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.0 steal per game. The Nuggets need Nene to keep up the good work as he is the best post player they have right now. The Nuggets want to re-sign Nene to a long term contract and it will be interesting to see if he signs on the dotted line.