However, the Suns will, once again, be without Grant Hill in the roster. Apparently, Hill’s knee still shows trouble on lateral movement, and his absence will be particularly painful given the fact that previously injured Nugget leading scorer, Danilo Gallinari is back in action. The Suns will have a hard time guarding the sweet shooting Italian without Hill, who by the way, missed all three meetings with the team from Denver.

Along with Gallinari, the Suns will have to deal with a tremendously deep team that seems to have an answer for every matchup. With quick starting PG Ty Lawson, all-around stud Arron Afflalo, backup PG Andre Miller and x-factors such as All-Rookie Team surefire Kenneth Faried, the Suns will have a tough time matching the Nuggets pace, or intensity. That said, this team doesn’t have all that much experience, and  is not impossible to beat. The Suns have an advantage at the point and centre positions, along with some newfound depth. If the bench can keep it close, and the starters utilize their overall talent, the Suns have a shot.

It’s not a must win, but it sure feels like one.

Now, the Nuggets are shorthanded, missing their best player, Danilo Ganillari. And while the Suns have been dealing pretty well with the lack of Grant Hill, the Nuggets had trouble in this last stretch, particularly since trading away Nene to the Wizards to acquire JaVale McGee. And, as we’ve witnessed in the game in Phoenix, JaVale McGee is a very particular player, and while he’s usually hit or miss, it seems that he’s more miss this time ’round.

But the addition of McGee, in all it’s awkwardness doesn’t take away from the depth of the Nuggets. Not only do they have a player that (not without reason) is called the Manimal in Kenneth Faried, but they also have a China export-import in Wilson Chandler, veteran point Andre Miller and a bunch of young, minute hungry role players ready to contribute at any time. Add to that the backcourt of Ty Lawson and Arron Afflalo, and suddenly this team is dangerous.

In their last meeting, the Nuggets wiped the floor with the Suns, and no surprise there. The Suns were without Grant Hill and Steve Nash who were getting, if you will, DND-OLDs of their own on the middle game of back-to-back-to-back, Denver came with force, and the Suns didn’t have an answer. This time around, however, the Suns are better in nearly every facet of the game. The bench has stepped up in Utah, and will have to do so again, facing another strong unit in Colorado. Channing Frye hopefully hits some threes (and hopefully, without needing miracles), Jared  Dudley will have to be a steady contributor.

The Suns may move into great position to rush into the playoff seeds for the first time in a long while. It would be wise to use it.