The Nuggets need players with more of a defensive presence after a season in which they often had to resort to outscoring foes. They also could use some help in the post, especially with Denver unable to count on Nene's health.

The Nuggets may look to get their salary situation more under control. They had a payroll of $82 million, and it remains to be seen if owner Stan Kroenke wants to continue to spend that kind of money on a team that has lost five straight years in the first round of the playoffs.

Nuggets coach George Karl is expected to return. He vows to run a tighter ship, but it remains to be seen how that will go over after he said his players had too much freedom in the past.

Most observers believe the Nuggets will come back with a similar cast. After going 50-32, their best mark in 20 years, team brass is hopeful that having Nene (torn thumb ligament, testicular cancer, groin strain) and guard Chucky Atkins (groin strain, sports hernia) back after missing most of the season, can make a difference.

SEASON HIGHLIGHT: On April 10, the Nuggets came into Golden State in what was all but a must-win situation. A win would all but wrap up the Western Conference's No. 8 playoff spot and a loss might keep them home for the postseason while the Warriors became No. 8. The Nuggets trailed 37-22 after the first quarter before storming back to win 114-105, and four days later they secured a playoff berth.

TURNING POINT: When the playoff pairings came out. The Nuggets had been hoping to move up to No. 7 to face No. 2 New Orleans in the first round, but they came up one game short. Instead, the No. 8 Nuggets met the No. 1 Lakers, who continued their season-long dominance by sweeping the first-round series.