It's been 24 years since the Nuggets last appeared in the Western Conference finals, which makes it all the more special to watch this team win games, and hearts, as they rally our state and pull us all together in these trying economic times.

Finally, it's Basketball - not hockey or playoff baseball - that's keeping us up late at night and forcing those stifled yawns the next day around the water cooler as we replay every swat, dunk and swish.

Sure, Denver always will be a football town, but for now, paint us baby blue and yellow and tickled pink to watch the Nuggets - often the forgotten fourth in Denver's big four sports teams - rise to the top.

"The spirit was ready," Nuggets coach George Karl said of his team as they prepared for this season. "And then Chauncey \[Billups\] got here, we found hope, and then we found wins, then we found confidence and defense. And now we're in the conference finals."

Known throughout the NBA as Mr. Big Shot but known here as the Pride of Park Hill, Billups' return to the Nuggets in November provided the spark the team needed, but also provided another feel-good chapter in what could be a story-book season.

We're suckers for a good story, and so far this one has all the needed elements - drama (a 3-pointer at the buzzer to win), villains (the Mavs owner, Kobe Bryant, and, well, all the Lakers, really) and a love affair. But will there be a happy ending?

There's much to be written in this tale, but so far the Nuggets have delivered.