Are the Denver Nuggets for REAL?

The NBA's wild, wild west of 2008-09 is a changed landscape.  It used to be that the goliaths of the west battled for the top postseason berths, while everyone else fought for the 7th and 8th seed crumbs.  Being a Denver Nuggets fan, it was frustrating watching them feebly lose each year to the superior powers like the Spurs, Mavericks, and Suns.  Even "The Answer" didn't seem to be the answer.  But how things have changed.  The Big 3 of the Spurs, Mavs, and Suns all look old.  Sure, the Lakers and Hornets look to be the best in the west, and there is no denying that the Rockets and Jazz are both teams to be reckoned with, but don't the Nuggs look like viable contenders this year?  With the coming of Chauncey Billups to Cowtown, the Nuggets have a newfound desire to play defense, an All-Star point guard to run the half-court offense, push the tempo, and knock down the threeball, and Carmelo is finally acting and playing like a true leader, potentially even morphing into a 20-10 guy.  These Nuggets are for real and the rest of the West better watch out.