The Nuggets would need to crush the Lakers for four of those games in order to advance. With LAC gone, the NBA will not let 4 close games go to Denver, especially when there are baked in narratives for them to further mythologize James. Do think they'll be hands off in the East, as they would prefer a Lakers v. Celtics match for the history, Miami does have more star power and have the clear angle of James and the second team he left Cleveland for v. the first. I'd rather the Heat win regardless, and for them to beat LAL (again, NBA won't let that happen, maybe Boston they would, but definitely not MIA) since Khal Dragic is the shit.