The Denver Post

The Open Forum

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Showing real love for the Nuggets

Every team that has hoisted the Larry O’brien Championsh­ip Trophy has earned it. First, a team must slog through an 82-game schedule then win 16 more games in the playoffs while playing the league’s best teams, stocked with the best players.

From 2000 to 2022, the overall No. 1 seeds have won only seven championsh­ips. Proof that winning a title extracts blood, sweat, tears and toil from the victor.

Prior to the playoffs, many basketball observers believed the Phoenix Suns would advance to the NBA Finals.

In 47 regular season games, Kevin Durant averaged 29.1 ppg, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.0 assists by shooting 56% from the field, 40.4% on 3-pointers and 91.9% on free throws.

In the playoffs, Devin Booker scorched the Nuggets, averaging 30.8 ppg, 7.8 assists, and shooting a torrid 56.9% from the field and 54.8% on 3-pointers.

Neverthele­ss, the Nuggets won in six games, clinching the series in Phoenix, 125-100.

The valiant efforts of Anthony Davis and Lebron James couldn’t prevent the Nuggets from sweeping the Lakers. Denver

decoded every scheme the Lakers attempted.

Nikola Jokic played bully ball against Davis and the undersized Rui Hachimura. He and Jamal Murray unveiled the NBA’S most lethal twoman game. Aaron Gordon, Michael Porter Jr. and Kentavious Caldwell-pope contribute­d timely shooting, basketball smarts and defensive intensity, which makes the Nuggets the most complete team in basketball.

Nuggets haters, get real.

The answer to property tax surge is lowering the local mill levy

It has been suggested Prop HH is an effort to keep money from being refunded to taxpayers by way of the Taxpayer Bill of Rights under the guise of reducing the impact of the increases we have seen in 2023 property valuations across the state.

I would recommend the method recently announced by the Colorado Mountain College be considered.

The Aspen Times reported recently that because of “considerab­le increases in 2023 property valuations, the Colorado Mountain College Board of Trustees plans to reduce its mill levy to keep revenue growth near inflation.”

Question: Why can not all taxing jurisdicti­ons do this?

Who’s minding the baby? Chris Christie

As a lifelong Democrat, I admittedly have never been especially fond of Republican Chris Christie, who recently announced his presidenti­al candidacy.

However, I have gained respect for Christie.

As soon as he made his announceme­nt, Donald Trump made fun of his weight. Christie could not have made a more appropriat­e response by saying that when babies act like spoiled brats, you send them to their rooms, not to the White House.

I think this exchange between Trump and Christie demonstrat­es the negative impact the former president has had on the Republican Party, from the “Let’s Go Brandon” slogan to countless other acts of meanness by so many other extreme right-wing members.

Hopefully, decency can be restored to the Republican Party as the future of our nation depends on it.

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