Carmelo Anthony Can't Wait to Face the Denver Nuggets

The NBA is coming full circle for Carmelo Anthony this weekend as his Portland Trail Blazers are getting set to tip-off against the team who gave 'Melo' his start, the Denver Nuggets. Anthony has never faced the Nuggets in the playoffs and is looking forward to the challenge.

The best-of-seven series gets started on Saturday and is setting itself up to be one of the more entertaining around the league. Anthony knows so much has changed since he came into the league out of Syracuse and was surprised to realize he's never faced the Nuggets in the postseason:

It’s a lot different now. My mindset is different. My goals are different. We’re going in there trying to win. So, it’s a different type of mentality, but deep down inside I know that Denver will always hold a special place for me. This is where I should be. I should be in the postseason. That’s just me speaking from the heart and genuinely. If I’m not in the postseason, then it should be a problem.

Anthony was originally drafted by the Nuggets back in 2003, and spent seven-plus seasons playing at high altitude. This season he's been a staple to the Blazers second-unit, averaging 13.4 points per game. Game 1 tips off Saturday.