"I really felt we was a better team than the Lakers" - Chauncey Billups looks back on the Nuggets' 2009 Western Conference Finals run

Before the Denver Nuggets reached the Western Conference Finals in 2020, they also advanced to that stage 11 years before. Led by Carmelo Anthony and Chauncey Billups , the Mile High team secured the West's No. 2 seed in the 2008-09 season en route to booking a trip to the conference finals against the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Lakers closed out the series in six games to move on to the Finals and face the Orlando Magic. While the Purple and Gold got to four wins first, some of the Nuggets' former players have been adamant that they had the better squad. Billups said as much during a recent appearance on Anthony 's podcast.

"Man, that year, so we go to the West finals," Chauncey said while discussing Denver's 2008-09 campaign. "I really felt we was a better team than the Lakers. They beat us, but it came down to, when you get that far in the playoffs, there are possessions that beat you. Two different games, out-of-bounds plays hurt us."

Echoing a former Nuggets teammate's sentiment

It's difficult to agree with Billups' statement, although it is understandable, considering that he has historically shown unwavering confidence and that he has already defeated Kobe Bryant late in the playoffs. Former Denver forward Kenyon Martin also asserted earlier this year that his side was the better team , contending that Bryant was merely the equalizer for the Lakers.

A look at the conference finalists' rosters shows that the Nuggets probably had more talented players, including Anthony, Chauncey, Martin, J.R. Smith, and Nene. On the other hand, Los Angeles had to rely on Kobe and Pau Gasol for the most part, but the "Black Mamba" just couldn't be denied that season.

Billups' regrets

While the Lake Show prevailed in the said series, the Nuggets had opportunities to steal some of their opponent's wins, as Billups alluded to. Game 1 saw Bryant and company winning 105-103. However, the result could have been different had Trevor Ariza not stolen Anthony Carter's inbounds pass to Chauncey off a timeout and with the squad trailing 101-99.

A similar situation occurred in Game 3. Denver had an opportunity to take a 2-1 lead if only it could have run the play coaching staff drew up while down 97-95. But an errant pass from Martin resulted in another Ariza clutch steal. Unfortunately, Melo committed a loose ball foul, which happened to be his sixth, allowing the Lakers to increase the lead to four. The Nuggets couldn't rally in the waning seconds, losing 103-97.

Billups led Denver to a Game 4 victory before Los Angeles triumphed in the final two contests, ending his hopes of returning to the Finals.

Related: Chauncey Billups 'blames' Larry Brown for the Pistons' 2005 Finals loss: "I think Larry kinda' choked in that moment"