On April 9, 1998, Denver beat Sacramento in a home game that probably only Schemmel and a few die-hard Nuggets fans can recall.

Denver won its 10th game that night, thus ensuring that the team would not be in the NBA history books with an embarrassing record.

The futile Philadelphia 76ers won only nine games in 1972-73. (Denver managed 11 victories during that 1997-98 season — the worst in team history.)

The other standout victory — familiar to all Nuggets fans — occurred Wednesday night when Denver beat Dallas to move into the Western Conference finals for the first time since Schemmel started covering the team in 1992.

"Most seasons start on a note of some optimism," Schemmel said Sunday after the Lakers blew away the Rockets.

"My optimism rose when the team traded for Chauncey. Then Denver beat Boston on the Celtics' home floor.

"And this was followed by the team's vastly improved play following the all-star break."

Like many media members who follow the Nuggets, Schemmel would have preferred playing the Rockets in the Western finals.

"Our home court would have been a major advantage," he said.

And like most media members, Schemmel believes the key to victory is stopping Kobe Bryant — "something Denver has not done well in recent seasons."

Schemmel has gained numerous accolades for his fast-moving, accurate "one-man-band" broadcasts on KOA-AM (850) and KKFN-AM (950) and his current work on KCKK-AM (1510).

His three-year contract with Altitude expires at the end of the season.

Schemmel hopes he can work out a new broadcasting deal that won't force him give up roundball broadcasting because of his love for hardball coaching.

Schemmel emphasizes that his baseball coaching job at Metro State, which forced him to miss a half-dozen games this season, remains his top priority.