Who's better, the 2008-09 or 1987-88 Nuggets?

Bill Hanzlik has got it all figured out.

What if the 1987-88 Nuggets met up with the 2008-09 Nuggets in a computer-simulated game?

“The team I played on (would win for) sure,’’ said Hanzlik, a scrappy forward on the 1987-88 team and now a Nuggets studio television analyst. “Final score would be in overtime, 138-137. A three-pointer by Michael Adams at the buzzer.’’

Naturally, Nuggets coach George Karl begs to differ on the outcome.

“I think it would be fast,’’ Karl said of the game. “I think we’d probably win it easy going away, 130-121 or something like that.’’

So it seems there’s bantering back and forth between those from 1987-88 and those on this season’s outfit. After all, if the Nuggets (54-27) win at Portland in Wednesday’s season finale, they will break the 1987-88 team’s 54-28 mark for the best in the franchise’s 33-year NBA history in addition to securing the West’s No. 2 seed.

One doesn’t have to look hard around the Pepsi Center to find members of the 1987-88 team. In addition to Hanzlik, there’s Doug Moe, the coach who is now a Nuggets consultant, Maurice Martin, a guard who now works at the Pepsi Center, and Calvin Natt, a forward who lives in Denver and often stops by for games.

“I want us to get to 55,’’ said Moe, who obviously would like the Nuggets to win the season finale. “Are you kidding?’’

Of course, that doesn’t necessarily mean Moe believes these Nuggets are better.

“It’s tough to compare teams this far apart,’’ Moe said. “They’re both good teams. It’s too hard.’’

Denver’s team of 21 years ago featured forward Alex English and guard Fat Lever both making the All-Star Game while averaging 25.0 points and 18.9, respectively. The Nuggets won the Midwest Division and a first-round playoff series 3-2 over Seattle before some nagging injuries set in and they fell to Dallas 4-2 in a West semifinal.

“Totally different kind of team, but that would be fun to match up,’’ Hanzlik said of a comparison to this season’s team. “Both had good benches. Alex English and Carmelo (Anthony), they kind of match up. Chauncey (Billups is) a little better as a true point guard. This team is better defensively but (the 1987-88) team was a better fast-break team.’’

Karl, who was with Golden State in 1987-88 before getting fired after a 16-48 start, coached three times against that team, winning once. Karl said this season’s Nuggets are better simply because players these days are superior.

“I’m not one that believes that older players are better than the new players,’’ Karl said. “I think the guys now are bigger, stronger faster and quicker. We always say we (older players) were smarter and we were more fundamental, but I’m not sure that’s true either.

If the Nuggets do pass the 1987-88 team for most NBA wins in a Denver season, there is one thing Moe still might hold over Karl. Moe that season was named NBA Coach of the Year. While Karl is a candidate for the award this season, it will be tough to win.

Meanwhile, players have been speaking for several weeks about what it would mean to drive 55 this season.

“That would be special if we would go down as having the best record in franchise (NBA) history, ‘’ said guard Dahntay Jones. “And that would give us a lot of momentum heading into the playoffs.’’

If Denver makes it to the West final, even Hanzlik might have to call these Nuggets better than the 1987-88 version.