The NBA off-season came and some of the biggest stars in the game changed teams. Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Kyrie Irving, and Paul George all changed addresses. Now, people are saying teams like the Los Angeles Lakers, Los Angeles Clippers, and Utah Jazz to name a few, are the favorites. But one team with all of the predictions being tossed around seems to be forgotten. And that team is the Denver Nuggets.
Nuggets Exceeded Expectations Last Season
The Nuggets had a magical run last season, one that had them at or near the top of the Western Conference all season. The season ended in game seven of the conference semifinals against the Portland Trail Blazers. Denver was minutes away from the Conference Finals for a team that missed the playoffs the year before. They were also team that was at the top of the league in injuries, with Paul Millsap, Will Barton, and Gary Harris all missing significant time. Yet somehow they maintained their stride, with All-Star center Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray to make that run.
Denver finished second in the West last season with a 54-28 record. The Nuggets, who have an average age of 24.7, was the youngest team at the start of the season in the NBA. The core of Harris, Murray, and Jokic are three of the best young players at their position. Harris is a lock down defender and the way Murray helped lead the team in the playoffs, he’ll be looking for a breakout year. What can be said about Jokic? He’s a big man like we have not seen in a while.
Jokic led the league for centers in assists and is a top ten player in the NBA. He also became an All-Star for the first time last season. Jokic has shown that he is one of the NBA’s best and is only getting better at age 24. But a team is only as good as its bench, and the Nuggets have a great one. With Monte Morris, Malik Beasley, and Torrey Craig, they are solid. The addition this year of Michael Porter Jr and second round pick Bol Bol, will only add to the second unit.
Despite Parity, The Denver Nuggets Have Real Title Hopes
In the landscape of the NBA, parity has taken over. The days of knowing who will be in the finals from the beginning are over. We will see an NBA where as many as ten plus teams have a legitimate chance at a title. The Nuggets are in that pack due to a strong core, a great bench and a coach that has the team in his hands. For my money, the Nuggets should be the front runner of the West, but only time will tell. One thing is for sure, this should be a year to remember in the NBA.
