The NBA season is just around the corner – time for the annual Division Previews! We introduce all teams, look at the respective Best and Worst Case and venture a prognosis. Today: The Northwest Division.
The Nuggets are the most entertaining team in the league. With a free and – thanks to Nikola Jokic and Isaiah Thomas – creative offense, Denver shoots his opponents out of the hall by the dozen. Especially in the home Pepsi Center in the Mile High City the team of coach Mike Malone is hard to beat.
It is also Malone who puts his former protégé Thomas back on track. The MVP form for the Celtics is missing a good bit, but to bring IT from the bank is an incredible luxury for the Nuggets, after the backups last season were Emmanuel Mudiay and Devin Harris. With an improved Jamal Murray, Denver is one of the best playmaker tandems in the league.
Another important factor is that Paul Millsap can play through the season this time. This confirms the improved chemistry with Jokic from the last season games. Especially the defensive deficiencies of the Serb can be concealed so well, which is why Denver returns to the playoffs after six years and can even win a round there.
The Denver Nuggets Offseason Analysis
It’s open house at the Nuggets. Malone notices that Thomas and Jokic are repeatedly put into pick’n’rolls by their opponents and look damn bad. The Nuggets Coach desperately tries to make comparisons with nuclear physics. IT also doesn’t look fit for the entire season and can no longer penetrate the zone as it did in the old days. Only Markelle Fultz is cleared more often than the small dervish under the basket.
In general, the defensive nuggets are even significantly weaker than in the previous year. The departure of Wilson Chandler, last year’s best wing defender, is painful as Will Barton only stands out for his torero defense. So Millsap has a lot of responsibility, who is wearing himself out at the back of the court, but is completely exhausted in the attack.
This frustrates the proud Big visibly, he gets into a devastating slump and hardly a Jumper wants to fall. From game to game the pressure grows on the nuggets, which again fall behind early and miss the playoffs in the hard west again in ninth place. General Manager Tim Connelly pulls the ripcord and therefore releases Malone.
Prognosis: 3rd place in the Northwest Division.
Page 1: Denver Nuggets
Page 2: Minnesota Timberwolves
Page 3: Oklahoma City Thunder
Page 4: Portland Trail Blazers
Page 5: Utah Jazz