The Nuggets have a healthy and talented team around Nikola Jokic in a wide open Western Conference. There were fairly high expectations for the Nuggets coming into this year with Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. returning from injury. Jokic won MP last year, but there was only so much his team could accomplish without two other impactful players next to him. In an open Western Conference, the Nuggets sit at the top. There may not be another opportunity as good as this year if they’re healthy.
It all starts with Jokic, who continues to play at an MVP level. His numbers this year have been insane and it’s not difficult to envision him winning his third straight MVP. He is currently number two in EPM, number one in Win Shares per 48 minutes and number one in BPM. He continues to make the game look easy. The main concern for Jokic is how his defense will hold in the playoffs. He’s an improved defender, and the Nuggets defense has played at an average level recently. There are fair questions about his rim and the consequences it could create in the playoffs. At the same time, is there a team in the West with the ability to take advantage?
Some of the most significant reasons for the Nuggets’ play this year are the return of Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. Their return has helped elevate the Nuggets’ quality of play this year. Both players aren’t playing at quite the level they did a couple of seasons ago, but they’re contributing while also getting in rhythm. Jamal Murray is their second leading scorer. He’s been inconsistent, but his averages this year aren’t far off from his career average. His flashes this year indicate a player capable of shining in the playoffs like he did in three years ago in the bubble.
Michael Porter Jr. has been injured this year but has remained relatively healthy. He’s been healthy the past few games and has played decently. He had a 22-point game on January 13th against the Clippers. A 23 point game on 69 percent shooting against the Blazers on January 18th. Games like that are good enough to keep the Nuggets atop the Western Conference. His defense is still a question mark, but his size can help compensate for it.
The remaining roster is also playing well. Aaron Gordon and his versatility has been a perfect fit next to Jokic. He has found his niche as a player since playing with Jokic. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has been a reliable player on the team. He has played the most minutes of anyone else on the team and is second on the team in on/off net rating. His versatility at guard offensively and defensively adds another dimension to the team. Bruce Brown has been a valuable contributor since joining the Nuggets this past off season. The supporting players are better than any other Jokic has had throughout his career.
The Nuggets are the number one seed in a wide open Western Conference. This works to their advantage because there isn’t a team with significantly more talent to pose enough issues to prevent Jokic’s first Finals appearance. This can also be a disadvantage because they’re unlikely to be talented enough to roll through the Western Conference playoffs. No team is clear-cut, which makes for an exciting playoffs and a prime opportunity for the Nuggets to take advantage.
