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NBA: Battle for the Final Spot in the Western Conference

By Drew Clark

Nov 11, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) reacts after scoring a basket over Portland Trail Blazers forward Meyers Leonard (11) in the second half at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 11, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) reacts after scoring a basket over Portland Trail Blazers forward Meyers Leonard (11) in the second half at Moda Center at the Rose Quarter. Mandatory Credit: Jaime Valdez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 28, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Nikola Jokic (15) shoots the ball against Minnesota Timberwolves forwards Gorgui Dieng (right) and Andrew Wiggins (22) during the first half at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 28, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Nikola Jokic (15) shoots the ball against Minnesota Timberwolves forwards Gorgui Dieng (right) and Andrew Wiggins (22) during the first half at Pepsi Center. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /

Denver Nuggets (14-21, 10th in Western Conference)

The Denver Nuggets have an abundance of young talent that is starting to learn how to play together. Nikola Jokic has arrived onto the scene and is impressing many you failed to take notice of him last year. No longer starting Jusuf Nurkic has allowed the spacing Jokic needs to thrive with flashy passes to one of the many Nuggets guards.

A surplus of guards is selling Denver short. They have four guards on this team that are capable of starting on most NBA teams. Emmanuel Mudiay starts at point guard, but his backcourt buddy often varies with Will Barton, Gary Harris, and Jamal Murray all seeing time as a starter. Three of the four average over double-digits in scoring, while Murray sits at 8.1 ppg.

The bulk of the scoring comes from Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler, averaging a combined 33.4 ppg. Both are considered the vets of the team with few being older than them at 28 and 29, respectively.

Another mediocre team that works pretty well on offense, but struggles defensively sums up the Nuggets. They rank top ten in offensive rating (109.6, 8th), but are bottom three in the NBA in defensive rating (111.8, 28th). Although they only have14 wins, five of them have came in their last ten games. If they can continue to show improvement, this could be the team we see facing the Warriors or Spurs in the playoffs.

They have plenty of talent, and if they find a trade partner to take Kenneth Faried, they could gain more veteran pieces. Worse case scenario, it opens up more minutes for Jokic and the other front court players.

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