How the Denver Nuggets can steal headlines out West this year

The Denver Nuggets might be the Western Conference’s best kept secret

The Denver Nuggets look poised to take a substantial leap in the Western Conference standings this year. They have a young, improving squad that is built around a unique star. There are some questions about roster construction, but they certainly have the talent to make to a big jump.

The Denver Nuggets are coming off of a 40-42 season and a 9th place finish in the Western Conference. Their 2016-17 campaign started off relatively disappointing. Playing time disputes and a lack of identity led to a meager 9-16 record in mid-December.

This is when Nikola Jokic, the 41st overall pick in the 2014 draft, was permanently inserted into the starting lineup. After Jokic became a starter, the Nuggets turned into a completely different team. Their offensive rating skyrocketed to 113.3 over their final 57 games, per NBA.com. They were the best offense in the league (Yes, even better than the Warriors) over this four-month stretch.

Jokic transformed the offense with his otherworldly passing and incredible basketball IQ. His playmaking was infectious and his ability to find cutters and shooters out of the high post turned everyone on the roster into a threat. The Joker constantly found impossible angles to dime up teammates, creating easy buckets and spectacular highlights.

He also excelled in transition. Jokic’s impressive handle and instincts allowed him to grab the rebound, lead the break and find players in the open floor.

The Denver Nuggets were simply a different team with Jokic on the floor. His net rating of 5.1, per NBA.com, was by far the best on the team. Having Jokic in the starting lineup for an entire season will only increase the ceiling of this already-explosive offense.

Even though they had an elite offense, the Nuggets still finished the season below .500. This is because for every bucket they scored, they were giving one up on the other end. They ended the season ranked 29th in defense, with an abysmal rating of 110.5, per NBA.com.

A team with Nikola Jokic on the backline is never going to be dominant defensively, but the Nuggets have to be better if they want to compete in the West.

This is why the Nuggets brought in Paul Millsap on a three-year deal this summer.

While Millsap is an incredibly crafty and effective offensive player, defense is where he will really help the Nuggets this season. Millsap’s career averages of 1.3 steals and 1.0 block per game are representative of his all-around defensive impact.

He is the ideal fit next to a talent like Nikola Jokic. In theory, he can cover for Jokic on defense while also playing a complimentary role on offense, providing additional playmaking and scoring.

Millsap is not a dominant force, but he is one of the savviest defenders in the league. He is a solid rim protector and he seems to always find himself in the right position, ready to get a hand on the ball. He may not be in his prime, but the four-time All-Star can still get the job done.

Millsap will have the opportunity to help some of his younger teammates learn how to play team defense at a high level in the NBA. This won’t be a top-10 defensive unit, but a rating in the mid-20s could significantly raise their overall ceiling.

This is not going to be an easy change to make. The Nuggets had a number of defensive issues last season, and it was often more than just a schematic problem. They will need more consistent effort from their rotation and an internal improvement from some of their younger guys.

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They won’t be the Spurs or the Jazz, but the Nuggets almost made the playoffs last year with the 2nd worst defense in the league. If they improve even slightly, Jokic will be able to do enough on offense to overcome their defensive shortcomings.

There will also be some tough decisions for head coach Mike Malone to make. This roster is oversaturated with big men and not everyone is going to get playing time. He will have to manage guys like Kenneth Faried and Mason Plumlee, who will be looking for significant minutes in a crowded rotation.

He will also have to decide who is going to be the starting point guard. It will be fascinating to see if he goes with the Jameer Nelson, a seasoned veteran, or Jamal Murray, who will be looking to take a big step in his second year. He also has Emmanuel Mudiay, who could be a breakout candidate this year.

If he finds the right balance there is certainly enough talent to make things work. This roster is very deep and it has a mixture of experience and uncertainty. The Nuggets also have an assortment of young talent that could impact the outcome of their season. They have a great prospect in Jamal Murray, a sweet-shooting guard with a dynamic offensive game. Juancho Hernangomez has the potential to be a key two-way piece. Gary Harris is a terrific cutter and shot 42 percent on 3’s last season. These young players will have an opportunity to find a specific role and thrive in it.

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For a team that has looked lost in recent years, it is good to see the Nuggets finally moving in a positive direction. This season is going to be a great barometer to see how good this team, built around Jokic and Millsap, can really be. With their core pieces in place, the Denver Nuggets are on the rise and primed for a breakout 2017-18 season.

The Nuggets have their franchise player and they know how they want to play. They are going to score at will while also improving steadily on defense. They have all the makings of a top-6 seed that could approach 50 wins. That is no small feat in the brutal Western Conference.