NBA Playoffs: Storylines, predictions for Utah Jazz vs. Denver Nuggets

NBA Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
NBA Denver Nuggets and Utah Jazz (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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NBA Denver Nuggets Nikola Jokic (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Prediction: Nuggets in 5

Even if the Utah Jazz was at full strength (with a healthy Bojan Bogdanovic), I still would favor the Denver Nuggets. While you can make the case that the Jazz has the best player in the series, Donovan Mitchell, the Nuggets are clearly the deeper team. Even more so with the sudden emergence of Bol Bol and Michael Porter Jr.

Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and this supporting cast will overwhelm the Jazz. The Nuggets had a top 5 offense in the restart bubble. Even though they struggled defensively, I’m not sure the Jazz has enough firepower to take advantage of Denver’s weaknesses.

Maybe the Jazz surprises everyone and makes this a longer series than many expect, but I’m just so high on the Nuggets’ offensive capabilities that I’m expecting Utah to struggle on both ends of the floor. Utah will have to go back to the drawing board this summer and make some big decisions about personnel.

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The Jazz might make life difficult for Denver, but the better team will rise when it matters most. Barring something unforeseen, the Nuggets in 5.