Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are heading into the NBA Playoffs as the No. 1 seed in the Western Conference. I’m not saying there’s pressure on the Nuggets but there’s pressure on the Nuggets. If Denver doesn’t make at least the conference finals, there will be some explaining to do.
Let’s look at everything the Nuggets have going for them: they have the likely NBA MVP, one of the most underrated guards in Jamal Murray, and two really good supporting players in Aaron Gordon and Michael Porter Jr.
The big question for the Nuggets is whether or not they have enough on the defensive end to win a championship this season.
If this is not the year for the Nuggets, I’m not really sure when the year is going to come for Denver. In a wide-open West, the Nuggets have been the most consistent team this season. This is a team that needs to prove itself to the rest of the league en route to, at least, the conference finals.
Verdict: Contender