NBA: 4 Overreactions after Nuggets, Suns shine on opening night

The Denver Nuggets should be the favorites

Even after winning the 2023 NBA Championship, the Denver Nuggets have been somewhat overlooked heading into the start of the season. After the big moves made by the Phoenix Suns (Bradley Beal), Milwaukee Bucks (Damian Lillard), and the Boston Celtics (Kristaps Porzingis, Jrue Holiday) during the offseason, the Nuggets have been a bit disrespected as championship favorites. However, after one game, it sure seems as if the Nuggets are going to be a real threat to win it all again.

Against the Los Angeles Lakers in the season opener, the Nuggets once again proved why they owned the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. From the opening tip, it was clear that the Nuggets were in an entirely different tier than the Lakers. In fairness, the Lakers didn’t look all that bad. The Nuggets were just that much better on night one.

The Lakers may very well be a contender in the West, but it was pretty clear on opening night that the Nuggets are THE contender in the Western Conference.