Renck: The Nuggets have spent extra time speaking about their jersey than they’ve about Betty Crocker this offseason. The luxurious tax has compelled them to look at different contenders make big-ticket additions. Denver added Russell Westbrook out of the locker room and took of venture on a extra versatile massive man, Dario Saric, to ease Nikola Jokic’s regular-season burden. So long as Jokic wears a Nuggets jersey, Denver will probably be a title contender. However, Sean, what constitutes success this season? Is their championship window nonetheless open? Or are the free-agent defections of the final two summers dampening expectations?
Keel: Can Betty hit the goal from the nook? As a result of Michael Malone may use a sniper proper now. Truly, he may use two. Hey, the title window is open so long as the Joker needs to put on blue and gold. Now, how a lot area the Nuggets need to squeeze by is as much as everybody. And, frankly, it is the “everybody” half that worries me. That and the truth that Oklahoma Metropolis, Minnesota, Dallas and Sacramento, on paper, all improved in yards whereas the Nuggets improved in toes.
Renck: The Nuggets would win 50 video games, realistically. And a first-round collection. After that, something is feasible for a flooring or ceiling. However Jokic’s brilliance isn’t sufficient to win a title anymore. He wants Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. to play like stars from place to place, not simply in components. That brings me to my key: Westbrook. Can the fiery guard ignite a spark in Murray, push him and problem him in a means that nobody actually has in recent times? If he can, this could possibly be a particular season. If Murray balks, then issues are going to get awkward and many people are questioning who they’re going to commerce between MPJ and Murray subsequent summer time.
Keel: So long as Jokic and Murray are wholesome, 50 wins aren’t only a guess. They’re anticipated. However this workforce, and this period, aren’t judged on the common season anymore. What is going to differentiate this marketing campaign — and the following three or 4 years of the “window” — is what occurs in April, Could and June. And what doesn’t. Are the Nuggets the following Spurs? Or the following 2010-11 Mavs? Westbrook is an intriguing addition to the bench unit, on a number of ranges. However can that unit rating sufficient and shoot properly sufficient to maintain the Nuggets within the recreation earlier than Joker and The Blue Arrow take over late within the recreation? In a Westbrook-Strawther-Watson-Tyson-Saric lineup, your massive man is arguably one of the best long-range shooter within the group. Which may make for some enjoyable matchups … and a few uncomfortable droughts, too.
Renck: It’s time for the true Christian Braun to step up. Is he a lockdown defender? Is he a fringe menace? Is he each? This might be his final season at Kansas if he had stayed at school. With Kentavious Caldwell-Pope gone to Orlando, Braun could have a platform to shine. He brings the trouble, angle and vitality. However the Nuggets want him to hit three-pointers. Whereas Westbrook could possibly be helpful off the bench, he can’t shoot from deep. Whether or not the Nuggets exit the playoffs early or make a long term may hinge on Braun’s potential to attain pictures with open seems to be.
Keel: This is not a sizzling take. It is only a matter of math: On paper, Beastbrook as a sixth man/one-time starter + Braun as a beginning “2” again ought to The combo can be statistically higher than Reggie Jackson as a sixth man/spot starter + KCP as a beginning wing. Nevertheless it’s nonetheless a shooter’s recreation in a make-or-miss league, regardless of all of the lounger adjustments. In response to NBA.com’s monitoring, Jokic and KCP as a two-man duo hit 3-pointers at a 36.5 % clip in the course of the 2023-24 common season, whereas the Joker-Braun combo was simply 27.2 %. You get that second quantity, say, six factors? Within the 34 % vary? Now let’s cook dinner. If CB can flip into CB3, this spring may flip into one other magic carpet trip.
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