For a big a part of the season, Denver’s Nuggets had been broadly thought of the principle highway roadblock between the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder and a championship of the Western Convention. After dividing the sequence sequence, together with a 140-127 Denver victory in March, the Nuggets had the championship pedigree and the MVP stage expertise to problem the perfect staff within the West. Nonetheless, an escape on the finish of the season has significantly modified this notion, probably modifying the panorama of the playoffs for OKC.
The Nuggets enter the playoffs on fragile subject, dropping 4 video games in a row and exhibiting essential issues which might be greater than an finish to the tip of the season. Jamal Murray’s well being stays a big concern, threatening their offensive chemistry simply whereas the playoffs speed up. This locations an nearly insurmountable burden on Nikola Jokic. Whereas the person shine of Jokic is plain, with a mean of 45 factors, 12.3 rebounds and 10.7 assists throughout a sequence of 4 consecutive defeats. The time period “One Man Present” was used to strengthen its MVP case towards the SGA of OKC, whereas the staff round it’s quick.
Probably the most blatant downside in Denver, and most related to potential adversaries within the playoffs like OKC, is a defensive collapse. Because the finish of January, their defensive word with Jokic on the bottom has reached an alarming 120. This vulnerability, mixed with an more and more predictable offense and relies upon solely on the Jokic rating, makes them more likely than a staff on the stage of the championship. Threats of dependable perimeter and balanced assaults that the defenses in problem have largely disappeared.
Inside friction relationships between teaching and Kevin O’Connor’s entrance workplace in Yahoo. The development of the alignment perplexed many followers because the rising of the trophy in 2023. Denver’s lack of ability to successfully change the important thing championship contributors left them within the means of showing structurally faulty. Whereas they as soon as gave the impression to be essentially the most troublesome potential match for the Thunder, these latest developments – defensive regression, Murray’s uncertainty and offensive predictability – counsel that OKC’s path within the West might not current Denver’s formidable problem.
In fact, the low cost of a staff led by Nikola Jokic continues to be dangerous, however the indicators in latest months point out that this model of the Nuggets doesn’t have the power to face. For the Thunder, the potential decline of their best perceived rival may very well be an essential issue as a result of they sail within the troublesome help of the Western Convention. Beware, as a result of Lakers, Clippers, Houston and Golden State all the time current numerous issues.
