Final season, the Denver Nuggets made franchise historical past by profitable their first NBA championship. The Nuggets are desirous to win back-to-back titles. Nonetheless, there are nonetheless 21 video games left within the common season earlier than the playoffs start. At 42-19, Denver is at present third within the West. The primary-place Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder solely have a half-game lead on Denver at #3 and Minnesota at #2.
It’s going to be a decent playoff race down the ultimate stretch of the 2023-24 season. Just one group can guarantee themselves a home-court benefit in all their convention playoff rounds. Final season, it was the Denver Nuggets who had the #1 seed. They’d love to do the identical in 2023-24. Denver has three essential matchups that stay with the Timberwolves. These will all assist decide playoff seeding.
Will the Nuggets get the #1 seed within the West in back-to-back seasons?
The Denver Nuggets are actually 20-10 (Finest within the NBA) in clutch video games on the season.
In addition they lead the NBA in clutch web score with a +24.9 and one of the best clutch protection within the NBA (96.3). pic.twitter.com/Ol0TU4WhJg
— Swipa (@SwipaCam) March 3, 2024
Of the highest seeds within the Western Convention, the Denver Nuggets are the one confirmed group with true playoff success. The #1 seed Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder are a particularly younger group. Their roster has little to no playoff expertise. It may result in their downfall within the playoffs. Moreover, the Timberwolves at #2 haven’t confirmed something within the postseason with their present squad. In 2023-24, Minnesota misplaced within the first spherical to Denver.
At #4, the LA Clippers are a group that followers ought to hold their eye on. If Kawhi Leonard is wholesome, LA’s probabilities to go far within the postseason rise exponentially. If all their stars are enjoying nicely, the Clippers are a tricky group to beat. The Clippers is perhaps Denver’s hardest opponent they might probably face within the playoffs. Denver isn’t apprehensive about who they may match up towards within the playoffs. All they care about is profitable video games and giving themselves an opportunity to have the #1 seed within the West.
They in the identical convention because the Denver Nuggets… that’s why
— Drugdealer (@ZunguMthoko) March 4, 2024
The Nuggets being one of the best group within the West come playoffs virtually feels inevitable. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray have been capable of take their video games to a different degree within the 2022-23 playoffs. Even when they don’t have the #1 seed, Denver will nonetheless discover a strategy to dominate this postseason. They primarily have the identical roster as they did final season. Denver has the bottom odds of any Western Convention group to win the NBA Finals this season. Will they have the ability to win the West once more and have an opportunity at back-to-back titles?