Can The Nuggets Make the NBA Finals
After eliminating the Phoenix Suns, there’s a lot of anticipation about the Denver Nuggets’ potential journey.
They have steadily been building their roster with young talent while trading for key veterans, making fans wonder, can this squad win the NBA Finals? With longstanding superstars like center Nikola Jokic and MVP candidate Jamal Murray, on paper, Denver looks formidable.
However, there are hurdles to overcome to bring home an elusive championship. In this post, we’ll dive deep into what it could take for them to reach the 2023 NBA Finals – examining which players need to step up individually, who their next opponent may be, and if this dream run can truly continue.
Reviewing the Nuggets Roster
Starting with star center, Jokic is a big threat who can do it all on both ends of the floor – shooting threes, passing out of double teams, and defending the rim. He is also a vocal leader in the locker room that helps unite the group.
Moving to the backcourt, Murray has become one of the best point guards in the NBA. He excels at driving to the basket and scoring in challenging situations. Also, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope brings athleticism and scoring potential off the bench. With the emergence of rookies such as Bones Hyland, the Nuggets’ offense has become more dynamic. And let’s not forget the addition of Michael Porter Jr. – a true game-changer with his size and shooting ability, which could be the x-factor in the team’s next round.
All these players have the potential to improve the Denver Nuggets betting odds of winning the NBA championship. However, their next-round matchup promises to be their biggest challenge yet.
Who is Standing In Their Way?
No matter how talented a team is, if they don’t match up well with their opponents, it won’t matter. As of now, the Nuggets’ next obstacle appears to be Lebron James, Anthony Davis, and the Los Angeles Lakers, assuming they can close the door on the Golden State Warriors. Both potential opponents’ biggest advantage is their experience, with Golden State boasting four NBA titles since 2015 and Lebron James having won four NBA championships in his career.
To make it to the NBA Finals, Denver needs more than just Jokic or Murray showing up big – they need help from their whole team, particularly their bench. The Nuggets will also need to slow down James and Davis (or Curry and Thompson). While these stars can get nearly any shot they want, Jokic’s size and Murray’s quickness could frustrate them. The Nuggets need to utilize their depth to wear down the Lakers or Warriors.
Finally, they just need to maintain their high shooting efficiency. Thus far in the playoffs, Denver is shooting an incredible 48.5 percent from the field and 38 percent from beyond the arc. If they can keep this up, they should find themselves against Miami, Boston, or Philadelphia in the NBA Finals.
Coach Malone’s Strategy
Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone has a few tricks up his sleeve for the playoffs. He has proven to be creative and adaptive regarding defense – switching rapidly between zones and man-to-man schemes. This could be beneficial against teams like the Lakers or Celtics that rely heavily on their superstars’ isolation play.
Offensively, Malone’s game plan revolves around Jokic’s passing wizardry and Murray’s scoring ability. If both players have enough support from their teammates, it could be an unstoppable combination come the next round.
Can They Do It?
Denver is trying to make history; they have never appeared in the NBA Finals since they expanded in 1967. Known as a franchise with a history of failure, the Nuggets now boast one of the league’s most talented rosters, winning 53 games and earning the top-seed in the West. The Boston Celtics are the only remaining team with more wins.
The Nuggets have the talent to win it all, and if they keep shooting at this torrid pace, they likely will. But obstacles lie in their wake, most notably Lebron James, who very seldom loses playoff games. If it’s Steph Curry, well, he loses even less. The Nuggets hope that talent can trump experience come the next round.
