Denver Nuggets: 3 big questions heading into 2019-20
By James Siegle
Following their breakout 54-win season, the Denver Nuggets fear no one in the deep, talented 2019-20 Western Conference.
Now that the Denver Nuggets finished second in last year’s Western Conference, they’ve advanced beyond the level of playoff hopefuls. Despite their youth, the Nuggets are legitimate championship contenders, even if it’s in a dark horse fashion.
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Leading the way is smooth All-Star Nikola Jokic, who averaged 20.1 points, 10.8 rebounds and 7.3 assists last season. He’s the best among NBA “point centers,” a rare breed that dimes teammates and runs offenses from the post.
Jokic even beat out Joel Embiid for All-NBA first team, a shocking discovery for much of the league.
Meanwhile, Jamal Murray upped his scoring to a career-high 18.2 points per game and leveled out his past inconsistencies.
He fared well in his first postseason, averaging 23.6 points in the Western Conference semifinals, and giving Denver confidence to ink him to a $170 million extension.
Gary Harris and Paul Millsap were last year’s defensive specialists, leading Denver to a 108.1 defensive rating (10th best in the league). The duo also proved reliable on the attacking end, averaging 12.9 and 12.6 points per game, respectively.
Look for Harris to increase his scoring as he regains full health.
Jerami Grant, Malik Beasley, Will Barton and Monte Morris are among other strong contributors. Each should leave his mark, and post multiple game-changing performances that cause opponents to envy Denver’s depth.
As the 2019-20 season approaches, several uncertainties loom large for what’s otherwise a solid squad. Check out the top three questions for Denver heading into next campaign: