Denver Nuggets: 5 keys to making the playoffs in 2017-18

The Denver Nuggets added the perfect piece to their roster in Paul Millsap, but they now play in one of the most competitive divisions in the NBA. Here’s what Denver has to do to get over the hump and into the postseason.

In the 2012-13 NBA season, Denver Nuggets head coach George Karl took home the Coach of the Year award. The Nuggets finished third in the Western Conference with a record of 57-25 before losing to the Warriors in the first round.

Other than the disappointing postseason run, it was an astounding success for a organization that had just moved on from its franchise cornerstone in Carmelo Anthony two years prior. It’s also the last time Denver made the playoffs.

After two 11th and one 12th place finish out West, the Nuggets made a genuine push for the playoffs last year. They unlocked one of the league’s most potent offenses and survived some unfortunate injuries. A playoff berth looked to be theirs, but their division rivals in Portland leap-frogged them for the final spot in the playoffs during the final weeks of the season.

A ninth-place finish was encouraging for Denver, especially because it featured the development of an exceptional young core and the emergence of a transcendent young star. Led by the Serbian Sensation, Nikola Jokic, and the newly signed All-Star, Paul Millsap, the Nuggets are primed to make yet another leap as a basketball team. This time around, ninth won’t be good enough. This team has its eyes on the playoffs.

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It won’t be easy. Despite Denver’s own improvements this offseason, the Western Conference grew even more competitive. The playoff race out West will look less like basketball and more arcade mode in Mortal Kombat. It’s going to be a bloody gauntlet — a fight to the death, round-by-round, with an even deadlier opponent lurking around the corner.

The Warriors will be just as good, if not better, after re-signing virtually every player of significance this offseason. Chris Paul and James Harden are on the same freaking team. The Spurs aren’t going anywhere. And those are all teams outside of Denver’s division.

The Portland Trail Blazers are ready to run it back with a full season of a Damian Lillard, C.J. McCollum and Jusuf Nurkic. The Timberwolves pushed all of their chips in the middle and came away with Jimmy Butler. OKC added Paul George. I don’t think you need any analysis for that one—they’re really good now.

The playoffs are the expectation for the Nuggets this time around, but they are far from a guarantee. So what does Denver need to do to get over the hump? Here are five keys to the Nuggets making the playoffs.