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3 reasons Denver Nuggets will make the 2019 NBA Playoffs

By Luke Zahlmann

SAN ANTONIO, TX - MAY 9: A close up view of the official NBA Playoff logo before the game between the San Antonio Spurs and the Houston Rockets during Game Five of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on May 9, 2017 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photos by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
SAN ANTONIO, TX - MAY 9: A close up view of the official NBA Playoff logo before the game between the San Antonio Spurs and the Houston Rockets during Game Five of the Western Conference Semifinals of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on May 9, 2017 at the AT&T Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photos by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Denver Nuggets (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
Denver Nuggets (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

#3: Nuggets take care of the easy ones

Last season, the Nuggets’ early season play led them to be reliant on winning their final seven games to make the postseason. They were only able to win six of those seven, sending them home without a postseason birth.

One of the biggest problems for the Nuggets last year was their play against lesser foes.

Against non-playoff teams, the Nuggets accrued a 23-12 mark. Though well-above .500, the Nuggets can do better.

For comparison, the Houston Rockets, the first seed in the conference, went 30-7 under the same circumstances. Though the Rockets were a slightly better team than the Nuggets figure to be this year, meeting the top finishers halfway would have secured a playoff spot.

The Nuggets only finished three games out of a top-three seed in the loaded Western Conference. Those three games could have been made up with an extra three wins against lower level opponents, bringing their record to 26-9, a very achievable record against the bottom-dwelling teams of the league.

Another year of maturity and growth for the young Nuggets’ squad will go a long way towards playing up, rather than down to their competition.

The Western Conference figures to be even stronger this year with the addition of LeBron James to the Los Angeles Lakers. The Nuggets will be able to win the easy ones at a higher rate this year, increasing their playoff odds exponentially.

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