Denver Nuggets: 3 reasons this team is for real
By Jared Hayden
After missing the playoffs last year in their season finale, the Denver Nuggets are back with a vengeance. But can they hold their own come playoff time?
For the Denver Nuggets, this season couldn’t have gone better thus far. With a franchise-best record of 39-18, the Nuggets look poised to capture a top-3 seed in a loaded Western Conference. Just two games back from the Golden State Warriors for the 1-seed, Denver should have their eyes set on trying to capture the top spot in the conference by the end of the season.
Head coach Michael Malone is a Coach of the Year candidate and Nikola Jokic is fighting for a First Team All-NBA slot. Denver looks to have struck gold in young role players like Monte Morris, Torrey Craig, Juan Hernangomez and Malik Beasley.
This all prompts the question: Is it time to consider the Denver Nuggets as a legitimate championship contender?
The answer for the time being is yes. Here’s a look at three reasons that have proven this team is built for a deep playoff run.