Denver Nuggets: Season preview for the 2019-20 season

SACRAMENTO, CA - JANUARY 3: Nikola Jokic #15, Malik Beasley #25 and Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets celebrate against the Sacramento Kings on January 3, 2019 at Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California. 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 Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images /

Storyline 2: How often will everyone be on the court?

Everyone knows the Nuggets are damn good when they have their best five. Of lineups that logged at least 100 minutes together last season, Denver’s quintet of Jamal Murray, Malik Beasley, Torrey Craig, Paul Millsap and Nikola Jokic ranked fourth in the league with a Net Rating of +22.8 points per 100 possessions.

Problem is, that lineup only played 140 minutes, and it was mainly used in the absence of Gary Harris (who missed 25 games). Millsap missed half of the 2017-18 season and 12 games in 2018-19. Will Barton was sidelined nearly half of 2018-19.

Thanks to all the random injuries last season, the Nuggets deployed seven different five-man lineups for over 100 minutes last season, fourth-highest in the NBA. That only two of Denver’s seven had negative Net Ratings is a testament to its overall depth, but it’s also far too many for a contender.

Denver is good with the right pieces around Jokic. Problem is, they’ve rarely all been available. It’s no secret that staying healthy helps you win more games, but in a crowded Western Conference, it’s imperative.

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