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 Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images /

Predictions

While most of the Nuggets’ reality falls in the middle of two extremes, Denver is a case lying closer to one than the other. The Nuggets are very close to being a championship-level team. Enough internal growth could put them over the top in the West.

Jamal Murray looks poised to make some sort of leap, though it’s unlikely that he can become an assassin this quickly. The skills and intellect needed to be that guy don’t come easy. That being said, he can become a regular 20-plus point per game scorer in 2019-20 while maintaining solid efficiency.

Gary Harris continues to improve as a two-way guard, and his synergy with Murray strengthens as he shoots an above-average clip from downtown. Paul Millsap gets more tick as a point-forward as opposed to a stretch-4 thanks to the lineup flexibility Jerami Grant brings, and the Nuggets finally have a small-ball frontcourt they can rely on sans Jokic.

Predicting each team's 2019-20 record. dark. Next

The defense is fine, the offense is once again elite, and the Nuggets compete for a top seed. The depth is fortified enough to withstand a few minor injuries, something other top-tier teams can’t, and Denver earns the No. 3 seed in a brutal slugfest that is the Western Conference

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