2021 NBA Playoffs: Contender or pretender with all 16 teams

2021 NBA Playoffs: Contender or Pretender – Denver Nuggets

Last season the Denver Nuggets took a large, shuffling step forward. Nikola Jokic showed how his brand of passing and scoring as a center translated to the postseason. Jamal Murray got hot as an outside shooter and shot-creator. Michael Porter Jr. grew into a reliable rotation piece, now a key starter.

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This season was not the hottest start for the team, but they found their stride and ended with the three seed. Jokic grew into the MVP favorite by increasing his scoring load, and Porter Jr. is one of the league’s rising offensive stars.

The problem? This team is playing the rest of this year and likely most of next year without Murray, who suffered a torn ACL. They also enter the playoffs with other members of their guard rotation recovering from various injuries. Last season was great, but they were also a shot away from not making it out of the first round.

Playing the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round means slowing down Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum, and it only gets harder from there. The Nuggets have chemistry, a superstar who improves everyone around him and last year’s postseason experience. They also have a weakness in the backcourt, defensive problems and play in a loaded conference. A healthy Murray might have meant a title; now it means one will be out of reach.

Verdict: Pretender