The Nuggets don’t know their first-round playoff opponent yet, but their opening series tips off Sunday at Ball Arena. Who on the Nuggets has the most at stake this postseason and who could play a larger role than we think? Also, is Denver properly rated heading into the playoffs? DNVR Nuggets discusses.
Who has the most at stake in these playoffs?
Adam Mares: In terms of legacy, it’s easily Nikola Jokic. In terms of job security, it’s easily Michael Malone. The pressure on Jokic is immense. Such is the fate of hall of fame talent in the prime of their careers. Part of what defines a player’s legacy is how they handle pressure so watching Jokic respond to this pressure will be as interesting as anything that he’s done in the NBA so far. But for Malone, a first round exit would likely lead to termination. Few coaches stick around for more than 8 years without a finals appearance to show for it.
Harrison Wind: Several Nuggets players can begin to write their legacy during this playoff run, but that starts with Nikola Jokic who can cement himself as an all-time great with a championship this year. An NBA championship after back-to-back MVPs in a year where he mostly didn’t win MVP because he had won the past two straight would be the ultimate FU to the rest of the league — even though that’s the last way Jokic would look at it. Others can write their own chapters in Nuggets lore too. Murray can become an unquestioned, upper-echelon playoff performer. Michael Porter Jr. and Aaron Gordon can be branded as winners. Michael Malone also has a lot at stake, and I’m certain there will be significant changes within this franchise if expectations aren’t met.
Brendan Vogt: Jamal Murray has more at stake than is discussed. If Denver truly has every piece they need to make the Finals, and they fail to do so, his security in Denver could shift overnight. It’s not that moving off of Murray is given. It’s that due diligence requires thorough consideration in this case. The coach might be at the top of the list. The second-best player might be pretty close behind. The bubble was a long time ago now. Murray has plenty to prove.
Who’s going to play a larger role than we think this postseason?
Mares: Aaron Gordon
He might be the 3rd most important player this playoff run since teams will likely try to force the ball into his hands on the perimeter as much as possible. Teams may also resort to hack-a-Gordon, electing to put him at the foul line rather than allow Jokic and Murray to operate the two-man game. Whether or not he knocks down his shots will determine Denver’s chances of advancing deep into the playoffs.
Wind: Bruce Brown
Brown averaged 28.5 minutes per game this season, a number that grew later in the season when he logged 32.8 minutes per game in April when the Nuggets were resting their starters. He’s the Nuggets’ unquestioned 6th man and I can see Brown’s minutes getting upped into the low-mid 30s this postseason. He’s firmly in Michael Malone’s Circle of Trust, a sturdy defender, and at times the go-to option on the second unit. I’m a little worried about his usage in the playoffs though — I think you can make the case that Christian Braun should be playing more minutes in the postseason — but strap in for an extra heavy dosage of Brown over the next several weeks. I bet there will be times in the playoffs when we’re upset about how much Bruce Brown is happening.
Vogt: Christian Braun
Braun might be the best defender on the roster. While he won’t have the trust of Malone that KCP and Brown will, he may be called upon to change the course of a quarter here and there with his insatiable appetite for stops. If that works, Malone might continue going to that well. Braun was out of the rotation for most of the year, but he has an outside chance to close a playoff game or two. Is that likely? No. But it’s on the table.
Are the Nuggets being underrated, overrated or properly rated heading into the playoffs?
Mares: I think they are being underrated, including by us! At their best, they looked like an S-tier team. Jokic is still as good as anyone in the NBA and the playoffs will likely push the team to be their best. Teams like the Warriors and Suns have just as many question marks heading into the postseason as the Nuggets yet their shortcomings are almost universally discounted or brushed off. No one has stopped Denver’s offense all season. The window of opportunity is wide open.
Wind: Massively underrated, and it’s only due to them staying in chill mode over the last month. The reality is that for 80% of this season, the Nuggets were arguably the best team in the NBA. They mostly dominated their competition. They’ve been atop the Western Conference since December. If it read “Los Angeles” on the front of their jersey and not “Denver,” the Nuggets would be the clear favorites in the West. With the back-to-back MVP, maybe they’d be the overall championship favorites. The Nuggets’ starting five is arguably the best in the league. They’ve crushed teams all season with Nikola Jokic on the floor. This team is by far the best team of the Jokic era. Their toughest opponent in the playoffs might be themselves.
Vogt: They’re underrated. The Nuggets have a back-to-back MVP and are the top seed in the Western Conference. Flawed they may be, and they are, but of course, they’re contenders. There’s a floating notion that they’re underprepared for playoff basketball, and it’s mainly off base. The defense is fallible, and the non-Jokić minutes are concerning, but the core has spent years preparing for this opportunity. They’ve played in so many game sevens and know who they are with their backs against the wall. The recent early exits have more to do with injuries than anything else. The Nuggets may come up short, but they’re a bonafide contender.
