The Nuggets' vibes are back: "We've set ourselves up for a beautiful opportunity"

If you’re still wallowing in misery over the Nuggets’ final month of the regular season — a five-week stretch where Denver went 7-10 overall and looked like a team that had become bored with its own success — you should stop.

Because the Nuggets have.

It felt like the weight of the 82-game season had been lifted off the Nuggets’ shoulders at their first practice of the playoffs Wednesday at Ball Arena. Nikola Jokic was smiling. The vibe was upbeat and lively. There was a healthy and contagious energy in the Nuggets’ practice gym that represented a team that had already turned the page. The Nuggets have moved past the regular season. They’re ready for what’s next.

“We’ve taken care of business thus far,” Aaron Gordon said. “Everybody has taken care of their bodies, lifted, slept right, eat well, and trained well. We’ve set ourselves up for a beautiful opportunity and a good chance to win the championship.”

Denver assembled for a team dinner Tuesday night that doubled as a viewing party for the first round of play-in games and the Nuggets’ potential first-round playoff opponent, the Minnesota Timberwolves. Overall, it was a night of celebration. The Nuggets broke bread as a team and reflected on what they had accomplished this season and the preseason goals they have met.

Back in October at training camp, three of the Nuggets’ defined goals entering the season were to win their division, improve their record at home, and play better against playoff teams. They followed through on all three while clinching the No. 1 seed in the West for the first time in their NBA franchise history.

“It was a great scene,” Gordon said of Tuesday night’s get-together. “Cool vibe.”

One reason why the Nuggets’ vibes have returned? Denver’s roster is as healthy as it’s been in months. Gordon said the rib injury that he dealt with earlier this season was so bad that every time he would take a breath, his rib popped out of place. But he’s healthy now and excited for what’s ahead. Jokic is “physically, mentally, emotionally in a really good place right now,” Michael Malone declared. The Nuggets feel refreshed.

The one injury that Denver is dealing with — and it sounds like will continue to deal with — is Jamal Murray’s right thumb. Murray said the thumb was a little sore after practice and that it bothers him when he passes and shoots the ball. It’s something that could be present all playoffs. The positive take is that it hasn’t affected his shot. Murray shot 42.2% from 3 over his last six games of the season and since the thumb injury became noticeable.

“I don’t think it’s going to be great at any point,” Michael Malone said.

The Nuggets will begin to ramp up tomorrow at practice in preparation for Game 1. After tonight’s play-in, the teams that Denver could host in the first round of the playoffs drops to two. So at Thursday’s practice, the Nuggets will begin to game plan for those two potential opponents.

Nuggets have two days off in between Games 1 and 2 — it might be because of a scheduling conflict with the NHL and Avalanche. Get ready for some late nights. pic.twitter.com/8BssWoCzdF

— Harrison Wind (@HarrisonWind) April 12, 2023

Whoever the Nuggets end up playing, you get the sense that Denver will enter the postseason with the utmost confidence. I don’t think this team is afraid of any matchup or opponent that they could face on their path to the Finals.

The Nuggets are also convinced that they haven’t lost their mojo. That special level of chemistry and cohesiveness that Denver achieved and played with for most of this season is still here. Denver believes it can still tap into the level of dominance and superiority that the Nuggets flashed against the top championship contenders all season.

We’ll see if they’re right beginning on Sunday.

“I feel like we’ve set ourselves up for success,” Gordon said.