RealGM

Hi Everyone,
This is my first post here on this Forum. I just very recently started following the NBA again after roughly a couple decades away. And, following the Nuggets (because of Jokic) and I'm totally intrigued!!!! He's the best player I've ever seen, all around!!

So, here's the question:

--IF the Nuggets were at full strength, this projects them to be the second best team in the playoffs this year. But what does that entail?

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2022-nba-predictions/

--Also, they have the among the 3 weakest average opponents in the NBA from here on in:

http://powerrankingsguru.com/nba/strength-of-schedule.php

Thoughts? What does the rest of the season look like for Jokic and Denver? I can only imagine Jokic's seasonal averages going up with such a weak schedule, and Denver's W-L% increasing, relative to today...

Also, do they have any chance of getting through the Suns and Warriors in the playoffs, IF they're at full strength?

ty 4191 wrote:
--IF the Nuggets were at full strength, this projects them to be the second best team in the playoffs this year. But what does that entail?

https://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2022-nba-predictions/

The Nuggets 2nd and 3rd best player in Jamal Murray and Porter Jr have been injured the entire season, with murray not playing at all and MPJ struggling before they found his back injury a few games into the season. We also lost our best guard defender in Dozier 18 games into the season and have had the 3rd most missed games due to injuries and covid protocols. This has led to our deep bench getting a lot of meaningful minutes and role players forced into roles they do not fit into.


To put it into perspective Austin Rivers is our 4th string SG, he has played in 31 games 20 mpg this season, and a lot of those minutes have come at SF.

This has led to the bench being one of the worst in the league, and our starters being very inconsistent.


If healthy our lineup would look like
Murray(33 mpg)/ Morris (15 mpg)/
Barton (28 mpg)/ D Hyland (12 mpg)/ MOrris (8 MPG)
Gordon (30 mpg)/ Dozier (18 mpg)
MPJ (28 mpg)/ Jeff Green (20 mpg)
JOkic (33 mpg)/ JayMichael Green (13 mpg)/ MPJ (2 mpg)


With Murray and MPJ getting some of their minutes with the bench it would solve a lot of the issues with shooting and shot creation that the bench has had, and our starting lineup is well balanced with good defense and a ton of scoring power.

ty 4191 wrote:
--Also, they have the among the 3 weakest average opponents in the NBA from here on in:

http://powerrankingsguru.com/nba/strength-of-schedule.php

Thoughts? What does the rest of the season look like for Jokic and Denver? I can only imagine Jokic's seasonal averages going up with such a weak schedule, and Denver's W-L% increasing, relative to today...

Also, do they have any chance of getting through the Suns and Warriors in the playoffs, IF they're at full strength?

I know we have had one of the hardest schedules in the league so far, but a lot is going to depend on health and the new additions. We recently traded for one of the best shooters in the league and signed a true backup Center in Cousins, depending on their fit with the bench that should help, and if both Murray and MPJ are back than we become one of the best teams in the league overnight.

I expect JOkic's stats to drop off when Murray and MPJ get back, and hope the scoring drops off with more assists prior to that, as well as him playing less minutes. He has carried us to this point, which is impressive considering all the facts, but we want him healthy and rested when we get to the playoffs.

If we are healthy I actually consider the Nuggets favorites to come out of the west this year. After the trade for Gordon last year we were something like 9-1 before Murray went down. We were in the western conference finals 2 years ago with a healthy Murray and rookie MPJ, with a more seasoned MPJ, a healthy Murray, Jokic playing like he has been, and the addition of Aaron Gordon we may have the best starting lineup in the league.

Looks like some changes are in the works concerning the bench. Forbes is getting a long look as well as Nanji and Cousins.

Cousins is putting in some effort even if he remains a turnover risk. Consequently, that effort has some benefit in rebounding and screening but more importantly, in improving bench identity with a strong center when Jokic is out. Ironically, Cousins seems to grasp Malone's system well, perhaps a product of past involvement in Sacramento.

Nanji is starting to grasp defensive presence along with his outstanding outside shooting. He is a legitimate 4 and continues to improve. Already, he leads the league in 3 point percentages.

Forbes looks unsure but his shooting touch looks excellent. After a slow start it is apparent that he is a 3 point shooter that every team needs. Obviously, the bench is under development with three midseason additions.

Do the Nuggets have any chance of getting through the Suns and Warriors in the playoffs, IF they're at full strength?

Suns would be tricky, against Warriors they will like their chances

ty 4191 wrote:Do the Nuggets have any chance of getting through the Suns and Warriors in the playoffs, IF they're at full strength?

At full strength, they can beat anyone.

TunaFish wrote:At full strength, they can beat anyone.

You really think they could get through the Suns in the playoffs? Boy, that would be miraculous!!

Any timelines/updates in the Denver media on Porter Jr. and Murray coming back?

ty 4191 wrote:

TunaFish wrote:At full strength, they can beat anyone.

You really think they could get through the Suns in the playoffs? Boy, that would be miraculous!!

Any timelines/updates in the Denver media on Porter Jr. and Murray coming back?

Not much of a fan if you don't think so.....

ty 4191 wrote:

TunaFish wrote:At full strength, they can beat anyone.

You really think they could get through the Suns in the playoffs? Boy, that would be miraculous!!

Any timelines/updates in the Denver media on Porter Jr. and Murray coming back?

Before Murray went down last season and after the Gordon trade, the Nuggets were the best team I have ever seen in their history (and that goes back 45 years). They have all the pieces for a title run if they are at full strength.

Jokic is a once in lifetime player. Murray (when not injured) is as good a point guard as there is in the league. MPJ is a first option scorer and future all star. Gordon is a key defense first forward who can score around the basket. Barton is above average shooting guard and a good 4th option.

The Nuggets may now have the bench pieces with Nnaji, Bones, Cousins, Forbes and Jeff Green. Austin Rivers and Campazzo are fill in veterans who have a place. At full strength, this team will be a load for anyone.

Media reports indicate that both Murray and MPJ will be back by April 1.

skywalker33 wrote:

ty 4191 wrote:

TunaFish wrote:At full strength, they can beat anyone.

You really think they could get through the Suns in the playoffs? Boy, that would be miraculous!!

Any timelines/updates in the Denver media on Porter Jr. and Murray coming back?

Not much of a fan if you don't think so.....

Please be nice! (I'm just getting back into the NBA after a long hiatus. And, I've never followed the Nuggets before.)

Welcome me to your team!

ty 4191 wrote:

skywalker33 wrote:

ty 4191 wrote:
You really think they could get through the Suns in the playoffs? Boy, that would be miraculous!!

Any timelines/updates in the Denver media on Porter Jr. and Murray coming back?

Not much of a fan if you don't think so.....

Please be nice! (I'm just getting back into the NBA after a long hiatus. And, I've never followed the Nuggets before.)

Welcome me to your team!

We have a short span here to get you up to speed (so much has happened). This is a good team snakebitten by injuries. Welcome aboard and hold onto your hat.

ty 4191 wrote:

TunaFish wrote:At full strength, they can beat anyone.

You really think they could get through the Suns in the playoffs? Boy, that would be miraculous!!

Any timelines/updates in the Denver media on Porter Jr. and Murray coming back?

Part of the issue against the Suns was that Jokic was clearly exhausted, he had done a hard carry on us for 2 months and had basically been playing basketball for 15 months straight. If you take out Jokic's shooting 47.7% the rest of the roster shot 42.2% against the Suns, that would not have happened with Murray and a healthy MPJ. MPJ was struggling with an injury against the Suns, Murray loves playing against the Suns backcourt, and having Murray forces the Suns aways from their constant hard double and soft triple covering Jokic.


With a rookie MPJ, a healthy Murray, and Jokic we made the western conference finals 16 months ago. Since then we have also upgraded from an old Millsap to a young Gordon who brings better defense and solid offense compared to Millsap in the bubble and since.

With our improved defense, and now improved bench (even last season our bench was terrible) and a healthy Murray and MPJ I think we can beat the Suns in 6 games or so.

Another way to look at it, we are 3rd overall in games missed, and 1st overall in win shares missing per game. Historically teams missing 2 of their top 3 guys for extended periods of time are not playoff teams. We are 6 games over 500, with 93 missed games by our top 3. The Nets who is arguably the most talented team in the league has had their top 3 miss a total of 61 games and they are only 9 games over 500. The Lakers who have had their top 3 miss 35 total games and are 3 games under 500. The Trailblazers top 3 have missed 49 games and they are 7 games under 500. For comparison the Suns top 4 guys have missed a combined 27 games. Health especially to your top 3 or 4 guys is very important, and being over 500 with the injuries to our top guys indicates just how much talent we have and how good JOkic is.

TunaFish wrote:We have a short span here to get you up to speed (so much has happened). This is a good team snakebitten by injuries. Welcome aboard and hold onto your hat.

I'll try to get caught up to speed ASAP.

And, thank you for welcoming me to your fandom!!

PS: Jokic is ROLLING tonight against Giannis!!

ty 4191 wrote:

TunaFish wrote:We have a short span here to get you up to speed (so much has happened). This is a good team snakebitten by injuries. Welcome aboard and hold onto your hat.

I'll try to get caught up to speed ASAP.

And, thank you for welcoming me to your fandom!!

PS: Jokic is ROLLING tonight against Giannis!!

Well, I see no reason not to extend a Welcome to Nugget Nation, certainly look forward to another perspective on our future Championships !!

Nugs Warriors wcf

ty 4191 wrote:

TunaFish wrote:We have a short span here to get you up to speed (so much has happened). This is a good team snakebitten by injuries. Welcome aboard and hold onto your hat.

I'll try to get caught up to speed ASAP.

And, thank you for welcoming me to your fandom!!

PS: Jokic is ROLLING tonight against Giannis!!

Welcome and enjoy Nuggets basketball!

skywalker33 wrote:Well, I see no reason not to extend a Welcome to Nugget Nation, certainly look forward to another perspective on our future Championships !!

Thanks so much, skywalker!!

Maf wrote:Welcome and enjoy Nuggets basketball!

Thank you!!

Interestingly enough, our schedule gets easier as we get stronger, speculation abounds that BOTH Murray and MPJ will return soon. As that happens, could we see a major win streak entering the playoffs ? Right now we're seven games over .500,only one game behind Utah for the division lead and only 1 game out of a top 4 seed. With the injured players returning, would it be possible to jump all the way up to 3rd in the playoff race ??? Seems like a perfect storm possibility to me.

I dont think Jokic numbers would decrease with Murray being back , they could even go up, Murray is the only player who can play pick and roll and pop with Jokic effectively on this team, just from those situations Jokic would score some easy points.