Should The Nuggets Target The Eighth Seed Or Tank: Pros And Cons

Targeting the Playoffs: Pros

Playoff Experience

Playoff experience is something that cannot be taught or can’t happen during the regular season. Only a few players on the Nuggets roster have experienced playoff basketball, but many of them have not. Experience in the playoffs is something that would come as a benefit to Jokic, Mudiay, Murray, and others. Over half of the team has never played in the NBA Playoffs and even if the Nuggets were swept in the playoffs, the experience for the young guys would make it worth it.

Confidence Boost

This team hasn’t been in playoff contention the past 3 seasons and the confidence not only for the players, but for Coach Malone and the front office would sky rocket. Ever since Andre Iguodala left Denver for the Warriors, the Nuggets have been stuck right in the middle of the lottery. It is evident that the players who were on the last playoff team don’t have the drive and confidence that they had that season. Winning games leads to confidence and winning playoff games boosts it tremendously.

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Free Agency

The Nuggets obviously aren’t a title contender at the moment, but making the playoffs would be a step in the right direction for the franchise. Since Carmelo Anthony left Denver, there really hasn’t been a certain player who could attract free agents to come to the Nuggets. Right now, making the playoffs would help players consider the Nuggets and they now have a franchise centerpiece in Nikola Jokic, who could also attract players to come here. The current players have continuously expressed how much they like playing alongside Jokic and the stats back their words up. If the Nuggets could haul in a big free agent, they would take a huge leap as a whole.

The Fan Base

Let’s be honest, the Nuggets have a very dead fan base at the moment. Their own home court varies from sparsely open seats to half of the arena open, based solely on the opponent. The Nuggets need their fan base to show up to games and the best way to do that is to prove that they are capable of making the playoffs. Each year, the Nuggets’ attendance has decreased and both this season and last season, the Nuggets have been dead last in attendance. Making the playoffs would help bring fans back to Pepsi Center again.