Why Denver Could be Following in Utah’s Foot Steps
By Mathew Huff
Denver is showing remarkable similarities to the Utah Jazz from last year.
The Denver Nuggets had a bittersweet season to say the least. After holding on so tightly so long to the eight seed, Portland eventually showed their experience and took it from them.
It was a heart breaking end to a somewhat promising season to say the least. However, a division rival had a remarkably similar season the year before.
Denver Nuggets
That would be the Utah Jazz. The Jazz almost made the playoffs as the eighth seed last year, until Kobe Bryant had a legendary last game knocking them out of the playoffs.
Sound familiar? Yep, that is similar to what happened with Denver and how their season ended this season. A future hall of famer with a legendary performance to knock out a young up and coming team out of the playoff picture? Yep, it is safe to say Russell Westbrook “Kobe’d,” the Nuggets.
If the Nuggets are in fact following the same path as Utah, then things will get much better come next season. Denver has the potential to jump from a fringe playoff team to a solid fifth or fourth seed in the Western Conference with a couple of solid additions. Much like what the Jazz did this year.
The make up of both of these teams is also similar. Both teams have been patient and allowed their young players to develop into stars. Those players would be Nikola Jokic of Denver and Gordon Hayward of Utah.
If this jump for the Nuggets does happen, then the Northwest division will become even more intriguing than it already is, which will be a great thing for the NBA. Mark my words, with these two teams, the Trail Blazers, the Thunder and the Timberwolves growing and evolving, this will become the most competitive division in the next couple of years.
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Here’s to hoping to watching a fun and very much improved Denver team next year that will make it to the post season.