As is the pattern with the Denver Nuggets, as soon as we start to feel like they may make a run at the playoffs, we get a big dose of the reality of this team’s status.
The reality check from last night was a 123-104 blowout loss to the Sixers.
While the Denver Nuggets still may make the playoffs, there’s little chance it would be more than an eighth seed. Given Denver’s history with Houston, the likely top seed, making the playoffs would add a demoralizing extra four games to the season. Weighed against the value of a lottery pick, I’m not sure an eight seed is preferable.
There’s that old-school dynamic, espoused by old-school basketball types that the postseason is a necessary progression for the Denver squad this season. While they have shown flashes of brilliant play, this team is not playoff-ready.
This season, however the final nine games play out, can empirically be viewed as a success for Denver. It has seen the establishment and emergence of Jamal Murray. We have seen the solidification of Gary Harris’ status as a top-flight shooting guard.
It has seen Nikola Jokic continue to improve and set advanced stats guys on their ear. Nikola, particularly, minus a post-all star swoon, has established himself as the cornerstone and leader of the franchise. At 23 years-old, his maturity will soon catch up to his physical gifts and he will be unstoppable.
The contention is that this season, even without a playoff appearance, is precisely the trajectory the Nuggets have been on since the departure of Brian Shaw. Whether Michael Malone is the coach to continue that ascension is currently under debate.
The Nuggets are better than they were last year.
Considering the checkered past of this season and the uncertain future of the playoff race, did we learn anything about the Nuggets last night?
Here are a couple of takeaways from the blowout loss in Philadelphia: