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Denver Nuggets: Takeaways from Philadelphia

By Michael Longhofer

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 26: Referee, J.T. Orr smiles during the Denver Nuggets game against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 26, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 26: Referee, J.T. Orr smiles during the Denver Nuggets game against the Philadelphia 76ers on March 26, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Philadelphia 76ers V Denver NuggetsPHILADELPHIA,PA – MARCH 26 : Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets dunks the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on March 26, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)Getty ID: 938380264
Philadelphia 76ers V Denver NuggetsPHILADELPHIA,PA – MARCH 26 : Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets dunks the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center on March 26, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)Getty ID: 938380264 /

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:

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