The Denver Nuggets have a promising young core coming into this season. However, there is one major key which needs to happen.
The Denver Nuggets have the talent to make a legitimate run for the fourth seed this coming season. However, if the team is to come across this type of success, they must do one thing they failed to do last year.
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That is handling business against the lesser teams in the NBA. The Nuggets could have easily made the post season last year if they were able to do this. Unfortunately, losses against teams such as the Atlanta Hawks, Los Angeles Lakers, Phoenix Suns and Memphis Grizzlies were a major key to keeping them one game away from the playoffs.
Thankfully, some extra veteran help with the young core will massively help this coming year. The veterans know how to handle business in the NBA and have made a solid career in helping youth overcome obstacles.
Paul Millsap should be healthy for the whole season after missing 75% of the season last year. Bringing the 10 year veteran in Isaiah Thomas will also bolster the second unit.
One major obstacle of helping cultivate youth in the NBA is getting them to not overlook teams with losing records. Think of the San Antonio Spurs. They have a ton of veteran experience and also find a way to make the post season. Not to mention, the Spurs rarely lose to lottery teams in the league.
If the Nuggets are going to make the next step in their development, then they must take every team they play seriously. Teams like the Brooklyn Nets and Atlanta Hawks are still NBA teams. Even the worst teams have the talent to knock off any team on any given day.
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For the Denver Nuggets to make a run at a top five seed in the West, they must take advantage of the lesser teams they play.