So I’ve written my high hopes that the Denver Nuggets compare to the Warriors a few years ago and should be in the top 3 Western Conference teams this year.
So now I want to compare them to other Nuggets squads that have been contenders in the past. The 2008-09 team that reached the Western Conference Finals. ( Knocked out by officiating in my opinion) is my first reference point. Then the 93-94 unit that made the semis. Let’s have a look at what each roster brings to the table. I took the starters along with the 1st three off the bench. We’ll compare those to the stats of this years Nuggets contributors stats from last year. (Stats per basketball-reference.com)
| 2017-2018 | PPG | RPG | AST | STL | BLK | OPPG |
| Jokic | 18.5 | 10.7 | 6.1 | 1.2 | 0.8 | |
| Millsap | 14.6 | 6.4 | 2.8 | 1 | 1.2 | |
| Barton | 15.7 | 5 | 4.1 | 1 | 0.6 | |
| Harris | 17.5 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 1.8 | 0.2 | |
| Murray | 16.7 | 3.7 | 3.4 | 1 | 0.3 | |
| I Thomas | 15.2 | 2.1 | 4.8 | 0.5 | 0.1 | |
| Lyles | 9.9 | 4.8 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 0.5 | |
| Plumlee | 7.1 | 5.4 | 1.9 | 0.7 | 1.1 | |
| Team | 110 | 44.5 | 25.1 | 7.6 | 4.9 | 108.5 |
| 2008-2009 | ||||||
| Nene | 14.6 | 7.8 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 1.3 | |
| K Martin | 11.7 | 6 | 2 | 1.5 | 1.1 | |
| Anthony | 22.8 | 6.8 | 3.4 | 1.1 | 0.4 | |
| Jr Smith | 15.2 | 3.7 | 2.8 | 1.2 | 0.2 | |
| Billups | 17.9 | 3 | 6.4 | 1 | 0.2 | |
| Carter | 5.3 | 2.6 | 4.7 | 1.2 | 0.2 | |
| Kleiza | 9.9 | 4 | 0.8 | 0.4 | 0.2 | |
| Andersen | 6.4 | 6.2 | 0.4 | 0.6 | 2.5 | |
| Team | 104.3 | 41.6 | 22.2 | 8.7 | 6 | 100.9 |
| 1993-1994 | ||||||
| Mutombo | 12 | 11.8 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 4.1 | |
| L Ellis | 15.4 | 8.6 | 2.1 | 0.8 | 1 | |
| Williams | 13 | 4.8 | 3.7 | 1.4 | 0.8 | |
| Stith | 12.5 | 4.3 | 2.4 | 1.4 | 0.2 | |
| Rauf | 18 | 2.1 | 4.5 | 1 | 0.1 | |
| Pack | 9.6 | 1.9 | 5.4 | 1.2 | 0.1 | |
| Dele | 8 | 5.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 1.1 | |
| Rogers | 8.1 | 2.9 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 0.6 | |
| Team | 100.3 | 44.7 | 21.5 | 8.3 | 8.4 | 98.8 |
What did I see? TEAM NUMBERS Lot’s of comparisons here. First of all team stats. Last year’s was the highest scoring unit of the three by far , but also the leakiest defense. The point differentials are similar with the 08-09 squad at the top at +3.4 with the other two sharing a +1.5. The rebounders are led by Mutombo and the 93-94 unit grabbing 0.2 rebounds more then the latest squad who is out front of the 08-09 team by 2.9 RPG. Every team dished the ball well with last years squad being tops by a lot with 25.1 AST. Defensively the stats speak for themselves and This years team must either improve there or score so much it doesn’t matter.
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Starters Individually last years team seems to check all the boxes with Jokic’s overall skill set trumping Mutombo’s defense and Nene’s overpowering play. Paul Millsap is a better scorer and comparable defender to K-Mart and a better defender then Laphonso Ellis. Barton hasn’t compared to Carmelo in his prime but compares well with Williams. Harris compares closely against his counterparts with Gary getting the edge in defense over JR and offense over Stith. Jamal Murray is a little behind Billups and Rauf in point guard stats, but in his 2nd year as a starter they should improve and the stats may be skewed a bit by the game modernizing. That’s a comparable if not superior starting five to our other successful teams.
Bench Let’s just go group numbers here for these first 3 off the bench. This years top 3 guys project for 32.2 PPG, with 08-09 at 21.6PPG, and 93-94 at 25.7PPG. So assuming IT brings those stats to the floor that’s quite a spread. The rebounds go 12.3 next year, 12.8 for 08-09, and 10.4 for 93-94. In assists we have 7.9 next year, 5.9 for 08-09, and 7.3 for 93-94. The steals are 1.6 for 18-19, 2.2 in 08-09, and 2.6 in 93-94. In blocks we have the incumbents at 1.7, the 08-09 crew at 2.9 and the 93-94 squad at 1.8. So here I see next year’s Mile High Crew outscoring the others at a rapid clip, rebounding well while underwhelming a little defensively.
Overall Assuming that Barton can respond well to his increased role and Thomas brings his A game this year. I see the Nuggets having an edge in 2018-2019 over those past Nuggets teams who have contended in the playoffs. If either of those things fail to happen then somebody else must step in be it Michael Porter Jr., Torrey Craig, Michael Beasley, or Monte Morris. All these things COULD happen if some of them do and the Nuggets stay healthy (fingers crossed) then I think this serves as an exhibit of how high the nuggets can go this year.