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Western Conference Playoff Seedings 2019: Where do the Denver Nuggets rank?

By Peter Hooper

HOUSTON, TX - MAY 28: a general view of the conference trophy after Golden State Warriors defeated the Houston Rockets in Game Seven of the Western Conference Finals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 28, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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 Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX - MAY 28: a general view of the conference trophy after Golden State Warriors defeated the Houston Rockets in Game Seven of the Western Conference Finals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 28, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. 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 Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – FEBRUARY 03: Torrey Craig #3 of the Denver Nuggets defends Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors at Pepsi Center on February 3, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. 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. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – FEBRUARY 03: Torrey Craig #3 of the Denver Nuggets defends Klay Thompson #11 of the Golden State Warriors at Pepsi Center on February 3, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. 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. (Photo by Jamie Schwaberow/Getty Images) /

1) Golden State Warriors

This is obviously a no-brainer, the Warriors virtually kept the same team. Other than with Zaza Pachulia and Javale McGee being replaced by DeMarcus Cousins, who may well be the best big man in the league. As many have decried, the current roster may be better than the championship one from last year. Moreover, the Warriors can always go small with Draymond at center.

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2) Los Angeles Lakers

(This take is way more interesting and certainly less obvious)

Admittedly, with LeBron getting closer to the 2 decades of service mark, there has been a tendency for LeBron to save himself for the playoffs. However, the Lakers, with guys like Brandon Ingram, Kyle Kuzma etc. represent what may be the most deep roster LeBron has ever played on. Certainly since his time in Miami. LeBron’s assist rate will likely be even higher, making his scoring even easier. Which makes defending the Lakers a nightmare that perhaps only Golden State will have a shot at guarding. Meanwhile the Lakers should be a good defensive team themselves, having consistently manhandled the East come playoff time, can LeBron do the same thing out West?

3) Utah Jazz

As good as Utah was last year, they will essentially benefit from keeping all that’s good about their roster. Whilst also getting more depth with the acquisition of Grayson Allen and the return of a healthy Ricky Rubio.

Quin Snyder gets to run it back a second time with the same roster. Which should mean better execution on both sides of the ball. Moreover, Donovan Mitchell is just getting started and will almost certainly be even better on both sides of the floor as well. The young man is only beginning to cash in on his upside. As we saw last year, the Utah Jazz go as high as Mitchell takes them. With ‘Defensive Player of the Year’ Rudy Gobert anchoring the defense, the Utah Jazz and Donovan Mitchell are about to go even higher this year.

4) Oklahoma City Thunder

With the ‘bromance’ that was on full display during free agency, between Paul George and Russell Westbrook.

OKC may be one of the most incentivized teams in the NBA. A repeat of last year’s performance (a first round exit in the playoffs), would be a disaster for everyone involved. Nevertheless, with André Roberson returning from injury. (OKC went from 5th best to 23rd best in defensive efficiency in his absence). (https://bit.ly/2CmZjgM) Along with the Thunder moving on from the mutually disagreeable experiment with Carmelo Anthony, OKC should have a better season than they did last year.

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