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Denver Nuggets could be Rockets from last season

By Mathew Huff

DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 25: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets and Gary Harris #14 of the Denver Nuggets fight for position during the game at Pepsi Center on February 25, 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 Justin Tafoya/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 25: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets and Gary Harris #14 of the Denver Nuggets fight for position during the game at Pepsi Center on February 25, 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 Justin Tafoya/Getty Images) /
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The Denver Nuggets are in store for a great season.

Last year, the Denver Nuggets’ post season hopes came to a halt in the last regular season game as they lost to division rival, Minnesota. However, after a great off season which went unnoticed by many NBA peers, the Nuggets have a ton of hype and potential coming into the new year.

With the addition of Isaiah Thomas and a healthy Paul Millsap, the Denver Nuggets very well could fill the same role as the Houston Rockets did in the Western Conference last season. While this is quite the bold claim, there are a few reasons which support this hypothesis.

For one, the Nuggets are an offensive juggernaut like the Houston Rockets. In the last two years, both the Rockets and Nuggets have been ranked in the top five for offensive efficiency according to teamrankings.com. It is easy to see why when both teams boast great three point shooters in Gary Harris, Jamal Murray, James Harden and Chris Paul and that is not even counting the non back court players on each squad.

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Second of all, the Nuggets will be an improved defensive unit. The Rockets made a concerted effort last year to improve defensively, especially with Luc Richard Mbah a Moute and Trevor Ariza on the team, and in turn, it resulted in a 60 plus win season and nearly upsetting the defending champion Golden State Warriors in the Western Conference Finals. The reason is because Houston continued to be a dominant offensive juggernaut while also finishing fifth in defensive efficiency.

With the return of a healthy Paul Millsap to go along with Gary Harris and Torrey Craig, the Nuggets should break out of their 25th team defensive efficiency ranking from last year.

Are the Nuggets going to defeat the Warriors in the post season? Most likely not. However, that does not mean they cannot be a sleeper to snag the second seed in the West and potentially drive the Warriors to a game six or seven in a playoff series like the Rockets did last season.

Last year, people expected the Rockets would be a solid team, but they did not see them snagging the one seed and nearly beating the Warriors in the playoffs coming.

The narrative for the Nuggets coming into the year is eerily similar and for all we know, it could be their time to try their hand at the top of the West standings and see if they can de-throne the defending NBA champions.

Next. Assigning the Nuggets as Mortal Kombat characters. dark

The similarities between the two squads are there and it would be great to see Denver have one of the best seasons in franchise history.

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