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Denver Nuggets: 3 ideal opponents for the playoffs

By Grayson Moore

DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 26: Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets reacts to a play during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on February 26, 2019 at the Pepsi Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 26: Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets reacts to a play during the game against the Oklahoma City Thunder on February 26, 2019 at the Pepsi Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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DENVER, COLORADO – FEBRUARY 24: Danilo Gallinari #8 of the Los Angeles Clippers drives to the basket against Gary Harris #14 of the Denver Nuggets in the first quarter at the Pepsi Center on February 24, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, COLORADO – FEBRUARY 24: Danilo Gallinari #8 of the Los Angeles Clippers drives to the basket against Gary Harris #14 of the Denver Nuggets in the first quarter at the Pepsi Center on February 24, 2019 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Ideal Opponent #3: Los Angeles Clippers

Against all odds, a team from Los Angeles made the playoffs this season, and it wasn’t the one with arguably the best player of all time.

The Clippers have managed to be one of the best teams in the Western Conference even without an All-Star or a solid defense, a combination that usually ensures teams will be spending April and May watching the games at home. They have had an underdog mentality all season, which can be dangerous, but that becomes less dangerous to teams in the playoffs, and especially the NBA playoffs.

The Clippers are 1-3 against the Nuggets this season, which bodes well for Denver in the playoffs. In those games, LA has averaged just 106.5 points per game and 6.8 made three pointers on 23.3 attempts per game, a percentage of just 29.2%.

LA has been led by the combined scoring of Lou Williams and Danilo Gallinari this season, both of whom have struggled against Denver, putting up numbers below their season averages in the points, rebounds, and assists columns. They also both posted true shooting percentages below 60% and had BPMs in the negatives. The Clippers don’t have a bonafide star to lead their team, but the two players who could be classified as the leaders of the team have been shut down by the Nuggets in the regular season matchups.

Next. Nuggets exceededing expectations. dark

The Clippers’ combination of poor defense(19th best defensive rating in the NBA) and their lack of a clear star and playoff experience should hurt them against the Nuggets, who rank in the top 10 in the NBA for defensive and offensive rating.

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