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Who the Denver Nuggets don’t want to see in the first round

By Blake Holmes

DENVER, CO - MARCH 31: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets shoots a free-throw against the Washington Wizards on March 31, 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 - MARCH 31: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets shoots a free-throw against the Washington Wizards on March 31, 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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SALT LAKE CITY, UT – MARCH 29: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz dunks during a game against the Washington Wizards at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 29, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT – MARCH 29: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz dunks during a game against the Washington Wizards at Vivint Smart Home Arena on March 29, 2019 in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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 Alex Goodlett/Getty Images) /

The second team that the Denver Nuggets do not want to see in the first round is the Utah Jazz.

The Utah Jazz are the opposite of the Thunder, in which they are a team that Denver has had a bit of an issue with this season. As it stands currently, the Jazz are 2-1 against the Nuggets this season, with one game left to go on the ninth of April. This is a team that just matches up with the Nuggets extremely well from top to bottom. Let’s discuss the starting lineups and their matchups.

Denver Nuggets                                                                                                                 Utah Jazz

PG Jamal Murray                                                                                                                 PG Ricky Rubio

SG Gary Harris                                                                                                                     SG Donovan Mitchell

SF Will Barton                                                                                                                      SF Joe Ingles

PF Paul Millsap                                                                                                                    PF Derrick Favors

C Nikola Jokic                                                                                                                        C Rudy Gobert

This team matches up very well with the Nuggets. What better player to guard the wizardry of Nikola Jokic than none other than Rudy Gobert, a former DPOY? Donovan Mitchell is pretty good on defense and can switch onto bigger defenders on the perimeter. Ricky Rubio is a bit of an underrated defender, along with Joe Ingles. The defensive end is the main reason that the Jazz are a dangerous team.

I also don’t like that they play very similarly to the Nuggets, but they still have their guy. At the end of the game, who’s taking the last shot for the Jazz? Well, it’s Donovan Mitchell, and while you can say the same thing about Jokic with Denver, it’s just not the same in this scenario. If Jokic has to shoot, he has to go through Gobert, also known as the “Stifle Tower”. If Mitchell has to shoot, he goes through Gary Harris most likely, and even though Harris is an underrated perimeter defender, it’s not the same kind of impact of Gobert.

If the Nuggets get the Jazz, then they have to handle their business at home, because Utah will give them a fight.

How far can this Denver Nuggets team go in the postseason?. dark. Next

That’s my two! Who do you think would give the Nuggets the toughest fight in the first round? Be sure to let us know!

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