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Which competition format would be best for the Nuggets?

By Quenton S. Albertie

DENVER, CO - FEBRUARY 23: The shorts of Michael Porter Jr. #1 of the Denver Nuggets during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Pepsi Center on February 23, 2020 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 23: The shorts of Michael Porter Jr. #1 of the Denver Nuggets during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Pepsi Center on February 23, 2020 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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With all but 11 teams having allowed players to train at their practice facilities, including the Denver Nuggets, news that the NBA is targeting late July as the potential date for the league to resume play (per ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne) shows that the 2019-20 season will not be lost after all.

It’s all but certain that when the league returns, that teams will play in Orlando at ESPN’s Wide World of Sports Complex, which has three arenas.

Per The Athletic’s Shams Charania, during a conference call held between NBA commissioner Adam Silver and the league’s general managers on Thursday, topics such as a two-step approach to the start of games were discussed.

On Friday, general managers then received a survey that would help determine what competition format the league should adopt when they do resume play:

  • Advancing straight into the playoffs, with the usual best-of-seven series, using the standings from March 12
  • Expanding the number of teams in the playoffs by having a play-in tournament for bubble teams or replacing the first round with a group stage
  • Resuming the regular season with all 30 teams
  • Resuming the regular season with all 30 teams while having a play-in tournament

The survey also would determine whether the league would allow for limited roster expansion, by allowing an additional 1-3 players for the regular season, 1-2 players for the playoffs or allowing two-way players to be eligible for postseason play.

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Which option is best for the Denver Nuggets though?

The only format that would seem to negatively effect the Nuggets is the option of expanding the number of teams in the playoffs, simply because there would be more competition. However, the only team that isn’t currently in the top eight Western Conference seeds that Denver is has a losing record against is the New Orleans Pelicans (1-2).

While jumping straight into the playoffs after such a long layoff could put the Nuggets at a disadvantage because they won’t be in an ideal game shape, neither will the players from any other team.

In fact, according to The Athletic’s Nick Kosmider, Nuggets veteran forward Paul Millsap believes that Denver would actually have an advantage when the season resumes because of the team’s familiarity with one another:

"“I think we have an advantage,” he said. “We’ve been together probably longer than any team out there. But everybody is going to start from scratch, and it’s going to be the guys that have been in the gym working and making it happen. That’s going to be the team that’s going to get off to a really good start.”"

Millsap, along with seven of his teammates, have been together in Denver for the past three seasons. Three seasons isn’t a long time but, among teams currently in the playoff picture from either conference, it’s the longest length of time that at least seven rotation players have played alongside each other.

So there is an advantage for them, which could prove useful against the West’s top two teams (the Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers). Both of these teams have grown familiar with each other over the season but they have still only been together for one season.

With the strength of their top stars, it will still be difficult for the Nuggets to overwhelm them. Nonetheless, any added advantage is still beneficial for the Nuggets.

However, the best option for Denver may still the league opting to resume the regular season with all 30 teams. This would allow the Nuggets to get their legs under them a bit more than they would have if the NBA jumped straight into the postseason.

Whatever the league’s GMs decide to do, Denver will be confident and ready.

Related Story. George Karl argues to end the 2019-20 season. light

Led by star center Nikola Jokic and young Jamal Murray, the Nuggets will have a great chance to make it to the NBA Finals after nearly making it to the Western Conference Finals last season.

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