Are the Denver Nuggets poised to make a run in the Western Conference?

The post-All-Star break Denver Nuggets feel a little bit different this year.

Led by Nikola Jokic, the Nuggets are currently on a six-game win streak dating back to before the All-Star break. The Nuggets have looked refreshed and rejuvenated coming out of the break, and have performed well on the court including two blowout wins over the Sacramento Kings and Portland Trail Blazers.

Historically, this team has struggled to dominate coming out of the All-Star break, but this year the team has a different focus. More specifically, Denver’s role players have stepped up in a massive way to help their Most Valuable Player candidate.

Nikola Jokic’s numbers aren’t blowing anyone away, and his box score totals over the past three games could be described as underwhelming. However, Jokic is playing at such a level that these games against the Kings and Blazers provide Jokic with an opportunity to take a mental and physical break from the intensity of the game.

With speculation of a return in the near future for Michael Porter Jr., the Nuggets might just be peaking at the right time. Are the Denver Nuggets poised to make a run in the Western Conference?

I believe they are in a great position to do just that.

The most important person to Denver’s success, specifically in the playoffs, is Nikola Jokic. After carrying the team on his back up to this point in the season, it looks like The Joker is finally getting some much-needed help.

While the Nuggets may be receiving reinforcements from Porter’s and Murray’s return, the role players around Nikola Jokic have stepped up in a massive way, and taken some of the burden off of Jokic. Aaron Gordon, Monte Morris, and Will Barton all look refreshed following the All-Star break, and have contributed in major ways to Denver’s past three wins.

Monte has proven himself to be a reliable closer for the Nuggets, including hitting a dagger 3-pointer against the Kings to close out the game. Both Aaron Gordon and Will Barton look spry and more athletic and have both put up monster scoring numbers in the past three games.

Along with the improved play from the starters, DeMarcus Cousins has been a revelation for the bench unit. Boogie has brought a level of physicality and intensity to the bench unit that was sorely missing, and the bench unit has looked dominant at times as a result.

Overall, the team surrounding Jokic has taken a massive stride forward from earlier in the season. The Nuggets will need continued efforts from their supporting cast if they want to make a serious run in the Western Conference, but the initial signs are promising from the team.

Another positive sign for the Denver Nuggets over the past three games has been their assist totals. Since returning from the All-Star break, the Nuggets are averaging 29 assists per game, and are tied for third in assists-per-game as a team on the season.

The improved assist numbers point to a positive outlook for the team in terms of their improving connection and chemistry, which should only improve with time. If the Denver Nuggets can keep the ball “popping”, their chances of making a push up the standings goes up exponentially.

Now, all of these positive team improvements don’t mean much if the Nuggets aren’t truly in a position to improve their place in the standings. Luckily the teams above Denver are just within reach.

Currently the fifth seed, the Dallas Mavericks are tied in overall record with the Denver Nuggets at 36-25. The Mavericks do hold the tiebreaker over Denver, but the Nuggets should absolutely have their eyes on Dallas as a potential team to jump in the standings.

Above Dallas are the Utah Jazz, currently in the fourth seed. Utah has a three-game advantage over the Nuggets in the loss column as the advantage of a tiebreaker. Catching the Jazz would be a much more difficult task for the Nuggets, but if they have their eyes set on home-court advantage, Utah could be a target for Denver.

There’s a new level of optimism surrounding the Denver Nuggets with potential returns for Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., but the rest of the team looks to be playing their best basketball at just the right time.

This team might just have what it takes to make a run in the Western Conference.