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Ranking the Denver Nuggets potential playoff matchups

By Alex Murray

Aaron Gordon #50, Will Barton #5, and Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets look on during the second half of the game against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on 16 Mar. 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
Aaron Gordon #50, Will Barton #5, and Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets look on during the second half of the game against the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on 16 Mar. 2022 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets competes while Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves defends in the third quarter of the game at Target Center on 1 Feb. 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets 130-115. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images)
Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets competes while Karl-Anthony Towns #32 of the Minnesota Timberwolves defends in the third quarter of the game at Target Center on 1 Feb. 2022 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Timberwolves defeated the Nuggets 130-115. (Photo by David Berding/Getty Images) /

Denver Nuggets ideal playoff matchup #1: Play-In teams

This is accurate for all four teams currently sitting West Play-In positions right now, with the obvious exception of LeBron James and the LA Lakers. Nobody wants the GOAT in the first round, especially with how he’s been playing. I think we can all agree on that, right?

So, the T-Wolves, New Orleans Pelicans, or LA Clippers would be the ideal first round matchup for the Nuggets.

I know, I know, Captain Obvious checking in here, but it is what it is. The Minnesota Timberwolves are six games ahead of the Clippers in eighth seed, so if the Nuggets did somehow manage to snatch the two seed from the Memphis Grizzlies or the three seed from the Golden State Warriors while the Timberwolves moved up to sixth, it would be Minnesota @ Denver, and we absolutely love those odds for Denver.

Karl-Anthony Towns is having an excellent season on the offensive end, but he’s still a turnstile at the other end, as is most of the rest of the Timberwolves’ talented but young roster. Can you imagine what Jokic would do to this poor kid over a seven-game series? I shudder at the thought.

Anthony Edwards still seems to be affected by a lingering left knee issue, though even Ant at 80 percent is a problem. D’Angelo Russell can make plays, but he’s streaky as they come.

No team in the NBA makes more threes per game than Minnesota, and it just so happens that the Nuggets are tied for fifth in the NBA when it comes to defending the 3-point line, allowing opponents just a 34.1 clip from long range.

The Wolves have a bright future, but this year will just be about gaining playoff experience for them. If the Nuggets can get them in the first round, they, and especially the aptly named Joker, will be laughing.

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