Ranking the Denver Nuggets potential playoff matchups
By Alex Murray
Denver Nuggets ideal playoff matchup #4: Utah Jazz
Doncic-Jokic is a tasty proposition, but would anyone complain if we got another Utah Jazz series like the one we were blessed with in the bubble back in 2020?
Rudy Gobert represents a much better Jokic-deterrent than Dallas could conjure up, though a deterrent is all he is. Jokic still did his thing against Gobert in that 2020 series, but the Stifle Tower has had Jokic’s number lately, with the Jazz winning four of the last five meetings featuring both big men.
Donovan Mitchell should also be a worry for Denverites. He’s a little too small for Gordon to really take on, and we don’t have the Blue Arrow to counter Spida this time around. Mitchell continues to progress, and after two straight years that ended with Utah tragically giving up series leads, he will have more than a chip on his shoulder.
One thing that is working for Denver in this potential matchup, however, is the fact that the Jazz continue to rely very heavily on the three-point bomb. They’re second with 14.7 3-pointers made per game and seventh in 3-point percentage at 36.3. Thankfully, as we mentioned, Denver is one of the best teams at defending that line.
We would still take the Denver Nuggets to win this series, but it would be a much tougher slog than the previous options we mentioned. Another good series between these sides could spawn a proper rivalry in the Southwest though, and who doesn’t love a good rivalry?