To say the Nuggets have had their share of ups and downs this season would be an incredible understatement. Injuries have derailed any plans of building consistency and rhythm or competing for one of the top spots in the Western Conference. They’ve somehow become a bit of an afterthought in the Western Conference, behind the top-tier contenders.
But Saturday’s overtime win over the Spurs served as a loud reminder that when this team is right, they should be taken as seriously as any team in the NBA outside of Oklahoma City. Nikola Jokic outdueled Victor Wembanyama, and the Nuggets scored a statement victory.
They aren’t going to catch the Spurs in the standings. They may not even finish in the top four in the West. But this game should serve as a clear reminder that when the Nuggets are at full strength, they are as good as any team in the league, and that may even include the Thunder.
Almost impossible to see Nuggets fully healthy
The big problem for Denver is the same one it has been all season and well before: health. If I had a dollar for every time a pundit has talked about the Nuggets with the caveat of “if they can stay healthy”, I’d certainly have quite a few more dollars.
It has almost become part of the team’s name at this point, but it’s just the reality of the situation. We saw how good Jokic and Jamal Murray can look on offense. We saw Aaron Gordon flying around and defending Wemby as well as anyone on earth. We’ve seen Peyton Watson look like a first option, Tim Hardaway Jr. look like an elite 6th man, Cam Johnson be an ideal role player, and Christian Braun look like a perfect glue-guy. We just haven’t seen it all happen at once.
And that’s what will ultimately make all the difference. When whole, the Nuggets have the best offense in the league, and maybe one of the best ever assembled. The defense isn’t elite, but with AG, Watson, Braun, Bruce Brown, and Spencer Jones all in the mix, it should be good enough.
Healthy Nuggets can beat Spurs
The pieces are all there to complete this puzzle, but one is constantly getting lost under the rug. As we creep towards the playoffs, maybe these pieces are all coming together. We got a good glimpse on Saturday, and that was without Watson or Jones even available.
Yet watching them compete with the elite teams, it’s clear that the Nuggets belong. Once the playoffs start, the competition will be stiff, and I expect them to rise to the occasion and give their best effort every night.
The Lakers are now banged up, the Wolves haven’t found a rhythm all year, and the vibes in Houston are awful. The Spurs are still extremely green, and their best players have no real playoff experience.
At the end of the day, as long as they can finally get all their guys on the floor, it’s looking like it’s OKC and Denver. Just like we thought all along. It may have taken a while to get there, but better late than never.