With the NBA season now underway and the Denver Nuggets set to tip off against the Oklahoma City Thunder, Nuggets fans may be wondering how their chances of winning another NBA Championship look. Unfortunately, not many sports writers (if any) or Las Vegas are picking the Nuggets to win. In fact, the Nuggets aren't even in the top five and are mostly seventh to ninth by most accounts. But that's probably for the best this year, as there's less of a feeling of pressure.
And that's quite all right with Nuggets head coach David Adelman. And I tend to agree. The last time the Nuggets faced odds this long were in 2022-23, and we all remember how that season turned out, with the Nuggets taking home their first NBA Championship.
"The excitement is there because it's been a while since we won the championship. Since 2023. And so Vegas doesn't think we have a chance, from what I looked at. So I think there's a lot of excitement about chasing as opposed to being chased," Adelman said after practice before the team took off to Oklahoma City.
The Nuggets entered last year with the second-best odds to win it all, so obviously the odds be can be taken with a grain of salt. But the Nuggets could surprise fans this year.
The Nuggets made great upgrades where they needed them
One of the biggest reasons I have a lot of enthusiasm for the team's championship chances this year is the upgrades that were made. They upgraded athleticism extensively with their additions of Marvin Bagley III, rookie second-round pick Trevon Brazile, and Cam Whitmore. And then you've got the defensive upgrade in Alpha Diallo, who may have caught many by surprise with his preseason defensive display.
Plus, the Nuggets are working on creating more pressure after missed shots to slow opponents down in the transition game. They were 10th in the preseason in average pick-up distance of the primary ball handler, up from last place in the regular season last year. And even though Adelman surprised many by saying new assistant coach Dave Joerger, a defense-oriented coach, wouldn't be coordinating the defensive schemes, you know some of his expertise will filter through.
Oh, and let's not forget the scoring help the bench got by adding DeMar DeRozan as a free agent. And honestly, the bench looks deeper this year than it did last year. Those upgrades make the Nuggets more dangerous than the team is getting credit for.
The Nuggets' starting five is just as good as any
The upgrades will certainly be beneficial, but the biggest factor is the starting five. They're still one of the best starting units in the league. Sure, IF they stay healthy. But that's true of every team. Bad luck happens. The Nuggets had it happen a lot last year.
Aaron Gordon looks as fresh and good as ever, Nikola Jokic's three-point shot is coming back, and getting to play as the chasing team gives them an added chip on their shoulder that I think they needed.
So don't count out the Nuggets just because Vegas and everyone else is. We know they'll be a playoff team, and as long as the team is healthy entering mid-April, this squad has as good a chance to make another run just like in 2023.
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