Four of the Denver Nuggets' five starters missed significant time this season, and if that wasn't bad enough, Peyton Watson and Jonas Valančiūnas are dealing/dealt with injuries, too. The former is still out with a hamstring strain that he suffered at the beginning of February. As bad as it's been, there is a silver lining — the unexpected rest come playoff time.
The playoffs are more physically demanding than your typical regular-season game, especially if a series goes to seven games. It's mentally and physically draining. Some teams run out of steam.
Look at what happened to Denver last year with two back-to-back seven-game series. The Nuggets ran out of gas in their final contest against the Thunder. Of course, it didn't help that Aaron Gordon was essentially playing on one leg and wasn't his usual, explosive self.
With the playoffs still about a month away, Denver is still waiting to be fully healthy with Watson's return. That isn't a disadvantage, not for an experienced, playoff-tested team like the Nuggets. They don't need the time to gel together after an injury-filled season. They know who they are.
While that helps, the extra rest could go a long way, as it will give them fresher legs than their opponents when the intensity ramps up (except for the Thunder, who are in the same boat).
Nuggets' injuries could turn into a positive in the playoffs
Denver has 14 regular-season games left on the schedule. Nikola Jokić, who had previously never dealt with an injury that caused him to miss extended time, won't play more than 66 games this season (and that's only if he plays in every single remaining game). That would be a career low for him.
The highest Gordon could play is 41 games, and it'd be best if he had a little extra rest between now and the end of the season. His history of hamstring injuries over the past year is a concern, but he's looked good since returning a week and a half ago.
At this point in the season, most players aren't 100 percent, or even really close to that. Having fresher legs than usual for a run that fans hope will extend into June is a strength the Nuggets didn't necessarily expect, but one they welcome nonetheless.
On the flip side, Jamal Murray could finish the season with 77 games played, which would be the highest for him since his first two seasons in the NBA. He's been the engine that's kept Denver going amid its injuries, so it'd be nice if David Adelman could squeeze in a little rest for the All-Star guard. He did have an uncharacteristically off night against LA, but that happened after back-to-back 30+ point games.
The Nuggets could do themselves (namely, Jamal) a favor by avoiding the play-in tournament entirely, as that'd give them several days to relax before the real fun begins. They currently sit 1.5 games ahead of the No. 7 Suns, who are dealing with their own injuries.
We're not at the end of the season yet, so knock on wood that Denver's bad luck is indeed in the rearview mirror. The Nuggets need some goodwill on their side, and if that's legs that aren't running on empty when the stakes are the highest, then great. Fans will happily accept that, especially if it helps result in another title.