3 reasons why the Nuggets should prioritize health and rest over chasing the #1 seed

As the NBA regular season winds down, many Nuggets fans are conflicted about what exactly to root for. Obviously, fans want the number one seed in the Western Conference and the homecourt advantage that comes along with it. But at what cost?

Denver has been one of the healthiest teams in the league this season, but they’re by no means a young team. They have multiple key players like Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. who have dealt with major injuries in past years as well.

Recently, the Nuggets have started to see longer injury reports and see more guys miss games. It’s hard to completely tell how much of this is due to actual injuries and how much is related to rest and an abundance of caution.

This time last year, Denver had a comfortable lead in the conference. They were able to take their foot off the gas and rest some players without sacrificing in the standings. Of course, they went on to win the NBA championship, doing so with homecourt advantage in every series and going 10-1 in Ball Arena during the playoffs.

The benefits of having the top seed, and homecourt are massive, but it’s not the most important thing right now. The Nuggets should approach the end of this season with extreme caution and ensure the team is as healthy and well-rested as can be come playoff time, even if that means sacrificing the one seed. Here’s why.