3 reasons why the Nuggets should prioritize health and rest over chasing the #1 seed
By Ben Handler
1. If healthy, the Nuggets can win anywhere
As dominant as the team was at home last postseason, they were very good on the road as well. They went 6-3 away from Ball Arena, with two of the losses coming in Phoenix against all-time performances from Kevin Durant and Devin Booker.
The Nuggets have proven that when whole, they are the best team in the league. Trust that if the team is rested, healthy, and clicking on all cylinders they should be able to beat any team in the West, regardless of the location.
Realistically, the only teams that could pass the Nuggets are the Timberwolves and Thunder. Both of those teams are young and unproven. While it would obviously be nice to have homecourt in either series, it’s far from essential and Denver should trust that they can go on the roads and win in those hostile environments if necessary.
The Nuggets have championship mettle. They’ve been battle-tested and have the experience of actually taking home a title. Nothing has happened since then to make me believe that any team has overcome them.
It’s clear that the only real goal for this team is getting back to the mountaintop and repeating as champions. They’ll face stiff competition along the way and may have to play in challenging venues, but as long as Denver is whole, they’ve proven that they are the team to beat.