Denver Nuggets: With MVP Jokic and Jamal Murray's return, anything is possible
Who knows, though, we'll have to wait and see how much confidence and how good Murray is after recovering from a torn cruciate ligament. However, assuming both of them are in good condition, the Nuggets' offensive side of the game is more than solved. So, the pending issue would have been to tighten up on defence. And that's exactly why they have used the summer to surround the pure talent they already had with players capable of putting a wall around their rim.
Goal for the season:
Win the ring. That's all there is to it. It may seem like a lot of pressure from the start, but that's what you have to expect when you have the NBA's best player of the last two years on your team. And if he finally has company, with Murray's recovery, that's all there is to it.
Jamal broke down in the prime of his career and we'll have to see how well he recovers and how long it takes, if he does, to get back to his amazing previous level. But if he does, the Jokic-Murray pairing promises to be a thrilling one in Denver. As does the contribution of Michael Porter Jr (24), who also has had many physical problems that have prevented him from fulfilling his true potential.
But that will not be the only help needed if they really want to put up a fight against the Warriors or the Bucks, their main rivals for the championship. That is why they have modified their roster, looking for pieces that can fit in with coach Mike Malone's puzzle. This is where the departures of Barton and Monte Morris come in, and the arrivals of former Lakers Caldwell-Pope, Bruce Bown and Ish Smith. Or the veteran DeAndre Jordan to give some rest to Jokic.
Here, by the way, there is no room to talk about the mascot, the lion whose salary has generated an unparalleled buzz. He earns three times as much as the highest-paid player in the WNBA. You be the judge of that!
Nuggets signings
Intensity is one of the keys to today's NBA. Very physical players who fight for every ball like there is no tomorrow. Especially in the playoffs, which is when the real fight emerges. They have invested in experience, but not without a certain quality to it.
Arrivals: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, DeAndre Jordan, Adonis Arms, Christian Braun, Bruce Brown Jr, Justin Tillman, Ish Smith, Peyton Watson, Jack White.
Nuggets losses
They have gotten rid of some larger contracts that were getting in the way and players who were not providing what the coach was asking of them, especially Facu Campazzo, who was underused because of his height.
Exits: Facundo Campazzo, Will Barton, DeMarcus Cousins, Bryn Forbes, JaMychal Green, Markus Howard, Monte Morris, Austin Rivers.
The star: Nikola Jokic
Unquestionably, Jokic is the Nuggets' biggest star, the most dominant centre of the last decade. He's already proven he can be counted on as a franchise player to build a winning team around. Even without too much support in the line-up, he's shown that when encountering defences that border on the legal limit, the big Serbian can handle anything and everything. Or, almost anything, because to reach the heights of the ring they may need a little something extra.
The roster
Point guards: Jamal Murray, Ish Smith, Bones Hyland, Collin Gillespie.
Shooting guards: Caldwell-Pope, Bruce Brown, Braun, Payton Watson, Reed.
Forwards: Michael Porter Jr, Cancar, Jack White.
Wings: Aaron Gordon, Jeff Green, Zeke Nnaji.
Power forwards: Nikola Jokic, DeAndre Jordan.
Flashscore.com Prediction
If with the MVP they were already contenders for the ring, then with the addition of Jamal Murray, these Nuggets are one of the big favourites for the championship. The bad news is that the physical condition of their star point guard is still a question mark and there are some new starters in the team who will have to buy into Malone's system first, and that's not easy.
At Flashscore.com we think that Denver, as long as they can limit the injuries, can dream of, at least, the conference finals and from there... anything is possible.
