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For the first time ever Denver Nuggets fans don't want a better season than the previous one.

We want the same

According to experts and bookmakers, our biggest opponents to defending the title are the Suns from the West and the Bucks and Celtics from the East, while three teams from California (both L.A. teams and Golden State) and Dallas are also threats from our conference on the road to another big final.

Pretty good article from Kevin O'Connor. Looks like Calvin has a clear vision, it is always easier when you already have the best player in the world onboard.

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2023/10/16/23918200/denver-nuggets-2023-season-preview-dynasty-christian-braun

Manolito wrote:Pretty good article from Kevin O'Connor. Looks like Calvin has a clear vision, it is always easier when you already have the best player in the world onboard.

https://www.theringer.com/nba/2023/10/16/23918200/denver-nuggets-2023-season-preview-dynasty-christian-braun

Very good article, shows how versatile the NBA is becoming.

I take a look at Denver's 2023-24 schedule, and if the team stays healthy, the Nuggets will be favorites to win literally every game in October and November (opening 20 games!) until December 2nd (road game vs Suns)! It doesn't mean we will start the season with 20-0 of course, but still, it is very impressive to see our team is the favorite on the paper in so many games.

3-0 start, only 95 more wins, less this crazy in season tournament

There was a fear that as champions we would have a target on our back and that everyone would try to knock us down in every game. But in reality, teams are mostly terrified when they play against us, perhaps the same way everyone feared the Bulls, Lakers, Miami, and GSW during their dynasties.

THE J0KER wrote:There was a fear that as champions we would have a target on our back and that everyone would try to knock us down in every game. But in reality, teams are mostly terrified when they play against us, perhaps the same way everyone feared the Bulls, Lakers, Miami, and GSW during their dynasties.

Feels like we have taken those crosshairs and turn them around, using them as a site for our cannons, we're blowing teams away without a lot of effort.

After the first 20 games, Denver is 14-6, which is enough for #2 in the West and #4 in the NBA so far. Honestly, I expected something like 16-4 on this point due to team strength and a friendly October-November schedule, but considering Jamal Murray missed more than half of these games, no complaints at all.

Jokic - NBA MVP
Murray - not started on playoff level, then was injured, but Nuggets are 7-1 with him in
Porter, Gordon, KCP - as expected
Reggie - our X-factor so far, most positive surprise
Braun - I expected more
Watson, Strawther - in general, I'm happy to see what I see so far
Holiday - not playing too much, but 75%TS% for 53%TS% career veteran is overperforming stats (per minute)
Nnaji - did not use his opportunity well
REST - not enough playing time to tell more

This is a moment in the season where I expect the Nuggets to go on a run. They may be fully healthy and Jokic has had a wakeup call in his last game. Look for better upcoming play.

Would really like to see Cancar with this group. Our missing piece up front might be our missing piece and already on the roster.

But at guard I think they need a slight re shuffle around Murray. Maybe the only talent overlap or position of depth being between Reggie and MPJ - KCP/Braun/Strawther/Watson/Holiday

Hate to say it and sound cold to champion and big part of the team. But time to trade KCP. Reggie. And if you HAD to Nnaji. I think this team still needs a F or C THIS season. And a Combo Guard. I’d try to hold onto all 3 of CB, Strawther, and Watson by starting 1 and bumping the other two up also.

Coeur wrote:Would really like to see Cancar with this group. Our missing piece up front might be our missing piece and already on the roster.

But at guard I think they need a slight re shuffle around Murray. Maybe the only talent overlap or position of depth being between Reggie and MPJ - KCP/Braun/Strawther/Watson/Holiday

Hate to say it and sound cold to champion and big part of the team. But time to trade KCP. Reggie. And if you HAD to Nnaji. I think this team still needs a F or C THIS season. And a Combo Guard. I’d try to hold onto all 3 of CB, Strawther, and Watson by starting 1 and bumping the other two up also.

I don't think it is a good idea to trade KCP. He is a glue guy on the starting unit and he is too important to overlook his contributions. Add in the fact that he is on player option at the end of the season and his trade value takes a hit. They will have to use bird rights to hold on to him at the end of the season at the least.

Cancar would help but he is out for the season. At backup power forward, Watson is actually a better defender but has a week outside shot. Neither Cancar nor Watson is much of a scorer.

To me the problem is the offense from the bench. Jackson can be inconsistent but is small, getting old and not much of a trade asset. Not sure who is available for a trade but if they could find another scorer to add to the bench, that would be my answer. Problem is that all the teams in the league are in search of another scorer.

Strawther is a talent but too raw at the moment. Malone has him in the rotation to push his development and he could be the answer in the future.

I would like to change my prior assessment of Watson. He is better than I originally thought. Who know?

So is it just me or do the Nuggets seem like they're using the regular season as a walk-thru drill, a training drill for the bench unit, an ok-let's-get-on-to-the-playoffs-already type season. While their dominance can be seen in many games, at times they actually seem a bit disinterested.

skywalker33 wrote:So is it just me or do the Nuggets seem like they're using the regular season as a walk-thru drill, a training drill for the bench unit, an ok-let's-get-on-to-the-playoffs-already type season. While their dominance can be seen in many games, at times they actually seem a bit disinterested.

The Nuggets don't seem to take the Wolves or OKC threats very seriously (as did for the Memphis last season). But if the Clippers overtake us as well, it can be much more costly for us. The Clippers are real contenders and home-court advantage against them would be worth a lot. Good thing it's too late for Phoenix to catch us before the end of the regular season.

Extremely different regular season in the West compared to the previous where we routinely reached the #1 seed despite an under .650 winning record. This time, right before the all-star break much better .686 records are just enough to be #3 in our division (#4 in West)!? But even the #1 seed is still reachable and we should keep fighting at least for the TOP2 seeds because home-court advantage will be a big thing this playoff for Denver.

On a positive note, only Boston is better in the East, but reaching the final is going to be harder this season than in 2023.

Tough 30 games ahead of use, can we go 20-10 and will that be enough for #1? We have 2 games I think with MIN, we have to win both of those if we want to be sure in #1

psimanic1 wrote:Tough 30 games ahead of use, can we go 20-10 and will that be enough for #1? We have 2 games I think with MIN, we have to win both of those if we want to be sure in #1

Yeah both MIN games are huge and now is the time to put it in overdrive if we’re serious about repeating. 20-10 doesn’t seem out of reach as long as we stay healthy, bet 23-7 is even possible. Go Nuggets

skywalker33 wrote:

psimanic1 wrote:Tough 30 games ahead of use, can we go 20-10 and will that be enough for #1? We have 2 games I think with MIN, we have to win both of those if we want to be sure in #1

Yeah both MIN games are huge and now is the time to put it in overdrive if we’re serious about repeating. 20-10 doesn’t seem out of reach as long as we stay healthy, bet 23-7 is even possible. Go Nuggets

The Nuggets are a good team, a contender without a doubt. I expect them to lose some games and I am not certain that not being the number one seed would prevent them from winning another championship.

THE J0KER wrote:

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Yeah, BOS is a strong regular season team