NBA Playoff Power Shift: Thunder and Spurs Dominate, But Can Celtics, Knicks, and Pistons Shock the East?
4. Denver Nuggets (54-28, +850)
Denver is the third-best option to win the West in my opinion, but is the biggest question mark of the top six seeds. The Nuggets finished the regular season with the No. 1 rated offense and Nikola Jokic averaged a triple-double yet again, but the Nuggets defense ranks 21st in net rating, which is a serious problem.
The Nuggets have gone 0-3 versus the Thunder this year and 2-1 versus the Spurs, so the path to an NBA Finals appearance is anything but guaranteed. Nikola Jokic gives Denver a punchers chance, alongside Aaron Gordon who’s having a great year, and Jamal Murray posting career-highs in points (25.4) and assists (7.1). But is that enough? I don’t think so. Minnesota could certainly upset Denver in the first round, and if not, San Antonio is talented enough to take the Nuggets outside to the woodshed.



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