NBA Power Rankings: Who is LeBron James not mad at?
Denver Nuggets 21-26
Last week: 2-1
Last rank: 17th
Don’t look now but the Nikola Jokic hype train is coming at you full speed ahead! Jokic, the best passing big man since Arvydas Sabonis, is finally getting the minutes he needs to develop into the superstar the Denver Nuggets have been searching for since trading away Carmelo Anthony. Since the calendar turned to 2017, Jokic has played at least 25 minutes in all but two of the 11 games he has played in. A nagging hip flexor injury has kept him out of the past three Nuggets’ contests. Another young player developing well for Denver is rookie guard Jamal Murray. Murray had a rough month-plus after starting off the year on fire. However, as of late Murray is once again showing that spark that made him one of the top rookies in the NBA this season. Murray and Jokic have a very strong chemistry and the more time they can get on the floor together with the better it will serve the Nuggets in the future.
Another part of that bond is swingman Gary Harris. Like the other two players mentioned, Harris also has had inconsistent playing time and injuries stunt his growth some over his time in Denver. The trio of Jokic, Mudiay and Harris is a great one for the Nuggets to build towards the future with. Yet, they can’t get so caught up with what could potentially happen that they miss out on the opportunity in front of them this season. They are tied for eighth in the Western Conference with the Portland Trail Blazers. Making the playoffs would be a huge step in the right direction.