Fansided

Each NBA team’s 2020 New Year’s resolution

By Gerald Bourguet

MILWAUKEE, WI - DECEMBER 19: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks and LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers look on during a game on December 19, 2019 at the Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images).
MILWAUKEE, WI - DECEMBER 19: Giannis Antetokounmpo #34 of the Milwaukee Bucks and LeBron James #23 of the Los Angeles Lakers look on during a game on December 19, 2019 at the Fiserv Forum Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Joe Murphy/NBAE via Getty Images). /
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Denver Nuggets: Bring MPJ into the fold

Unlike last year, the Denver Nuggets‘ success is built not on an elite offense, but a top-five defense. That makes the prospect of executing any in-season trades — Jrue Holiday is a name that keeps coming up — a little more difficult to maneuver, since that would likely require defensive stalwart Gary Harris as the starting point.

However, if the Nuggets don’t get desperate for a win-now upgrade to cement their place among the legitimate contenders, they might be better off just giving rookie Michael Porter Jr. a more defined role, especially with the way he immediately tallied 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting in his first career start last Sunday.

MPJ has been showing signs of life for awhile now, and while the Nuggets aren’t slouches on the offensive end, they could use an additional scoring punch. If he can work his way into the starting lineup and fill that glaring hole at the 3, Denver could be a real force — and a legitimate title threat — either in 2020 or 2021.

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