Denver Nuggets Season Preview, Win Total Prediction and Playoff Odds
By Reed Wallach
The Denver Nuggets have the regning league MVP on the roster in Nikola Jokic, but came up short in the postseason due in part to an injury to lead guard Jamal Murray.
The team will be without Murray to start the season, he doesn’t have a timetable for his return, but the Nuggets will be able to excel without him.
Michael Porter Jr. has already asserted himself as one of the most devastating pure scorers in the league, he hit 54% of his field goals and 44% of his three’s per 36 minutes last season, and have a strong bench after adding Jeff Green in the offseason and drafting explosive guard Bones Hyland.
Of course, with Jokic, the Nuggets are a threat any night. He is arguably the best passing big man of all time, averaging eight assists per game last season. Add in that he scored more than 26 a night on efficient 56/38/76 shooting splits, Jokic is one of the safest bets to show out on a nightly basis.
Denver has a rock solid rotation even without Murray, mid-season addition last year Aaron Gordon will help provide a defensive punch and Will Barton is a strong complimentary scorer who is finally healthy after missing 16 games last season and some time in the postseason.
If Michael Malone can get some development from the likes of P.J. Dozier, Zeke Nnaji, or Bol Bol, the Nuggets can go nine or ten deep and hopefully keep Jokic fresh for the stretch run.
Denver Nuggets Win Total Prediction - 47.5 Wins (Over -104/Under -120)
Last season, the Nuggets had a 65% winning percentage, and this win total implies a 58% win percentage.
To me, that’s too far of a drop off with the good mix of developing rotation players and a proven superstar in Jokic.
Denver’s roster is set to excel on any given night, which is crucial to flirt with 50 wins in the long slog of the NBA season. With the hopes of getting Murray back in the second half of the season at the latest, the Nuggets can clear this win total.
Denver Nuggets Playoff Odds:
Michael Malone’s club is -600 to make the playoffs at WynnBET Sportsbook, and rightfully so. Jokic is the MVP and there is too much talent to expect anything but a fourth straight postseason appearance.
If you feel that injuries may loom large on the Nuggets, you can grab them to miss the playoffs at +400.
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