In the first round of the NBA Playoffs, the fourth-seeded Denver Nuggets will face the fifth-seeded Los Angeles Clippers. After a hectic final day of regular season games, the seeding in the Western Conference has been determined. It has provided an unpredictable, intriguing matchup.
The Nuggets are two years off an NBA Championship, led by Nikola Jokic, one of the best players in the world, but had a last-minute shakeup, firing their coach and general manager. Meanwhile, the Clippers are one of the hottest teams in basketball, but age and health concerns make them a risky pick.
The Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets have an interesting road ahead of them depending on how this series goes. After firing Head Coach Mike Malone and General Manager Calvin Booth so close to the playoffs, many have been ready to write off the Nuggets. Their roster is not the same as the team that won the finals two years ago, losing players like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Bruce Brown. But the team has gone 3-0 since firing Malone and Booth, finishing the season with a 50-32 record. Jokic has put together an MVP-caliber season, averaging a triple-double with 29.6 points, 12.7 rebounds, and 10.2 assists per game.
In a playoff series, Jokic is going to perform. He has done so in the past, and given his production and efficiency, he is going to be very difficult to contain. But the Denver Nuggets questions come from the other players. Jamal Murray has stepped up as a No. 2 option in the past, but he has missed time with injuries this season. He returned for the final two games, but before that, he was out for several games. Murray’s health and production will be one of the biggest factors if Denver is going to advance and go on a deep playoff run.
The Denver Nuggets will also need their shooters to be efficient. The Clippers have a talented defense that will pressure Jokic and Murray, so the supporting cast will need to be efficient. This means players like Michael Porter Jr., Christian Braun, Aaron Gordon, Russell Westbrook, and others will have to step up. Some of them have done it before for the Denver Nuggets, and they will have to do it again.
The Los Angeles Clippers
The Clippers enter the playoffs on an eight-game winning streak. They earned the fifth seed by defeating the Golden State Warriors in an overtime thriller. That win over the Warriors was an example of how good Los Angeles can be when they are at full strength. Ever since he joined the Clippers, it feels like every season and potential playoff run has been soiled by the injury luck of Kawhi Leonard. When healthy, he is still an exceptionally talented player on both ends of the court, and he has looked excellent at the end of the regular season. Only now, his health will be put to the test in a hard-fought playoff series.
They are also led by James Harden. Harden has had an excellent season for the Clippers, earning an All-Star appearance, averaging 22.8 points and 8.7 assists per game. He is still more than capable of running the offense and his shot-making is still lethal if he heats up. They also have multiple players that have taken significant leaps. In the paint, they have Ivica Zubac. He has quietly been one of the most improved players this season and is one of the better Jokic-defenders in the NBA. Norman Powell has also had a career year, averaging 21.8 points per game.
In retrospect, letting Paul George leave in free agency has allowed players like Powell and Zubac to flourish. Harden has looked good all season, and Leonard has looked great over recent games. The team appears at full strength at the most important time. But the question is if that can be maintained for an entire series against the Denver Nuggets.
Final Thoughts
The Denver Nuggets and the Clippers is a series that could go either way. The Nuggets have dealt with front office turmoil but still have one of the best players in the NBA in Jokic. Meanwhile, Los Angeles has been in excellent form. It will be a battle of the team wanting to prove they’re still on top of the mountain, while the other tries to finally get over the hump.
