r/denvernuggets • u/Effective_Moose_4997 • 1d ago
Hot takes
What are your hot takes or unpopular opinions of this season?
Mine are that we'll be 5th-6th seed. Possibly even play-in. Less than 50 wins. I genuinely think our defense is so bad we won't be able to compete with the top seeds.
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u/IllegitimateRisk 1d ago
jokic and murray are about to have their best seasons of their career
the defense rating is about to go to above average thanks to the offseason acquisitions
Gordon and Braun will have a lot of help off the bench
i am super optimistic about this season. maybe it's misplaced, maybe it's maybelline
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u/rabid-c-monkey 1d ago
If we have Braun back to 100% imagine how crazy Braun and jones defense intensity can get when we need it
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u/Marcothetacooo 1d ago
I feel like Braun at his best still isn’t an amazing defender, he positions himself well and slides well and always has his arms up but he doesn’t have the length and physicality to truly deter the opposing star player. He’d make a great defensive addition but I don’t think he can be the guy you stick on to guard the opposing super star guard
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u/rabid-c-monkey 1d ago
I agree 100% I don’t think he’s an elite defender but he’s an annoying defender. He makes the hustle plays and is the kinda defender that just wears someone down over a game and especially over a series which is valuable in playoffs. If you can be in your guys head before tipoff for a late series game that’s huge and Braun/jones both have that annoying defensive hustle.
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u/hardyz 1d ago
Our defense has always been bad. 5th seed is pretty low considering that. I don't think it is any worse than what it was. In fact, I would say it is probably going to be better this year than last unless we end up injury prone again. I don't think other teams improved that significantly otherwise to make us drop that low.
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u/corpsecrow 1d ago
My hot takes:
Julian Stawther is that guy.
Trevon Brazile is that guy.
Cam johnson becomes the right piece after taking a year to adapt to joker and the system.
Joker wins another MVP.
Nuggets finish over 55 wins.
Our bench is actually solid.
Nuggets win it all.
OP buys me beer for not believing in the nuggets.
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u/Big_Stay6072 15h ago
Win/loss record - about the same as last year, and a deep playoff run considering the rotation is deeper then last year... And much better defensively. That's my opinion.
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u/jbhoops25 PUPPY BARKS FOR P. WAT! 1d ago
We’re going to have a healthy AG all season and win a championship.
Also we’ve already been “competing” with a healthy team. Jokic is 5-2 vs the spurs and we took OKC to 7 games with MPJ in a cast and AG on one leg after game 6
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u/ThatTedDudeGuy24 1d ago
If we are gonna go on one last Jokic championship run this is the year. People are pretty low on us. I watched a short and he had us at 7th in the west( which I find absurd). Nobody has any expectations for us this year
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u/Jolly_Force 1d ago
Why would this be the last run?
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u/Puzzleheaded_Peach91 1d ago
after this season, our top 4 signed players will make $190 million combined (Jokic, Murray, Gordon, Braun)...First apron limit this season is $209M....can't go into 2nd apron....Somethings gotta give after this season...$20 million-ish is not enough for 10-11 players
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u/UndisclosedLocation5 1d ago
if there's not even a pre-game thread for pre-season games, how the fuck they gonna win another title
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u/JemorilletheExile 1d ago
Actual unpopular opinion: Jamal Murray will not make the all star team again
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u/UnderBridge732 1d ago
That Jokic is not a guarantee to resign here despite what he says and how the season goes will factor into his decision.
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u/rabid-c-monkey 1d ago
I think we will see a new head coach and front office before we see Jokic go to another NBA team. There’s a possibility he retires but I believe that he is a nugget for the rest of his NBA career
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u/rabid-c-monkey 1d ago
I think we are gonna see a big leap from cam Johnson now that he is established as a nugget and comfortable in his role. I’m imagining MPJ shootingbut able to crash the rim and help create on offense when Jokic is off the court.
I also think Spencer jones will have a similar leap. So many of his issues last season came from being new in the NBA, no more foul trouble because the refs know him better, more confidence because he proved to himself he can be clutch and deliver in key moments, and now that he isn’t on a two way his on court chemistry should just be improving day over day.
I also want to see AG coming in to mentor Spencer as the future Mr nugget but that’s just a wish upon a star. I see so many similarities in their game though
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u/The_NGUYENNER 1d ago
Cam shoots 45% from 3 this season
DeRozan will be our best bench player in the Jokic era
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u/sweeptheleg_07 8h ago
Never thought I’d say this after seeing the moves we made during the offseason, but love what I’m seeing from our bench. They seem to play with some cohesiveness I haven’t seen from our 2nd team.
Suddenly we feel more long and athletic. Brazile, Diallo, and even Hopkins have a look that they will be able to contribute. Love the Demar signing, and even Bagley had me excited during the Lakers game.
Is Daron Holmes injured? Based on what I saw from Brazile and Bagley, he may be buried in the pecking order again.
Love this team, Nuggs basketball is almost back!!
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u/Frequent_Win152 1h ago
Denver will not make it to the WCF and Jamal will be traded this offseason.
Hate Nico Harrison all you want - he was right that defense is a necessity to win championships. You simply cannot have two superstars on the same team who are both mediocre at defense. It makes end game matchups a nightmare and if one of your stars is having a bad shooting night, then they are essentially useless on the court (as Jokic and Jamal have been in certain moments the last few years). Love Jamal and I think he’s and incredible player but with AG injury issues, PW trade, and KCP no longer here… I am betting either AG or Jamal gets shipped off if DEN doesn’t get back to finals. Jamal has only two years left on his deal after this season and could be an enticing piece for a lot of teams
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u/mindless_blaze 1d ago
Smh. Dooming already. 🙄😒We're gonna have a fun season. The Timberwolves seem stronger than ever, but we're going to put a lot of work in this season. No big deal.
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u/Effective_Moose_4997 1d ago edited 1d ago
Oh it will be fun. I enjoy seeing them play regardless of if they're competitive. I just think people thinking we'll be 3rd or 4th seed are getting their hopes up too much. The preseason games have not impressed me. OKC, Spurs, Lakers, Wolves, and Rockets could all end up being better than us and it wouldn't surprise me.
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u/eddi0 1d ago
5th-6th seems dead on as Houston and Minnesota likely improved and Lakers/Dallas might have too but they're not as established. Denver went with the best defense is more offense approach instead of signing FAs with strong defensive aptitudes. Diallo can't be the one guy that is a strong POA defender, it doesn't work like that.
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u/Left_Dance_8954 1d ago
I’m pretty pessimistic about this season. Jokic will be Jokic, obviously, and probably get robbed of another MVP along the way. Gordon will probably be banged up again, which has been the case for way too long now. Cam Johnson needs to put the podcast mic down and actually show some consistency on the court, because however you want to spin it, his first year was a pretty big disappointment. Braun has a lot riding on this season too.
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u/ym95061305 1d ago edited 1d ago
3rd-4th seed for sure.
Don’t forget how we finished the last regular season with 12-game winning streak. Dave is really good at maximizing the bench for regular season!
First round exit for postseason because the bench would be on the bench forever, and the starting five get tired. That is Dave’s trick.
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u/ShowdownValue 1d ago
OP says 5th seed and bad defense are hot takes