It’s been 133 days since the Nuggets hoisted the Larry O’Brien Trophy. A lot has changed yet The Nuggets are poised to make another run at back to back titles. The Nuggets arguably have the best starting five in the NBA and their revamped bench intrigues fans of what is to come.
Besides the playoff history between the two teams and this being Opening Night, the Denver Nuggets and LA Lakers will always be must see TV here in the Mile High City.
Sweeping the Lakers 4-0 in the Western Conference Finals should have earned the Nuggets some respect. Yet it’s the actual opposite. Players and media still do not respect how the Nuggets go about their business, which is without glitz, glamour, and flash. All the offseason chatter was about how much better The Lakers are going to be and how the Nuggets won’t be able to beat Phoenix. For Coach Michael Malone and his team, they take it all in stride. Having selfless leaders like Joker and Jamal sets the tone in the locker room.
Newcomers to the rotation, such as Peyton Watson, Jaylen Pickett, Hunter Tyson and Julian Strawther will team up with veterans Christian Braun, Reggie Jackson, DeAndre Jordan, and Justin Holiday forming a strong second unit on any given night. The depth that the Nuggets have will prove to be one of their strengths throughout the season.
If the Nuggets starting five could stay healthy for even 80% of the season, their chances of repeating as NBA Champions are high. Call me a homer but I think the Denver Nuggets will repeat as champions, beating the Milwaukee Bucks in the Finals and sweeping the Lakers along the way.
After the ball is tipped, the 2023-2024 Denver Nuggets season will be underway. And according to Holy Family Alum Vic Lombardi, the Nuggets will remain “the Lakers daddy.”
