Why the rest of the NBA should be worried about the Nuggets

The reigning champion Denver Nuggets have climbed into the pole position in the Western Conference, and while they only lead by a half game, it feels like every other NBA team should be worried. 

Denver spent most of the past few months chasing the Minnesota Timberwolves and Oklahoma City Thunder, but neither felt like they would hold off the Nuggets. Denver (51-21) is clearly the most complete team of the three and might be the most complete team in the NBA — yes, even with Boston on the cusp of winning 60 games in the Eastern Conference.

For the Nuggets, it comes down to being healthy when the playoffs begin on April 20.

Despite injuries to key players Jamal Murray (ankle) and Aaron Gordon (right foot), the Nuggets continue finding ways to win. Over their last 10 games, they have won nine, including the past four heading into Wednesday's night home game against the Phoenix Suns. Murray and Gordon are listed as questionable for the game against the Suns.

"We’re playing the right way, no matter who’s on the court,” Denver guard Christian Braun said after Monday's win over Memphis.

As deep as the West might be, it is difficult to find a team that matches up with Denver in a seven-game format. 

Of the teams the Nuggets could play in the first round, should they finish atop the conference, the Suns look like the strongest opposition. But eighth-place Phoenix (42-30) has flaws, namely the drop-off in talent after Kevin Durant, Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. 

Should the Los Angeles Lakers wrangle the No. 8 seed, that matchup is likely to end the same way as last year’s Western Conference Finals, won by Denver in four games. The Lakers have played much better recently, winning seven of its past 10 ahead of Wednesday's game against Memphis, but LeBron James can no longer carry teams as he has in the past.

The Sacramento Kings (42-30) are seventh in the West, but there’s a good chance it could slip in the play-in tournament and wind up in eighth. If that happens, it could be a decent series between the Kings and Nuggets, but it’s hard to see Sacramento pulling off the upset. 

Then there are the Golden State Warriors (37-34) – if they can hold off the Houston Rockets (36-35). Aside from Stephen Curry, however, the Warriors don't have much left in the tank, having lost six of their past 10.

No matter how things shake out in the West, if the Nuggets finish with the No. 1 seed again, we could be looking at the start of the Association’s next dynasty. Even if that isn’t the case, the odds of Denver not making it back to the conference finals are slim. (Per FanDuel, the Nuggets are a heavy favorite.)

With MVP co-favorite Nikola Jokic directing traffic, the Nuggets are undoubtedly the team to beat.