Minnesota Timberwolves: Updated Northwest Division power rankings
By Ben Beecken
Minnesota Timberwolves: Northwest Division power rankings, No. 2
No. 2: Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets won the division each of the previous two seasons before finishing five games behind the Jazz in 2021. They landed the No. 3 seed in the West and defeated Northwest Division rivals Portland in six games in the first round.
They were swept by the eventual Western Conference champion Phoenix Suns in the second round, however, a disappointing end to the season for the NBA’s Most Valuable Player.
Nikola Jokic had an otherworldly season, of course, averaging 26.4 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 8.3 assists per game. He also shot 38.8 percent on 3-point attempts, the second-best mark for a season in his career.
Of course, the Nuggets’ 2020-21 was defined by Jamal Murray’s torn ACL, and the 2020 bubble breakout star ultimately only played in 48 games. Much of what Denver can (or can’t) do in 2021-22 will be tied to Murray’s recovery.
So far this summer, the Nuggets have brought back one of last year’s midseason additions in Austin Rivers and added a year to JaMychal Green’s deal by re-signing him after he opted out. They also brought back Will Barton and added another team to Jeff Green’s impressive ledger of employers by signing the veteran forward to a two-year contract.
They haven’t done much other than run it back, but remember, they’re banking on Murray coming back and reaching full strength at some point this season.
There’s certainly a case to be made for putting the Nuggets back on top of the division, but there is enough of a question mark regarding Murray’s health and little else the Nuggets have done to improve the roster. The Jazz, on the other hand, won the division by five games last year and have gotten marginally better so far this summer.
It should be a close race atop the Northwest Division this season, but the bet is here is that Utah wins their second consecutive division tile, closely followed by head coach Michael Malone’s Denver Nuggets.