![]() ![]() Edwards, Gobert, veteran wing Kyle Anderson and rapidly improving 3-and-D forward Jaden McDaniels could anchor defenses that performed at a league-best level, even if the team's overall performance remained average. 1 pick Anthony Edwards, who made his first All-Star appearance at age 21. 1 overall draft pick, the Wolves forged an identity behind more recent No. In the absence of their 27-year-old former No. They started 10-11, owners of the 15th-rated defense and a worse offense at the end of November, when Towns suffered a calf strain that would sideline him for nearly four months. Towns at center was the Wolves' greatest mismatch. It was immediately apparent that the pairing of Gobert and two-time All-NBA stretch big man Karl-Anthony Towns was as challenging as most folks outside the Minnesota front office expected. The 7-foot-1 rim protector was freshly removed from the latest in his string of playoff disappointments, each of which exposed the limits to his defensive impact. The Timberwolves completed one of the most shocking (and arguably worst) trades in NBA history this past summer, dealing the rights to six first-round draft picks and three rotation players from a 46-win playoff team for 30-year-old defensive stalwart Rudy Gobert. They are vulnerable, if only because we have not seen them at their best for some time, but their best is as formidable as anyone in the West. They lost 11 of their final 17 games, five of which Jokić rested, and still secured first place, owners of a top-five offense and middling defense. The MVP discussion turned toxic, just as Jokić and the Nuggets floundered for the last month of the regular season. He was averaging a 25-12-10 triple-double on 63/39/82 shooting splits, absurd numbers for a slow-footed center, and remained the odds-on favorite to join Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell as a three-peat MVP. A nine-game winning streak in January and another push to the All-Star break gave the Nuggets a 33-13 record and a cushion over everyone but the Memphis Grizzlies for the No. The team was built to maximize Jokić's brilliance.Īnd Jokić delivered. Murray and Porter had not even hit their stride, but Aaron Gordon was playing at a borderline All-Star level, and the rest of the rotation made as much sense as any in the league. 22 overall pick in the draft), and armed with the NBA's last two regular season MVP awards, Jokić had the Nuggets in first place on Christmas. He led the Nuggets to 48 wins and flamed out in the first round of the playoffs without his two best teammates.įlanked by a full roster, including the offseason additions of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (via trade), Bruce Brown (in free agency) and Christian Braun (with the No. ![]() Denver looked like a serious championship contender then, but Nikola Jokić could carry his team no further than the Western Conference semifinals without Murray. from injury, making them whole for the first time since the former tore his left ACL in April 2021. The Nuggets returned Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. (5) Los Angeles Clippers How they got here Denver Nuggets (53-29) ![]()
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