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These Nuggets May Get Axed In The Team’s Playoff Rotation The Denver Nuggets have their sights set on defending their championship. Nikola Jokic is in line to win his third MVP honor, and Denver blitzed through the postseason in 2023. The Nuggets should be favored until they get eliminated. They have the best player in the world and plenty of talent around him to repeat. Their goal is to win it all, but it is always difficult. The Western Conference is loaded with talent and there are zero easy matchups. Denver could face the Lakers, Warriors, or Suns in the first round of the playoffs. There will be no easy road and winning the conference clinches a date against a team with two stars from the Eastern Conference. It is always more difficult to repeat, and the pressure will be on the Nuggets throughout the postseason. Head coach Michael Malone trimmed his rotation to seven or eight players during the 2023 playoffs. Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Michael Porter Jr. are locked in as their starting five, but who does he trust off the bench with Bruce Brown and Jeff Green gone? All of these players are at risk of being cut from the Nuggets postseason rotation. 5. Zeke Nnaji Nanji has missed five straight games with a back injury, but he appeared in 16 consecutive before going down. The 23-year-old also begins a four-year $32 million extension next season. The Nuggets want him to be a long-term piece, but backup center minutes will be non-existent in the playoffs. Nikola Jokic played 39.5 minutes per game during Denver’s 2023 playoff run and a handful of blowout victories dropped the average. The Joker will have a massive workload. When he needs a rest, the Nuggets will likely go small with Aaron Gordon at the five. It is easier to match up with the opposition and creates more switching opportunities for the Nuggets. Zeke Nnaji played in just four of their 20 playoff contests in 2023. He likely sees a bit more run this time, but fans should not expect him to be part of the nightly rotation. The Denver Nuggets will likely go small, but that creates more difficult decisions for coach Malone. 4. Justin Holiday Every contending team wants multiple 3-and-D wings on their roster. It is not easy finding a 6’6 player capable of guarding multiple positions and consistently knocking down 3-pointers. They also have to be comfortable sinking a ton of effort into their defense and just taking open shots on the other end with limited opportunities to touch the ball. Holiday helped the Warriors win a championship in 2015 and has played for ten different teams in his 11-year NBA career. The journeyman is a fantastic option to have on the bench. He stays ready and is a career 36.4 percent 3-point shooter. The Nuggets signed him to a one-year veteran minimum deal after losing Bruce Brown and Jeff Green in free agency. They wanted a veteran capable of playing some minutes and mentoring their young wings. Holiday accepted that challenge and is averaging 16.7 minutes in his last 21 games. He has missed just one of the team’s previous 22 contests, but won’t play every night in the playoffs. The Denver Nuggets are trying to develop two wings into key pieces moving forward. They will be prioritized for playoff minutes, but even those two will be axed on nights when the matchup isn’t favorable. Coach Malone played all 15 players on his roster in the 2023 title run, but only seven appeared in every game. Expect a similar strategy this year. 3. Peyton Watson The 2022 first-round draft pick barely played as a rookie. He was limited to mop-up duties save for the final six games of the regular season where the Nuggets rested their best players to gear up for the playoffs. The 21-year-old has become a nightly part of the rotation in year two, but his warts will likely limit his playing time in the playoffs. Watson is averaging 6.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.0 assist, and 1.0 block in 18.3 minutes per game this season. He is 6’8 with a seven-foot wingspan and already stands out on the defensive end. It is his offensive game that leaves question marks. Watson is a career 31.2 percent 3-point shooter and offers little playmaking. He has no concrete role on that end of the floor, which has led him to a negative value over replacement player (VORP) this season. Teams will leave Watson open in the playoffs and dare him to shoot. If he continues to miss or hesitates to fire, coach Malone has to go in a different direction. Peyton Watson is eighth on the team in minutes played this season. If everyone is healthy, he could be the final cut from the playoff rotation. Expect the 6’8 wing to get opportunities, but it will be on him to make the most of them. 2. Reggie Jackson The Nuggets acquired Jackson in February of 2023 after he was traded and bought out. The 6’2 guard played a key role in the Clippers reaching the conference finals in 2021, and Denver was searching for another ball-handler. Many thought he would be the primary backup for Jamal Murray, but it never quite worked out. Jackson played just 18 total playoff minutes and never more than five in a single game. He was out of the rotation completely but got his first championship ring. The Nuggets re-signed him on a two-year $10.5 million contract in the 2023 offseason. He has a $5.2 million player option for next season. His play and production have improved in year two in the Mile High City. Jackson is averaging 10.0 points, 3.8 assists, and 1.8 rebounds in 21.9 minutes per game. Playing a 6’2 point guard for significant minutes in the playoffs is always a challenge. Teams will hunt him on defense, so if he is not making shots or plays on the other end, it is easy to take him out of the game. The 33-year-old should see a larger role this postseason but do not be surprised to see him be a DNP-CD at some point throughout the Nuggets’ 2024 playoff run. 1. Christian Braun The 21st overall pick in 2022 has taken a step forward in his second season. It is easy to compare him to Bruce Brown and fans know the 22-year-old must be better in the playoffs if Denver is going to repeat as champions. Braun is a plus-shooter at 6’6. He has the potential to fill a similar role but needs more time to develop. He is averaging 7.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 0.5 steals in 19.3 minutes per game this season. Those numbers do not jump off the screen, but Braun missed just one playoff game for the Nuggets last season. Head coach Michael Malone trusts him and knows Braun brings a versatile skill set to the floor. Do not expect his minutes to be consistent in the playoffs. If his shots are not falling or the opposition is exploiting a matchup, Malone must put Braun on the bench. Expect the 22-year-old to get multiple opportunities, but he will remain a situational player. The Denver Nuggets hope two or three of these players solidify their roles in the playoff rotation. Having a trusted seven or eight would be ideal. Right now, Malone has five and will mix and match in the final two spots. The Nuggets plan on repeating, so stay tuned for what will be a wild ride.

These Nuggets May Get Axed In The Team’s Playoff Rotation The Denver Nuggets have their sights set on defending their championship. Nikola Jokic is in line to win his third MVP honor, and Denver blitzed through the postseason in 2023. The Nuggets should be favored until they get eliminated. They have the best player in the world and plenty of talent around him to repeat. Their goal is to win it all, but it is always difficult. The Western Conference is loaded with talent and there are zero easy matchups. Denver could face the Lakers, Warriors, or Suns in the first round of the playoffs. There will be no easy road and winning the conference clinches a date against a team with two stars from the Eastern Conference. It is always more difficult to repeat, and the pressure will be on the Nuggets throughout the postseason. Head coach Michael Malone trimmed his rotation to seven or eight players during the 2023 playoffs. Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Michael Porter Jr. are locked in as their starting five, but who does he trust off the bench with Bruce Brown and Jeff Green gone? All of these players are at risk of being cut from the Nuggets postseason rotation. 5. Zeke Nnaji Nanji has missed five straight games with a back injury, but he appeared in 16 consecutive before going down. The 23-year-old also begins a four-year $32 million extension next season. The Nuggets want him to be a long-term piece, but backup center minutes will be non-existent in the playoffs. Nikola Jokic played 39.5 minutes per game during Denver’s 2023 playoff run and a handful of blowout victories dropped the average. The Joker will have a massive workload. When he needs a rest, the Nuggets will likely go small with Aaron Gordon at the five. It is easier to match up with the opposition and creates more switching opportunities for the Nuggets. Zeke Nnaji played in just four of their 20 playoff contests in 2023. He likely sees a bit more run this time, but fans should not expect him to be part of the nightly rotation. The Denver Nuggets will likely go small, but that creates more difficult decisions for coach Malone. 4. Justin Holiday Every contending team wants multiple 3-and-D wings on their roster. It is not easy finding a 6’6 player capable of guarding multiple positions and consistently knocking down 3-pointers. They also have to be comfortable sinking a ton of effort into their defense and just taking open shots on the other end with limited opportunities to touch the ball. Holiday helped the Warriors win a championship in 2015 and has played for ten different teams in his 11-year NBA career. The journeyman is a fantastic option to have on the bench. He stays ready and is a career 36.4 percent 3-point shooter. The Nuggets signed him to a one-year veteran minimum deal after losing Bruce Brown and Jeff Green in free agency. They wanted a veteran capable of playing some minutes and mentoring their young wings. Holiday accepted that challenge and is averaging 16.7 minutes in his last 21 games. He has missed just one of the team’s previous 22 contests, but won’t play every night in the playoffs. The Denver Nuggets are trying to develop two wings into key pieces moving forward. They will be prioritized for playoff minutes, but even those two will be axed on nights when the matchup isn’t favorable. Coach Malone played all 15 players on his roster in the 2023 title run, but only seven appeared in every game. Expect a similar strategy this year. 3. Peyton Watson The 2022 first-round draft pick barely played as a rookie. He was limited to mop-up duties save for the final six games of the regular season where the Nuggets rested their best players to gear up for the playoffs. The 21-year-old has become a nightly part of the rotation in year two, but his warts will likely limit his playing time in the playoffs. Watson is averaging 6.7 points, 3.0 rebounds, 1.0 assist, and 1.0 block in 18.3 minutes per game this season. He is 6’8 with a seven-foot wingspan and already stands out on the defensive end. It is his offensive game that leaves question marks. Watson is a career 31.2 percent 3-point shooter and offers little playmaking. He has no concrete role on that end of the floor, which has led him to a negative value over replacement player (VORP) this season. Teams will leave Watson open in the playoffs and dare him to shoot. If he continues to miss or hesitates to fire, coach Malone has to go in a different direction. Peyton Watson is eighth on the team in minutes played this season. If everyone is healthy, he could be the final cut from the playoff rotation. Expect the 6’8 wing to get opportunities, but it will be on him to make the most of them. 2. Reggie Jackson The Nuggets acquired Jackson in February of 2023 after he was traded and bought out. The 6’2 guard played a key role in the Clippers reaching the conference finals in 2021, and Denver was searching for another ball-handler. Many thought he would be the primary backup for Jamal Murray, but it never quite worked out. Jackson played just 18 total playoff minutes and never more than five in a single game. He was out of the rotation completely but got his first championship ring. The Nuggets re-signed him on a two-year $10.5 million contract in the 2023 offseason. He has a $5.2 million player option for next season. His play and production have improved in year two in the Mile High City. Jackson is averaging 10.0 points, 3.8 assists, and 1.8 rebounds in 21.9 minutes per game. Playing a 6’2 point guard for significant minutes in the playoffs is always a challenge. Teams will hunt him on defense, so if he is not making shots or plays on the other end, it is easy to take him out of the game. The 33-year-old should see a larger role this postseason but do not be surprised to see him be a DNP-CD at some point throughout the Nuggets’ 2024 playoff run. 1. Christian Braun The 21st overall pick in 2022 has taken a step forward in his second season. It is easy to compare him to Bruce Brown and fans know the 22-year-old must be better in the playoffs if Denver is going to repeat as champions. Braun is a plus-shooter at 6’6. He has the potential to fill a similar role but needs more time to develop. He is averaging 7.1 points, 3.6 rebounds, 1.4 assists, and 0.5 steals in 19.3 minutes per game this season. Those numbers do not jump off the screen, but Braun missed just one playoff game for the Nuggets last season. Head coach Michael Malone trusts him and knows Braun brings a versatile skill set to the floor. Do not expect his minutes to be consistent in the playoffs. If his shots are not falling or the opposition is exploiting a matchup, Malone must put Braun on the bench. Expect the 22-year-old to get multiple opportunities, but he will remain a situational player. The Denver Nuggets hope two or three of these players solidify their roles in the playoff rotation. Having a trusted seven or eight would be ideal. Right now, Malone has five and will mix and match in the final two spots. The Nuggets plan on repeating, so stay tuned for what will be a wild ride.

The Denver Nuggets have their sights set on defending their championship. Nikola Jokic is in line to win his third...

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