Who do Nuggets want to avoid in first round?
Q: If you’re Michael Malone, who are you hoping to avoid the most in the playoff bracket? Would it be better if the Nuggets faced the Lakers or the Clippers in the second round?
— Dan, Westminster
Singer: If the Nuggets see the Lakers or Clippers in the playoffs, it will almost assuredly come in the second round and/ or Western Conference finals. If or when that happens, buckle up. Last we saw the Clippers, they were trouncing the Nuggets on national TV in late February. And I don’t have to remind you what a motivated LeBron James/Anthony Davis frontcourt is capable of. The Nuggets would be heavy underdogs against both.
In the first round, I think the Nuggets will be angling for the Utah Jazz. They’ve beaten them both times this year, and Utah lost a key piece in Bojan Bogdanovic. I think the Nuggets would prefer to avoid the Houston Rockets at all costs. They’ve historically struggled against them, and playing against a rested James Harden is a scary proposition.
Q: Where do you see Michael Porter Jr. in the rotation this year? He would flash occasionally, but his minutes were inconsistent. It didn’t seem like his teammates were willing to involve him in the offense.
— Stu Howard, Englewood
Singer: I think you’re asking what his role will be once the season restarts, so I’ll answer under that premise. After he broke out in January, Porter’s minutes were inconsistent after the All-Star break because he was still nursing an ankle injury. That’s partially why coach Michael Malone didn’t give him regular run once we got into March. At the same time, Malone loathes giving up easy baskets, and Porter’s individual defense as well as his grasp of team defense was a constant work in progress.
He’s said that he’s completely healthy and was able to get in the gym whenever he wanted over the break. So whatever minutes he’s allotted in the eight seeding games and then the playoffs will be a direct reflection of the confidence Malone has in him.
Q: Malone sounded at least somewhat optimistic that the Nuggets would be able to have Nikola Jokic in the fold for the NBA’s return in Orlando. How important do you think it is for the Nuggets to have Jokic available right away? Given that the team is playing eight games prior to the playoff bracket, perhaps he can rejoin the team later on and still be in shape for the postseason?
— Joe, Aurora
Singer: I think the Nuggets have been careful not to put a timeline on Jokic’s return because there are so many unknowns. Malone said Wednesday that the “hope and expectation” is that Jokic would be on the plane with the rest of the team when they leave on July 7.
From my understanding, his two-week quarantine is almost done. Before he leaves Serbia, he’ll need two negative tests. And once he returns, he’ll need to test negative again. If he gets to Orlando on time, he’d have about two weeks before inter-squad scrimmages begin. Those three scrimmages would precede the seeding games.
I think it’s almost essential that the Nuggets get as much time as possible with Jokic healthy as they can. He’s the fulcrum of their offense that hasn’t played basketball in four months. I don’t like the Nuggets’ chances of getting out of the first round if Jokic isn’t playing.