4 bold predictions for stretch-run of 2020-21 NBA season

Denver Nuggets, Nikola Jokic
Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

No. 1. Denver Nuggets fall outside of the Top-4 in the Western Conference

After trading for Aaron Gordon at the trade deadline, the Denver Nuggets were rolling, but with Jamal Murray suffering a devastating knee injury that will end his season, the Nuggets season may have gone out of the door with him. 

This team was arguably playing the best basketball out of any team in the league prior to Murray suffering a torn ACL in his left knee, but now, the Denver Nuggets will be scrambling for answers at the worst time in the season to do so. This team had championship aspirations, but now, everything the weight of this organization falls on MVP front-runner Nikola Jokic. 

Overall, the Nuggets still have plenty of weapons in Nikola Jokic, Michael Porter Jr, Will Barton and Aaron Gordon, but Murray is the leader of this team and without him on the court as their floor general and reliable scorer, they are going to struggle to make up for his loss in production. 

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With 18 games left in their schedule, the Nuggets are definitely going to be a team to watch because there is so much unknown about them. Who is going to step up into a bigger role with the loss of Murray? Will they be able to sustain their success on the offensive-end of the court without him? Can Nikola Jokic take on an even bigger role and burden than he already does on this team to continue being championship contenders?

These are all key questions that will need to be answered about this team in a very short period of time, which is why the Nuggets will likely fall outside of the Top-4 in the Western Conference. In fact, they could potentially slip down to the 6-seed or 7-seed if they really struggle without Murray. 

With LeBron James and Anthony Davis set to return very soon, the Lakers will likely pass the Nuggets for the 4-seed and with the Portland Trail Blazers fully healthy and playing great basketball, they too could pass the Nuggets should Denver begin losing games. Jamal Murray’s knee injury is devastating news for the Denver Nuggets and will likely result in their slim championship hopes being reduced to nothing.

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