Toronto Raptors: Will the Northwest Division be a problem for Toronto?

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Toronto Raptors – Fred VanVleet (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /

Denver Nuggets

No team in the NBA is expected to have a wider difference between their offensive and defensive efficiency than the Denver Nuggets. Denver will score 120 on you; they just hope you don’t score 121.

Their defense is projected to struggle. Last season it ranked 26th in the NBA, sandwiched between the Sacramento Kings and Brooklyn Nets. Woof. If Denver can increase their defensive efficiency to around league average (Don’t laugh), they have the potential to finish around the 4th or 5th seed in the Western Conference.

Believe it or not, the roadmap to an average defense does exist. Last season, Paul Millsap appeared in just 38 games. When he was on the court, the defense rose to about league average.

If Millsap can stay healthy all season and the young players improve on defense as young players typically do, league average is obtainable.

The Nuggets will have a top-10 offense this season. If everything breaks right and a couple of players take developmental leaps, it could be the best in the NBA.

For Denver, it starts with the big-man Nikola Jokic. Jokic is a top-20 player in the NBA and an offensive genius. His passing highlights are perhaps the most impressive in the entire NBA, and he is doing it all as a 7’0″ behemoth.

Jokic is a constant. So is, officially no longer underrated, Gary Harris. The litmus test for Denver to reach their full offensive potential this season will be Jamal Murray. Murray is already at top-15ish point guard. If he takes another leap this season and joins the Kyle Lowry and Kemba Walker class of point guards, watch out for the Nuggets.