Mile High Maniac
Fansided

Denver Nuggets: 3 Bold Predictions for 2018-19

By Michael Longhofer

DENVER, CO - APRIL 03: Head coach Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets reacts to a foul call as his team plays the Indiana Pacers at the Pepsi Center on April 3, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
DENVER, CO - APRIL 03: Head coach Michael Malone of the Denver Nuggets reacts to a foul call as his team plays the Indiana Pacers at the Pepsi Center on April 3, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 4
Next
Denver Nuggets
DENVER, CO – APRIL 03: Nikola Jokic #15 of the Denver Nuggets works towards the basket against Myles Turner #33 of th Indiana Pacers at the Pepsi Center on April 3, 2018 in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

There are several postseason awards that Nuggets may qualify for.

Since this is predictive, I’ll set where I think Nuggets players or front-office personnel will finish in the race to postseason accolades.

Nikola Jokic will finish in the top-five in MVP voting.  There’s just too much at play in the league to pencil Nikola into a frontrunner position.  LeBron in Los Angeles, Kawhi in Toronto, DeRozan in San Antonio.  Success from those teams would catapult those starts to the front-of-the-line.  There’s also the perennials, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Steph Curry, players that will always be in the mix.  Jokic is deserving but at 23, he’s a few years away from being on that list.

More from Denver Sports

Michael Malone will win Coach of the Year.  Look, if the Nuggets do secure the second-seed, as previously predicted, Malone is a lock for COY. Recognition for the Nuggets coach isn’t far-fetched, we’re well aware of the offensive prowess the team will bring but where Malone will shine is in coaxing the defense into that middle-of-the-pack performance.  He’s also shown himself to be gifted at developing/recognizing talent in young players.  Malone sits in the driver’s seat with his team having missed the playoffs last season.

Jamal Murray will not finish on the list for Most Improved Player.  While Murray will surely improve, the perception is that he was already a rising force, at 21.  His improvement won’t be as noticeable, they don’t give it to 22 year-old players and if Carmelo Anthony has even marginal success in Houston, that award is his.

Tim Connelly will be mentioned as Executive of the Year.  Depending on what Toronto does, with the addition of Kawhi and the subtraction of LeBron in the East, Connelly might even have the inside-track.  This one is far more difficult because it has so many moving parts but the jewels in Connelly’s crown from this offseason will be the drafting of Michael Porter, Jr., the re-signing of Will Barton (Jokic was a no-brainer) and the acquisition of Isaiah Thomas.  Porter may not play, he may be Rookie of the Year.  We don’t know yet and that will have the biggest impact on TC’s shot at the award.

Next. Must-see Nuggets Games. dark

It’s an exciting time, as we move into September, we’ll see camps starting soon, we’ll get news on MPJ, we’ll see how things are shaping up.  If all goes how we think it will, the above predictions are absolutely within the realm of possibility.

Stay Tuned.

Home/Denver Sports