The Denver Nuggets recently defeated the Los Angeles Lakers in the season opener, 119-107. The Nuggets definitely look every bit like the team that defeated the Lakers in the 2023 playoffs, and they are likely to compete for another championship this season.
Lakers legend Magic Johnson gave his take on the way the Nuggets played, noting that they will be “very tough” to defeat in the postseason.
Tonight we learned the World Champion Denver Nuggets are going to be very tough to beat in the NBA Playoffs.
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) October 25, 2023
This might be an obvious take to some, especially since the Nuggets are the reigning champions and, thus are clearly a tough team to defeat. However, there have definitely been championship teams that had a bit of a “championship hangover” and were worse the following season after their rings.
It remains to be seen how the Lakers will bounce back following this loss. The Lakers and the Nuggets have developed a bit of a rivalry in the playoffs, and hopefully, they can get the win against the Nuggets next time.
Nikola Jokic Has Received Comparisons To Tim Duncan
There is no doubt that Nikola Jokic is the best passing big man of all time, and his quiet superstardom has earned him comparisons to Tim Duncan. In fact, Charles Barkley previously explained why Jokic reminds him of Duncan.
“Like, ‘Whatever we need tonight, I’m gonna give it to you.’ … That’s the beauty of him, like, ‘Yeah, I play basketball. It’s not who I am. It’s not the most important thing to me.’ He reminds me of Tim Duncan.”
“Tim Duncan was the most no-drama great player I ever watched in my career.”
It is fair to say that Jokic is never in the headlines for the wrong reasons, and generally keeps to himself and focuses on basketball. He lets his game do the talking and doesn’t cause any drama, which is why many find him refreshing to follow and watch on the court.
During the 2022-23 season, Jokic averaged 24.5 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 9.8 assists per game, and it is fair to say that he is the best player in the world following his championship in 2023. We will see if he can repeat this year, and there’s certainly a decent chance of that happening.
The Nuggets And The Lakers Could Face Each Other In The Western Conference Finals
There is no doubt that we could get a matchup between the Nuggets and the Lakers in the Western Conference Finals. Both teams have the talent to get far in the playoffs, as well as superstars with championship experience.
The Lakers got swept by the Nuggets in the 2023 playoffs, and they will be hoping to avenge that loss this season. The Nuggets could easily sweep them again though, especially if the Lakers don’t find a way to slow down their offense.
It remains to be seen how this season will unfold for the Lakers and the Nuggets. Both should be solid in the regular season, though we may see the Lakers finish as a lower seed due to them being an older team.
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