The J-Notes
Fansided

Utah Jazz: Who will take the loaded Northwest Division?

By Jared Woodcox

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 27: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz and Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder hug after Game Six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 27, 2018 at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, UT - APRIL 27: Donovan Mitchell #45 of the Utah Jazz and Paul George #13 of the Oklahoma City Thunder hug after Game Six of the Western Conference Quarterfinals during the 2018 NBA Playoffs on April 27, 2018 at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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DENVER, CO – FEBRUARY 13: Jamal Murray #27 and Gary Harris #14 of the Denver Nuggets look on during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on February 13, 2018 at the Pepsi Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
DENVER, CO – FEBRUARY 13: Jamal Murray #27 and Gary Harris #14 of the Denver Nuggets look on during the game against the San Antonio Spurs on February 13, 2018 at the Pepsi Center 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Denver Nuggets

For two seasons in a row, the Denver Nuggets have been about as up and down as they come, until it has led to them just falling short of a playoff bid. Perhaps it’s due to coaching, or maybe due to youth, or perhaps a combination of the two. But whatever the case has been, I truly think 2018-19 will be the year that Denver gets over the hump.

To me, this past season for the Nuggets felt very similar to the Utah Jazz in 2015-16. They had all the right pieces to make the playoffs, but injury (principally to Paul Millsap) and some inconsistency proved to be their undoing. Just as the Jazz bounced back the next year, I expect the same out of Denver.

Gary Harris and Jamal Murray are only both going to continue to improve. Nikola Jokic has already proven to be a force in this league and should still further his development. They’ve had time to mesh and adjust to one another, and this time around I think internal growth alone will help elevate them to the next level.

That said, I don’t quite think that Denver will be in the elite tier of the West, but I’m still pinning them as a formidable playoff squad with the speed, athleticism and offensive prowess to make any opponent they face feel somewhat nervous.

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