5 reasons why Denver Nuggets can be surprise contenders for the NBA championship in the 2021-22 season

#3 Influential playmaking

Nikola Jokic was all smiles in the 69th NBA All-Star Game

The Denver Nuggets have one of the greatest big man playmakers in the history of the NBA in Nikola Jokic. He can create plays and open passing lanes or take on the responsibility of a feeder himself. Jokic averaged 8.3 assists in the 2020-21 season and led his team in assists.

Nikola Jokic has his 81st career 10-assist game, passing Wilt Chamberlain for the most by a center in NBA history.Point Center 🔥 pic.twitter.com/Qxm7puxBYr

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) April 5, 2021

With Jamal Murry, Will Barton, and Facundo Campazzo, the Denver Nuggets have highly reliable and resourceful playmakers capable of taking the onus of facilitating scoring from Jokic's shoulders.

#2 Air-tight paint defence

The team from Denver does not have the best overall defense nor the worst. Their defensive weakness lies in pick-and-roll and perimeter play. Their best defender Jokic is slow and not very quick in defense.

However, it is a completely different story near the paint. The Denver Nuggets are capable of stopping brilliant bucket driving players. With players like McGee, Aaron Gordon (one of the newest well-known names to join the team), and Jokic can push scorers out to the perimeter.

Their stature and overall presence discourages opponents from carelessly rushing to the basket. A team like the LA Lakers that statistically favors paint scoring will be pushed to the arc to avoid blocks and misses in the paint and restricted area. This will become a key element in the Denver Nuggets' championship campaign.

#1 Offensive Power

The Denver Nuggets are without a single doubt one of the most formidable offensive teams in the league. the presence of the Joker and Jamal Murray in their ranks makes them one of the most lethal scoring machines in the league.

With the addition of Gordon, Morris, Barton, and Porter Jr. as the secondary scorers, the team can easily overcome big scores. However, in Jokic and Murray, the team has two very different kinds of scorers.

Jokic, in the context of a big man, is a versatile scorer. He can land a couple of threes every game, attempt fadeaways and jumpers from mid-range, and attack the rim for easy hooks and dunks.

Jamal Murray having his own dunk contest 😤 pic.twitter.com/Cuv2a2IyNr

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) December 15, 2019

Meanwhile, Jamal Murray is the creative offensive scorer for the Denver Nuggets. He is a high-flyer that can make spectacular layups while falling down or spinning away from the defender in the air. He is also a good mid-range and arc shooter.