NBA’s best still reside in Denver

The “road” can be a gauntlet in the National Basketball Association. Teams travel over multiple time zones, play back-to-backs and long for a home crowd for stretches of three, four, sometimes five games in a row.

The road has been particularly tough this season when it travels through Boston, where the Celtics hadn’t lost a single game – until the defending NBA Champion Denver Nuggets rolled into town this past weekend, that is.

Much of the hype that surrounded the Nuggets over the past week was the highly-anticipated matchup between two of the best big men in the league, Denver’s Nikola Jokic and Philly’s Joel Embiid. That game took place a week ago, and the Sixers got the best of the Nuggets and Philly’s big man got the best of the Joker. It was a close game, but the Nuggets ultimately fell 126-121. As anticipated, the conversation following the game shifted to which player was in lead contention for this year’s regular season MVP (Hint: It’s still close, although Embiid is now the favorite after dropping a 70-burger on Monday night).

But perhaps the more revealing game arrived three nights later, when the Nuggets headed to Boston for a matchup with the Celtics, who possess the best record in the league and (then) and unblemished record at home.

Denver, on the other hand, has played well but hasn’t necessarily looked like the “champs” at all points during the season. Now with 30 wins, the Nuggets sit comfortably in third place in the West. But if there was ever a doubt as to whether or not the Nuggets could repeat as NBA champs, it was erased on Friday night in Boston. That’s not to say they’re a “lock” to do so, but after handing the Celtics their first home loss of the season, there’s little doubt that Denver can win another title.

Perhaps most impressively was the fact that it was Jamal Murray who shined brightest for the Nuggets. Over the course of the season, Murray has battled injuries off and on, but in Boston, he looked to have his championship form back in tow. His silky 35 points came via a 15-from-21 shooting performance and it’s clear that he and Jokic still have the best pick-and-roll game in the Association.

There’s a long way to go before the NBA hits its “second season” with the All-Star game, tradeline and homestretch all still pending. But if anyone thought the Nuggets were a simple one-and-done champ, they were wrong. 

Jason Schlefsky’s Pick: Denver Nuggets to win NBA Title +400

Despite its slot in the standings, Denver clearly has the attention of the oddsmakers. At +400, the Nuggets are ahead of the Clippers (+750) and Timberwolves (+1400) in the West. The only team in the NBA with better odds to win it all is Boston (+300), and everyone in the country was able to see just how comparable those two teams are over the weekend. In January, it’s nearly impossible to tell which team(s) will be healthy and peaking by the time the postseason rolls around, but so long as the Nuggets enter the playoffs with a healthy Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray, they’re more than capable of repeating the feat. And don’t be surprised if basketball fans across the country are treated to a seven-game rematch of Boston versus Denver in the NBA Finals.