Clipperholics
Fansided

Five teams that could challenge the LA Clippers’ title aspirations

By Garrett Chorpenning

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 10: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers steps back on Nikola Jokic #15 and Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets during the first half at Staples Center on October 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 10: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers steps back on Nikola Jokic #15 and Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets during the first half at Staples Center on October 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
4 of 6
Next
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 10: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers steps back on Nikola Jokic #15 and Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets during the first half at Staples Center on October 10, 2019, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – OCTOBER 10: Kawhi Leonard #2 of the LA Clippers steps back on Nikola Jokic #15 and Jamal Murray #27 of the Denver Nuggets during the first half at Staples Center on October 10, 2019, in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

No. 3: Denver Nuggets

Unlike the teams that came before them on this list, the Denver Nuggets did not make franchise-altering acquisitions this summer. They didn’t need to.

The Nuggets finished with the second-best record in the Western Conference last season, largely because of the play of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray.

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not particularly high on Murray, but Denver certainly is. The franchise signed Murray to a five-year extension this summer worth $170 million, and it’s clear that they’re big believers in him.

The Nuggets’ star duo is among the youngest in the league (Jokic is 24, Murray 22), so they do have the best potential for growth. And after winning 54 games last season, they’ll be one of the teams vying to earn the West’s top seed in 2020.

The case for

Denver has one of the league’s best players in Jokic, who has proven to be almost completely unstoppable since his breakout campaign in 2017-2018. “Big Honey”, as he’s affectionately called, posted 12 triple-doubles last season and had two 20/20 games. He’s the best playmaking big in the league today, and few teams, if any, have an answer for him.

Murray is also on the rise, and his big payday should make him a more confident player overall. He averaged over 18 points last season and shot nearly 37 percent from three-point range on 5.5 attempts per game — impressive numbers for someone as young as he is.

The Nuggets also have an above-average supporting cast and can go roughly 12 players deep. Their bench may not be as talented as that of the LA Clippers, but it’s certainly deeper.

Players like Malik Beasley, Gary Harris, Jerami Grant, Paul Millsap and Will Barton all make Denver a scary team — and that’s only a handful of their quality supporters.

Ivica Zubac is not an answer for Jokic, and while Patrick Beverley can likely neutralize Murray’s offensive contributions, the Nuggets’ bench will be one of the few units that give the Clippers a run for their money.

The case against

Murray is not an efficient scorer, which is my main gripe with him. According to Basketball-Reference, among 120 qualified players, Murray ranked 99th in effective field goal percentage last season. That’s a low number for any player that figures to play as significant a role on offense as Murray does, and it could wind up biting them. That number won’t be helped by Beverley’s presence, either.

The Nuggets also have the same issue as the Houston Rockets when it comes to playing the LA Clippers: Who is going to stop Kawhi Leonard and Paul George?

Jerami Grant could be a solution for Denver, but probably only in games in which the Clippers are resting one of their two stars. He’s a solid defender, especially on the perimeter, but there’s a significant decline after him.

Paul Millsap would likely be the other forward in Denver’s lineup, and while he did make the NBA’s All-Defensive Second Team in 2015-2016, he lacks the speed to keep up with Leonard and/or George.

Leonard and George should mostly have their way with the Nuggets next season, and if they meet in the postseason, their two-way ability could be the deciding factor.

Home/Clippers News