Denver Nuggets

Denver Nuggets: 3 Reasons to Keep the Playoff Hope Alive

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 12:09 p.m. ET

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Nov 16, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Kenneth Faried (35) shoots the ball against Phoenix Suns center Tyson Chandler (4) during the second half at Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 120-104. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

The Denver Nuggets just captured their first home win of the season, and they will need much more of that in order to keep their playoff hopes alive.

After a much needed win at home, the Denver Nuggets will stay cosy in the Mile High for three more games. Sitting at 4-7 and T-10th in the West, the Nuggets will have another big home game on Friday against the Raptors.

Kenneth Faried was inserted back into the starting lineup along side Jusuf Nurkic; Nikola Jokic was sent to the bench where he only played 19 minutes in last nights game. After a nice game from Faried, he then ripped into the media.

According to BSN Denver, Faried said:

“A lot of people in this league and a lot of the media has been disrespecting me, saying ‘Kenneth’s defense.’ Even past coaches say ‘Oh, your defense is suspect,’” Faried said following Denver’s win. “And that’s what I predicate myself on. That’s how I got into this league. So I find that as disrespect and I just want to shut everybody up, not by saying it but by doing it.”

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That attitude in the Mile High City is what it will take to keep winning. The Denver Nuggets need to play with an edge on their shoulder. Time-after-time the Nuggets are disrespected among the national polls, and they need to play like they have something to prove.

This starts at home, and I believe they will start to turn this season right now, and here is why:

Nov 16, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Emmanuel Mudiay (0) drives to the basket against Phoenix Suns guard Eric Bledsoe (2) during the second half at Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 120-104. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

Emmanuel Mudiay Showed Control

Emmanuel Mudiay has the body and talent to be a top tier point guard in the NBA, but he still has yet to completely figure the NBA out.

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Mudiay, so far this season, has averaged 3.5 assists while committing a ridiculous 4.2 turnovers per game. Of guards that play over 20 minutes per game, Mudiay has the 96th worst assist to turnover rate out of the 102 potential players.

Yesterday seemed to be a different story altogether. Mudiay put together his fourth positive +/- this season and his first game with 0 turnovers while 6 assists and chipping in 15 of the Nuggets 120 points.

This is the Emmanuel Mudiay that the Nuggets will need to continue to see in order to keep their playoff aspirations alive. The 6’5″ Mudiay has the ablity to overpower defenders and show more often take them to the post.

The Nuggets, who are in need of a consistent passing point guard, might finally be able to count on Mudiay if he can stay in control like he was against the Suns.

Nov 10, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Emmanuel Mudiay (0) dribbles the ball against Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) in the third quarter at the Pepsi Center. The Warriors defeated the Nuggets 125-101. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

The Worst May Be Behind the Nuggets

The Nuggets kicked off the NBA season with the hardest first 10 games of any NBA team.

According to @NylonCalculus, the Nuggets have the hardest start to the season. #MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/P4c24I2Kip

— Nugg Love (@Nugg_Love) October 25, 2016

While the Nuggets have three more games at home, the rough start can be somewhat justified. The Nuggets have the Raptors Friday which is a team that they already played and lost to by three in their third game of the season.

After that, the Nuggets get the Jazz twice, Chicago, OKC, Phoenix, and Miami (not in that order), and each of those are winnable games. If the Nuggets can finish their home stand strong, they can arrive in Utah with a 7-7 record.

It is now in their hands, and they need to play and win these easier games.

Nov 16, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Wilson Chandler (21) drives to the basket past Phoenix Suns forward P.J. Tucker (17) during the second half at Pepsi Center. The Nuggets won 120-104. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports

The Nuggets Haven’t Even Been at Full Strength

With Darrell Arthur, Gary Harris, and Will Barton all out, the injury bug has struck the team early, and it can be a reason that the Nuggets to continue to look up.

Coach Malone said this regarding the team’s injuries:

“Obviously the injury bug has hit us early. Gary Harris, Will Barton, Wilson Chandler, at times, Darrell Arthur, at times, to get DA back in a welcome sight.” Malone said. “So, we have had some tough injuries, but the silver lining is that a lot of the young guys are getting more minutes because of that, and they are doing a great job.”

Malone also went over how they never use injuries as an excuse, and the depth that the Nuggets possess.

The Denver Nuggets will certainly be ready to be at full strength soon, but with Harris out up to four weeks and Barton out several more days, it may be some time before that happens.

Fans need to keep their head up and help the players as these three games at home will be big ones, and they must realize that their still is hope for the playoffs for this young Nuggets team.

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