Kiz: We interrupt the constant bickering about whether Nikola Jokic deserves to win MVP again with this message: Who cares? Jokic is worthy of the award. So is Joel Embiid. All I care is that the Nuggets win a championship in what’s left of my lifetime. This is their best shot ever. But the road out of the West will be difficult. Is there one foe we should fear above all others in the opening round of the NBA playoffs?
Singer: No Giannis on your final ballot? You see this, Milwaukee? The disrespect. You’re exactly right. All three candidates are worthy, and if Joker isn’t in line to make history, with some luck, the sun will still rise in the morning. As for your more pressing question, I’m going to cheat: Denver doesn’t want to see the Lakers or the Pelicans. LeBron James and Anthony Davis in the first round, and that’s the reward for winning the West? Brandon Ingram, and the potential of Zion Williamson? It’s not like those are small frontcourts for our local MVP to combat. What’s more, Michael Malone recently groused that as a No. 1 seed, they won’t find out who they’re playing until two days before the series starts. The No. 2 seed gets three more days’ advance notice. Thanks, Adam Silver!
Kiz: Rather than me pontificating, I’d like to humbly ask you to educate me. (I can be taught, although it requires patience.) With all due respect to Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., my biggest question about the Nuggets heading into the playoffs: Can they win on nights when Joker is not at his best? Can they win a crucial playoff game if he’s not Denver’s best player on the court? So I’m curious. What team would make Jokic’s life most difficult in the opening round?
Singer: I’m going to throw a 12-6 curveball at you. I think Minnesota could make Jokic’s life difficult. In Tim Connelly and former Nuggets assistant Chris Finch, they have the book on Jokic. They also have the personnel to show him various looks, which, to my knowledge, is the only way you momentarily impede him. Kyle Anderson is one of those annoying forward types who can occasionally mess with Jokic. Between him, Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns, that’s a lot of combined wing span. And to your other question, we’re going to learn a lot about Murray and Porter. Murray’s touchstone moment came in a relatively sterilized Bubble. And Porter’s yet to really see the postseason a) as healthy as he is and b) with a role as pronounced as the one he’s currently got.
Kiz: My guess is the Nuggets will have a decent chance to dodge both the Warriors and Lakers in the first round. I’m not sure if Zion will be back in a Pelicans uniform anytime soon, but if he gets healthy, New Orleans is the team that would worry me in the opening round. Ingram, Williamson and CJ McCollum could keep Malone and his staff awake at nights wondering how the Nuggets would get defensive stops with the outcome of a playoff game hanging in the balance.
Singer: Various league insiders I’ve spoken to have suggested Williamson is warming his engines up and could be back before the end of the regular season. If there’s one thing that gives the Nuggets trouble, it’s size, length and versatility. The Pelicans could throw Jonas Valanciunas, Ingram, Williamson, Larry Nance and Willy Hernangomez at Denver’s offense. They’ve also got rangy wings Herb Jones and Naji Marshall waiting to suffocate the Nuggets’ perimeter play. And if there’s one player destined to earn the ire of Nuggets fans, it’s Jose Alvarado. The more I think about it, the more I wouldn’t mind spending a few more days down by the Mighty Mississippi. Bring on the Pels.
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