In the latest episode of Locked on Nuggets, Matt Moore and Ryan Blackburn gave their projections for how many wins Denver will finish with and how the first ten games of the season will go. Some highlights from the show:
1. Matt Moore’s Take: Will the Nuggets Hit 52 Wins This Season?
- “I have the Denver Nuggets winning 52 games. They won 57 games last year, and while they lost Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, I believe their core, including Nikola Jokic, will push them above those win projections rather easily. Michael Malone’s coaching and the team’s overall health are key factors that could drive them to exceed expectations. Historically, when healthy, this team has consistently outperformed projections. I think it’s important not to overreact to the negativity surrounding their offseason changes.”
2. Ryan Blackburn’s Bold Prediction: Nuggets to Start 5-5
- “I think the Nuggets go five and five through that stretch. There’s going to be some losses and an adjustment period, especially with seven home games and a three-game road trip. People might wonder if everything is okay, but it’s just part of the early season dynamics. The team will need time to integrate new players and adjust their strategies. Despite the initial struggles, I still have confidence in their ability to win 52 games overall.”
3. Matt Moore on Home Court: How Denver’s Advantage Could Boost Wins
- “I should be giving Denver, like, five points of home court advantage because that’s just what they’ve been historically. The GM survey even nominated the Nuggets as having the best home court advantage in the NBA. This advantage could significantly impact their win total, especially in close games. Year to year, home court performance can be variable, but Denver has consistently been strong at home. Adjusting for this could dramatically change their projected outcomes.”
4. Ryan Blackburn: Evaluating the Nuggets’ First 10 Games
- “The Thunder could potentially give them two losses on the road, which would feel really bad. But there’s also a possibility that Denver wins both of those games, flipping this to 7 and 3 or 8 and 2. The early season is unpredictable, and the Nuggets will face both challenges and opportunities. Their performance in these games will set the tone for the rest of the season. It’s crucial for them to find their rhythm quickly to avoid unnecessary pressure.”
5. Matt Moore Projects Jokic’s Stats This Season
- “I predict 25 points per game, 12.5 rebounds, and 8.49 assists for Jokic. The scoring might dip slightly because I think he won’t play as much, but his rebounding will remain strong because he’s an awesome rebounder.
6. Matt Moore Believes Denver Starts 7-3:
“I think they’re going 7-3. They’ll split with OKC, lose the Wolves game in Minnesota, and lose either the Mavs game or some random game to a team worse than them. This schedule is well set-up for them to get off to an easier start and work out the kinks.”
