NBA Power Rankings week 17: OKC Thunder and peers enter break

Denver Nuggets:

Offense: (112.0)  7th
Defense: (108.0) 10th
Net: (plus +3.9) 8th

 Results Week 17: (1-1) Won vs. Spurs: 127-120, Lost vs. Lakers: 116-120 (OT)
Games Week 18: (2 games) Fri at Thunder | Sun vs Wolves

Sometimes a player isn’t appreciated because their box score doesn’t scream ‘look at those stats’. OKC Thunder fans are well aware of this dynamic having spent years watching Andre Roberson lock down offensive threats with box scores often barely touched. Or what Steven Adams does on a nightly basis without a number attached.

That is very much the case with Paul Millsap in Denver. Nikola Jokic is indisputably the leader of this team and the star who makes the Nuggets special. But, make no mistake, Millsap is critical to making the defense go from an above average defense to an elite top three defensive team. His presence on the court allows Mike Malone the ability to keep Jokic on the floor for defensive possessions- – something he is less inclined to do when Millsap is out.

This past week both Jamal Murray and Millsap were back and the loss to the Lakers needed overtime to decide (and truthfully could’ve gone either way).

Keep an eye on the Nuggets and Lakers – it’s likely with the above loss it ended the possibility of overtaking LA. The stretch run schedule for the Nuggets is harder than Denver but the Nuggets are getting healthy at the perfect time and surely LA will want to get LeBron and AD some rest. Although some pundits think the Clippers can catch LA, this Nuggets squad might surprise everyone with a bit of luck on their side.