Are the Nuggets truly a championship contender this season?

As we embark on the Denver Nuggets 2021-22 season, and as we listen to the Nuggets talk about their goals and aspirations, the question is, again, do the Nuggets have enough to win an NBA championship?

The head coach says yes. The players say yes. The front office folks say yes.

So, should we say yes?

George Karl claims there are three ingredients to a NBA championship team. Talent, toughness and playing together. It’s pretty difficult to dispute the sixth-winningest coach in NBA history, so let’s go with these three.

This Nuggets team certainly has talent. Especially on the offensive end. On any given night, they are as good offensively as anyone in the NBA. And that will only get better when Jamal Murray comes back. That offense is led by the reigning league MVP, Nikola Jokic, who is a once-in-a-lifetime offensive player.

What about toughness? There are nights when this Nuggets team will play with great toughness. Aaron Gordon helps in that regard. Jeff Green is a solid defensive player and several others can play that way. But toughness in the NBA has to be a mindset. It cannot be a switch to turn on and off. Maybe in the regular season, to an extent, but not in the playoffs. Playing with physical and mental toughness is mandatory, every single moment of every single game in the playoffs.

The third quality for a championship team, playing together, is clearly, to me, a hallmark of this team. Michael Porter Jr. can get a little selfish, but he’s getting better in that regard. We saw togetherness it in the regular season last year when they lost Jamal Murray and certainly in the playoffs when they made a pretty good run. They played hard and they played unselfishly. It’s in there.

So, how do we answer the question? Is this team a championship-caliber team?

Well, they certainly have the talent, especially when Murray comes back. They have displayed a toughness and if they make it a mindset, it can be a strength. And they certainly seem to play well together.

So the answer, I believe, is yes.

This team is definitely a championship-caliber team.

Can’t wait to see if I’m right.