A Q&A with Adam Mares of SB Nation’s Nuggets site Denver Stiffs.

What needs to happen for this to be an enjoyable season for Nuggets fans?

The team has to make progress, both in terms of wins and in player development. The team is favored to make the playoffs, so that is the most clear and obvious indicator of success. But the continued development of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Gary Harris, Emmanuel Mudiay, and Juancho Hernangomez are just as important.

Denver Nuggets / Projected Starters
Position	Starters	Bench
Guards	Jamal Murray	Emmanuel Mudiay Jameer Nelson
Wings	Gary Harris Wilson Chandler	Will Barton Juancho Hernangomez Malik Beasley
Bigs	Nikola Jokic Paul Millsap	Mason Plumlee Darrell Arthur Kenneth Faried Trey Lyles Tyler Lydon

What makes Nuggets fans most excited about this year? What makes Nuggets fans most nervous?

We’re most excited about the prospect of a team built around two incredibly skilled and unselfish bigs in Jokic and Paul Millsap. The team's offense was so much fun to watch last season, and expectations are that they will only be more exciting to watch this season.

We’re most nervous that the team's defense will continue to rank among the worst in the league.

Gut Check

Survey data collected from site writers and editors. The wider the graph the more optimism and trust the fans have in their team! The grey line indicates the average of all sites' collected data.

7.1

Out of 10

How good will your team be this year

8.8

Out of 10

Are they on the rise or on the decline

6.8

Out of 10

Are fans happy with the team’s direction or angry

5.9

Out of 10

Are they trying to win now or build for the future

What storyline might a national audience be missing about the Nuggets?

Most people don't realize that the Nuggets had the most efficient offense in the NBA for the final FOUR months of the season. Yup, better than the Warriors, Cavaliers, and Rockets. Their passing makes them one of the most entertaining teams in the league to watch, similar in many ways to the Seven Seconds or Less Suns of the late 2000s and those fun Kings teams of the early 2000s.

Why should neutrals pay attention to the Nuggets this year?

Because Nikola Jokic is the most unique center to enter the league in a long time. He throws no-look passes like Jason Williams, has soft touch from everywhere on the court, and has incredible footwork on the block.

He's truly a unicorn, and despite how high or low you rank him among other great players in the league, he's a walking highlight reel.

What's your prediction for the season?

45-37, seventh seed in the West. Their offense might slow a bit early on as they incorporate Paul Millsap to the mix, but their defense should improve over last year by leaps and bounds.