Denver Nuggets Again Champions

In the NBA's superstar-led league, the Denver Nuggets are writing a new story about depth. With Valanciunas finally deciding to stay in Denver, the Western Conference champion puzzle finally fits in - and the most terrifying thing among them is not their starting five tigers, but the "bench bandits" that are enough to make the entire league scare.

Nuggets bench

Deep revolution: From luxury to necessity

Nuggets management's team building ideas are subverting traditional cognition. In this era of stars gathering together, they did the opposite and created a substitute lineup that was comparable to most teams' starting positions. The existence of Bruce Brown has given the backbone of the second team. The "pane-gold oil" attribute of this 2023 champion perfectly interprets the highest requirements of modern basketball for role players. At a height of 193cm, it is an all-round performance of empty cutting, projection and organization. The comprehensive coverage of the 1-3 position on the defensive end allows the opponent to take advantage of it.

Brown

But the Nuggets' ambitions go beyond that. Strauser and Watson's "bench double gun" represent the team's future picture - the former has shown the potential of an elite scorer, and the latter's 201cm forward figure and explosive scoring allow this substitute lineup to have both current combat power and future imagination. Hardaway's joining has injected valuable playoff experience into this young team, and his ability to combine surprise shots will become an important weapon in the connection stage.

Strauser

Straussing depth: Jokic's "decompression code"

Valanciunas's stay in the team may be the most underrated operation this offseason. This 211cm European center is not only the stabilizing needle in the inside, but also the "pressure relief valve" in Jokic's long season. In 82 regular season marathons, Varan's presence allows the MVP to preserve its physical strength and save its peak state to the real battlefield. This strategic depth construction demonstrates the long-term vision of Nuggets' management.

Inside double towers

Zike Najib is the X factor in this lineup. Behind the struggle performance last season was the objective factors of injury and rotation fluctuations, but those flashing moments (such as 16+5+3+4 against the Trail Blazers) reminded us of his potential. In the new season, the power forward urgently needs to prove that he can tear off the questioning label with a stable fourth position performance.

Nakirche's Deep Advantage in the Western arms race

In the arms race where the Western powers formed the "Big Three" one after another, the Nuggets chose a more stable path. When the Clippers rely on Leonard's health, the chemistry of the Big Three, and the Lakers count on veterans' endurance, the Denverans are building their own competitive advantage with depth. The value of this substitute lineup will gradually emerge in the long season. When the main players of other teams are exhausted, the Nuggets can still maintain high-intensity output; when the playoffs are in hand-to-hand combat, their rotation advantage will become a key factor in determining the series. This is not a simple rotation filling, but a strategic offensive and defensive system.

Nuggets Lineup

The Denver Nuggets are redefining the way to compete for the championship: not relying on the starlight of the Big Three, but relying on the concerted efforts of the twelve. When the smoke of the playoffs dissipates, we may find that it is this enviable depth of the bench that has become the decisive force that has leveraged the O'Brien Cup.