If it’s possible to look beyond the sting of the Nuggets’ Game 7 second-round playoff loss to the Blazers, consider this: One of the youngest teams in the NBA gained the maximum amount of postseason experience over the course of two rounds, endured the emotions of two Game 7s and revealed several truths, both good and bad, about their promising future.
There is no longer a question of whether center Nikola Jokic is a franchise-altering star. He addressed matters about his fitness – 65 minutes in Game 3 against Portland, anyone? – as well as his leadership capacity.