You shouldn’t bet on the Denver Nuggets to win back-to-back championships. Some out there may be thinking this is because we were a year too early in picking them to win the title. I can assure you that is not the case, although it still kind of stings.
Instead, this is about the realities of the modern NBA. We have moved past the era of dynasties to the parity era where everyone has a chance to get a ring. After decades of the Larry O’Brien Trophy being passed around amongst a select group of teams and superstars, things are wide open.
This brings us back to a bet on the Denver Nuggets to win back-to-back championships. It just doesn’t make a lot of sense. Firstly, it’s not a lucrative wager at +450 as they are co-favorites with the Boston Celtics at this juncture. The risk simply isn’t worth the reward unless you are a fan.
Speaking of risk, Denver has taken on plenty by looking to run it back with much of the same roster in 2023-24. With limited tools at their disposal to upgrade, the franchise seems content with continuity. That may have worked in the 2010s, but parity means it is not an avenue to present-day success.
Look no further than the Milwaukee Bucks, who tried to chart the same course in the aftermath of their championship. They have been a really good basketball team since winning it all. But a combination of injuries and disjointed play in the playoffs prevented them from sniffing a title since.
At the moment, reaching the NBA Finals has less to do with any discernible talents or skills and is correlated closer to luck more than anything else. The Nuggets were healthy throughout the postseason and got to play three play-in sides. It is hard to predict that happening to any side.
This is not to discredit Denver or what they accomplished. However, it makes no sense to bet on them to win back-to-back championships at +450. The payoff is too low and the parity in the NBA is too great.
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