Can coach Michael Malone turn around the Denver Nuggets’ fortunes in the 2015-16 season?
In The Denver Post’s video-game simulation of the upcoming NBA season, we tested out how the Nuggets would fare in both 2K Sports’ NBA 2K16 and Electronic Arts’ NBA Live 16.
Would Denver climb back into the Western Conference playoff picture or would it miss the postseason for the third consecutive year? Here’s a look:
WATCH:
NBA 2K16
2K Sports wasn’t incredibly kind to Denver in terms of ratings. Kenneth Faried (79 on a scale of 99) was the highest-rated player on the roster, followed by Wilson Chandler (77), Danilo Gallinari (76), Emmanuel Mudiay (75) and Jusuf Nurkic (74).
The Nuggets had a rough start to the year, compiling just a 12-21 record by New Year’s.
Denver didn’t fare any better in 2016, winning just nine of its final 49 games (that’s a miserable .184 winning percentage) and finishing the season with a record of 23-59. The Nuggets were well short of the playoffs and a suffered a seven-game regression from their previous season.
Mudiay put together a strong year and was named the NBA Rookie of the Year and an NBA All-Rookie first-team selection, averaging 14.0 points, 6.2 rebounds and a team-leading 6.7 assists. Gallinari led the team in points (17.2 ppg) and Faried averaged a double-double (14.5 ppg, 10.4 rpg).
Defending NBA champion and top-seeded Golden State fell in the first round to No. 8 Portland. Cleveland would win the NBA title, beating Houston in four straight.
Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant was named the league MVP. A surprising note: Cleveland’s LeBron James was not named to any of the three All-NBA teams.
NBA Live 16
EA Sports was much kinder to the Nuggets. Gallo was Denver’s best player (81 rating on a 99 scale), followed by Chandler (80), Randy Foye (79) and Faried (78). Mudiay received a 75.
After splitting its first two games in October, this Nuggets squad stormed out to a strong November, winning 11 of 16. A 9-6 December had the team finishing 21-12 to close out 2015 — a nine-game difference from the 2K counterpart.
The New Year was rough for Denver as the Nuggets were 20-29 the rest of the way, finishing 41-41. However, the team held on to claim the eighth-seed in the Western Conference. The young Nuggets squad gave top-seeded San Antonio a run but ultimately fell 4-2 in the first-round series.
Mudiay proved to be a great pickup for the Nuggets, averaging 15.5 points and 7.3 assists for Denver and earning a spot on the NBA All-Rookie first team. He was also a three-time rookie of the month. Gallo had a breakout season for Denver, leading the team with 22.2 points and adding 7.3 rebounds.
The Spurs advanced to the NBA Finals meeting Miami. However San Antonio couldn’t stand the Heat and fell 4-0 as Miami (what?) won its third title in five years.
Other notes
• Both gamemakers are expecting Mudiay to have a big role for the Nuggets.
• There’s no love for Nurkic. As a starter, the second-year center averaged roughly 5.4 points and 9 rebounds in both games.
• Portland’s Damian Lillard was the only player to be selected for both game’s All-NBA first team.
CHEW ON THIS
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• by the Rockies.
• There are expected to contribute as the NBA season kicks off Tuesday night.
• .
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HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Ivan Reitman — director of comedy classics such “Ghostbusters” and “Stripes” and putting Arnold Schwarzenegger in interesting situations in “Twins,” “Kindergarten Cop” and “Junior” — turns 69 today.
Joe Nguyen: jnguyen@denverpost.com or @joenguyen
