Potentially on the way to his third potential Most Valuable Player award, Denver Nuggets superstar Nikola Jokic has been posting 24.7 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 9.9 assists this campaign. Getting his third straight MVP award will allow Jokic to join the elite company of Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, and Larry Bird as the only players to get the prestigious record.

A near triple-double average for the Joker will work wonders for the Serbia international, as he will be the first center to average a triple-double in an NBA season. Jokic will be joining the likes of Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook to average double-digit points, assists, and rebounds.

Now, the Nuggets have a 48-24 regular season record with 10 games to go. This puts them in first place in the Northwest Division and in the Western Conference. With that said, let’s take a look at three reasons why the Nuggets can successfully secure the title in the 2023 NBA Finals.

Here are the NBA Finals odds, courtesy of FanDuel

NBA Finals: Denver Nuggets Odds

Outright Betting Odds: +750

NBA Finalists 2022-2023

Versus Milwaukee Bucks: +800

Versus Boston Celtics: +950

Versus Philadelphia 76ers: +2800

*Watch NBA games LIVE with fuboTV (click for a free trial)*

3 reasons the Nuggets will win the 2023 NBA Finals

1. Defense pays off

For a high-quality team like the Nuggets, it's expected that they should put the effort into defense if they want to contend for the championship. Denver had some struggles defensively in the first months of the season but they're now starting to figure it out. The Nuggets are averaging 42.8 rebounds, as well as 4.4 blocks, 7.2 steals, and 19.7 personal fouls drawn.

The Comeback Kids from Colorado are posting a 113.8 defensive rating and a +3.8 net rating, which are good metrics for such an offensive-heavy team. The Nuggets are also tallying 32.9 defensive rebounds and a 73.2 defensive rebounding percentage. Denver is also allowing the 10th-lowest second chance points at 13.2.

On paper, the Nuggets have defensive stalwarts in the likes of Aaron Gordon, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Bruce Brown, Jeff Green, Zeke Nnaji, and DeAndre Jordan. Aside from their defensive performances, the team is also making outstanding defensive adjustments.

In clutch time, defined as a game within five points over the final five minutes of the game, the Nuggets own the No. 2 rated defense in the NBA. Their defensive rating of 94.7 is slightly outlasted by Philadelphia’s (93.6) and makes Denver a nightmare in close games considering their offensive rating during clutch moments ranks No. 5 in the league. The Nuggets would need to apply their clutch pressure through the whole 48 minutes.

2. Ball movement masterclass

With the likes of Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, and Reggie Jackson in the mix, it's no surprise that the Nuggets build their playstyle on incredible ball movement.

The Nuggets' 29.3 assists rank second in the league, slightly edged out by Golden State's 29.5 assist average. Good passes are nothing if they cannot be converted into buckets, but the Colorado Kids have been careful in selecting their shots and making their buckets. That's why it's no surprise that Denver's floor-spacing and fast-paced playstyle puts the team into first place in field-goal percentage (50.9%) and second in three-point shooting rate (38.8%).

This has resulted in the Nuggets having the seventh-best offensive rating in the league, averaging 116.6 points per game. They have six players averaging double-digit points, while seven of their bench players put up more than four points per ball game.

3. Serbian Sensation = MVP

It's rare to find a player like Nikola Jokic who has a similar playstyle. The Serbian has been dubbed as a point-center, initiating the offense on half-court set pieces. Despite his slow and steady pace similar to that of Luka Doncic, Jokic is still capable of pulling 15-second or less offensive tactics that result in efficient points.

The Joker is averaging a 25-12-10 stat line this season on 63-39-82 shooting clips. Jokic is also averaging 1.2 steals and 0.7 blocks per game. He has been careful on some aspects of the game as well, committing just 3.5 turnovers and 2.6 personal fouls while hoisting a +9.5 plus-minus per game. Jokic's outstanding season is further bolstered by the 53 double-doubles and 28 triple-doubles he has made so far, and he can add to this number with 10 games left in the regular season.

Jokic's best game this season was a 40-point, 27-rebound, and 10-assist game against the Charlotte Hornets. He has five 40-point games this season and 19 30-point matches. These numbers show how he has been a main threat on the offense and the main focus on the defense. Aside from his offensive prowess, the Joker has huge stamina and is able to outlast until overtime games with little foul trouble. Jokic's height and long wingspan also make him an intimidating low-post pest, and his great court vision allows him also to make deflections, steals, and strips. With Jokic leading the way, anything is possible for the Nuggets.