The NBA released individual team schedules the other day, which brings temporary relief from some of the slowest days of summer as we wait for the season to begin. Much of the offseason is spent speculating and guessing what the outcome of the future will be, but now that we are nearing the actual season a lot of these predictions will begin to have more merit.
One item commonly discussed these days is a team’s overall record, and the Nuggets are no exception. ESPN projected Denver to win only 34 games this season, just one better than last year’s campaign, and the Las Vegas over/under for Nuggets wins in 2016 is a paltry 26.5.
But now that the schedule is actually released we can at least look at the games and use that as an indicator, as small as it may be, to predict how this season will turn out. So what will the Nuggets record be at the end of next season, and which games will they win? Take a look at my loose predictions below:
October
| Date | Opponent | Home/Away | Prediction |
| 26 | New Orleans | Away | W |
| 29 | Portland | Home | W |
| 31 | Toronto | Away | L |
The Nuggets start out strong with wins against New Orleans and Portland, but fall to Toronto at the start of a pretty tough road trip right at the beginning of the season.
October Record: 2-1
Overall Record: 2-1
November
| Date | Opponent | Home/Away | Prediction |
| 3 | Minnesota | Away | L |
| 5 | Detroit | Away | W |
| 6 | Boston | Away | L |
| 8 | Memphis | Away | L |
| 10 | Golden State | Home | L |
| 12 | Detroit | Home | W |
| 13 | Portland | Away | L |
| 16 | Phoenix | Home | W |
| 18 | Toronto | Home | L |
| 20 | Utah | Home | L |
| 22 | Chicago | Home | L |
| 23 | Utah | Away | W |
| 25 | Oklahoma City | Home | L |
| 27 | Phoenix | Away | W |
| 30 | Miami | Home | W |
Denver falls flat on the opening road trip, notching just one win in five games. The young team struggles to connect on the court through the first month, showing glimpses of promise but not much is reflected in the win column.
November record: 6-9
Overall record: 8-10
December
| Date | Opponent | Home/Away | Prediction |
| 2 | Houston | Home | W |
| 3 | Utah | Away | L |
| 5 | Philadelphia | Away | W |
| 7 | Brooklyn | Away | W |
| 8 | Washington | Away | L |
| 10 | Orlando | Away | W |
| 12 | Dallas | Away | W |
| 15 | Portland | Home | L |
| 17 | New York | Home | W |
| 19 | Dallas | Home | W |
| 20 | LA Clippers | Away | L |
| 23 | Atlanta | Home | W |
| 26 | LA Clippers | Away | L |
| 28 | Minnesota | Home | L |
| 30 | Philadelphia | Home | W |
Things improve as winter rolls in. The Nuggets manage to climb above .500 for a small portion of the month following a strong road trip at the beginning of the month.
December record: 8-7
Overall record: 16-17
January
| Date | Opponent | Home/Away | Prediction |
| 2 | Golden State | Away | L |
| 3 | Sacramento | Home | W |
| 5 | San Antonio | Home | W |
| 7 | Oklahoma City | Away | L |
| 12 | Indiana | London | W |
| 16 | Orlando | Home | L |
| 17 | LA Lakers | Away | L |
| 19 | San Antonio | Away | L |
| 21 | LA Clippers | Home | L |
| 22 | Minnesota | Away | W |
| 24 | Utah | Home | L |
| 26 | Phoenix | Home | L |
| 28 | Phoenix | Away | W |
| 31 | LA Lakers | Away | W |
The Nuggets hold down home court during the first half of the month, including a special win across the pond in London. Unfortunately, the second half of the month is all against Western Conference opponents where Denver struggles and puts up a 3-6 record..
January record: 6-8
Overall record: 22-25
February
| Date | Opponent | Home/Away | Prediction |
| 1 | Memphis | Home | L |
| 3 | Milwaukee | Home | W |
| 4 | San Antonio | Away | L |
| 6 | Dallas | Home | W |
| 8 | Atlanta | Away | L |
| 10 | New York | Away | W |
| 11 | Cleveland | Away | L |
| 13 | Golden State | Home | L |
| 15 | Minnesota | Home | L |
| 23 | Sacramento | Away | W |
| 24 | Brooklyn | Home | W |
| 26 | Memphis | Home | W |
| 28 | Chicago | Away | L |
Heading into the All-Star break, Denver sits at 25-31 and well outside the playoff reach. The second half schedule, however, presents plenty of opportunity to play catch up, and the Nuggets come out of the gate looking to do so.
February record: 6-7
Overall record: 28-32
March
| Date | Opponent | Home/Away | Prediction |
| 1 | Milwaukee | Away | L |
| 4 | Charlotte | Home | W |
| 6 | Sacramento | Home | L |
| 8 | Washington | Home | W |
| 10 | Boston | Home | L |
| 11 | Sacramento | Away | W |
| 13 | LA Lakers | Home | W |
| 16 | LA Clippers | Home | L |
| 18 | Houston | Home | W |
| 20 | Houston | Away | L |
| 22 | Cleveland | Home | L |
| 24 | Indiana | Away | W |
| 26 | New Orleans | Home | W |
| 28 | Portland | Away | L |
| 31 | Charlotte | Away | L |
The Nuggets continue a strong second half of the season but can't sustain momentum to go on extended winning streaks. Playoff hopes start dwindling, but the individual development of a lot of the players continues to impress.
March record: 7-8
Overall record: 35-40
April
| Date | Opponent | Home/Away | Prediction |
| 2 | Miami | Away | W |
| 4 | New Orleans | Away | L |
| 5 | Houston | Away | W |
| 7 | New Orleans | Home | W |
| 9 | Oklahoma City | Home | L |
| 11 | Dallas | Away | W |
| 12 | Oklahoma City | Away | W |
April will be a hot month for the Nuggets as they finish the season strong with some big wins over other potential playoff teams. If the Nuggets are still in contention by then, these games will certainly be must-win.
April record: 5-2
Overall record: 40-42
Home record: 22-19
Away record: 18-23
Conclusion
One thing I'd like to note is Denver's away record. Last season the Nuggets were 15-26 on the road, which needs serious improvement if they are going to talk about being in the playoffs. At best I think Denver will be creeping in and if they did qualify for the postseason it wouldn't be until the bitter end, which brings me to this: seven of the last nine games Denver plays are on the road, and all of those will be crucial if the Nuggets are on the fringe. Let's seriously hope their play away from Pepsi Center improves.
I also don't think 40-42 is necessarily a bad record for Denver as long as the team shows improvement and and keeps heading up the right path. 40 wins is very solid for this roster and a very obtainable goal. Of course, I hope that things will click and everyone will stay healthy because if so there is a chance that the Nuggets could slide into the playoffs. Ultimately, though, I think they will fall just short and sit at the nine or ten seed at season's end.
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