Preseason NBA Power Rankings 16-30

Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA;

(China) greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number seven overall pick to the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

28. Denver Nuggets
Projected Record: 26-56

Some teams rise, some teams fall. So is the case of our first team in the power rankings who will likely fall this season.

The Nuggets said goodbye to point guard Ty Lawson, while retaining backup Jameer Nelson. Nelson may remain in the backup role, as the Nuggets selected 6’5″ 200 pound point guard (PG) in Emmanuel Mudiay. Mudiay was projected to be a player the Sixers might select, as he was one of the top PGs in the draft.

The Nuggets parting with Lawson may be something to improve the team over time, but will certainly cause them heartache this season.   Coming off a mere 30 wins in 2014/15,  this is one team I could see falling further.  The team did in fact struggle last season, but managed to end strong in a 2-4 finish that could have been 3-3 when they lost in overtime to a very good Dallas Mavericks team.

They won’t finish strongly this year.

Next: Nets