It takes a full and balanced team to win an NBA championship. When facing the strongest basketball teams in the world, any flaw will be exploited. That is why you hardly see teams with major weaknesses on one side of the ball make deep playoff runs.
Since 2000, 19 of 26 NBA champions have ranked in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive rating. In that same span, 24 of 26 champions ranked top 5 on at least one side of the ball. True contenders must be well-rounded, while also being elite somewhere.
This is the third article in a four-part series. In part one, I established which teams I thought should be considered contenders. In part two, I examined which of those teams had a true number-one option leading them. This article will assess which contenders are balanced enough to take seriously.
Which of Our Contenders Are Elite, Yet Balanced?
This season, every one of our five contenders — Denver Nuggets, Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Detroit Pistons — meets part of that criteria. Denver, Boston, and San Antonio rank top 5 in offensive rating. Oklahoma City, Detroit, San Antonio, and Boston rank top 5 in defensive rating. That means all five teams are elite enough on at least one end to have a realistic shot at a championship.
However, Denver runs into serious issues on defense. The Nuggets currently rank around 21st in defensive rating. Injuries have played a role in that poor showing, but even a fully healthy version of this roster is unlikely to project as a top-tier defense. That puts enormous pressure on their offense to carry them through four grueling playoff series.
Denver sits first in offensive rating this season, boasting one of the most potent attacks in the league. If any team were going to rely almost solely on offense to win this year’s championship, it would be the Nuggets.
They used that exact formula successfully in 2023, when their 5th-ranked offense overcame a middling (15th-ranked) defense to claim the title. They have proven they can overcome a lackluster defense before — but it is asking a lot to do it again in today’s ultra-competitive landscape.
The other four teams all rank inside the top 10 on both sides of the ball, giving them the two-way balance that history shows is crucial for sustained playoff success.
Who Passes the Second Test?
Oklahoma City, Detroit, San Antonio, and Boston all pass comfortably. These teams combine elite production on one end with solid-to-excellent play on the other, making them well-equipped for the physical and tactical demands of the postseason.
The only team that faces real questions about their balance is Denver.
It is possible that a fully healthy Nuggets squad could tighten up enough defensively to make another title run. Yet this core does not have a strong reputation for excelling on that side of the ball. They won the 2023 title with roughly league-average defense, but replicating that feat would be extremely difficult — especially against modern contenders built for switch-heavy schemes and relentless perimeter pressure.
In short, Denver’s offense is a joy to watch and remains championship-caliber. But their persistent defensive shortcomings represent a fatal flaw that could derail their hopes when the games matter most. As the playoffs approach, the Nuggets must find answers on defense — or risk watching their title window close because of one glaring weakness.
The other four contenders enter the stretch run looking far more complete. For Denver, the disaster scenario is clear: an explosive offense that simply cannot stop opponents when it counts.
History favors the balanced teams. Right now, the Nuggets are gambling that their historic offense can overcome a defense that keeps letting them down.