Last season the Denver Nuggets were plagued by injury and bad luck that left the team spiraling down the Western Conference with 21 fewer wins than their franchise-best 57-25 record from the year before. Heading into the 2014-15 campaign the organization is excited to find out just how good its core can be under second-year coach Brian Shaw if its roster can stay healthy throughout the grind of an 82-game season.

The Nuggets have talent, a young coach with promise and a couple of potential all-stars in Kenneth Faried and Ty Lawson. The squad may not have legitimate championship aspirations, but it has more than enough talent to be a player in the Western Conference and one of those teams that everyone wants to avoid in a potential first-round playoff matchup. Let's take a closer look at Denver's 2014 futures odds with predictions and analysis. All odds come from Sportsbook.ag.

2014 Denver Nuggets Additions and Departures

Key Additions: Arron Afflalo, Gary Harris (draft pick)

Key Departures: Aaron Brooks

Denver will look like a completely different team from last season's squad without really making many moves during the offseason. The Nuggets added Arron Afflalo and Gary Harris over the summer through free agency and the draft, but many of their new additions will be players returning from injury. Danilo Gallinari, JaVale McGee, Nate Robinson and JJ Hickson-all key contributors-returned to the team fully healthy after each suffered a season-ending injury last year.

Denver did lose Aaron Brooks during the offseason, but Afflalo should be more than enough to make up for his production in the backcourt. Denver, when healthy, is a fast-paced offensive team that can score points with any squad in the NBA. Coach Shaw's struggle will be to get the team to commit to playing defense and pounding the ball in the middle.

2014 Denver Nuggets Futures Odds

NBA Title Odds: +10000

Western Conference Odds: +5000

Division Odds: +2000

Win Totals: O/U 41.5

Denver has the potential to be an excellent team, its major problem is the fact that it plays in a brutal Western Conference where 48 wins usually isn't good enough to get into the playoffs. The best futures wager on the board is the squad's win total, which is set at 41.5 games. Denver's lineup will be rejuvenated with multiple players returning from injury and has the potential to be an eight seed in the conference.

The Nuggets strength continues to be on offense, and during a long regular season being able to score points usually translates into success. Most teams do not have the energy to play shutdown defense on a nightly basis. Last season Denver averaged 104.4 points per game, which was ninth in the entire NBA, even with most of its main offensive weapons out of the lineup.

2014 Denver Nuggets Predictions and Futures Odds Picks

Record: 44-38

Playoffs: First-round exit

Division: Third

Denver's futures do not have much value for bettors looking to make a profit on the season. The team will certainly be exciting and a threat to cover a spread or pull off an upset on any given night, but don't count on it to go further than the first round of the playoffs. Denver may be one of those squads that begin secretly covering spreads and staying under the gambling radar.

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