The Denver Nuggets have faced an inconsistent start to the NBA season, raising concerns about their performance despite having superstar Nikola Jokic leading the charge. A recent report identifies a critical issue with their second unit, highlighting the need for improvements to ensure the team’s success moving forward.
As the 2024-25 NBA season progresses, Denver is facing challenges that test their championship mettle. Despite starting with high expectations, the team has struggled to find its rhythm, currently holding a record that falls short of their aspirations. With reigning MVP Nikola Jokic leading the charge, the Nuggets aim to regain their form and solidify their playoff position.
One of the prominent issues for Denver has been the inconsistency in their overall performance. While Jokić continues to showcase his exceptional skills, other key players have yet to find their footing. Jamal Murray, in particular, has faced difficulties in maintaining the level of play expected from him, leading to concerns about the team’s offensive cohesion. This inconsistency has been evident in close games, where the team have often faltered in crunch time.
In addition to their offensive struggles, Denver’s defense has not met the standards set in previous seasons. Currently, they rank lower in defensive efficiency, which has allowed opponents to exploit mismatches. Coach Michael Malone is aware of these shortcomings and is focusing on tightening their defensive strategies to ensure they can compete against the league’s top teams.
Despite these challenges, there is still hope for the Nuggets. The return of key role players from injury could reinvigorate the squad, providing much-needed depth. Denver’s ability to adapt and improve in the coming weeks will be crucial as they navigate a competitive Western Conference.
NBA Analysis Highlights Bench Unit as Denver Nuggets’ Most Obvious Problem
While Jokic has been stellar on the court, Denver’s bench unit needs some improving to do. This is explained more in Zach Buckley’s analysis for Bleacher Report.
What hurts is this was largely Denver’s own doing. When the Nuggets let Bruce Brown and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope walk in consecutive offseasons, they lost established contributors and had only unproven young players to replace them. While Braun has handled his promotion with aplomb, the rotation still has a void behind him. Peyton Watson is doing everything defensively, but he’s also shooting 40.8 percent from the field. Julian Strawther is essentially the opposite, a shot-maker getting cooked defensively (fifth percentile of estimated defensive plus-minus). The less said about Russell Westbrook or the backup bigs, the better.
Denver’s trade options are limited, so the plan likely largely hinges around patience and player development. Still, the Nuggets should consider shopping at some point, at least for a backup big, if not a Westbrook replacement. Patience only lasts so long when an all-galaxy talent like Jokić is at his peak.
The Nuggets have shown promise this season, largely thanks to Nikola Jokić’s outstanding performance. However, their bench struggles remain a significant concern, ranking last in net efficiency. With the departures of Bruce Brown and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the Nuggets have relied on untested young players, leading to inconsistent contributions.
To maximize their championship potential, Denver needs to bolster their second unit, potentially through trades for a reliable backup big or a playmaker. Addressing these depth issues will be crucial as they seek to support Jokić and sustain their success.
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