SR – NBA Bubble Breakdowns: #7 Denver Nuggets
FeaturedComing in at #7 on our Sneakerreporter Bubble Breakdown is the 3rd seed in the Western Conference, the Denver Nuggets. For a team that has had so much success this year, it is odd how little hype the steam is getting heading into the Orlando re-start…or is it? For much of the NBA’s hiatus, the Nuggets roster has been in question heading into the return to action. The Nuggets All-Star forward was among the many players that tested positive for the Carona Virus Antibodies. Jokic underwent all of the correct procedures to rejoin his team in Orlando such as self-questioning on multiple occasions and eventually testing Negative for the COVID -19 Virus before entering the Bubble. Jokic is with the team and has been participating in practices and scrimmages up to this point so it would make sense to assume he will be in the starting lineup when play resumes in less than a week.
The real question with this team’s roster heading into the bubble surprisingly wasn’t the news about Jokic but surprisingly there were 3 others that didn’t make the trip when the team was supposed to arrive in Orlando. Gary Harris, Torrey Craig, and Michael Porter Jr. all did not make the trip down with the Nuggets to Florida. The Nuggets have not yet specified what led to the decisions of these players to sit out. Hopefully, for the Nuggets as the regular season games resume they can get at least Gary Harris and Torrey Craig back in action. If not they will be losing two staples to their team identity both offensively and defensively. Without these guys, the team will begin relying heavily on P.J. Dozier. Dozier signed during the transaction window and has been involved with the team extensively in-and-out of the G-League. They will also look to rookie phenom Bol Bol who was supposed to be out this whole year but with this break is now eligible to join the Orlando roster for the Nuggets. As exciting as it must be for the Nuggets to have Bol Bol in their lineup the worry with this current roster suggests that they are not going to be the same team. If this team seemed to be the same squad with the same mindset they have had this season they would have a lot more hype around them but with a depleted roster and accelerated schedule it’s hard to believe this team will get back to the prime form.
“I always have something to prove each time I step on the court. I’m going on year seven undrafted, so I’m always overlooked.”#MileHighBasketball https://t.co/Qmh31obnUW
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) July 21, 2020
The only chance I see from the Nuggets is if some of the key guys that they have active on this roster step up in a big way. Nikola Jokic has been one of the most consistent player in the NBA this season averaging a killer 22 points 10 rebounds and 7 assists. His play has never been in question for this Nuggets team heading into the re start even after contracting the virus. The players on this team who I think have the most pressure heading into the restart will be Jamal Murray. Murray has had quite the regualr season this year himself averaging 20 points 5 assists and 4 rebounds per game but is really going to have to increase his numbers if he hopes to help this team win a playoff series. The 5 year 170 million dollar man, is going to have to prove his worth for the Nuggets in these playoffs. He’ll have to be capable of averaging big scoring numbers in the first round of the playoff if this team is going to progress.
Denver’s Season In Review (43-22, 3rd in West)
For much of this year, Denver has prided themself on being one of the deepest and more athletic teams in the league. This was a great transition basketball team able to put pressure on the rim with the rim running ability of Jokic to occupy the basket, strong three-point shooters to fill the wings and dynamic ball handlers to attack the basket. While they will still be able to attack in this way it is doubtful they will be able to do it as efficiently as before. The Nuggets ranked just ninth in Offensive Rating on the season, and though they progressed in the right direction for most of the season, the team dropped down to 13th in Offensive Rating post-All-Star break. The Nuggets ranked 15th in 3-point percentage this year which was pretty average for a roster with so many capable good shooters. They also ranked 14th in free throw percentages which are an area they will need to improve if they dont want to be one of the worst free throw shooting teams in the playoffs.
via @NBABlackburn
Denver has scored a lot this year in transition and in spot-up situations because of Jokic’s playmaking ability from all levels. He can pass out of the post, create really dribble handoff mismatches, and find guys from his favorite spots in the mid-post. Head Coach Mike Malones offensive has tremendous movement and deception when Jokic has the ball that makes them hard to guard. For the Nuggets to maintain this same level of efficiency or improve they will have to find players who can help by scoring in the ways that they have alredy establiushed make them effective.
"Fans or no fans our players are going to be ready to play, and I look forward to that.”#MileHighBasketball https://t.co/4gfCURoBbd
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) July 19, 2020
Looking into the Bubble:
The Nuggets won’t just be looking to star Jamal Murry to help carry the load for this team come playoffs but also to key guys like Jeremi Grant, Mason Plumlee, Troy Daniels, Paul Milsap, and Noah Vonleh to name a few. The Frontcourt will have to step up big time especially defensively if they hope to compete with the likes of Anthony Davis or Montrez Harrell at the top of the conference. The Nuggets also have the 3rd most difficult schedule heading into Orlando so they will need some real defensive firepower if they plan to at least hold on to the 3 seed in the west as the Jazz are only 2 games behind them.
Strength of schedule for the NBA restart: pic.twitter.com/uha6fDWNF4
— Jacob Goldstein (@JacobEGoldstein) June 26, 2020
The Nuggets are going to have a very tough task in Orlando only playing against two teams that might now make the playoffs. While the Nuggets do have the talent and the ability to make a playoff run its hard to find proof that they will execute with the way their roster looks right now. They simply are just not proven yet and i worry about them in this controlled setting in Orlando. They have competed well against the top of the west this year and I expect them to remain competitive but until one player or a few players can emerge as it factor for this team it’s likely they may have a simmilar playoff result as last year.
Here is the Denver Nuggets schedule for their eight seeding games in Orlando:
8/1 vs MIA @ 1pm ET
8/3 vs OKC @ 4pm ET
8/5 vs SAS @ 4pm ET
8/6 vs POR @ 8pm ET
8/8 vs UTA @ 3:30pm ET
8/10 vs LAL @ 9pm ET
8/12 vs LAC @ 9pm ET
8/14 vs TOR @ TBD— T.J. McBride (@TJMcBrideNBA) June 26, 2020
We've got the cure for those Monday blues…#MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/5q7EYi44Od
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) July 20, 2020