The Nuggets have won their first two games to open the season, albeit through an unexpected course of events. The anticipated season debut of Nikola Jokic was cut short very early as the Blazers drew two quick fouls from him on the defensive end then leading to an offensive foul. With three fouls in four minutes, the Nuggets were forced to play a majority of the game without Jokic. The Nuggets survived this game on their bench for the most part. They shot an incredible 56.3% from three.
It kept them afloat until Jokic entered the game again in the early 4th quarter. In 24 minutes, Jokic put up 20 points, 13 rebounds, along with two assists for a team-best +14 on the day. The Nuggets so far: Things to Note.
Against the Suns, the expectation was for Jokic to run over the Ayton-less Suns, but the game went into overtime as the Nuggets won by a single point. Though in light of the win over the Clippers, a close win against the Suns appears more impressive. Offensively, the shot success in the Portland game regressed immediately in this game. A stark contrast from the previously high success rate, the team field goal percentage finished at 39.1% and 25.9% from beyond the arc. Regardless, the defense held up incredibly well, with Gary Harris outperforming Patrick Beverley in their respective matchups defending Devin Booker. Gary Harris held Booker to 6/21, and 1/8 from three. Torrey Craig’s four total blocks, including the game-saving block, further illustrates his value on defense.
The Bad:
Between the two games, there’s a fair share of concerns and bright spots. The foul issues with Jokic are the first and most glaring. He committed four a-piece in both games but fortunately didn’t rack them up so quickly in the Suns game. He’s had these issues in the past, but moving forward, it’s not something that the Nuggets can afford to be a consistent issue. Even this summer, Jokic had temperament issues with FIBA referees. He’ll need to reign it in in big games where Denver needs him more.
The shooting for the Nuggets was excellent in the first game, but banking on this is clearly unsustainable. The second game, it was just poor overall. Shooting stats through two games is futile though, and it’s reasonable to expect a correction.
Despite winning, the Nuggets have not been able to synchronize their offense and defense. They’ve been able to assemble at least on side of the floor, but not both. As a team stating that the outlook this season is not for 82 games, but 110, they’ll need to piece both sides together.
The Good:
Even with foul trouble, Jokic has looked brilliant. His return in the first game swayed the whole game back to Denver. His playmaking against the Suns boosted the offense significantly. He collected 12 assists on a day of poor shooting for the rest of the team. Without Jokic, scoring would have been a major chore. His three-point shooting has been encouraging, hitting 3 of 7, including two consecutive in high leverage situations for Denver against Portland. According to NBA Math*, he actually leads the team in both defensive points saved and offensive points added. So far, despite some miscues, the stable star of Denver is continuing to find success.
*(https://nbamath.com/2019-20-nba-tpa/)
Despite not being able to both have a strong offense and defense at the same time, the Nuggets have won both games. When Jokic went out for a good chunk of the Portland game, the Nuggets were able to find a way to adapt and stay in the game. Even with the shots not falling in the game against Phoenix, the defense was able to hold up and win. The Nuggets have shown an ability to adapt and win even amidst struggles. This is important moving forward, but it’s also exciting for Denver. Once everything clicks, they’ll be virtually impossible to defend, and their defensive potential will make them difficult to score on.
Overall:
The outlook for Denver is bright for sure, but they’ll need to be able to eliminate the shortcomings. The huge addition in Jerami Grant seems to be paying its dividends. He’s performed well defensively and had offensive flashes. He’s hit open three’s and used his athleticism to get above the rim frequently. Even with some of the returning rotation players struggling, namely Monte Morris, depth is still a strength for them. The Nuggets should be considered a top tier regular-season team.
