The Denver Nuggets are struggling to show effort consistently in their games. Despite winning five of their last seven games, their effort is a coin flip. In that span, they have good wins and bad losses. The only consistency seems to be that they have played to the level of their opponent. They struggled heavily in games against the New Orleans Pelicans and Portland Trail Blazers while cruising to blowout victories against the Atlanta Hawks, Phoenix Suns, and Los Angeles Clippers. In three days, they won against the Suns by 27 and also lost to them by 10. Their consistency levels are not present enough for a team wanting to win another championship.
Denver Nuggets Struggle to Bring Effort Consistently
Not Taking Bad Teams Seriously
Starting the season 16-12 puts the Nuggets in fifth-place at the moment in a tough Western Conference. In a competitive conference, winning games against bad teams can be crucial for seeding. Home court advantage plays a large role in the playoffs. With over 50 games left to play, early losses can haunt teams. The Nuggets have not taken advantage of beating inferior teams this season. Throughout the season thus far, they have approached games against teams under .500 with lower intensity.
The Nuggets have won by 20 or more points against five teams, four of which are .500 or above on the season. They have losses to the Pelicans, Trail Blazers, and Washington Wizards, who averaged 116.3 points per game in their wins against the Nuggets. The Nuggets are 7-3 against teams below .500, but their losses are glaring, and their wins over bad teams do not come impressively. Outside of their two blowout victories over the Utah Jazz, the Nuggets have a +2.6 point differential across their five other wins. Having a dominant clutch duo is saving the Nuggets against poor teams.
Denver Nuggets Offense Not Always Giving Full Effort
What is most shocking about the Nuggets’ mediocre start to the season is their massive disparity in offensive effort between wins and losses. In wins, the Nuggets average 127.0 points per game, 4.3 points higher than the Memphis Grizzlies, the highest-scoring offense in the NBA. In their losses, the Nuggets only average 108.5 points per game, slightly more than the 25th-best offense in the NBA. Teams play worse in their losses than in their wins, but a 20-point swing in points per game is a significant margin.
Their poor shooting splits highlight their massive swing in points per game. The Nuggets’ efficiency between wins and losses is glaring. Their field goal percentage is 6.5% higher in wins, three-point percentage is 8.3% higher, and free-throw percentage is 3.1% higher. With splits as significant as the Nuggets, it is no surprise they have struggled to pull off a winning streak longer than three games.
Inconsistent Supporting Cast
Nikola Jokić is having a stellar season. He is at the forefront of the early MVP race. His season includes averaging 30.7 points, 12.6 rebounds, 9.4 assists and 1.7 steals per game. He is the only player in the top 10 in all four categories. Despite his ridiculous start, the Nuggets have only won 16 games. With the team needing Jokić to perform at the highest level every night, it shows how poorly their supporting cast has played.
Jamal Murray has shown flashes of greatness, but has been inconsistent and is shooting poorly. There have been trade rumors surrounding Michael Porter Jr. Injuries have kept Aaron Gordon from getting the ball rolling. The biggest positive in the supporting cast has been the infectious energy and effort of former MVP Russell Westbrook, who has revitalized his career.
The Nuggets supporting cast has been unreliable since starting the season. Of the eight Nuggets averaging 20 minutes per game or more, every player outside Jokić averages fewer points per game average in losses than wins. Consistency from role players takes a team from good to great. It can be the difference between a deep playoff run and a championship. For the Nuggets to contend, they need consistent, reliable players beyond Jokić.
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