2022 Orlando Magic Playoff Lessons: Denver Nuggets’ depth was stretched to breaking point

In the course of the MVP debate between Nikola Jokic and Joel Embiid, an vital level about each gamers received misplaced — however most particularly about Jokic and sure why he ended up profitable the talk and the MVP trophy.

Jokic was doing rather a lot on his personal. Like rather a lot.

The Denver Nuggets knew they’d be short-handed this season. Jamal Murray was nonetheless nursing a torn ACL and whereas there have been some hopes he might return by the tip of the season, that was at all times going to be a hope.

Then Michael Porter Jr. received damage, taking part in solely 9 video games this season earlier than a again harm ended his season.

That left Aaron Gordon, freshly signed to a brand new extension, because the workforce’s second-leading scorer. He not was taking part in the fourth-guy, defender/slasher function that gave him a variety of success when he arrived in Denver. As a substitute, Gordon was again to taking part in the way in which the Orlando Magic requested him to.

The Nuggets have been already being stretched skinny. Asking them to be deep within the face of all it is a tall order. Few groups would have the ability to survive that sort of hardship — even actually good ones just like the Nuggets.

Nikola Jokic turned in an MVP season carrying the Denver Nuggets to the postseason. However the Nuggets had a depth downside all season, an vital reminder for the Orlando Magic as they construct.

However all that burden to hold the Nuggets fell on Jokic. And he gained the MVP as a result of he thrived within the scenario.

Jokic averaged an unbelievable 27.1 factors per recreation, 13.8 rebounds per recreation and seven.9 assists per recreation. He has helped redefine the middle place because the pivot for a complete offense and a daily triple-double risk.

His run by way of the league this yr was unbelievable. There isn’t any getting round or denying that.

It will get extra wonderful if you take a look at his on/off splits.

The Nuggets have been +8.4 factors per 100 possessions (117.3/108.9 offensive/defensive score cut up) with Jokic on the ground. They have been a team-worst -7.9 factors per 100 possessions (105.0/113.0 offensive/defensive score cut up) with Jokic off the ground.

When the Magic beat the Nuggets on Dec. 1, the Nuggets have been +2 with Jokic on the ground. No one else on the workforce had a optimistic plus/minus for that recreation. Within the first half, when the Nuggets constructed a 16-point halftime lead, the Nuggets have been +17 with Jokic on the ground. Each starter in that first half was not less than +10. Each bench participant was beneath +5.

That’s an unbelievable swing and it’s a testomony to simply how good Jokic was that Denver nonetheless had a optimistic web score and completed sixth within the Western Convention even with that massive of a cut up. This was one of many key arguments in Jokic profitable MVP.

This was a daily prevalence for the Nuggets all through the season. That storyline of the Nuggets discovering nothing when Jokic was out was the story of the season for the workforce. It is a matter they know will get resolved as they get more healthy.

And that well being is definitely coming. They only wanted to outlive this season. Making the Playoffs as a 6-seed was actually survival and one thing of a hit, even when it wastes an MVP season from Jokic.

That survival was not less than partially too as a result of they did discover some depth, as stretched skinny because it was.

Gordon had his moments. So too did Monte Morris. Bones Hyland was a incredible late-first-round discover, a mandatory addition for a playoff workforce earlier than they get capped out.

However within the playoffs, Denver’s scoring shortly dried up — solely 5 gamers scored in double figures with Nikola Jokic main the way in which at 31.0 factors per recreation.

Certainly, the Golden State Warriors dominated the Denver Nuggets all collection, squeezing the workforce when Jokic didn’t have the ball. It was a grasp class in choosing aside a clearly flawed workforce.

That’s at all times what occurs within the playoffs. A workforce’s flaws are uncovered. And so they both work out the way to cowl them, overcome them with some particular person’s brilliance or get killed by them.

The Nuggets ultimately received killed by their lack of depth. Whereas returning gamers will assist rebuild a few of that depth. They can not depend on Will Barton, DeMarcus Cousins and Jeff Inexperienced endlessly.

Finally, this lack of depth can rip a workforce aside. The “others” matter.

That’s, in fact, a priority for a workforce that’s already close to completion. Determining the way to add depth to a roster with a longtime core — bear in mind: the Denver Nuggets have been lacking two very core gamers — is a problem. Particularly as the value tag for mentioned gamers goes up.

The Magic seemingly have the alternative downside as they rebuild proper now.

They don’t have their star or core set and have an abundance of depth. Virtually an excessive amount of, not less than amongst younger gamers the workforce is making an attempt to develop. The Magic appear to be at a stage the place they should begin consolidating some gamers to make their roster make sense.

But when their younger gamers develop, that depth generally is a energy.

Having a participant like Cole Anthony who cannot solely step in and be a full-time starter but in addition be a sparkplug off the bench may have worth. Utilizing Jonathan Isaac possible off the bench to start out when he works his means again as a defensive terror for brief bursts goes to make this workforce higher. There are nonetheless good possibilities R.J. Hampton begins to decelerate and continues his 3-point enchancment.

Orlando has a variety of gamers the workforce believes in and desires to develop. Few of them are assured to be something and discovering taking part in time for all of them will stay a problem for this rising workforce. Rigorously deciding on gamers to affix this workforce and preserving it balanced between its beginning group and its reserves will probably be a key to its success and its constructing.

The groups which can be nonetheless taking part in within the convention finals might not be essentially the most balanced groups. Each workforce deep within the playoffs lean on their stars. However the place they’ve discovered success and the Nuggets failed is how they’ve discovered gamers to step as much as the plate.

The Celtics have had Al Horford and Grant Williams step up in massive video games. The Golden State Warriors wrung out massive video games from Andrew Wiggins and moments from gamers deep on their bench like Moses Moody to win key video games.

The Miami Warmth are a veritable treasure trove of discovered cash in guys like Max Strus, Gabe Vincent and Victor Oladipo. The Dallas Mavericks acquired Davis Bertans and Maxi Kleber and Dorian Finney-Smith to unfold the ground.

All these groups wanted their depth at one level or one other to advance. It’s nonetheless an important piece of the puzzle. As vital as the highest of the roster in some ways.

The Magic are engaged on that prime of the roster first. That’s at all times the place a rebuild begins. That’s nonetheless a very powerful factor.

However because the workforce builds and begins contemplating the way to consolidate and mix their roster, they’ll nonetheless want to take care of depth and reserves to cowl for accidents and supply key help.

It’s clear how a lot it could assist even an MVP candidate.