Denver Nuggets Film Friday: It’s not enough

Should you’re not aware of Movie Fridays, every Friday, I’ll be taking a look at some current Denver Nuggets’ video games, lineups or one thing else from a movie side to attempt to convey you a chunk of content material that you just’re not getting elsewhere. Be happy to offer any suggestions constructive or detrimental within the feedback or discover me on Twitter.

On an evening the place he had 37 factors, 18 rebounds, 5 assists and three steals whereas taking pictures 14-of-22 from the ground and 2-of-3 from 3-point vary, it grew to become obvious that Nikola Jokic wasn’t sufficient to will this group to victory in opposition to the Golden State Warriors. The group acquired their finest offensive sport but out of Aaron Gordon, who had 18 factors whereas taking pictures 7-of-13 from the ground, however that was the place the excellent news ended for Denver.

Whereas these two had a mixed 55 factors on 21-of-35 taking pictures, which is a 60 % taking pictures proportion, the trio of Jordan Poole, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson had 80 factors on a mixed 28-of-48 from the ground, together with 12-of-27 from 3-point vary. The collection isn’t formally over, however, so far in NBA historical past, no group has ever come again to win a collection after taking place 3-0. Three groups, together with the 1994 Denver Nuggets, have come again to tie the collection, however all of them misplaced the collection in Recreation 7.

Except for the apparent proven fact that Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr.’s offensive contributions are sorely missed on this collection, this Nuggets’ group has been uncovered in every of the final two postseasons for having a few fairly gaping flaws. Whereas these two would clear up a few of these warts, there are different points that have to be addressed this offseason if the group needs to maximise the gifted core of gamers they at present have.

Off-Ball Protection

Is Murray a greater defender than Monte Morris? Sure. Is he an elite defender on the guard place? No. The Nuggets don’t at present have one, and that’s a difficulty, particularly with the variety of gifted guards the league at present possesses. Within the clip above, this isn’t even an on-the-ball scenario. As an alternative, Morris is guarding Thompson off of the ball, and he simply doesn’t have the notice that he ought to in that scenario. All three of the Warriors’ guards will shoot after they get an inch of area, and that must be in your head whenever you’re guarding one in all them. Reasonably than operating to remain tight to Thompson, Morris is trotting behind him and offers him loads of room to catch and get the shot off. His launch is fast, however Morris ought to have been there to disclaim the try within the first place.

Not solely do the Nugget guards battle off of the ball on protection, however the group’s forwards aren’t a ton higher. When allowed to “float” on protection and use his athleticism to his benefit, Gordon is usually a stable piece to a protection. Nonetheless, when he’s anticipated to only eradicate a participant from a sport, that isn’t an space the place he thrives. On the play above, he’s guarding Thompson following the offensive rebound by the Warriors. He and Will Barton are each within the space on the proper wing of the arc. Thompson doesn’t do something spectacular as he simply runs away from each of them and will get the straightforward 3-point shot. Gordon and Barton’s mixed lack of know-how took issues from a one-point sport to a four-point sport in a single lapse of focus.

Bucket Getters

Varied members of the Nuggets’ roster have the flexibility to go and get themselves a bucket from time-to-time. Nonetheless, outdoors of Jokic and Murray, they don’t have the flexibility to go and rating on any given possession. As an alternative, they usually have to be set as much as rating. Denver’s second and third-leading scorers, Gordon and Barton, had been assisted on 80 % and 71.4 % of their baskets within the Recreation 3 loss respectively. Denver’s incapacity to attain with out assist finally ends up hindering them as a result of defenses can put extra consideration on the one or two guys on the ground that may rating on their very own. Jokic and Morris had been the one gamers on the group with at the least 4 made photographs that had scored with out an help at the least 50 % of the time, and Morris solely made 4 photographs.

Wanting on the play above, Gordon is assisted on the play, however I believe he nonetheless deserves credit score for the work that he did to earn himself this basket. He acquired to the block early and gained fast positioning on the smaller defender. As soon as he had carried out that, he was calling for the ball, and he had the straightforward dunk. This group doesn’t have guys which can be going to win a ton of one-on-one battles and rating. So, they should modify to realize matchup benefits reminiscent of this one and do one thing with it.

Typically, you simply want a man that may get you a bucket. Jokic can do this. Murray when he returns can do this. Proper now, there’s nobody else on the roster that you may hand the ball to with confidence to do this on any given possession, particularly on the guard spots. Curry doesn’t do something overly particular on this play, till he will get to the layup. He will get a easy display screen that switches DeMarcus Cousins onto him. As soon as that occurs, he instantly assaults and slices by the protection all the best way to the rim. His group wanted a basket, and he acquired them one with out both of Thompson or Poole on the ground.

Not Sufficient Capturing

The ultimate obtrusive weak point on this roster is the shortage of taking pictures that it possesses. On Golden State, Otto Porter Jr. is the one participant with eight or extra shot makes an attempt that’s not taking pictures 50 % or higher from the sector. The main guard trio are all taking pictures 44 % or higher from 3-point vary. For Denver, Jokic is the one starter that’s taking pictures better than 50 % from the sector. In the meantime, the Warriors are consistently getting contributors off of the bench.

On the play above, Gary Payton II is within the sport. He shot 35.8 % from 3-point vary in the course of the common season. He’s on the ground with Steph, Poole, Porter Jr. and Draymond Inexperienced. Even though he’s not the best shooter, he finally ends up with an excellent have a look at the basket for a few causes. For one, Bryn Forbes overhelps on Porter, and, for 2, as a result of taking pictures prowess of Steph, Denver has to dedicate further consideration to him. That opens up more room for Payton who knocks down the straightforward look. Extra good shooters on the ground means extra room for the lower-end shooters.

This clip is right here only for the picture of the lineup in and of itself. Bones Hyland, JaMychal Inexperienced, Austin Rivers, Forbes and Jokic. Outdoors of Forbes, nobody on this unit shot greater than 36.6 % from 3-point vary this season, and Forbes had kind of fallen fully out of the rotation a month in the past. He’s the lone elite taking pictures risk on the ground, though Bones can get scorching every so often. This group is trotting out a lineup of below-average shooters that additionally play below-average protection in an in depth playoff sport as they attempt to keep away from taking place 3-0. That simply merely can’t be allowed to occur. Though Jokic salvaging the possession with an offensive rebound whereas surrounded by defenders is a fairly correct description for the way this season has gone for Denver.

For these of you which can be nonetheless right here, keep in mind to go away your suggestions within the feedback or over on my Twitter, and have a implausible film-filled Friday.