The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor and Chris Vernon discuss the Nuggets’ defensive issues and whether those issues will prevent them from making a deep playoff run.
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22 Comments
While Nuggets' defense is not elite, meaning they cannot defend at a high level for close to if not all of 48 minutes, to say they have no defenders who can guard and help out Jokic on the weak side is just wrong. KCP, Brown, and AG are the team's main defenders. They do a stellar job of guarding their assignments. Then, there are guys like Christian Braun and Zeke Nnaji who are extremely underrated defenders especially Braun. Braun isn't even getting that many minutes, but imo he's one of the team's best defenders right up there with KCP and AG. Nuggets may not have the best defenders in the league like a Jrue Holiday, Marcus Smart, or even a Jaden McDaniel, Jokic's supporting cast on defense is night and day from the previous 2 years. Also, I find it funny that a lot of video essays with similar titles start popping up from the media, but 5 games ago this isn't even a conversation because Nuggets were winning games and at one point had a Top 10 defensive rating in the league. Not only that, they always had clutch defense when the game is really on the line. Nuggets just needed to clean up their defense effort, communication, and most importantly their bench rotations. Malone has a defensive menace like Braun on his roster, but refuses to play him many minutes. Bench and willingness to play defense are the biggest issue of the team during their 4 games losing streak. Their defense will definitely be tested in the playoffs for sure. But that's the playoffs for you. Most NBA teams have some weaknesses that can be exploited to an extent and it's up to the coaching staff to hide that weakness and counter. That's what playoffs is for and adjustments are made all the time from game to game.
Did anyone watch 'Thinking Basketball's newest video haha.
KCP is the definition of a slithery defender. Also not really sure how Jamal got a rep as a bad defender but he’s not bad at all, he’s about average.
Denver’s defense is ranked 12th or 13th and it’s a huge problem meanwhile the Bucks offense is 20th and this is not a concern?
As a person who believes jokic will win mvp this season , I do agree that stats like ws and bpm are overrated for the simple reason dws and dbpm ruins the value of it, ows and obpm are the stats that aren’t overrated though. I do believe they should update the defense advanced analytics with a stat like dfg% because IMO it’s way more reliable, I know there is more factors like players being intimidated to not take a shot on the defender .example giannis antekounmpo ,but hopefully in the future more valuable defensive stats arise to determine fairness in awards because the 👁️ test is only as reliable as the person is.
My prediction will be Warriors, Lakers, or Kings will represent the West. The Nuggets still crying for the Championship ring.
I can’t wait for the nuggets to shut people up. These Fuckers are not “ JUST WATCH” ing.
Every other video about players are mostly positive. Every video about Jokic are always negative.
Why is this guy fucking in so many peoples heads just eating away at them….😂😂😂😂
Jokic will NEVER win a championship! Most overrated player ever. In the playoffs he will get pick and rolled to death.
One the reasons why these supposed "analysts" are merely talking heads is this: they say that the reason Jokic defense is so lax in the last few games is because DEN has #1 seed locked up, but that's not gonna help him get the MVP Award..
Well, guess what, mensas: JOKIC DOES NOT CARE ABOUT GETTING ANOTHER MVP.
Imagine a three time back to back MVP being a defensive liability. When the other two guys in the conversation are generational defensive talents and two of greatest scorers to ever play. Advanced metrics are absolute garbage.
Kevin stating the joker taking time off on D cuz they have such a cushion for the 1st seed is laughable. The joker can’t stop anyone and can’t play D. That D plus minus is such bs. Those D metrics r bs!
KOC almost got there. Jokic’s offensive stats are overrated. He should not have won an mvp last year as a 6 seed.
Jokic is NOT the the best player in the conference lol. Not even close.
MPJ seems like he couldn’t care less about winning basketball games as long as he gets paid.
They have no defenders?? Bro do you watch the nugget games without your glases? Kcp ag bruce brown christian braun these are all good defenders
What I don’t get is every team has issues
The dumbest thing about the Denver defense discussion is people act like they need these super defenders because of Jokic… But every team needs those defenders.
Boston has 7 All-Defense level defenders. Milwaukee has 3. GS has Draymond and had 3 at their peak. Cleveland has Allen and Mobley. LA had AD, Bron and KCP.
Denver needs a Giannis/AD/Mobley/JJJ/Bam/Draymond type for the same reason as everyone else: cause having a human cheat code on defense really really helps against good offenses. It's just that a player like that is even more valuable to Denver.
But let's stop acting like Denver is the only contender who needs guys like Jarred Vanderbilt, Jalen McDaniels, PJ Tucker, Jae Crowder, etc.
They forgot about KCP and Gordon. It's obvious they don't watch the games.
Jokics legacy won't be as bad as Carmelo.
Hopefully they don't do things to Jokic like what happened to Carmelo.
Denver has a 3-5 year window….after that things won't look good
I am positive that Jason Kidd has used the phrase "Raptor, Craptor– don't use numbers on me"
The toughest spot to hide a guy on defense is center. That guy is supposed to be the backbone. That’s why the Pacers used to play Sabonis next to Turner, and why the Wolves got Rudy to put next to KAT. It’s hard to build a legitimate defense around a center who can’t guard.