After much consternation during the preseason, the Denver Nuggets have followed suit with an 0-2 record to start the regular season.
Nikola Jokic nearly won the Nuggets the game against the Los Angeles Clippers on Saturday with 41 points, making 7-of-12 from three-point range in the process. Unfortunately, the rest of the team continues to lag behind.
Because Jokic and Jamal Murray combined to make 10-of-18 three-pointers on Saturday, it papered over the reality of Denver’s other players shooting 4-of-17 from three. The spacing continues to be an issue. Opposing teams are daring Denver’s role players to hit outside jumpers. They’ve missed.
For much of Saturday’s first half, the offensive performance could only be described as pitiful. It was a fear of Denver’s to not have enough trusted shooting in the starting lineup and bench units, and those fears have come to pass early.
With Russell Westbrook, outside shooting struggles were expected. Westbrook is 2-of-18 from the field and 1-of-9 from three. Peyton Watson has yet to make a three-pointer, though his struggles were also expected, coming back from a hamstring injury having played in zero preseason action.
What hasn’t been expected is Michael Porter Jr. struggling to shoot the basketball. One of the premiere shooters in the NBA, Porter is just 3-of-16 from behind the three-point line in Denver’s first two games. More than the misses, Porter was passing out of wide open three-pointers in the second half on Saturday, something the Nuggets hope corrects itself in short order.
The Nuggets are embarking on a three-game road trip starting today against the Toronto Raptors. They play a back-to-back at Brooklyn before heading to Minnesota for a rematch with the Timberwolves on Friday night. That’s an important game, but they’re all important for the Nuggets right now. Denver simply needs wins, however they can get them.
If the Nuggets finish that road trip either 2-1 or 3-0, I won’t be surprised. Sometimes, teams need to get away from home, eliminate distractions, and bond with the team. That could help swing Denver’s momentum back in a positive direction. Make the shots you’re supposed to make and dig out of a shooting slump.
If the Nuggets finish the road trip either 1-2 or 0-3, I won’t be surprised, either. Yes, these are two easy road games, but the Raptors just beat the 76ers and the Nets just beat the Bucks. Both teams CAN upset Denver. Follow that up with a T’Wolves team hungry to prove they’re still ahead of Denver, and the Nuggets might falter if they don’t focus up quickly.
A 1-2 or 0-3 road trip would raise alarm bells. Perhaps not enough alarm bells to make significant changes, but it would certainly show the problems are real.
Here’s hoping Denver bounces back.
