RealGM

Opponents are not playing close defense against Jokic because he doesn't usually even look at the basket - especially early in the game. He occasionally takes a shot but not often. Other teams seem content to let him take those shots and we're not talking about 3pt shots only. Even when he's open from 10 feet or closer, he often doesn't even look at the basket.

But it gets worse than that; his proclivity to pass almost every time he touches the ball, allows his defender to sag off from him and the rest of the team is also focused on passing. They are playing as though whoever takes a shot is making a bad play. So teams are playing all the Nuggets for the pass and not the shot.

We are playing at an extremely slow pace and this is a part of the problem. Too many passes too often results in someone forced to take a last second shot - often the wrong guy shooting or someone shooting while being covered.

IMO if a player is open, they need to shoot.

NuggetsWY wrote:Opponents are not playing close defense against Jokic because he doesn't usually even look at the basket - especially early in the game. He occasionally takes a shot but not often. Other teams seem content to let him take those shots and we're not talking about 3pt shots only. Even when he's open from 10 feet or closer, he often doesn't even look at the basket.

But it gets worse than that; his proclivity to pass almost every time he touches the ball, allows his defender to sag off from him and the rest of the team is also focused on passing. They are playing as though whoever takes a shot is making a bad play. So teams are playing all the Nuggets for the pass and not the shot.

We are playing at an extremely slow pace and this is a part of the problem. Too many passes too often results in someone forced to take a last second shot - often the wrong guy shooting or someone shooting while being covered.

IMO if a player is open, they need to shoot.

There was a span at the beginning of last season when Jokic was similarly not aggressive enough. They won most of those games as well. Your point is taken but what is going on with this team? Maybe our expectations were that they would look the same as the they appeared in the playoffs but more consistent. They have not looked like the same but they are the same.

All of the Nuggets have been inconsistent and perhaps it's just the normal start of the season for this team, especially Murray.

They are 8-3 but their loses are to teams they should have dominated. With two exceptions their wins were too close for comfort.
We have to give them some more time before being too concerned. The do have a big test coming up.

I don't think Jokic not being aggressive is the problem, the issue is that the guards and Jokic are not hitting their shots, forcing Jokic outside. He has never looked comfortable shooting 3s early in the game especially when his shot is off. Hopefully Murray going off and Harris finally scoring better it will open the lane more for Jokic and he will drive and get back in the post more which is how he has always started off his scoring in games.

After 3 seasons teams have figured out our top of the key, pick and roll/dribble handoff offense. Add that to poor shooting/floaters and our offense looks like a shell of what it once was.

Powder Blue wrote:After 3 seasons teams have figured out our top of the key, pick and roll/dribble handoff offense. Add that to poor shooting/floaters and our offense looks like a shell of what it once was.

The offense has had it moments recently. The emphasis on defense is paying off, however. Millsap and Barton have returned to form and hopefully will maintain their level of play.

I am concerned about Garry Harris. His scoring is way down from 2017-2018 but his defense is excellent.

Basically, as a driving scorer toward the rim, Murray gets there and converts about half as often as other lead scoring guards. Even someone like McCollum, who due to his midrange propensity versus Murray’s floater tendency, is much better at creating his own shot at the basket. That’s a big part of why Murray’s overall offense is just a bit less consistent than other high-end guards. He’s relying on his jump shot more than they do.

According to the NBA’s stats page, Murray only averages 10.5 drives per game, which is 39th among guards. Four of those five guards are in the top halves of drives per game with over 14, while McCollum comes in at 10.7 to just slightly exceed Murray.

The Athletic

In the past three weeks (8-3 record), we can see a big improvement of our offense (from mediocre #20 to #4 offRtg since DEC-8), while our defense inflated in the same period (from #2 defRtg to #11). Nice proof how Nuggets put lately more passion into offense is last night with 14 games schedule (28 teams played) where 3 TOP10 plays belong to Denver actions!

https://fansided.com/2020/01/24/nylon-calculus-nba-midseason-play-type/

Fascinating chart, especially for the stats folk.

If you wondered if we are running the right offense; this chart seems to say the play we are most efficient at is cutting, yet it is our 4th most frequently used play. Or in my own word - MOTION.

Denver 9-man playoff rotation:

PG Murray-28, Morris-20
SG Harris-25, Murray-8, Barton-15
SF Barton-13, Porter-20, Grant-15
PF Grant-13, Millsap-22, Porter-8, Plumlee-5
C ' Jokic-35, Plumlee-13

THE J0KER wrote:Denver 9-man playoff rotation:

PG Murray-28, Morris-20
SG Harris-25, Murray-8, Barton-15
SF Barton-13, Porter-20, Grant-15
PF Grant-13, Millsap-22, Porter-8, Plumlee-5
C ' Jokic-35, Plumlee-13

I have a suspicion that Bates-Diop will be in the lineup by then.
I also suspect Plumlee will only be playing center.
If Harris doesn't get his shooting touch back, Barton may get most of his minutes at SG with more McRae than Harris maybe.

Forwards: Barton (maybe) - Porter Bates-Diop Grant Millsap

NuggetsWY wrote:

THE J0KER wrote:Denver 9-man playoff rotation:

PG Murray-28, Morris-20
SG Harris-25, Murray-8, Barton-15
SF Barton-13, Porter-20, Grant-15
PF Grant-13, Millsap-22, Porter-8, Plumlee-5
C ' Jokic-35, Plumlee-13

I have a suspicion that Bates-Diop will be in the lineup by then.
I also suspect Plumlee will only be playing center.
If Harris doesn't get his shooting touch back, Barton may get most of his minutes at SG with more McRae than Harris maybe.

Forwards: Barton (maybe) - Porter Bates-Diop Grant Millsap

I thought you will agree with me that Malone will not use more than 9 players in playoff rotations, so the door will be closed even for Craig most probably.

THE J0KER wrote:

NuggetsWY wrote:

THE J0KER wrote:Denver 9-man playoff rotation:

PG Murray-28, Morris-20
SG Harris-25, Murray-8, Barton-15
SF Barton-13, Porter-20, Grant-15
PF Grant-13, Millsap-22, Porter-8, Plumlee-5
C ' Jokic-35, Plumlee-13

I have a suspicion that Bates-Diop will be in the lineup by then.
I also suspect Plumlee will only be playing center.
If Harris doesn't get his shooting touch back, Barton may get most of his minutes at SG with more McRae than Harris maybe.

Forwards: Barton (maybe) - Porter Bates-Diop Grant Millsap

I thought you will agree with me that Malone will not use more than 9 players in playoff rotations, so the door will be closed even for Craig most probably.

I don't think Malone is going to be able to stick to 9 men. I think he'll go heavier minutes for fewer men and use 10.

Murray 34 -- Morris 14
Barton 30 -- Harris 18
Porter 30 -- Bates-Diop 18
Millsap 28 - Grant 20
Jokic 34 --- Plumlee 14

Harris is my biggest question mark. If he doesn't get his shot back, I could see McRae getting some/all of those minutes and if Danny Green is healthy, I can see him get 10 minutes somewhere - maybe. The other player that might lose some minutes is Millsap. He's a great fit for us and quite valuable but depending on who we are facing, I can see the other three forwards getting more minutes.