By Jordan Long
The Denver Nuggets hit the All-Star break at 41-18, the top record in the Western Conference. Right now, Denver sits 5 games ahead of the Memphis Grizzlies for the top spot in the West. Let’s take a look at their season to this point.
The Nuggets came into the season with title aspirations. They knew they would have a healthy Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. to go along with 2-time MVP Nikola Jokic. Jokic wouldn’t have to be the primary scoring force on offense.
Jokic is off to another MVP-type season. He is putting up 24.7 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 10.1 assists per game. That is a triple-double every single night at the break. When it comes to double-doubles, Jokic has 41, 2nd to only Domantas Sabonis who has 45. Jokic leads the league with 21 Triple-doubles. Luka Doncic is 2nd in the league but his total is only 10. Clearly, Jokic is the front-runner for his 3rd consecutive MVP of the regular season award.
Jokic doesn’t have to do it all himself on offense. The Nuggets have other offensive weapons helping Jokic out so he doesn’t have to be the only high scorer. Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, and Michael Porter Jr. are doing it as well. Murray is 2nd on the team with 20.2 points per game. Gordon chips in 17.3 points per game while Porter Jr. is at 16.8 points per game. All this has made the Nuggets one of the most dangerous teams in the league.
The team is playing well. Denver on offense scores 117.1 points per game, ranking 6th in the league. They are pushing their pace heading into the All-Star break. What killed the Nuggets last year was the fact they couldn’t hit 3-point shots. Not the case this year. Denver is moving the ball around to find the open man. When they attempt a 3-point shot, it goes in at 39.2%. That is tied for first in the whole league with the Brooklyn Nets.
Denver knows work to needs be done on the defensive end. There are times when some Nuggets players seem disinterested in playing defense. When that happens, opponents have easy looks at the basket or bury 3-pointers to either extend their leads or be right back in the game. Denver gives up 112.7 points per game, 13th in the NBA. This must improve when they start the stretch run to the playoffs. Play tougher defense and make teams earn their points with tight defense and a hand in the face. That may make it harder for rival teams to put points up.
The Nuggets though have to be happy with where they are at. Denver knows they could be one of the favorites to win it all if they keep up their play. Denver will start the 2nd-half on Thursday, February 23rd when they travel to Cleveland. Health for this team is key. They have been fairly healthy for the most part this year. If this team stays that way, Denver should be a team to look out for when the playoffs arrive as they want to win an NBA Championship. Denver looks like they are on a mission to reach that goal this season. The 2nd half determines if they will keep the #1 seed which would give them home court throughout the Western Conference playoffs.
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