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The Denver Nuggets Received a Wake-Up Call

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After winning eight games in a row before the All-Star break, the Denver Nuggets started their post-break schedule with a resounding win. Heading into a matchup against the new-look Los Angeles Lakers would have been the first ten-game win streak in the career of Nikola Jokić. The Nuggets did not look prepared as the Lakers embarrassed the Nuggets 123-100. It was a wake-up call for the Nuggets, who had not lost since January 29.

The Denver Nuggets Received a Wake-Up Call

A Non-Existent Gameplan

Heading into Saturday’s matchup, the Lakers had a clear game plan to shut down the offense of Jokić. They succeeded in that aspect, something they have struggled with for several years. In past seasons, the Lakers have matched Anthony Davis against Jokić, hoping he could slow him down. JJ Redick approached the game from a completely new angle. He heavily denied Jokić from receiving the ball anywhere inside the arc. That strategy made the Nuggets look stagnant on offense. They had no flow or ball movement for most of the game, and Jokić only scored 12 points, his second-lowest scoring game this year.

The Lakers had a clear game plan heading into the game, and Denver did not. Without Jokić guiding the offense, they looked lost and unable to create open looks. Jamal Murray and Russell Westbrook both struggled to create offense. The Nuggets settled for threes instead of running their normal offense throughout the game. They shot 41 threes against the Lakers, over nine more than their season average of 31.6 per game. Their offense thrives in and around the paint, not settling for threes. They are dead last in three-point attempts per game.

A Turnover Problem

With the Nuggets’ offensive struggles came turnovers. Their lack of creation led to clumsiness and poor choices. Westbrook, Murray and Jokić combined for 15 turnovers, more than the team’s average on the season. The Lakers caused the Nuggets to be in disarray offensively, which led to sloppy play. They cracked an offense that shot 54.1% from the field and averaged 12.4 turnovers a game during their nine-game winning streak. They held the Nuggets to 40.0% from the field and forced 20 turnovers.

The Nuggets needed a wake-up call after their win streak against teams below .500. The Lakers gave them that wake-up call. They forced the Nuggets away from their typical offense and played physically causing turnovers.

Nuggets Can Use the Game to Adjust

The Lakers’ strategy against Jokić was successful, but it gives the Nuggets time to adapt if they play against that defensive scheme again. The game also brought the Nuggets back to reality. After winning nine in a row, the wake-up call can allow Denver to refocus. They can use games to adjust to the Lakers’ defensive scheme by integrating more plays within the offense that don’t rely on Jokić. Murray and Westbrook must provide offensive creation. Jokić had this to say regarding the Nuggets’ loss against the Lakers via DNVR Nuggets on X:

“We had the nine-game winning streak against teams that were injured or teams that are not really good or high in the standings, so maybe we tricked ourselves if we are playing good.”

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Jokić was honest about the Nuggets’ win streak and knows they still have room to grow as a team. To beat teams above .500, they need to have a game plan and prove they can adjust within the game. Settling for threes and turning the ball over are recipes for disaster, and they must have offensive creation when Jokić is struggling to get open.

Photo credit: © Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images

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