Another poster asked is Nikola Jokic regressing? Answer is yes! He used to be even with Karl Anthony Towns, now he is much less effective.

This is been the Nuggets worst stretch of basketball in about 30 weeks. Losses to 76ers, Kings, and Hawks, played horrible versus Jazz. Correlates to Mason Plumblee being inserted into the starting lineup at PF when Jokic came back. We were 16-13. Since we are 5-7.

Denver Nuggets Center Nikola Jokic looks confused about his role. First off he needs to score more with Millsap out,

2) Play closer to the basket (not able to get space because of Plumblee) he is out shooting 3pointers, not even playing in highpost

3) Pass less (he had 10 turnovers versus Minnesota, loss) Ask himself, why pass to Chandler and Plumblee? They are clearly lesser offensive threats than him. There is some Allie-oops that he has thrown to Plumlee that have turned into turnovers. He is much more effective with Farid as a PF but due to politics Farid is not playing. For some reason Plumblee was signed to the contract so they have to give him the minutes, but seems like a blunder for the front office to make that deal. Wish the head coach had the broad shoulders to over rule that move and just play the best players but he obviously doesn't have clout. This is where a Jokic needs to speak up and LEAD and say "I prefer to play with Kenneth, he makes me better. This team is losing with Plumlee as the starter." That is what a team leader should do - tell the truth.

4) Defensive rebound more with Millsap out

5) Know your role! Stop shooting 3's, increase his field goal percentage. Somehow Jokic has stopped playing to his strengths. He was very good two seasons ago because he would always make his shots. Go back to that Knicks game when he put up his career high at Madison Square Garden. He has soft touch. He gets open shots and he hits them. Since he came back from injury it's just not there, he's not getting shots in the flow of the offense. Taking 3's. Gets in the post and dribbles like six or seven times to make a move, which is just not NBA basketball. You don't have time to dribble dribble and drible and then turn around and shoot with a finesse shot. Get the ball, go up with it. Shoot in the paint, that's what Centers do.

Coach Malone

Now onto the coaching. It is the coaches job to explain to the players what is their role. It is the coaches job to put the team in the best position to win, and you need to do that by asking the players to play to their strengths. Jokic catching the ball at half court and dribbling up to make a pass off a cut is not his strength. This scheme has increased his turnovers and decreased his shooting percentage because he's catching the ball in areas where he's not a threat to score such as beyond the three point line. He needs to play in the post. He is a center. 7 footer, slow feet. It is what it is. Get him the ball closer to the basket.

Lineup of having Wilson Chandler and Mason Plumley and Jokic doesn't have enough shooters. Getting off to poor starts in the first auarter. Chandler is a defense of player, so is Plumblee. Plumblee is such a poor free throw shooter it basically makes Jokic entry passes inneffective. Because teams are fouling plumblee and he is missing free throws.

Benching Emmanuel Mudiay in favor of Will Barton as a back up point guard has had a negative impact. Barton is a scorer, ask him to shoot not facilitate. He should start if Plumblee does. At least it would allow Jokic to pass to a SF who is a threat to score and spead the court.

The fourth issue is Tori Craig. Who the heck is this guy? His contract does not even allow him to play more than 45 days yet he STARTS and plays like 40 minutes in certain games. This is disrespectful to the synergy of the team. Michael Malone keep saying that "Tori Craig is an NBA player." Well if you want to hitch your fate to a guy who is recently in the G league that is a personal choice, but a coach needs to make choices based on business. Fareed makes $10 million to sit on the bench, while at G-League guy plays 40 minutes and starts. Fareed plays garbage time with Mudiay (former 1st round pick) while Craig gets significant playing time (btw, we lost) This is leading to the coach losing the locker room which will get you a job as an analyst on a TV network instead of a head coach.

You got to develop your players as a head coach.

I am upset, even kinda got snippy with my wife. These games matter. Results of your decisions matter to the city of Denver it impacts people's moods so you need to get this straightened out. At least lose by using your best strategy and players. Fans bought Farids jerseys, not Plumblees, not Craigs. Don't tell me events to him so you could play .500 ball