Denver Stiffs - Denver Nuggets Bubble Playoff Preview

The official Denver Stiffs Bubble Playoff Nuggets preview

2020-07-31T07:00:00-06:00

Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images

Let the games begin...again.

A lot has happened in the world since the day the NBA shut down on March 11th, and the 2019-20 season appeared to be lost. The world has seen (and continues to see) a pandemic caused by coronavirus that has massively impacted the United States. Protests about racial injustice and social change are ongoing and don’t appear to be stopping anytime soon. The way of life around the world has turned upside down in many cases.

After last night’s NBA restart featuring narrow wins by the Utah Jazz and Los Angeles Lakers, it’s fair to say that basketball is officially back. Poetically, Utah center Rudy Gobert scored both the opening basket of the restart and made the game-winning free throws at the very end. LeBron James also made the game-winning basket for the Lakers before denying both Kawhi Leonard and Paul George of the Los Angeles Clippers from getting off a good shot on the final possession. Last night felt almost...normal.

And for that reason, it’s time for Denver Stiffs to give predictions on the NBA restart, specifically about the Denver Nuggets. How many games will the Nuggets win? Who is the X-Factor? Will the Nuggets win in the playoffs? The Denver Stiffs staff answered those questions and more in a mega preview on all things Nuggets heading into the bubble.

The Denver Stiffs staff:

Brandon Ewing - Senior Writer
Daniel Lewis - Writer and Contributor
Evan Fiala - Writer and Contributor
Gage Bridgford - Writer and Contributor
Gordon Gross - Senior Writer
Jena Garcia - Social Media Director
Jeremy Poley - Social Media Coordinator
Kayla Osby - Writer and Contributor
Nick Hertzog - Writer and Contributor
Quenton Albertie - Writer and Contributor
Reid Howard - Lead Moderator
Ryan Blackburn - Site Manager
Zach Mikash - Deputy Site Manager

Win-Loss Record

Analysis: The Nuggets have an extremely tough schedule in their 8 seeding games. I predict that they will go 5-3 in these games. I don’t think they’ll struggle too hard to pick up wins against Miami, San Antonio and Oklahoma City, the first three games of the re-start. Everybody should be rested and excited just to be playing again, so hopefully that works in their favor. I think it will, as long as they are not too rusty, which is a concern given that they did not have their full roster for any of the exhibition games. The games against Portland, Utah, Toronto, and the LA teams teams will be very tough, but I’m predicting that they will win at least two of those. If I had to guess, I would predict that they win against Toronto and Utah and drop the games against the Lakers, Clippers, and Portland.

- Kayla Osby (@nuggetchica)

Playoff Seeding

Analysis: Denver has the second-hardest projected schedule in the restarted regular season. I’m not sure how much that matters, since it was projected to include travel to other arenas in other cities in front of crowds and now none of that is happening. They have a tough run against playoff teams, but they’ve also managed to get everyone to a much healthier spot than they were in right before the season was paused. Every team will be dealing with rust and ramping players up to full speed before the playoffs, and getting home court advantage for the first round matters much less when the normal home court advantages don’t exist.

No, I do not think the Nuggets maintain the 3rd seed. I expect them to want to iron out their playoff rotation without overworking key players early like Jokic and Murray. In fact, as long as they miss the L.A. teams in the first round I don’t think it will much matter to Denver what their seeding is. The Nuggets are looking to find their groove before the post-season, and that will be their driving force rather than seeding concerns.

- Gordon Gross (@GMoneyNuggs)

Points per game leader

Analysis: Jamal Murray. It’s an interesting question for sure though. Obviously Nikola Jokic needs to be considered here. He did lead Denver in scoring prior to the NBA shutdown. Will Barton and, for the ultra bold, Michael Porter Jr can be considered here as well. In my eyes though it’s essentially a two man race between Jamal and Nikola. Though we only got a brief glimpse of Jamal during the scrimmages, that glimpse was fantastic. He looks stronger, he looks more confident and it looks like the game has really slowed down for him. That’s all well and good in a scrimmage and he’ll need to prove it over these seeding games of course, but color me confident that Murray is ready to make the star leap over these next two months.

- Zach Mikash (@ZachMikash)

Assists per game leader

Analysis: Nikola Jokic. He handles the ball more than anyone else on the roster, and he’s led the team in assists for the past three seasons. The only person that would even threaten for this would be Jamal Murray, and I still have my doubts about that. Based on what we’ve seen in scrimmages, we’re seeing limited offensive production which leads to limited opportunities for assists. I’ll take Jokic pretty easily.

- Gage Bridgford (@GbridgfordNFL)

Rebounds per game leader

Analysis: There’s no way it won’t be Jokic. Prior to the NBA hiatus, Jokic averaged nearly four more rebounds than the player ranked second (Will Barton) in rebounds on the team. It’s been that way over the last three seasons. With him guaranteed to get more playing time than just about anybody on the team, you can bet the bank on Jokic having the highest rebound average in the seeding games.

- Quenton Albertie (@qshironalbertie)

Seeding Games Storyline

Analysis: The only answer to this question is of course, Michael Porter Jr.. Whether the story line will be Porter’s stellar play or his limited amount of minutes remains to be seen. If he is playing well, that will be the talk of these final eight games. If Porter is on the bench for most of these games, that will be discussion. Let’s hope for everyone the first option comes to fruition and not the second.

- Brandon Ewing (@B_Skip1717)

Playoff X-Factor

Analysis: The Nuggets will kick, scratch and fight against any team they face in the playoffs. From a first round matchup to a bout against the Lakers or Clippers, Denver will be a tough out for any team; however, the player that really takes the Nuggets over the top if all goes well is Michael Porter Jr., because even if Jamal Murray hits his ceiling, the Lakers and Clippers still each have two elite players to counter Jokic and Murray. If Porter starts hitting shots, dominating the glass, and playing the way the Nuggets know he can, he adds a dimension to those matchups that the Lakers or Clippers may not be ready to handle.

- Ryan Blackburn (@NBABlackburn)

The Rookies

Analysis: Michael Porter Jr. will play significant minutes and the Nuggets are going to need him to if they have any hope of walking out of Orlando with their first NBA title. What Porter provides with his scoring, play making, and rebounding is so unique and valuable to this Nuggets team that you have to play him around 20 minutes a game.

Bol Bol is a different story and I don’t see him playing in the final eight games on into the postseason. Bol certainly showed flashes during those three scrimmage games, but he is still a rookie and it’s really hard to see where he fits into the rotation. I think Bol could play in garbage time here and there, but it’s tough to see him getting a normal spot in the rotation.

- Brandon Ewing (@B_Skip1717)

The Dynamic Duo

Analysis: Mainstream media eyes will be glued to star pairs such as LeBron James and Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard and Paul George and even Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum as they try to squeak into the postseason. But lest anyone forget, last year’s playoffs were already a breakout performance for the Jokic and Murray duo, Jokic posting his ridiculous 25.1/13/8.4 stat line while Murray averaged a healthy 21.3/4.4/4.7 of his own. Far more than just individual stats go, though, Jokic and Murray’s two-man-game is bread and butter for the Nuggets. It’s not hard to believe that the team will only go as far as these two take them, and if they have any say in it, they’ll be household names by season’s end.

- Evan Fiala (@eefiala)

How will it end?

Analysis: Your Denver Nuggets will eventually be eliminated during Game 7 of the Western Conference Finals. Having crushed the Thunder 4-1 in the first round, Murray puts up 25 PPG and Jokic posts three triple doubles en route to a 6-game upset of the Los Angeles Clippers (who are without Lou Williams after he gets caught sneaking out of the bubble for a cherry Slurpee). The Lakers get more than they expect in the third round from the young, scrappy squad of rising stars, but ultimately LeBron’s 50-point Game 7 proves too much to overcome. The Nuggets leave Orlando vowing to be back next year—when they will be going to Disney World after their first NBA championship.

Could happen.

- Nick Hertzog (@NickHertzogSBN)

Will Michael Porter Jr. finally get his shot for the Nuggets?

2020-07-31T06:42:57-06:00

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

After a tumultuous start to his rookie year, MPJ is ready to contribute to Denver’s playoff success

One of the biggest questions heading into the 2019-2020 season centered around prized 2018 14^th overall draft pick Michael Porter Jr. and how much he would actually play this season.

Nearly a year later and the question remains the same, just in a different environment. How much will MPJ actually play for the Nuggets in the bubble games and playoffs?

After taking a redshirt year to ensure full rehabilitation for a lingering back injury, Porter was ready to go but faced an uphill climb in earning minutes in a crowded and already successful rotation.

Porter caught a break in January when a rash of sudden injuries plagued the Nuggets. His minutes ratcheted up to 21.4 per game and he took full advantage. Backed by scorching 48% shooting from three and a natural disposition for rebounding, Porter averaged 12.3 points and 6.9 boards per game to help Denver navigate a tough stretch without some key players. The Nuggets went 11-5 in January and had some very memorable wins, including the incredible back-to-back victories over Utah and Milwaukee at the end of the month.

Just as Porter looked like he had earned his role as a scorer off the bench, however, an ankle injury suffered in that Milwaukee game derailed any progress made. In the last game before the season suspended on March 11, he tallied just under five minutes of playing time.

The talent Porter brings to the table is undeniable. His height enables him to shoot over nearly any defender and he grabs rebounds with ease, where the Nuggets are at league average. His 42.2% three-point percentage is second on the team behind only Paul Millsap. His jump shot is arguably the smoothest and off the bench he provides a scoring boost to a unit that often needs it.

But where there are roses, there are thorns. There have always been limits to his defensive abilities, particularly within the Nuggets’ scheme. Whether this is a product of him being a rookie and adjusting to NBA game speed or something more concerning remains to be seen; regardless, it’s not like he doesn’t give effort on that end. The issue has been that his defensive lapses have generally led to a short leash from Michael Malone, begging an answer to the paradox: how can he get better defensively if he doesn’t play?

As the Nuggets entered the Disney World bubble in early July it looked Porter was going to be a big loser from the season’s suspension. Glaringly, MPJ was absent from the team, with each day missed a nail in the coffin to his rookie campaign. When he finally did arrive, questions remained. Would he be in shape? Has he fully healed from that ankle injury from earlier in the year? How can he earn rotation minutes coming in two weeks behind nearly everyone else?

Any doubts were pretty quickly put to rest. In his lone scrimmage against the Magic on Monday, MPJ shined, putting up 19 points and grabbing seven boards off the bench. His ankle looked 100% and any concerns about his back seem to be in the past. Postgame he talked about how much he worked during the break to stay in shape so he could show up and contribute.

“I feel like I’m in a great head space. I know we’ve got a lot of good players, but my goal — right now — I’m not coming in here to like just try to blend in with the team, I’m trying to do my part to help this team win a championship and I think I could be a big part of that.”

The one obstacle to his success right now is still the balancing act between development and letting him play through mistakes, while also competing for an NBA title. This same core roster without Porter last season made it within four minutes of the Western Conference Finals, and with him only averaging 14 minutes a game this year is still in the upper echelon of the West. Make no mistake, the Nuggets are in Orlando to win a championship and that goal will take precedence.

That Porter is key to the Nuggets’ long-term success is almost a given at this point. He is that good, and along with Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray and possibly Bol Bol it’s not crazy to see the Nuggets continuing to play for the title in years to come. Yet ironically, Porter might be the one player this year that if he does pan out could help the Nuggets surprise some teams in the postseason and make that goal a reality even sooner.

The Nuggets are 11-3 this year when Porter plays over 20 minutes. Giving him at least that many minutes will unlock so many things for Denver now and help set them up nicely for the future. It will all depend on if he can get on and stay on the court.

The Nuggets restart the season tomorrow against the Miami Heat. Porter is ready. Will he finally get his chance?

Will Nikola Jokic be an MVP candidate again?

2020-07-30T09:00:00-06:00

Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images

In the 2018-19 season, Nikola Jokic finished fourth in MVP voting. He averaged a double-double in points and rebounds with a healthy 7.3 assists per game. He was the catalyst for the team en route to their second-best record in the conference. Heading into the 2019-20 season, there were people that had him as a dark-horse candidate to be a contender to win the MVP this year.

The MVP race ended up being a two-horse race between LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo. That doesn’t mean Jokic was never in it. In mid-December, he was playing like a true MVP. He was racking up high scores and triple doubles with regularity. While his solo stats rang true throughout the months prior to the shut down, the team was struggling, and he actually had a -1.9 +/- in the month of January.

All of that being said, we’re looking at whether or not he can get back to that MVP level of play now that we’re in the bubble. He’s looked a little deferral throughout the scrimmage games which is fine for games that don’t count, but, at the end of the day, this team is going to go as he goes. He needs to come out and show that he can be aggressive and take over games when that’s needed from him.

Give Him Some Time

Jokic hasn’t played organized basketball since March. He, just like everyone else, is going to come into these games a little rusty. The same thing happens every year at the beginning of the season. Jokic comes out of the gate slow, and everyone immediately panics that he has lost his touch. Then after a couple of weeks, he makes you leave all of those concerns in the past.

In October and November, he shot 47.5 and 45.1 percent respectively. He was averaging less than 16 points per game, and there was some cause for concern. Fast forward two months into January, he averaged 23.4 points, 10.3 rebounds and 6.5 assists while shooting 51.7 percent from the floor and 36.7 percent from 3-point range. He just needs time to get his feet under him.

Looking back at Jokic’s career, this curve at the beginning of the season remains consistent. He’ll struggle for the first few games, and, once he gets rolling, there isn’t a center in the league that can stop him on a consistent basis. If he is slowed down on offense at the start of the bubble, there are plenty of other offensive weapons that this team can deploy. Now, if everyone else is rusty, we might have some problems.

Tough Games Build A Resume

Denver is projected to have one of the most difficult schedules inside the bubble. In their eight games prior to the playoffs, only two teams are not currently in the playoffs. Looking through the rosters, everybody has a really good center. Some are good on offense or defense, and there are a few of them that are good on both ends. There is a debate among pundits about who the best center in the league is, and this is Jokic’s turn to make his case.

In college football, powerhouse programs will get knocked if they play softer competition throughout the year, and you’ll see smaller schools beef up their schedule with big names in a bid to get the spotlight on them a little more. This is basically what the NBA is forcing here with all of these strong teams heading into the restart. You have all of the best teams in one place playing each other. The war of attrition is going to be brutal.

Jokic showed last year in the playoffs that he can bang with the NBA’s best night after night, and he’s going to have to take that to another level for this. He’s going to be playing All-Star centers every other night for two weeks before the playoffs actually start. If he can come out of that with an impressive stat line, he’ll have put the entire NBA on notice entering the playoffs. Tough games like this are the ones where the best stars shine the brightest.

What’s This All Mean

Here’s what we saw from Jokic in three scrimmage games. Outside of the middle game against the New Orleans Pelicans, he took five or less shots in the other two, and he was consistently looking to pass the ball to his teammates. We’ll see from the jump against the Miami Heat if he plans to change that. They have a center in Bam Adebayo that will give him a different look thanks to his length and athleticism.

Jokic can back him up with his size like he does with most centers that he has a size advantage of, but that can’t be exclusively how he wins. He can win in any way necessary, and the team needs to see him do that. In addition to his slowdown, the team is still missing Gary Harris, who may not be ready to go for the restart. While Harris isn’t a huge offensive threat, that’s just more weight that Jokic has to carry.

Jokic is the best center in the NBA. I don’t know that there is another argument that can be made. Because of the way Anthony Davis is deployed, he’s probably going to get the first-team All-NBA nod, even though he’s really a power forward. If they stayed true to positions, Jokic would get it immediately. He’s been the best center in the NBA for the last two seasons, and his game remains constant because of how he wins.

I think we might see an even better version of Jokic once the games start to matter. His reduced weight will give him the ability to move better while maintaining better amounts of stamina throughout the game. MVP Jokic is going to come back in full force, and every center in the league is going to have their hands full when they have Denver on the schedule.

What we have learned from the three Denver Nuggets scrimmages

2020-07-29T07:00:00-06:00

Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images

Jamal Murray is dialed in, Bol Bol has an NBA future, and other major takeaways

The Denver Nuggets played the final scrimmage on their schedule this past Monday, losing to the Orlando Magic 114-110. It wasn’t about the score, and there were several important takeaways from the game that should leave Nuggets fans excited.

As a whole, the scrimmages were underwhelming. Bol Bol’s NBA debut was nice to see (more on him later) but without so many rotation players and the entire guard position group for multiple games, it was difficult to grasp onto important data points heading into the games that matter. The Nuggets debuted “Tall Ball” by starting Nikola Jokic at point guard in multiple games, but there will be no Tall Ball in the bubble if Michael Malone can help it.

The third game really pieced some things together though, so, heading into the seeding games, here’s what I learned about the Nuggets over the past week:

Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images

Michael Porter Jr. should have a role to play going forward

Independent of some iffy comments made about coronavirus, vaccines, and other topics yesterday, the basketball that Michael Porter Jr. played against the Orlando Magic was some of his best on the season. He appeared physically dominant on the court, dunking several times, out-leaping Magic players, and moving very well and instinctually on the offensive side of the floor. He accumulated 19 points and 7 rebounds in just 20 minutes, and it’s clear that he should be playing big minutes in almost every situation.

Defensively, Porter was a minus. His rotations were late, and he struggled to stay connected to plays that developed deep into the possession. Him maintaining focus on that end of the floor could be the difference between him playing 20+ minutes a night during the postseason or not playing at all.

But if he puts it all together, he gives the Nuggets a new dimension to their team that has eluded them for so long. The Nuggets aren’t a physically dominant team by any stretch of the word, but Porter can be a physically dominant player. His height at 6’10 and a rare combination of athleticism and mobility is something teams salivate over in NBA Draft war rooms. Combine that with his shooting touch and execution from all over the floor, and he has a high ceiling for impact in a playoff series.

He has to earn his minutes to get to that point though, and it won’t be easy.

Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images

Bol Bol has an NBA future, maybe a star future

I wasn’t expecting to write a lot about Bol Bol this season, but the last week has changed my perception of what he can be in a Nuggets uniform going forward. Sure, he started at small forward in two if the games and played backup power forward in the other, but his ability to generate perimeter shots for himself was very impressive.

We knew he was a shooter though. The question was how impactful he would be on the defensive end. He blocked nine shots in three games, stayed reasonably mobile on the floor, and completed altered how the Washington Wizards played offense in his first NBA game. He still has a long ways to go in that end, but the skills and instincts he flashed on both ends were very impressive.

Will he play in Denver’s seeding games and the playoffs? Probably not. As Denver’s rotation returns to full strength, that probably doesn’t leave a lot of time for Bol. Despite that, he proved that given more time in the offseason to build up his body, get familiar with the offensive and defensive concepts, and for the Nuggets to figure out how best to utilize him, Bol has an NBA future. I hope it’s with the Nuggets. He’s very fun to root for, and his skill set at 7’2 is extremely unique.

Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images

Jerami Grant at small forward CAN work

It isn’t a natural fit, but Jerami Grant made playing small forward work for him against the Orlando Magic. He had 10 points on 4-of-5 shooting, 2 rebounds, and 1 assist in 23 minutes on Monday. He did have two turnovers but also added two blocks to his tally. Most important though: the Nuggets were +7 with Grant on the court exclusively at small forward.

Offensively, Grant was certainly a role player, but he found offense and was efficient in his opportunities. He posted up Evan Fournier for an easy basket early in the game, and he made a corner three off a cross-court pass from Nikola Jokic. Defensively, he rotated over for help side blocks against Nikola Vucevic and DJ Augustin, but his overall defensive impact was negated by his primary matchup. He spent most of his time on James Ennis and Gary Clark, and neither of those guys was a creator off the dribble. As a result, Grant’s best skill of on-ball defense was lost in the shuffle.

If the Nuggets are going to deploy lineups that include Grant at the 3, Grant should be defending the opposing team’s primary ball handler (or at least secondary ball handler). His mobility and length allows him to cover so much ground, and stationing him in the corner against a stretch four lowers the value of that skill. There are many playmaking forwards the Nuggets will play during their seeding games (Jimmy Butler, DeMar DeRozan, LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Pascal Siakam) and Grant’s value at the 3 may peak in those games due to that unique skill set.

Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images

The game is evolving, but the Nuggets still need guards

Small ball took the league by storm over the past several years, but what really happened was teams trying to come to grips with the most talented team of all time. The Golden State Warriors that featured Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and Andre Iguodala were the most skilled, versatile, and explosive team to ever come together. Some teams were close to defeating them like the Houston Rockets with Chris Paul and James Harden. The Toronto Raptors beat them in the Finals last year, but Kevin Durant was out for the majority of the series and Klay Thompson tore his ACL to seal the deal.

The Nuggets rolled out their tall ball lineup last week with Nikola Jokic at point guard, Bol Bol playing small forward, Mason Plumlee at center, and Jerami Grant and Paul Millsap on the court too. It had some potential, and with Porter out there in place of Plumlee to add additional spacing, it looks more like a true NBA lineup, just taller. Still, the Nuggets racked up 67 turnovers in three games during this preseason, and without a true ball handler on the floor, those turnovers accumulate in bunches.

Jamal Murray’s presence on the floor helped against Orlando, as did Will Barton’s 18 minutes. Without a backup point guard though, the Nuggets had no idea what to do offensively when Denver’s starters left the floor. Monte Morris’ presence was sorely missed as the facilitator and low-mistake player the Nuggets needed. Gary Harris’ perimeter defense was also missed as the Nuggets shot nearly 50% from three against the Nuggets, a common theme in Denver’s last two scrimmage games.

The Nuggets are getting closer and closer to rolling out some really fun, really big lineups going forward. With Porter and Bol showcasing their perimeter talents, it’s possible that lineups featuring those two next to Jokic in the front court could happen as soon as next season. As long as Murray or Morris are out there to get the Nuggets into the sets they need, there’s potential for the Nuggets to get crazy. Jerami Grant as the 6’9 shooting guard isn’t impossible either. Not with that much dynamic size, shooting, and athleticism on the floor at once.

Photo by Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images

Jamal Murray could be ready for a special performance in Orlando

It’s tough not to overreact to impressive scrimmage plays, but Jamal Murray had one of his best performances of the year in his first scrimmage on Monday night. His 23 points on 8-of-12 shooting were very impressive, as was the 3-of-6 from three point range. Most important though was the way he looked and moved on the floor. It’s clear he’s put on some muscle during quarantine, and for the first time in a long time, Murray appears legitimately quick and agile for his position.

He was slashing to the lane in transition, cutting off drives on defense, moving the ball with quickness, and moving decisively himself. The threat of him getting to the basket opened up his three-pointer, and his willingness to take that shot with confidence changed his entire shot profile. Had he played 36 minutes out there, I wouldn’t be surprised if the 23 points he had turned to 40 real quick.

NIkola Jokic is going to be dominant because he’s that level of player. The other Nuggets starters and important reserves are going to be solid as well. What elevates the Nuggets over the top is if Murray’s play moves from solid to special. He’s flirted with that level on several occasions, and when he hits it, he’s one of the most fun players to watch. Hitting that level with consistency will be Murray’s biggest test, and if he raises the bar, Denver’s entire bar as a team raises as well.

The Nuggets need the All-Star leap from Murray right now. If they get it, look out. This team is going to be special.

How other Western Conference title contenders are faring in the bubble

2020-07-27T08:30:57-06:00

Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images

Who else is having trouble?

“It’s really hard to judge and analyze where we’re at when you don’t have four of your five starters playing.”

That was Denver Nuggets head coach Michael Malone on Saturday night following the second straight scrimmage for the Nuggets with only eight players suiting up on Denver’s side. Throughout the media interview with Malone, one could sense his building frustration for the situation the Nuggets found themselves in. Not only were several starters missing in both games, but several important bench players (almost all guards and wings).

As fun as it is to see Bol Bol playing small forward, it isn’t going to help the Nuggets in a playoff series, and Malone knows it. He knows that the Nuggets are behind the curve, with only one exhibition game left to go before seeding games begin that affect Denver’s win-loss record for real.

Instead of focusing on the Nuggets though, let’s turn our attention to the other teams in the Western Conference, the playoff teams more specifically. Every contender has handled the bubble differently thus far, but for the most part, every contender is ahead of where the Nuggets are at right now.

Let’s take a look:

Photo by Jim Poorten/NBAE via Getty Images

Los Angeles Lakers

After entering the bubble nearly three weeks ago, the Lakers are much better off now than they were at the start of their bubble experience. With Avery Bradley deciding not to take part in the Orlando playoffs and Rajon Rondo suffering a broken right thumb in practice just two weeks ago, it was looking like the Lakers were losing some important depth at guard. In addition, Dwight Howard’s comments and actions surrounding masks, vaccines, and other topics appeared harmful not just to the Lakers, but to the NBA.

Still, some of LA’s issues appeared overstated when they took the court for their two preseason games when fans were reminded that they had LeBron James and Anthony Davis on the roster. Both players made a major impact in the brief time they spent on the floor together, and LA’s role players appeared to generate enough value to at least supplement the two stars.

It remains to be seen how much the Lakers will miss Rondo and Bradley during the bubble experience. Rondo will eventually return if the Lakers make it to the second round, and there’s no reason to think they won’t. At that point, things will become more difficult for them, and relying on Dion Waiters and JR Smith in any capacity probably isn’t the recipe for success; however...LeBron James and Anthony Davis.

Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images

Los Angeles Clippers

Perhaps more than any team, the Clippers have been on the receiving end of several departures from important players while the team resides in the bubble. In total, Lou Williams, Montrezl Harrell, and Patrick Beverley all left the bubble at various points, and it appears that Williams may be in trouble because of it.

Clippers’ Lou Williams will have 10-day quarantine on Orlando campus after picking up food at Magic City on excused absence — sidelining him through first two seeding games — NBA says.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) July 26, 2020

The last part of the above tweet is the key: Williams will miss the first two seeding games for the Clippers, and that could be important for playoff seeding purposes. The Clippers play the Lakers in their first game and the upstart New Orleans Pelicans in their second. Losing those two games in itself would be bad for LA, but dropping to the 4th seed would be even worse. The Clippers are still unlikely to drop, but missing important players in a new environment could change that.

Beyond the absences though, the Clippers still look like a formidable basketball team. They remain my pick to win a championship.

Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images

Utah Jazz

For a team that sustained a lot of turmoil at the beginning and throughout the coronavirus outbreak, the Jazz appear to be in a good place. Even without Bojan Bogdanovic, who had surgery prior to the bubble and will miss the playoffs, the Jazz have a quality starting lineup they can throw out there every night. Mike Conley, Donovan Mitchell, Joe Ingles, Royce O’Neale, and Rudy Gobert only spent 14 minutes on the floor all together this year, but there are multiple ball handlers, shooters, and defenders that should create a solid environment for offense.

Where the Jazz will really be tested is when reserves replace the starters. Jordan Clarkson will be a solid spark plug off the bench, but the three players beyond that with the most amount of minutes in the regular season were Georges Niang, Emmanuel Mudiay, and Jeff Green. Niang is solid but extremely limited, and Mudiay has progressed but is a ball handling guard on a roster that doesn’t need anymore ball handlers in a playoff environment. Green isn’t even on the roster anymore. He’s with the Houston Rockets.

Utah’s fate probably comes down to Mitchell’s performance as the top scoring option and Conley’s ability to regain some of the zip and effectiveness on his game. Can Mitchell be the Dwyane Wade clone he’s been touted as for the last couple of seasons? Can Conley have some throwback performances? If either of those answers is no, the Jazz are in some trouble.

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Oklahoma City Thunder

The big story with the Thunder is the return of forward Andre Roberson, former CU Buff, after over two and a half seasons spent on the sidelines due to injury. There was a major fear that Roberson would never play basketball again, but now, in the bubble, Roberson is playing well:

How great is that?

The Thunder, while an excellent regular season team, have a formula that could be exploited in the playoffs. Their three guard lineup featuring Chris Paul, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Dennis Schroder is offensively potent but very small. A team with a lineup that features size on the perimeter will give the Thunder problems. Roberson would be an interesting counter to that, as before his injuries, he was perhaps the best perimeter defender in the NBA.

Will the Thunder put it all together? It seems unanimous that they will at least be a tough out in the playoffs, if not win a series against an opponent that doesn’t treat them with respect and caution.

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Houston Rockets

While it took him some extra time to get into the bubble, it appears that James Harden is better than ever. He leads the NBA in points per game (27.5) and assists per game (9.5) in the bubble thus far (Troy Daniels is 2nd in the NBA with 25.0 points per game). Harden spent the quarantine period getting into the best possible shape he could for this playoff run, and it appears that his hard work paid off.

While much has been made of Houston’s microball experiment, nothing really matters for the Rockets beyond how far Harden and Russell Westbrook can take them. The Rockets could roll out Harden, Westbrook, PJ Tucker, and two random players around the NBA (as long as they aren’t centers) and Houston would still have a top five offense. Their formula is sound, and it will give the Rockets a chance in every game as long as the outside shooting holds up.

There isn’t much to discuss here. Either Harden and Westbrook show up and carry the Rockets across the finish line or they don’t.

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Dallas Mavericks

Luka Doncic appears as dominant as ever in the bubble environment, using his size and skill combo along with many hesitations to get to the rim at will. Help Doncic’s defender, and the young Slovenian will find the open man. Don’t help, and Doncic will get to the rim for a layup/dunk or get fouled along the way. The only question in his game is how efficient the outside shot will be in a playoff environment, because Doncic takes a ton of difficult threes and makes them at a below average rate.

Outside of Doncic, the questions are pretty straightforward. Kristaps Porzingis, like Paul Millsap for Denver, missed his daily COVID-19 test and was forced to sit out of Dallas’ second scrimmage. Can he be an effective second option next to Doncic in the playoffs? His play style projects well, but only time will tell. Can Tim Hardaway Jr. and Seth Curry maintain excellent shooting seasons to space the floor properly for Doncic and Porzingis? Do the Mavericks have enough top end talent to compete with other playoff teams?

It appears that the Mavericks have a legitimate superstar on their hands, and that makes every subsequent question less important. Still, the Mavericks do have questions until we get to see their group in the playoffs for the first time. At that point, we will see just how good Doncic can be and whether he can outpace some of the other Western Conference superstars.

Why the Nuggets larger-than-life lineups could help in playoffs

2020-07-24T13:03:44-06:00

Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

Playing supersized lineups could give the Nuggets the upper hand

When the Denver Nuggets took the floor against the Washington Wizards with a starting lineup that featured 7’0” center Nikola Jokic at point guard and 7’2” center Bol Bol at small forward, it was so outrageous that it instantly became a hot topic among NBA fans and media.

However, when looking at the size of teams like the Milwaukee Bucks, Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Clippers — the three teams considered favorites for the 2020 NBA Championship than Denver — it may not be so crazy after all. Whether matching up with championship caliber opponents was something that occurred to Nuggets head coach Michael Malone when utilizing his eight-man rotation is unknown, but he may be onto something here.

Let’s take a look at the frontcourts of the Bucks, Lakers and Clippers.

The Bucks have 6’7” small forward Khris Middleton, 6’11” power forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and 7’0” center Brook Lopez as starters. The Lakers start 6’9” small forward LeBron James, 6’10” power forward Anthony Davis and 7’0” center JaVale McGee in the frontcourt. Meanwhile, the Clippers start 6’7” small forward Kawhi Leonard, 6’8” power forward Marcus Morris and 7’0” center Ivica Zubac, on top of a 6’8” shooting guard in Paul George.

For kicks, let’s throw in the Toronto Raptors, a team with at least a shooter’s chance to reach the NBA Finals from the Eastern Conference. The Raptors will start 6’7” small forward OG Anunoby, 6’9” power forward Pascal Siakam and 6’11” center Marc Gasol. Serge Ibaka, a 7’0” forward-center, will also play a significant role for the team.

While Denver’s tall ball lineup from Wednesday would outsize all of Denver’s opponents, their normal starting lineup featuring Jamal Murray, Gary Harris, and Will Barton on the perimeter is on the shorter side among playoff lineups in the NBA today. It’s unlikely that Bol Bol or Michael Porter Jr. will play a major role this season, given that both are rookies and neither has enough playoff experience.

Still, for conversation’s sake, let’s analyze how a lineup with a frontcourt featuring Bol, Jokic and Paul Millsap would fair against the Bucks, Lakers, Clippers and Raptors.

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Slowing downhill momentum

The first thing to note about teams like the Bucks, Lakers and Raptors is that their key frontcourt players — Giannis, LeBron and Siakam, respectively — are players who make their biggest impact around the rim by getting downhill in a hurry. The sheer length of this frontcourt configuration for Denver would make it extremely tough for this trio of players to do what they do best, forcing them to shoot jumpers more often than they would like.

Giannis (30.6%), LeBron (34.9%) and Siakam (35.9%) all shoot below the league average from 3-point range, and while all of these stars are threats to take shots from the perimeter, none are remarkable jump shooters from anywhere on the court. If Denver’s lengthy trio could halt the progress of superstars in getting to the rim, the Nuggets would be in a great spot.

Zone defense

Now, in terms of being able to keep up with their forwards one-on-one on the perimeter, it’s difficult to see Millsap and Bol being able to keep up with the aforementioned star trio, as well as Kawhi. Still, length becomes a factor here because it’s not quite easy to get around a player with a large base or large wingspan. So long as they don’t get beat off the first step consistently, it shouldn’t be too much of an issue.

Employing more of the 2-3 zone defense that the Nuggets played in their first scrimmage could be a great tactical adjustment for Malone to make against some of these stars.

LeBron’s high basketball IQ and renowned passing ability will help him plenty in this instance, but he’s still going to have to deal with the extraordinary length of Denver and a first step that has slowed down significantly. Leonard’s methodical approach, well-rounded skillset and soft touch will help him, but he’s an athlete known more for his footwork than his first step.

Different configurations

Lastly, Denver’s frontcourt depth allows them to mix it up a bit, as 6’10” Michael Porter Jr. or 6’8” Jerami Grant could take Millsap’s spot in this hypothetical lineup. Plumlee, who is 6’11”, could take Jokic’s spot.

While the initial conversation was about how the Nuggets would fare against the other team’s starting frontcourt and specifically their star players with this wonky lineup, teams like the Clippers, Lakers and Raptors each have highly talented big men they bring off the bench. As previously mentioned, that player for the Raptors is Ibaka. For the Clippers, it’s Montrezl Harrell. The Lakers have Dwight Howard.

Still, no matter how Denver mixes it up, they’ll have enough length to contend with these teams’ big men and make it harder for their star players to get all the way to the rim.

There’s always the chance that an opposing team will figure out how to take advantage of Denver’s size. Small ball continues to run rampant throughout the NBA, and Denver’s tall ball approach may be met with some road bumps along the way. There’s also the potential for Malone to shy away from using these less traditional lineups once the Nuggets’ roster is at full strength. Still, it’s at least worth considering how these larger-than-life lineups can give them them upper hand against their main competition in the playoffs.

Fortunately for the Nuggets, they’ll play the Lakers, Clippers and Raptors in their seeding games. If they want, they’ll get to test their supersized lineups then.

The strengths and weaknesses of the Denver Nuggets heading into the NBA restart

2020-07-22T06:00:00-06:00

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Here’s who the Nuggets are at the moment

Today is the day of the first Denver Nuggets game in months. I’m excited. The players and coaches are excited. Fans are excited. The entire NBA world is getting ready to welcome basketball back into our lives for the first time since March 11th, 2020 when the league shut down.

Denver Stiffs has been asking and answering several questions pertaining to the NBA restart, all of which can be found here in the Bubble Questions story stream. The goal of these articles is to reintroduce fans to a Nuggets squad that had several questions left to answer this season. Those previews will continue until August 1st when the Nuggets take on the Miami Heat in their first seeding game.

As part of the SB Nation wide restart series, all NBA affiliated blogs of teams taking part in this restart are reintroducing the teams in unique ways. In this piece, let’s focus on the strengths and weaknesses of the Nuggets that make them a borderline title contender but may ultimately hold them back:

Strengths

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Nikola Jokic

It may be simple, but it’s important to remind everyone that Nikola Jokic is somewhere between the sixth and 10th best player in the NBA right now with potential to go higher. Very few teams in the NBA can speak to having a player of his caliber at the centerpiece of everything they do. Jokic IS the Nuggets, leading the team in scoring, rebounding and assists and making life easier for each and every player he plays with.

Despite contracting coronavirus while abroad in Serbia, it’s clear that Jokic is in the best shape of his life after reinvesting himself some time in early December of this past season. He brought a new mentality, a playoff mentality, to the Nuggets organization every single day, carrying an injured roster through difficult moments and proving himself at several points throughout the year.

There are very few players Nuggets fans would definitely rather have leading their team than Jokic, and based on the work and development Jokic continues to put in, that number moves closer to zero every single day.

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Offensive Ceiling

Jokic is the biggest part of the offense to be clear, but there’s only so much one player can do. He can turn any team into a top 10 offense, but it’s up to the supporting cast how high in the top 10 the Nuggets can climb. Jamal Murray is at the top of that list. He and Jokic are the only players with a usage rate about 25%, which puts a lot of shotmaking and playmaking responsibility on his shoulders. While the per game numbers didn’t rise from Year 3 to Year 4, Murray’s development was focused on his execution of the little things. If he continues to improve in that regard while finding his footing as a versatile star scoring threat, he will ascend to All-Star status.

Beyond Jokic and Murray, Will Barton, Paul Millsap, Jerami Grant, and Monte Morris have all offered steady contributions throughout the year as positive contributors on the offensive end of the floor. Barton is the stereotypical “Jack-of-all-trades” player that every team needs to fill multiple roles. Millsap and Grant have offered solid shooting, floor spacing, and other ancillary needs at power forward. Morris remains solid in both creating his own offense off the dribble and setting the table for other scorers.

Where the Nuggets ceiling really starts to take shape is identifying where they can improve. Gary Harris has regressed offensively for two seasons, but before the hiatus, it seemed like some shooting and explosiveness was coming back to him. The 2017-18 version of Gary Harris was one of the NBA’s young rising stars, and that version could still be around. If Harris were to find his three-point shot and creativity with the basketball again, the Nuggets starting unit adds a new dimension.

The other key element to this conversation is Michael Porter Jr. and his individual ceiling. Very few forwards come into the NBA at 6’10 or taller with the ability scoring and shoot effectively in the various ways he showed this year. His chemistry in the Nuggets rotation was taking root before an ankle injury derailed him, but the seed were there for a young star to take root. If the Nuggets can find him some time to prove himself in these seeding and playoff games, he may prove to the NBA world that the Nuggets have found another gem in the draft and are ready to compete at a high level offensively.

Versatility

A trait that would have appeared as a weakness in previous seasons, the additions of Jerami Grant and Michael Porter Jr. to Denver’s rotation have helped the Nuggets win games in various ways. From playing traditionally with four bigs in the rotation, to utilizing Grant and Porter as the only two bigs on the floor, the Nuggets have found combinations throughout the season they can utilize in a playoff series against the best in the NBA.

Against the Houston Rockets, the Nuggets may decide to go small when Jokic takes a rest. Grant and Porter have the combination of size, skill, and shooting to be impactful there. Against the Utah Jazz, the ability to deploy Torrey Craig and Gary Harris as defenders against Donovan Mitchell, Mike Conley, and Jordan Clarkson will be paramount to Denver’s success. Against the Los Angeles Clippers and Los Angeles Lakers, playing big with Grant and Millsap in the same lineup against Kawhi Leonard and Paul George or LeBron James and Anthony Davis will give the Nuggets a chance in either of those matchups.

Will they ultimately be successful in those matchups? It’s hard to tell, but the additions of Grant and Porter at least offer some optionality.

Weaknesses

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Big wing defense

It’s no secret that the Nuggets have a void of LeBron James and Kawhi Leonard defenders in their starting lineup. While Barton has made defensive improvements and both Harris and Millsap remain solid, none of the three have the blend of size and athleticism needed to match up with the pinnacle of the NBA’s elite. Harris and Barton are simply too small for players that will bully their way to where they want to go, and it’s difficult to believe that Millsap will stick with those players for a seven game series at 35 years old.

Craig offers some additional size and may be called upon early in games against the Lakers, Clippers, or even the Dallas Mavericks with Luka Doncic. Grant probably possesses the best mix of length and athleticism to deal with the aforementioned three stars. Unfortunately for the Nuggets neither of those two start for Denver, and placing them in the starting unit would be a unique wrinkle that the Nuggets may not be prepared for.

This is the ultimate issue. because how the Nuggets match up with big wings probably sets the bar on their championship ceiling. If the Nuggets can find a way to match up with those players across a seven game series, then they could very well join the championship race. If the Nuggets struggle to slow down the best of the best, then it will probably put too much pressure offensively on Jokic and Murray for the Nuggets to keep up.

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Youth and inexperience

While the Nuggets did vet themselves nicely in the playoffs last season and likely learned a lot about how to deal with difficult situations, their playoff experience still pales in comparison to that of the Lakers, Clippers, or Houston Rockets. Those teams have players that have gone deep into the playoff mix for several seasons, and most of them have done it together.

The Nuggets will head into their second playoff foray as a team. It will be the first for Michael Porter Jr., and his ability to grow up quickly is near the top of the list in ways the Nuggets can advance deep into the playoffs. Much of Denver’s playoff roster is the same, but it’s still a young roster overall. Jokic and Murray are still learning how to maximize their talents, and in a playoff series against LeBron James, Anthony Davis, and the Los Angeles Lakers, it’s totally reasonable for the Nuggets to fall short on the experience side of things.

Can the Nuggets overcome this factor? Can Jokic and Murray grow up to be the dynamic duo the Nuggets need them to be? Will the rest of the veteran roster bring it when called upon? Does Porter have a major part to play? There are several questions to figure out based on the overall playoff inexperience of this group, and answers will definitely be had in Orlando.

Add it all together, and do the Nuggets have what it takes to walk away from Orlando with a championship in hand? The answer is an emphatic maybe. So much of Denver’s story is yet to be told, and a lot of it will come down to how ready Jokic and Murray are to being the leaders on an elite team. If they step up and find a new gear as a tandem, then anything is possible.

There will be obstacles as outlined above, but theoretically, those obstacles can be worked around while mixing up the personnel on Denver’s roster and utilizing the versatility afforded by the additions of Grant and Porter. If those two can also find a new gear together, they will offer a nice change of pace from the steadiness of Denver’s starting lineup on both ends of the floor.

I wouldn’t bet on the Nuggets winning a ring this season, but I also wouldn’t count them out. All it takes is the right mix of talent, know-how, and execution at the right moment in time. If the Lakers and Clippers can’t find the right mix before the Nuggets, then there’s a real possibility the Nuggets advance deeper in the playoffs than anyone thought they could. And if they were to advance to the NBA Finals, it’s anyone’s guess at that point.

Five thoughts on where the Nuggets currently stand before their first scrimmage

2020-07-21T11:48:23-06:00

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The focus has been on the Nuggets roster for awhile, and missing players are about to be under the microscope

The Denver Nuggets have been in the bubble for two weeks now, and scrimmages are just around the corner. Tomorrow, Denver will play its first competitive basketball game as a team in over four months, going against a depleted Washington Wizards roster during the middle of the day. The games are less about Denver’s opponent and more about the Nuggets getting through it. With a reduced roster available, the Nuggets are in a pickle with regard to playing time.

Here are five general thoughts on the Nuggets before the season resumes in full:

Bol Bol is turning heads in practice

With Nikola Jokic late to the bubble and Michael Porter Jr. still on the outside, there were very few Nuggets players in the bubble that were also 25 years old or younger. Naturally, the conversation shifted to Bol Bol, Denver’s rookie 2019 second round pick. A high profile player and the son of NBA legend Manute Bol, the legend around Bol Bol starts with his physical profile and his ball skills while standing at 7’2. He may be skinny like his dad, but very few players in the NBA can shoot the way he projects to shoot at his size.

Nikola ➡️ Bol

You're welcome.#MileHighBasketball pic.twitter.com/k4ajF9Pen9
— Denver Nuggets (@nuggets) July 20, 2020

Being 7’2 with a wingspan over 7’8 has certain perks: jumping over everyone and doing things that seem impossible is one of them. The G-League highlights are there for everyone to see, and in those clips, Bol shot over everyone at the rim, in the midrange, and behind the three-point line.

Jamal Murray on Bol Bol:

“Bol’s talented. He’s just a mismatch anywhere on the court.”

“It’s good to see Bol out there playing the 3 right now.”
— Brandon Ewing (@B_Skip1717) July 20, 2020

It remains to be seen just how much Bol Bol will play in the scrimmages and seeding games after having not played an NBA minute all season. Letting the expectations creep too high could be an issue. In addition, there are some definite weaknesses in Bol’s fundamentals that will limit his playing time this season no matter what; however, none of that is as fun as seeing the 7’2 shooter and shot blocker run around the court for a little bit. With the Nuggets as shorthanded as they are, as long as Bol isn’t a risk for re-injury in this environment, I hope to see Bol deployed in a variety of situations to see where he excels the most.

Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic look great

At Murray’s media availability on Monday, the Nuggets starting point guard bragged a bit about clocking in at 216 pounds as a point guard, a good weight for a team that will need him to play physical on the perimeter AND interior. Murray is saying all the right things about his personal development, that he wants to use his frame to get to the rim and to the free throw line more frequently as well as being confident on the pull-up three. That sounds a lot like Damian Lillard, and Murray has the talent to make that comparison a reality if he dedicates himself.

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On the other side, Nikola Jokic is moving well in scrimmages and looks the part of a physically developed and skilled big man just about to hit his prime. The Nuggets knew what Jokic could be if he became dedicated to the best version of himself, and from the outside looking in, it appears that he’s hitting that level. I can’t wait to see what Jokic looks like in the new environment, independent of distractions outside the bubble and getting into playoff caliber focus over the next few weeks. This version of Jokic wins rings.

Other than Murray, Jokic, and Bol, there’s little to discuss about the bubble Nuggets

Will Barton and Jerami Grant placed a heavy focus on police brutality and racial inequality in their media interviews, Troy Daniels had a tough birthday, and the group just went to the driving range yesterday to hit some golf balls. Other than that, there’s been very little bubble content related to the other seven Nuggets that have been in the bubble since the beginning. Paul Millsap and Mason Plumlee have gone about their business, Noah Vonleh and Tyler Cook are still trying to find their way with this roster, and...that’s pretty much it.

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Gary Harris and Torrey Craig will offer important reinforcements

The Nuggets have a good mix of offensive and defensive focused players in Orlando right now, but positionally, they are light on guards and wings. There are enough power forwards and centers in Orlando to fill a deep sea fishing boat, but with only Jamal Murray, Will Barton, and Troy Daniels available to fill the guard positions, the Nuggets remain extremely limited in their personnel.

Gary Harris and Torrey Craig are about to arrive though, per a report from Kendra Andrews of The Athletic. That should give Denver’s guards and wings a little breather from time to time.

Craig provides a different dimension to Denver’s rotation that other players just can’t offer: size and physicality at the point of attack defensively. The Nuggets struggled in the regular season while Craig was out there, but in a playoff series where different factors are eliminated and offenses are simplified, having a strong point of attack defender is an important wrinkle. Murray and Barton can’t do what Craig can do out there, and that could be important from possession to possession.

Harris is perhaps the most important Nugget traveling down to Orlando in terms of evaluating his future. With Jamal Murray’s max contract extension kicking in next season and multiple important free agents on the open market, the Nuggets are about to be in a salary crunch. Harris, slated to make $39 million over the next two seasons, has seen his role reduced over the past two seasons, partially due to injuries and partially due to regression offensively. He’s still a solid defender and gives the Nuggets a true point guard defender in their starting lineup while he’s out there, but that may not be enough to save his roster spot next year, especially with Michael Porter Jr. waiting in reserve.

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Michael Porter Jr. and Monte Morris may not be ready to go

Today is July 21st. The Nuggets play their first scrimmage tomorrow and their first seeding game in 11 days (August 1st). The NBA bubble at large has progressed quickly from “getting players to Orlando safely” to “getting players ready to play.” Unfortunately, the Nuggets are still on Step 1, and even though Harris and Craig appear to be on their way in, that says little for the rest of the missing Nuggets. From Porter and Morris to PJ Dozier, Vlatko Čančar, and Keita Bates-Diop, the Nuggets are missing a lot of depth that will help them prepare for what’s to come.

I expect Monte Morris to be fine. Whenever he gets to the bubble, there will be a small adjustment period for the 25-year-old point guard wise beyond his years. His game remains very technical, and though the comfort level will likely take a bit, Morris seems like a candidate to perform well in this environment.

Porter is on the other end of the spectrum, and I worry about his ability to get assimilated into whatever the Nuggets are planning. Whenever Porter does arrive and get cleared, it will be hard to factor in his individual needs for development, cultivation of talent, and patience for big mistakes on such a quick turnaround. It’s clear that Porter is extremely talented, and the Nuggets won’t make a deep playoff run unless he’s involved in some way, shape, or form; however, the minutes he does play in readying himself for those moments are going to be fraught with low value shot attempts, turnovers, and missed defensive rotations.

If Malone can stay the course with Porter so that the rookie can show he’s learning and executing what the coaching staff wants him to do, it will give Malone more confidence in one of his most volatile players. The less time Porter has to recoup that confidence though, the less time I think Porter will play overall. That means the longer Porter is out of the bubble and away from the coaching staff, the less likely he plays extensive minutes (at least in my mind).

Hopefully, the Nuggets can get everyone to the bubble as soon as possible. Porter and Morris are important pieces for a championship run. If their effectiveness and playing time becomes greatly reduced, say goodbye to Denver’s championship hopes.