The Denver Nuggets have an incredibly difficult matchup at hand with the Golden State Warriors. The Bay Area natives check just about every box you look for in a championship contender and proved this in Game 1. Led by Jordan Poole, the Warriors shot the lights out. This effective shooting helped the Warriors secure a convincing 123-107 victory in the opening matchup.

 

This series is still far from over, but there are numerous adjustments the Nuggets need to make. The number of impressive shooters the Warriors have is frightening. It is clear that the Nuggets cannot win this matchup in a shootout, so they must find other ways to be effective.

With Game 2 set to tip-off on Monday, here are three predictions for how the Nuggets will adjust.

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Nuggets predictions for Game 2 vs. Warriors

Nikola Jokic Will Tally 10+ Assists

It is rare that Nikola Jokic receives criticism due to the Nuggets' incomplete roster around him, but the reigning MVP must be more involved as a passer in Game 2. The Serbian big man made headlines throughout the season for his eye-popping passes and the 7.9 assists per game he averaged. The Nuggets' offense is set up for there to be effective off-ball cutting and for Jokic to capitalize. It is a criticism of both the lack of movement and the passing, but this was not effective enough in Game 1. As a result, Jokic tallied just six assists, which tied for a team high.

Draymond Green did an excellent job on Jokic and many of his passing lanes were not there. The 25 points he added were solid, but he did not create enough for the offense otherwise. Look for the big man to get back to his high level of play and secure a triple-double to prove this.

Nuggets Will Outrebound Warriors

The Warriors are capable of outshooting the Nuggets, so Denver must prepare to prevent as many shot attempts as possible. One of the most important ways to make this happen is by locking down rebounds. The Warriors outrebounded Denver 41-35 and were able to grab 10 offensive rebounds in Game 1. The Warriors have a few solid rebounders on their roster, but this is a battle that is certainly winnable for the Nuggets if they make a few adjustments.

Denver was led in rebounding by Jokic, who tallied 10 in the game. This number may have led the game in boards, but it fell below his average of 13.8 on the season. He also will likely need help in this category. Aaron Gordon specifically would be an asset if he put more of a focus on the boards. Gordon’s athleticism will allow him to compete with the Warriors' big men and help give the Nuggets the edge. If the rebounding battle falls into place, it will help the Nuggets control the game better, so look for them to be focused on this in Game 2.

Bones Hyland Scores 20+

With it clear the Warriors are the more talented team, the Nuggets will need someone to step up in Game 2. Denver should be looking no further than Nah’Shon “Bones” Hyland. The rookie guard impressed and averaged 10.1 points per game during the regular season. It is rare for a rookie to receive extended postseason minutes, but this is likely what gives the Nuggets the best chance. Bones played 17 minutes in Game 1, slightly below his average of 19 minutes per game during the regular season.

Without Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., this Nuggets roster lacks guys who can get really hot, but Bones checks this box. Hyland knocked down three or more 3-pointers in 19 games this season. The rookie had a perfectly average night in Game 1 as he tallied 10 points on 4-of-10 shooting. He also was just 2-of-7 on his 3-point attempts. The volume he attempted was encouraging moving forward. Bones is a shooter, so the somewhat disappointing performance should not shy him off in any way.

The Nuggets will need a spark in Game 2, and Bones Hyland is very likely to be that guy. The 21-year-old is one of the most entertaining young players in the league and has proven to be prepared for whatever is thrown his way. Look for Bones to get hot and provide the scoring punch that the Nuggets are in search of in Game 2. It is never a good position to go down 2-0 in a series, so it is important for the Nuggets to make these corrections now and hopefully pick up a much-needed road win before the series shifts to Denver.