The Denver Nuggets fell to the Phoenix Suns in Game 1 of the series after losing the game 122-105. The Nuggets had no answer for the Suns' backcourt, and Deandre Ayton elevated his game against Nikola Jokic. Denver kept it close in the first half, but the Suns eventually ran away with it.
Some obvious adjustments must be made if the Nuggets hope to keep this series competitive. The Suns finished as the number two seed for a reason, so Denver has their work cut out for them. However, the Nuggets have the 2021 MVP winner in their rotation. Nikola Jokic will give Denver a fighting chance no matter what.
Even so, Jokic came off as average in Game 1. He still led his team in scoring, but it just wasn't enough for Denver to keep the game close. Additionally, they struggled to get to the free-throw line, which prevented the Nuggets from playing their style of basketball. On top of that, the Suns' backcourt took over the game and Denver seemed to not have an answer for Devin Booker and Chris Paul. With that said, here are three adjustments the Nuggets must make for Game 2.
Get Jokic going early
Nikola Jokic is undoubtedly the best player in the Nuggets lineup. Since Jamal Murray's injury, “Joker” has essentially played like a point-center for his team. However, he seemed to struggle in Game 1 as the Suns did everything they could to lock him up. He still scored 22 points and recorded 9 rebounds, which bodes well for Jokic's potential to improve for Game 2.
If Denver hopes to even up the series in the next game, they have to prioritize Jokic in their offense. Getting him going early and often will put him into a rhythm throughout the evening. Deandre Ayton is a fantastic defender in the paint, so ensuring Jokic is hot early on will only benefit Denver on Wednesday night.
Generate more free-throw attempts
Denver went 5/6 from the free-throw line on Monday. That's it. The team as a whole shot six total free throws. That is incredible discipline by the Phoenix Suns, as they played solid defense without fouling. Getting to the free-throw line has to be near the top of the priority list for Denver, as it's a great way for them to even up the mismatches.
Considering the Nuggets took advantage of the Portland Trail Blazers' foul troubles in the first round, the coaching staff has to find a way to generate that game plan again. Doing this would also put some of the Suns' players into foul trouble, which could pay off late in the game.
Antagonize Chris Paul
Chris Paul did whatever he wanted in the first game. He finished the night with 21 points, 11 assists, and 6 rebounds. Paul was playing at peak performance, which lifted Phoenix in the second half. Denver has to find a way to slow him down, otherwise, they could be going home sooner, rather than later.
In the first round, the Nuggets switched Aaron Gordon on Damian Lillard to create a defensive mismatch. Lillard still put up an insane amount of points, but Portland wasn't as efficient once that defensive adjustment was made. Look for the Nuggets to make a similar move in Game 2 against the Suns, as slowing down Chris Paul could be enough to gain an edge in this matchup.
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