The Denver Nuggets have started this season 8-4 despite Jamal Murray's continued absence from an ACL injury and a troubling Michael Porter Jr. back injury cropping up. This has been a really impressive feat for Nikola Jokic and Co, and the hope is Murray and Porter will be back down the road to help make this team a legitimate championship contender.
But this Nuggets squad is showing they can have a lot of success even without two of their best players. There are a few reasons why this team is so good despite the adversity.
Why the Nuggets are awesome despite key injuries
1. No. 2 defense in NBA
The Nuggets haven't exactly been known for their defensive prowess in recent years. Jokic, Murray, and Porter are known for their offensive explosiveness, but their current squad has been flourishing on the defensive end as well, ranking No. 2 in defensive rating.
Jokic has vastly improved when it comes to pick-and-roll coverage and switching. Teams used to take advantage of his slow feet on defense, but that's not happening as much anymore. Former Nuggets assistant coach and current Washington Wizards head coach Wes Unseld Jr. was known as the orchestrator of the defensive schemes of the Nuggets. He was able to constitute a system to mitigate the weaknesses of the main players on Denver.
Along with Jokic, the two Greens in JaMychal and Jeff are two tough wings who aren't pushovers. Aaron Gordon, who was acquired last season, has been tasked to defend the best forwards every night, while other players like Facundo Campazzo and Will Barton have also been important to the defensive success.
2. Nikola Jokic is replicating his MVP season
Even with his drop in assists, Jokic has still been impeccable every single night for the Michael Malone-led squad. He has even increased his rebounding to a massive 14.1 boards a game while shooting close to 60% from field. With the aforementioned defensive numbers, Jokic has even raised his steal and block numbers from the previous year, highlighted by his game-saving block on Jae'Sean Tate.
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The Nuggets are currently the third seed in the competitive Western Conference despite the issues with the roster. The leadership of Jokic has been phenomenal as he maintains a conscious effort of keeping his teammates involved, which consistently increases their confidence and awareness on the floor.
Even with his tremendous performance, Jokic still has facets of his game he will improve on as he continues to wreak havoc on the rest of the league. His FT% and assist numbers have dropped, but Jokic will likely reach similar numbers from the previous seasons.
3. Career year for Will Barton
Barton has been carrying the load offensively for stretches this season, especially when Jokic is struggling or sitting on the bench. His games played have dwindled over the last few seasons because of injuries that affected his production as well. Fortunately, Barton has been healthy this season, and his stat lines and impact have been immense for the Nuggets.
Barton's averaging a career-best 16.4 points, 4.1 assists, and 1.3 steals. He is known for his offensive prowess, but he has also showcased new facets in his repertoire. Malone has been playing Barton for over 30 minutes almost every game, and he has been consistently been delivering. This was highlighted by his 30-point outing against the Indiana Pacers.
Even with the duo of Jokic and Barton manufacturing and creating offense for Denver, their role players are having spurts with unexpected brilliant contributions as well. Struggling on offense could happen on any given night, but with the second-best defense in the Association, this approach proves that Denver will be a serious contender in the playoffs, especially when Porter and Murray come back.
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