The Denver Nuggets put on an impressive performance to close out the Portland Trail Blazers in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. They now will face off against the Phoenix Suns, who have been one of the best teams all year long. It'll be a tough battle, as both rosters match up rather well against each other. The Suns are favored to win though, which means Denver will need someone other than Nikola Jokic to step up.
Michael Porter Jr. has been a solid contributor this year, taking a huge leap in production in his third year in the league. He's proven to be a consistent asset for the Nuggets offense, as he has the ability to score at will. Between him and Jokic, the Nuggets should be able to keep up with the red hot Suns.
With Jamal Murray out of the lineup, Denver has been able to maintain high-level basketball. It's been impressive, to say the least. However, if they hope to defeat the Phoenix Suns and move onto round three, they're going to need a third scoring option on the court to work alongside Porter Jr. and Jokic. With that said, here is the Denver Nuggets X-Factor in the 2021 NBA Playoff matchup against the Phoenix Suns.
Aaron Gordon
Aaron Gordon has to be considered the X-Factor for this series, as he can be the piece that elevates the Nuggets overall. After being traded right before the deadline, Gordon's production took a hit. It was expected though because when he was on the Orlando Magic, he was more of a focal point of their offense. On Denver, Gordon is more of a third to fourth scoring option.
Even so, he's been a tad inconsistent since joining the Nuggets. In his first 25 games this season with the Magic, Gordon was shooting 37.5% from three-point range, making him a respectable shooter from deep. In his next 25 games with the Nuggets, Gordon's three-point shooting has dropped to 26%, which is well below the league average.
Gordon will need to improve his range in this series, as the Suns can light it up from deep. His three-point shooting could prove to be the difference, as Jokic is going to need help to achieve the upset.
He's been good for the Nuggets, but not great. Denver has to find a way to get him going, as Gordon can be a huge mismatch in this series. We watched Jae Crowder struggle to guard LeBron James in the post. The Nuggets likely took note of that, as Gordon's known to be an enforcer down low. His athleticism makes him dangerous on the fast-break, as he plays above the rim.
With the potential mismatch advantage at the power forward position, utilizing Aaron Gordon to his fullest extent should be in the game plan. However, it's up to him to follow through and play at a high level. This is Gordon's chance to show Denver why they traded for him halfway through the regular season. If the Nuggets can get him going, life will be quite a bit easier for Nikola Jokic.
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