The Denver Nuggets’ slow starts have led to struggles and more minutes for their starting lineup. They are off to a 2-2 start and have won back-to-back road games in back-to-back days. Both contests went to overtime where the Nuggets escaped with victories. Nikola Jokić‘s massive production helped the Nuggets survive both games with wins. After scoring 40 points against the Toronto Raptors on Monday, he dropped a historic triple-double against the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday.
Denver Nuggets Need to Prevent Slow Starts
Poor Defense to Start Games
Getting off to a good start is what makes good teams great. So far, the Nuggets have done the exact opposite. Through their first four games, they have been outscored in every first quarter, with their opponents averaging 32 points in the first quarter. The Nuggets have averaged only 24.8 points in the first through those contests. Going into the second quarter trailing by an average of seven points is far from ideal for the Nuggets.
Their second-quarter defense has not been much better, as they allow teams to average 28 points in that quarter. Giving up an average of 60 points per first half has set them on the wrong foot starting games. With them trailing at halftime in every contest, it is a recipe for disaster if the trend continues. The starters have set a poor tone to the games, as they have looked lackadaisical. The bench hasn’t helped either as they have been atrocious in games, especially in the first half. They have allowed several runs to the opposing teams, which have allowed large first-half leads.
Their second halves have been better, as they allow 112.8 points per game to their opponents in regulation. That means they limit their opponents to only 52.8 points in the second half, which is more reasonable for a championship-hopeful team. Translating their solid second-half minutes across a full 48 minutes will lead to less stress on their starting lineup. It could also increase the chemistry of the bench unit.
Heavy Minutes for Starters
With the Nuggets heading into every second half with a deficit, their starters are averaging more minutes per game than ideal. Jokić averages 39.0 minutes per game, currently fourth in the NBA. Jamal Murray and Michael Porter Jr. are fifth and eighth in minutes per game. Having three starters within the top ten of all players in minutes per game does not bode well over the length of a season.
Last season, the Nuggets had all five starters in the top 85 for minutes per game. It was one of the biggest reasons why the Minnesota Timberwolves knocked the Nuggets out in the second round of the playoffs. Fatigue had caught up to them. The last thing the Nuggets need as championship hopefuls is another year that the bench fails to provide enough relief for the starting lineup.
Losing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope to the Orlando Magic in the offseason has given the Nuggets depth concerns. It led to Christian Braun sliding into the starting lineup. He was among the few impactful bench players in the past two seasons. So far, the Nuggets’ bench is the third-worst in scoring through four games. They average 13.0 minutes per bench player, the second-lowest in the NBA. They desperately need their bench to step up and relieve some of the duties off of the starting lineup. If the Nuggets bench can’t find their groove, the front office might need to look for alternate solutions through trade or free agency.
