Nekias Duncan and Steve Jones Jr. explain how Denver can navigate the loss of Nikola Jokic until he returns from his knee injury. Check out the full conversation on “The Dunker Spot” and subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.
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Video Transcript
I’ve been thinking about the Denver Nuggets here for a little bit.
Okay.
Obviously, they have had the injuries.
Nikola Jokic out, Jonas Valanciunas out, Christian Braun, Aaron Gordon back in.
And then they were not there.
No one was there against Philadelphia, and then they won.
And so, very quickly, shout out to the Nuggets for winning that game.
But I’ve been thinking, how do the Nuggets push through and survive this stretch without Nikola?
Joki?
Because it’s going to be key.
This is the Western Conference.
It’s unforgiving.
And so, if you are thinking about Denver, you’re thinking they may slide, They may fall into the play-in or whatever.
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Doomsday?
I don’t think they’ve hit that.
But they’re going to have to navigate different things during this stretch.
And so, if you’re a team that’s game planning Against Denver, why not fully game plan for Jamal Murray in a way that, Hey, yeah, we always talk about trying to limit what you’re doing.
But we’re going to up that ante.”
Jamal Murray is going to have to, He’s going to have to carry the torch during this program.
What I will say that helps Denver is the return of this version of Aaron Gordon.
The fact that he can and is empowered to do different things offensively.
This is not just Aaron Gordon as a screener, or Aaron Gordon in the dunker spot.
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No, this is Aaron Gordon attacking.
I can do attack matchups.
I can do all of these things, and I can get buckets.
Mm-hmm.
They’re going to need all of that.
It has been interesting to me, Kind of neat, but more so interesting, watching who else picks up the mantle of.
Oh, I need to attack more too.
I think, to your point, This is where Aaron Gordon is very important.
Peyton Watson has looked at this opportunity.
Like, “Let me show you what I can do.”
You are seeing, oh, He does have a little bit more of a handle than you thought.
Welcome back, Jalen Pickett.
I’m glad he’s looking at the basket because, Like, he can score.
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He can put the ball in the hoop.
Last thing I’ll say on Denver, a lot of zone since Jokic went out.
So if we’re talking about defensive answers, if they don’t want to go the super activity route, Keep an eye on the zone.
DaRon Holmes has been awesome, Short-roll playmaking.
He’s been very good.
I like that whenever Denver gets two.