DENVER \u2014 The Denver Nuggets\u2019 recent schedule has slid a soapbox under coach David Adelman\u2019s feet. The latest frustration came Wednesday \u2014 the night after a game in Philadelphia \u2014 in a rescheduled matchup in Memphis after the snow trapped them in Tennessee for a few days back in January. They lost to the woeful Grizzlies.<\/p>\n
Adelman specifically pointed out the number of back-to-backs they have this year when they switch time zones, although that is related to playing home games in a time zone that features just one other team. He said that the Nuggets\u2019 26 national television games put them at the whims of those set dates, although the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State Warriors, Oklahoma City Thunder, Houston Rockets and Minnesota Timberwolves have more in the Western Conference. In his mind, the addition of a major television partner makes the schedule less flexible.<\/p>\n
\u201cI know coach (Steve) Kerr has talked about a number of games to make sure the basketball is quality, which \u2014 I can see that. I agree with that,\u201d Adelman said Friday before his team beat the Toronto Raptors 121-115. \u201cOr if you want a traditional 82, for the history of the game, statistically (it) is important, I think they have to find a way to expand the calendar a little bit, in my opinion. I\u2019m saying that because of how I feel right now, because of what this has been like.\u201d<\/p>\n
Then he emphasized that he wasn\u2019t viewing the Nuggets\u2019 relative struggles through that lens.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s been a very inconsistent year (in) every way,\u201d Adelman said.<\/p>\n
Based on how hard they pushed the Thunder in the second round last year and their offseason moves, the Nuggets came into the season as a popular pick to win the title if there was no repeat. But they\u2019ve struggled in 2026, going just 20-18. They\u2019ve been only 11-12 since Nikola Joki\u0107, for so long the franchise\u2019s fulcrum, came back from a month-long absence because of a knee injury. He has looked, by his standards, just OK.<\/p>\n
That inconsistency also stands for the Nuggets\u2019 injuries. Among Denver\u2019s top six players in the rotation, only Jamal Murray has avoided missing significant time. Friday marked just the 16th time Denver\u2019s starters have played together this year.<\/p>\n
Regardless, their record since Joki\u0107\u2019s return is surprising. It has allowed the Lakers (45-25) to zoom past them, while Denver (43-28) battles with the Timberwolves (43-28) and Rockets (42-27) for the fourth through sixth seeds in the Western Conference.<\/p>\n
Finishing sixth might not be the worst thing, since it would leave the Nuggets on the other side of the bracket from the Thunder, barring the San Antonio Spurs reeling in Oklahoma City at three games ahead of them. It would also help Denver avoid the Timberwolves, who have been troublesome for the team in the past.<\/p>\n
That only matters if the Nuggets play the basketball they think they can. Their record since Joki\u0107\u2019s return is a bit deceiving since they have an adequate net rating of plus-3.8 points per 100 possessions over those games, not counting the Raptors game. They have lost five one-possession games in that span, plus another one in overtime. That in itself is weird, given Joki\u0107\u2019s presence usually guarantees superb clutch play.<\/p>\n
Joki\u0107 has turned the ball over 4.5 times per game since his return. He averaged 3.5 in his first 32. Adelman said teams have been putting wings on Joki\u0107 more often than big men, with Joki\u0107 unable to bring the ball up the floor as often and forcing the Nuggets to try to get him the ball in tight spaces. To that point, the Raptors put All-Star forward Scottie Barnes on Joki\u0107 to start the game. There was some evidence of the Nuggets forcing the ball to Joki\u0107<\/a>, although he had just two turnovers.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re looking for another reason for Joki\u0107\u2019s relative struggles, it could be that Friday was Aaron Gordon\u2019s sixth game since Joki\u0107 came back. A hamstring injury has dogged him all year.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Aaron effect is real in isolations and post-ups, just because if you (double team Joki\u0107, Gordon) basically absorbs the rotation,\u201d Adelman said.<\/p>\n \u201cI have to be careful with his minutes to make sure he\u2019s finishing the game. Barnes and Aaron were born to play against each other. We can try to inflate the minutes, but I also have to get him to the end of the season.\u201d<\/p>\n Gordon played 29 minutes against Toronto, the most he\u2019s played among the six since his most recent return, save for an overtime game against the Lakers. You can see why a healthy Gordon is so important to the Nuggets. Joki\u0107 has chemistry with everyone, but it\u2019s special with Gordon, who he throws deft touch passes to<\/a> as the burly forward rolls into the paint<\/a>.<\/p>\n Gordon is also a massive part of Denver\u2019s defense. There aren\u2019t many players who can make Barnes look like just another guy, but Gordon ceded no ground \u2014 in fact, the Raptor bounced off him and lost space on a drive attempt \u2014 in shutting him down on one possession<\/a> in the first half. He swallowed Barnes up in the final minute<\/a> after Joki\u0107 broke the game\u2019s final of eight ties<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt got to the end of the game, and it was like, \u2018All right, it\u2019s time to just have Aaron guard (Barnes),\u201d said Adelman, who used a more switch-heavy defense for much of the night. \u201cHe can take it in the chest, even with someone as strong as Barnes.\u201d<\/p>\n