NUGGETS REACTION

Nuggets embarrass with worst defensive effort in 34 years

Dec 27, 2024, 10:22 PM

DENVER—For the second time in a month the Cleveland Cavaliers (27-4) proved they were simply on another level than the Denver Nuggets (16-13), thumping the defenseless Mile High City crew 149-135 on Friday.

The Nuggets had no answers for the NBA’s top-ranked offense led by a two-guard and two-big attack. While Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland preyed on the perimeter, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen pounded Denver in the paint. It resulted in the most points the Nuggets have allowed in any regulation game including the playoffs since the 1990-91 Paul Westhead run-and-gun teams who famously didn’t defend. The mark is a sore contrast for the current Nuggets, who have achieved it twice this season while still trying to pride themselves on defense.

“149 points and 23 made threes is not going to cut it,” Michael Malone said after the game. “When we’re at our best, we have tremendous discipline, we have tremendous fly around, multiple effort, mentality and great communication. And we’re not defending well, we’re not disciplined, we’re not communicating, and we have very little multiple effort. And I think you don’t have to be a member of Mensa to look at us and to see which team we are on any given night. And that’s the unfortunate thing.”

The fact is it’s the fourth time this season a team has made more than 20 threes in a game against the Nuggets, something that didn’t happen once in the 196 games Kentavious Caldwell-Pope was on Denver’s roster. As much as Malone can’t really talk about it—and while he is right that the effort was lacking against the Cavs on Friday—the Nuggets have a dire roster construction problem. The Nuggets do not have a player who can cut off the water of an attacking guard.

“When it’s that high volume pick and roll you need your ball handler against the likes of Garland and Mitchell, pull-up three-point shooters, to be able to navigate that screen and fight over and get great rear view pursuit. And sometimes we do a good job of that, and other times we struggle,” Malone said. “The big difference this year from last year is that we’re still not making and taking a lot of threes, but we’re giving up and allowing so many more made threes, and that differential is crucial, and I think playing a big part in some of our struggles.”

The Nuggets season high for makes in a game from three this year is 18. They’re not a heavily dependent three-point shooting team and haven’t been most of the Nikola Jokic era. But this year the team has been basically lapped. In last place, they’ve taken 109 fewer deep shots than 29th-place Philly. The gap from the 76ers to the middle-of-the-league Hawks is 109—showing just how big the disparity in shooting Denver is facing. But that was basically true last year when the Nuggets were last in the pack in shots from deep. The change is that the Nuggets allowed the second-fewest threes per game on defense last season and now they’re a woeful 24th.

“We’re getting outplayed for a good chunk of minutes, and now we’re climbing back into the game, and that’s exhausting,” Jamal Murray said. “Even when we do bring it, sometimes it’s not enough. It wasn’t enough tonight. It’s too good of a team to dig yourself a 20-point hole and try to climb.”

The Cavs went on a 21-2 run late in the second quarter that gave them a double-digit lead that eventually ballooned all the way out to 21 points. Murray’s return to a stronger offensive game going for 27, Michael Porter Jr. starting off the game as a flame-thrower and another Nikola Jokic triple-double for 27 points, 14 rebounds and 13 assists are all just not enough when the defense lacks.

Mitchell had a game-high 33 points on 17 shots, making six triples. Mobley slashed in four triples for 26 points. Garland cashed two threes for 25 points. All the while the non-shooting Jarrett Allen collected 10 boards and added 22 points. It’s all just too much to keep up with, even if Denver is shooting 50% from three on 30 attempts and scoring 135—the Nuggets just don’t have the defense now and maybe not at all this year.

Nuggets Reaction

Denver Nuggets general manager Calvin Booth prepares to speak wtih memebers of the media about the ...

Jake Shapiro

Calvin Booth and Nuggets still not certain on GM’s future

The general manager of the lone title team in Denver Nuggets history, Calvin Booth, is out of contract at season's end and there's no indication about the executive's future

2 days ago

Michael Porter Jr. #1 of the Denver Nuggets plays the Cleveland Cavaliers in the fourth quarter at ...

Jake Shapiro

Calvin Booth has clear message about past MPJ trade rumors

The Denver Nuggets never got close to breaking up their Core Four ahead of Thursday's NBA Trade Deadline, per the man in charge Calvin Booth

2 days ago

Jonas Valanciunas #17 of the Washington Wizards rebounds against the Denver Nuggets during the seco...

Jake Shapiro

Report: Nuggets wanted trade for big but instead Denver’s picks got him to another team

The Nuggets lost out on bringing a solid veteran center to the Mile High City on Wednesday when the Sacramento Kings swooped to get Jonas Valanciunas

3 days ago

Kevin Demoff, KSE...

Jake Shapiro

Avs and Nuggets are finally back on TV, KSE apologizes

The bosses at KSE and other key figures announced an agreement between the sides ending a nearly six-year stalemate

4 days ago

Yves Missi #21 of the New Orleans Pelicans goes to the basket against Michael Porter Jr. #1 of the ...

Jake Shapiro

Malone drops big hint about Nuggets NBA Trade Deadline plans

If the Denver Nuggets are not going to deal their Core Four before Thursday's NBA Trade Deadline

4 days ago

Russell Westbrook of the Denver Nuggets...

Jake Shapiro

There’s no timeline for Russell Westbrook’s return

The Denver Nuggets lost two rotation players over the weekend to injury and it could be a while before we see Russell Westbrook again

5 days ago

Nuggets embarrass with worst defensive effort in 34 years