Denver Nuggets vs Portland Trail Blazers: 10 Note-Worthy Takeaways
By Sam Mast
#4- Poor Perimeter Defense from the Nuggets Was Huge
Just halfway through the first, the Blazers were 5-7 from 3.
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All five of those shots were wide-open after the Nuggets collapsed the paint with help defense. Even though this can be mostly attributed to CJ or Damian’s drive and dish skill, the Nuggets looked uninspiring on defense. They seemed slow and at times confused as Portland whipped the ball around the court for multiple open three point attempts.
This is where Nurkic and Jokic on the floor has benefits, but also flaws. It seemed like the Nuggets were solid inside, but couldn’t keep up with the Blazers screens and ball movement. This can be extra deadly if a team is hot from behind the arc.
As the lineup changed in the second quarter, Denver started to make more defensive plays, steals, and blocks. That improved defense helped to gain a lead going into half. It also helped the Lillard took a seat for the night.
Overall, just a case of the Nugget showing their youth.
They showed strength inside, but perimeter defense may be the weakest part of the team. There were way too many wide open looks due to rotation confusions. The good news is this should get better with time, especially with Mike Malone at the helm.