With Denver fully healthy now, they now have encountered a new dilemma.
The Denver Nuggets are once again back at full strength. One would think that is a good thing and with good reason. However, this has now created a new problem.
There is now less touches to go around. Yes, that is correct, in a weird, twisted, way, the Nuggets are almost too deep.
With Gallinari coming back with Chandler, the other options are now seeing the rock less and less. As a result, some of the main go-to options are not getting the numbers they are accustomed to. Look at Nikola Jokic since the end of the All-Star Break.
He has suddenly went into a slump, but if you watch the games, you will see that he simply isn’t getting the opportunities like he used to. On top of that, Juancho Hernangomez, who was killing it while the Nuggets were short-handed, has now seen his production step back a notch.
Denver Nuggets
Hopefully this does not hinder his development too badly. Now, this is not to say that guys like Gallinari, Chandler, and Barton are solely why we have lost the last 2 out of 3 games. I am a big fan of those guys as well. However, just like when we pounce on young Emmanuel Mudiay for not performing well, we must hold everyone else accountable.
Gallinari and Chandler are not playing as well as they were earlier in the season. Gallinari may be the team’s leading scorer, but keep in mind his shooting percentage was only at 37.5% in the loss against Memphis. Chandler on the other hand has really seemed to have take a step back. Not just offensively, but defensively as well.
This may just be a case of a veteran getting tired lat in the season, but after the All-Star Break? I have no idea what is going with these guys, but the Nuggets need to start distributing the ball effectively again to get their players adequate touches.
With this, many more wins will follow.