The Denver Nuggets have fell into a slump and one way to remedy this is to correct the starting rotation.
The starting rotation consisting of Mason Plumlee at the five and Nikola Jokic at the four has been less than stellar. And that is putting it lightly.
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If Coach Malone wants this team to get back on track before Paul Millsap returns, he must find a different starting lineup. Mason Plumlee is not starting material and Nikola Jokic has always struggled at the power forward spot. He did not excel there when Jusuf Nurkic was in the Mile High, so why would he be able to shift there now?
Ever since Malone implemented this lineup, Jokic has struggled and had games where he has struggled to get into double figures. Mason Plumlee has been more of a detriment than he has been an asset lately and there are plenty of other potential lineups Malone could use instead.
Why not bring Trey Lyles up to the starting power forward spot? He he has been remarkably efficient and has been a great stretch four for the Nuggets. Not to mention, it would shift Jokic back to his natural spot at the center position.
Not only that, but the Manimal, Kenneth Faried, is also hungry for some minutes. He has had his fair share of starting power forward experience, so it may not hurt to allow him to start the game alongside the Joker and provide better spacing than Mason Plumlee does alongside Jokic.
Something needs to change soon if Denver wants to get back to winning on a consistent basis. That thing may just be a starting lineup change and Malone needs to be willing to take a chance on one of the aforementioned players.
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Paul Millsap still is out for a few more weeks, so they still have a ways to go before he can come fill the power forward void.