Denver Nuggets seal the deal.
The Denver Nuggets are back atop the Western Conference, like we said they could be. How about those Denver Nuggets?!
After losing the last time the Denver Nuggets met the Spurs, the Denver Nuggets got sweet, sweet, revenge. However, like last time, the Denver Nuggets had some struggles against the Spurs.
So why the different outcome and what can we learn from last night’s game? We take a closer look at the answers to those questions next.
Plays in the 3rd That Cost Denver
The Denver Nuggets have already proven that they know how to win games on both sides of the floor. By the end of the first half, the Denver Nuggets led the San Antonio Spurs by 61-47.
However, in the 3rd quarter things fell apart for the Denver Nuggets with the score being 28-17 in that quarter, making for a total of 78-75 in Denver’s favor.
Denver Nuggets
Putting it simply the Denver Nuggets game was a tight one because of Denver’s lack of production in the 3rd quarter. Some plays that particularly hurt the Nuggets in the 3rd quarter were the wide open 3 Derrick White got around the 10.39 seconds mark. Then at the 5.58 second mark, Derrick White gets a put-back dunk (off of a mid-range jumper by LaMarcus Aldridge) that was caused by a missed box out by Jokic.
Next on a fast break, at around the 3:45 seconds mark Torrey Craig passes the ball to Monte who then tries to pass the ball to Jokic but subsequently turns the ball over which ended up in a dunk for DeRozan. In retrospect, Monte would have been better off giving the ball right back to Torrey. It is the rare play where Monte acted without being sure and he subsequently paid the price.
Shortly after, Jokic has the ball down low and starts to go to work but Bryn Forbes leaves his man and makes a blind side steal that ends up in another (fast break) Derrick White dunk.
At that time, Jokic was basically on an island, taking on the Spurs single-handedly. This is obviously something that Jokic is very capable of doing. However, with the rest of the Nuggets barely able to see the play, it was impossible for Jokic to receive warning of Bryn’s presence.
On this occasion, Jokic should have been more patient and attacked when his team was ready to attack too.
Next with about a minute left in the 3rd Marco Bellinelli misses a shot that results in an easy fast break lay-up for Malik Beasley. Unfortunately for the Nuggets, they take too long to get back on defense and the Spurs retaliate with a fast break of their own.
Again, ideally, during this play Trey Lyles dips back to protect the basket proactively if help is needed. Instead, Lyles stays put and has more ground to make up when he eventually helps and ends up with a great view of a dunk.
Practically the same thing happens to Lyles after LaMarcus blows by Beasley for a dunk as the 3rd quarter comes to an end.
Denver Nuggets Have Some Work To Do
The bright side of all of this is that it shows that the Denver Nuggets are actually in control of their fate.
Even against a team like the Spurs that have made things somewhat difficult for Denver. However, the reality of it all is the Denver Nuggets still have a ways to go when it comes to facing the Spurs. There is plenty of evidence that shows the Spurs made some mistakes of their own last night.
Chief of which was San Antonio’s performance from the charity stripe. In a game decided by a mere 3 points, the Spurs missed 9 points from the free throw line, scoring 11 of 20 free throws.
Moreover, despite the difference in outcome. The Spurs managed to shoot a similar percentage (44.9%) from the field as their last meeting (46.7%). One of the main differences was that the Denver Nuggets shot 45.9% from the field instead of the 38.9% they shot last time.
That is good news for sure, however, as this season has proved, the Denver Nuggets are better off relying on their defense.
Currently, Denver is still sending the Spurs to the free throw line too often. Giving up 20 free throws last night and 22 free throws the time before that, respectively.
A long story short, the Denver Nuggets need to address the defensive errors alluded to above. Being number one is amazing, but championships are won in the playoffs. Denver’s surefire way of winning a championship, is to relentlessly pursue progress.
Complacency, resting on their laurels is a recipe for disaster. The Denver Nuggets must never settle and continuously work on their weaknesses if they truly hope to bring a Larry O’ Brien to the Mile High City.