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2 Takeaways: Denver Nuggets @ Los Angeles Lakers

By Kevin Oestreicher

LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 6: The Denver Nuggets huddle up during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 6 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 6: The Denver Nuggets huddle up during the game against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 6 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 6: The Denver Nuggets looks on against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 6 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MARCH 6: The Denver Nuggets looks on against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 6 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

The bench unit continues to struggle

No one expected the Nuggets bench to struggle for this long. Once considered the strength of the team due to it’s immense depth, Denver’s bench has struggled to find its footing ever since the All-Star break.

Unfortunately, that trend didn’t change against the Lakers. A unit of mostly Denver bench players coughed up most of their 23 point third quarter lead, and the starters had to come back in and finish off the Lakers in the fourth quarter.

Isaiah Thomas has been a real question mark for this Denver team. He is an important veteran presence, has past success in the league and has playoff experience. However, his play on the court has been far from what the Nuggets imagined it would be.

Thomas finished the game with four points on two of five shooting, including 0-3 from three point range. He also missed his only two free throw attempts of the game. While he is still a good player and certainly just needs time to get back into form, he doesn’t seem to fit the Nuggets style of basketball. Monte Morris has seen a drastic drop off in his production ever since Thomas returned, and it’s beginning to look like Thomas could start to lose playing time if he and the bench continue to struggle.

However, the struggles of the bench go far beyond Thomas. Mason Plumlee hasn’t been his usual self, Malik Beasley has seen a drop off in production (he went 3-10 from the field against the Lakers), and Juancho Hernangomez and Torrey Craig haven’t stepped up to be a viable backup power forward in the absence of Trey Lyles.

dark. Next. 2 big things for the Nuggets to win games down the stretch

The Nuggets need their bench unit to produce soon, or else it could be in trouble come playoff time.

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