Denver Nuggets: It may be time to end the Isaiah Thomas experiment

Isaiah Thomas was a two-time All-Star and MVP candidate in Boston, but he hasn’t quite looked the part for the Denver Nuggets. Is it time to close the book on the IT experiment?

It hasn’t been pretty lately. The Denver Nuggets finally got back in the win column after another three-game skid — their third of the season — but are still far where they want to be.

The issue: the second unit. More specifically: Isaiah Thomas.

I know, it’s unfair to blame one person for a team struggling — and it’s by no means all IT’s fault — but he’s played a big part.

Thomas has looked rusty to put it kindly. After missing 11 months recovering from hip surgery, Thomas hasn’t quite meshed with this second unit like the Nuggets — and their fans — hoped.

In his first two games back, he showed promise.

Against the Kings just before All-Star weekend, Thomas scored 8 points and dished out two assists. Just after the break, Thomas erupted for 16 points in 16 minutes against the Mavericks.

Across those two, Thomas shot over 47 percent from the field and 50 percent from behind the 3-point line.

In five games since, Thomas is averaging just 8 points per game on 34.6 percent shooting from the field and just 14.2 percent from 3-point range. In his last four games, he’s just 1 of 13 from beyond the arc.

He’s also averaging just under two turnovers per game while averaging only 16 minutes per contest.

He has the worst net plus/minus over 100 possessions on the Nuggets at -13.9 — more than twice as bad as Trey Lyles (-6), the next lowest regular.

But it’s not just Thomas that is struggling. The whole second unit has looked stagnant and out of rhythm.

Since IT returned, Monte Morris is averaging just 6.3 points, 2.3 assists and 2 rebounds per game, well off his season averages of 10.3/3.8/2.6. A big part of that is how much less he’s had the ball in his hands.

Thomas leads the Nuggets in usage rate at 30.7 percent. And naturally, as the backup point guard, Morris is taking a big hit because of that.

“I have to make sure when he’s out there with Monte, Monte’s still having the ball in his hands as well,” Coach Michael Malone said after the Dallas win, just Thomas’s second game back. “Because Monte is a playmaker, a facilitator and he’s been great for us this year.”

Morris has been widely regarded as the best backup point guard in the NBA this year and could probably start for a number of teams.

Morris, Malik Beasley and Mason Plumlee have shown they can — and will — contribute down the stretch.

Even Torrey Craig and Juancho Hernangomez played important roles early in the season — though those will probably continue to dwindle. Hernangomez has really struggled as of late and Craig has been an offensive liability.

It’s unknown how big IT has been in the locker room this season, but on the court he’s come up short.

And while he may continue to see minutes moving forward — whether it be because Malone thinks he can actually contribute or just because he respects him — if Thomas doesn’t perform his time has to be running out.

A game Friday against the Warriors is a good time for Malone to start experimenting with a playoff lineup — especially because a win ties the Nuggets with the Warriors for the top record in the West and gives them a 2-1 season advantage.

Thomas will likely play early, but if he doesn’t contribute he may find himself glued to the bench for the second half.