What will be the Denver Nuggets’ best five-man lineup?
By Sean Carroll
Denver Nuggets five-man lineups: Jokic-Gordon-Jeff Green-Dozier-Campazzo
The theory behind this lineup is to get defensive stops and hope the 2021 NBA’s Most Valuable Player and best offensive center in the league carries you hard enough on offense. I feel like that’s a pretty safe bet.
The issue with Denver’s best offensive lineups is how many holes they have on the defensive end. Michael Porter Jr. was targetted on that end against Portland and Phoenix in the playoffs, Jokic is fine, and Barton has been known to be beaten off the dribble.
It’s completely fine playing those three as they all make it up on the other end of the court, but if Denver really wants a stop, this is the lineup of choice.
We saw how switching Aaron Gordon out on perimeter players helped tremendously in the playoffs, this lineup has three solid wing options with AG, Jeff Green, and P.J. Dozier.
Related Story. How using Aaron Gordon on Damian Lillard helped the Nuggets win the series. light
Facundo Campazzo puts a ton more pressure on ball handlers and if the rest of the lineup is long and switchy, he’ll eventually find a lose ball somewhere.
Malone doesn’t have to go full defense all the time, but it’s nice to know if he truly wants a near full-defense lineup that could hold its own on offense, he has one.