Denver Nuggets: Observations from the Utah Jazz loss

This year has been a whirlwind for the Denver Nuggets as they try to batten down the hatches and make it through to the light in the distance, the 2022 NBA playoffs. Through COVID-19 protocols and injury woes, Denver has stood tall with their MVP Nikola Jokic leading the way.

Currently towing an 18-18 record into a matchup with the Sacramento Kings, there is room for improvement with the Nuggets but expectations remain high around the locker room and with the coaching staff.

Jokic is doing things Mile High Basketball has never seen before, let alone the rest of the NBA. Along with Jokic’s ascension to the upper-echelon of elite NBA performers, out of the ashes and into the sky, Will Barton and Aaron Gordon have risen to join our phoenix on his journey through rough weather, roster confusion and injuries in the hopes of claiming an NBA championship.

Let’s have a look at how the Nuggets lost altitude against the Utah Jazz despite a dominant performance from the MVP.

Jokic has simply been on a tear and there is no stopping him now. With at least 22 points scored in each of his last six games, it seems Jokic is impossibly getting better as this season progresses. His offense is nearly automatic at this point, and he has found an extra gear defensively as well, throwing in two crucial blocks last night against Utah for good measure.

Jokic continues to impress and there is now an added vibe of anxiety with this Nuggets team as fans have to watch Jokic do the unthinkable every night only for Denver to pull off a .500 record to this point.

Questions start to swirl about durability and realistic expectations as some fear Denver is putting too much on Jokic’s post-holiday plate. The Nuggets will continue to need the services of players like Aaron Gordon, Will Barton and Monte Morris, not to mention maybe adding a piece via trade, to keep the fires burning as Jokic’s engine continues to pump out horsepower.

After the game, the Serbian sensation took the time to welcome a new PR member during Jokic’s post-game press conference. Another example of the humility and humble nature Jokic still embodies and exudes. Jokic brings a sort of peace to the halls of Ball Arena and to the Nuggets’ locker room. It’s a total flip from the tenacity he shows on the court. The game seems to be coming easy to Jokic right now. The ball is finding him in ways it only does for the greatest rebounders the game has ever seen. Players like Kevin Garnett and Kevin Love come to mind when comparing Jokic’s recent rebounding prowess.

The deactivation of Rudy Gobert and Hassan Whiteside helped fuel Jokic’s dominant night at Ball Arena against the Jazz, and the return of Monte Morris and his long distance abilities made it easier on Big Honey as he worked against a combination of Udoka Azubuike and Rudy Gay inside for most of the night.

The Nuggets had no answer for the flaming fingers of Bojan Bogdanovic, however, as he ripped off a season-high 36 as the Jazz forged ahead and extended their road winning streak to ten games.

The next step for Jokic and the Nuggets will be finding some consistency as votes continue to pour in ahead of the NBA All-Star break. Jokic is a near-lock to make the 20 Feb. spectacle, as he trails only LeBron James out west in fan voting for the frontcourt.

Jokic and the Denver Nuggets will have their sights set on the Sacramento Kings tomorrow, a team Jokic has notoriously tormented but has yet to tangle with in the 2021-22 season. A team that boasts the likes of Marvin Bagley III, Alex Len and Harrison Barnes to clash with Jokic’s beautiful work on the boards recently.