The Denver Nuggets doubled down on their commitment to chasing an NBA title this season with two recent acquisitions in Bryn Forbes and DeMarcus Cousins. Forbes was acquired in a three-team trade from the San Antonio Spurs, while Cousins was a free agent signed to a 10-day contract.
The two were brought in to bolster a lackluster bench unit for the Nuggets, and each has a distinct role to play if the bench is going to show signs of life down the stretch. So far, the returns have shown promise, but there is plenty of work to maximize both players, individually and together.
Denver Nuggets: What has DeMarcus Cousins brought to the team?
Before the Cousins acquisition, the Nuggets desperately needed a big man off the bench. The combination of JaMychal Green and Zeke Nnaji simply wasn’t cutting it against teams with a true backup center. Luckily, Cousins has been a solid fit for the Nuggets’ reserve unit.
Above all else, Boogie Cousins has brought size to a bench unit that so desperately needed a true big man. Adding Cousins allows coach Michael Malone to pair forwards like Zeke Nnaji and JaMychal Green with Cousins off the bench, two players who were previously miscast as small-ball centers.
Cousins has had an impact as a screener, providing a legitimate pick-and-roll partner for Facundo Campazzo. While he’s not the lob threat that would ideally pair with Campazzo, Cousins is still a smart player who knows how to get to the basket and create ‘and-one’ opportunities.
Along with his screen setting, Cousins has been excellent as a rebounder averaging 6.3 rebounds in just under 13 minutes per game. Cousins has a notable advantage over most opposing bigs in the rebounding department and has been excellent for the Nuggets’ bench in that regard.
Finally, Cousins has brought an attitude to the bench unit that simply hasn’t been there all season. While Cousins has three technical fouls in his four games, including an ejection, his energy and presence on the court have had a positive impact on a bench unit that has often looked lifeless throughout the season.
What can Cousins improve on for the Denver Nuggets?
Cousins has excelled at big-man things for the Nuggets. His shooting, on the other hand, has been rough.
The Denver Nuggets signed DeMarcus Cousins after being released by the Milwaukee Bucks, and Cousins has unsurprisingly looked out of shape to start his tenure with Denver. Cousins even spoke on his own conditioning, saying he felt like he was playing with “two cement blocks” on his feet, per Harrison Wind, DNVR.
In his time with the Nuggets, Cousins is shooting just 62.5 percent from the free-throw line, to go with 27.3 percent from the field and 22.2 percent from beyond the arc. Cousins’ numbers are rough, but continued playing time and chemistry should help his scoring improve.
Additionally, Cousins has been in foul trouble early and often. In his four games with the Nuggets, he has 12 personal fouls, to go along with an ejection against the Brooklyn Nets. As his conditioning improves, so will his ability to protect the paint.
Overall, Cousins has been a serviceable big man off the bench for the Nuggets, something they desperately needed. As Boogie continues to play his way into shape, we should see his game improve little by little.
Denver Nuggets: What has Bryn Forbes added?
Bryn Forbes was acquired to provide the bench unit with a knockdown shooter that teams can’t afford to help off of. So far, Forbes’ has been up and down as a shooter, but there are certainly signs of promise for his future.
Forbes has provided a shooting threat to play in staggered lineups with Nikola Jokic, as well as with the bench unit. His threat and shooting gravity force teams to honor him when attacking screens, and he provides some much-needed spacing in the minutes that he plays.
The 3-point shot has admittedly been inconsistent, but I’ve been impressed with his mid-range game. His floater in particular is a legitimate tool in his bag, and gives him another option when teams inevitably close out on his jump shot.
Forbes also moves well without the ball in his hands. Like the other great shooters in the NBA, Forbes knows how to shake defenders by moving around the perimeter, and it’s something I’d like to see more of in his minutes moving forward.
What can Bryn Forbes improve on for the Denver Nuggets?
For whatever reason, the 3-point shot just isn’t falling at the rate Forbes is used to so far in Denver. Forbes is shooting just 35 percent on four attempts per game from 3-point range. As a career 40 percent 3-point shooter, I have plenty of confidence that the shot will come, but right now it just isn’t falling.
However, the Nuggets can help Forbes get cleaner looks from distance. Utilizing the dribble-handoff game between Forbes and Jokic would create excellent opportunities for Forbes. The same action can be used to generate great looks with DeMarcus Cousins and Zeke Nnaji off the bench.
Running designed plays utilizing multiple screeners will also help Forbes find open looks. Teams have focused on chasing Forbes so far, and adding additional obstacles to shake defenders, much like the Golden State Warriors do with Steph Curry, could unlock Forbes’ full potential.
More than anything, I want to see Michael Malone make a stronger effort to get Bryn Forbes open looks. Forbes isn’t going to create his own shot with the ball in his hands, so designing ways for him to get the basketball should be paramount for the Denver Nuggets.