3 encouraging takeaways from Denver Nuggets start to the 2022-23 NBA season

Denver Nuggets’ Starting five and clutch time

I was perusing through some stats the other night regarding the Denver Nuggets’ starting five and how the closing lineups have played so far through the first 19 games of the season. The Nuggets are exceptionally dominant when they have their best five on the floor, which in this case would be Murray, Jokic, Porter, Gordon, and KCP, who have outplayed opponents by a +17.2 net rating in the 172 minutes they appeared this season.

The bench production is a different story for them, but Denver is one of the best teams when their starting five is active. Namely, the Nuggets starters have appeared together on the court in just 575 minutes so far placing them in the bottom ten in the league. However, they have been the team with the best per 100 possessions stat in those 575 minutes having a +5.9 net rating.

Denver is also prevailing in other advanced statistical categories with their starting lineup active. In fact, they are fourth in REB% (52.5%), fifth in AST% (66.5), and second in AST/TO (2.12) among the 30 NBA teams this season.

In addition to putting together winning performances with its starters, Denver seems to be comfortable in the closing minutes of the games when the stakes are high as well. The Denver Nuggets are the best defense in the league in clutch time, allowing just 82.7 points per 100 possessions.

Their offense might still have some work to do given their poor 103.7 Offensive Rating, but the Nuggets have been a different team in the final minutes of close games so far. Denver has a 6-2 record in eight games which ended up being close and they have a net rating of +21 per 100 possessions in 37 clutch minutes.

Let’s not forget that clutch minutes are defined as “minutes when the scoring margin is within 5 points with five or fewer minutes remaining in a game.” So, having a winning record in close-fought contests will be a vital component for the Nuggets later in the season when the team will have to go against the best of the best in the playoffs.