What has happened to the Denver Nuggets to start the season? They look like a shell of themselves from last year, and you've got Nikola Jokic even telling the fans to stay home if they don't like the product on the court. One of the problems the Nuggets are having that's causing them to get blown out and fall behind early in the last two games was a strength last year: three-point shooting. But it, along with the team's energy, has gone into hiding. Send out the search party!
The Nuggets were embarrassed at home by the Golden State Warriors, and they got booed again at home late in the 134-114 loss at Ball Arena. And one of the main reasons is that the Nuggets can't knock down a three.
The Nuggets were the best and most efficient three-point shooting team in the NBA last year, connecting from downtown at 39.6%. But through three games this season, the Nuggets are only making threes at 31.1%, ranking just 23rd.
The Warriors shot the lights out, making 22 threes, 50% of their 44 attempts, while the Nuggets made just 10 of their 29, for 34%. They won't win many games losing that many points from beyond the arc.
The Nuggets desperately need Cam Johnson back
It's bad enough that the Nuggets lost one of their best volume three-point shooters, Julian Strawther, until the start of December due to a knee sprain he suffered in the preseason. But they've also lost Cam Johnson in the starting lineup due to ankle sprain over the last 2 1/2 games, and it's been noticeable. Johnson provides key spacing because of his sniper-like 43.0% accuracy from downtown last year. Teams can't leave him open, or he makes them pay.
Plus, Cam is superb at moving without the ball. He finds open space and helps draw that defender around with him, allowing more space for Jamal Murray and Nikola Jokic to work on the DHOs and two-man game. It also allows more space for Aaron Gordon in the dunker spot and Christian Braun to find a cutting lane.
But you can see the last two games that the Nuggets are like fish out of water without Cam. It's baffling to some degree, because you would think that Jokic and his high basketball IQ would have a way around it. But he's been atrocious himself from beyond the arc, and teams are basically daring him to shoot now. He's shooting threes at just 21.7% over the first three games, well off his career average of 36.1% and way short of his 41.7% from last year.
Needless to say, if the Nuggets don't start knocking the three down again, they're likely to lose more games until they do. Hurry back, Cam!
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