Anyone who watched the Denver Nuggets in the playoffs, or nearly any game last year, knows they need a defensive upgrade for the 2026-27 season. That's why there was some excitement amongst Nuggets fans about the hiring of new assistant coach Dave Joerger, who's regarded as a defense-minded coach. However, on the Nuggets' first day of training camp, head coach David Adelman threw a curveball. Apparently, Joerger was brought in for offense. Wait, what?
Yes, that's exactly what Adelman said. And it doesn't really make any sense unless the Nuggets' goal is to just kick the league's number-one offense into an even higher and more efficient gear. You know, that whole "your best defense is a better offense" type of mindset.
When Adelman was asked. "What's the role of Dave Joeger on the staff this year?" His response was clear as day.
"He'll help me with the offense...I know our offense has been really good for a long time. It's nice to have somebody with fresh ideas," Adelman said.
The Nuggets don't need offensive help. They need defensive scheming
If there's anything the Nuggets don't really need help with, it's more offense. They had the second-highest offensive rating in NBA history last season at 122.6 points per 100 possessions, trailing only the 2023-24 Boston Celtics at 123.2. They were highly efficient. The Nuggets finished with the 11th-highest points per game in league history at 122.1, despite ranking 21st in the league in pace.
Sure, the front office wanted Adelman to bring in a more seasoned, former head coach to lean on for advice. But it was widely expected that Joerger would assist with new defensive schemes as a way to improve the league's 21st-ranked defense, which was also dead last in transition defense.
Yes, Aaron Gordon missed most of the Timberwolves series and was out of the lineup for a majority of the season due to injuries, but his presence alone isn't the overall answer. The Nuggets had many games where they allowed too many easy buckets in the paint because of poor perimeter defense and a lack of scheming to help stop the flow of guards and wings on their way to a layup.
But here we are, at the start of training camp, getting hit with this coaching curveball. Perhaps Adelman will be right. Maybe the best defense for the Nuggets will be scoring more points efficiently on offense? And, just maybe, the Nuggets will be in better shape and health to play better defense. That seems to be the plan now.
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