This roller coaster ride of a Denver Nuggets season took another downturn on Christmas Day as the team fell in disappointing fashion to the Phoenix Suns110-100. It was a lackluster effort by a team that has looked good lately, but nobody showed up on Christmas.
It didn’t help matters that the NBA had an amazing slate of games on the day; four straight battles with almost every team looking good and every game going down to the wire. This was the dream scenario for the league with every eyeball on these nationally televised, standalone games and the stars and teams all delivered.
That is, until it came to the Nuggets. They weren’t completely putrid and didn’t lay an egg or make the game unwatchable; they kept it close until the very end. But the Nuggets never really got into a rhythm at any point during the game and there wasn’t a time when it felt like they were locked in and playing their best basketball.
They looked disjointed and uninspired at times and downright frustrated at others - especially Nikola Jokic. The Joker put up 25 points and 12 rebounds in this one but had just 2 assists; partially a result of the Suns’ defense but partially a result of his teammates missing or passing up a lot of good looks.
Jokic's visible frustration with teammates becoming common sight
It’s concerning to see Jokic so visibly upset so frequently this season, but it’s completely understandable. He’s played arguably the best basketball of his career but the supporting cast around him is thin, short on experience, and perhaps most damningly, short on talent.
One player can only do so much, and Jokic certainly has done more than one could reasonably expect. But it’s not a great sign that even with Jokic playing his heaviest minutes load, and averaging a 30+ point triple-double on a nightly basis, the Nuggets are just 16-12, in a three-way tie for 5th place in the Western Conference.
That’s a scary thought considering just how well Jokic has been playing. He can’t keep this up all season, nor should he have to. His frustration is understandable. Jamal Murray has not been anywhere close to good enough for a second option - or even a third option. Aaron Gordon is now injured again. Michael Porter Jr. has been solid but hearing his name in trade rumors every day may be getting to him.
And maybe the biggest issue of all, the young guys just may not be ready for prime time yet. This was Calvin Booth’s big offseason bet and so far it’s not looking great. Christian Braun had a start to the season but he has tailed off big time and has been bad on both ends; not even closing games on a nightly basis.
Julian Strawther hasn’t provided enough scoring and shooting punch and he has been brutal on defense, while Peyton Watson has struggled to do much of anything on the offensive end. Zeke Nnaji, Jalen Pickett, and Hunter Tyson aren’t even playable.
This is an ugly situation and it could be headed for a disaster if things don’t turn around. Jokic has been as good a leader and role model as anyone could expect, but everyone has a breaking point. Seeing him get so upset, seeming to check out of games, and hearing some of his blunt comments after games is cause for concern. The Nuggets need a change before things spiral out of control.