The Denver Nuggets' defense has been a major area of concern ever since Aaron Gordon exited the lineup with a hamstring strain in the team's November 21 win over the Houston Rockets. Since that date, the Nuggets have limped to just a 3-3 record after starting the season 11-3.
Worse yet is that Denver is dead last in the NBA in defensive rating over the last five games with both Gordon and Christian Braun sitting on the sidelines. With Gordon in the lineup this season, Denver’s defensive rating sits at roughly 114.8, a mark that still gives them competitive standing.
But since both the aforementioned guys have been out, the Nuggets’ defense has cratered. Recent lineups missing both posted a -23.8 net rating and have allowed opponents to score at a blistering rate. This sharp drop-off in performance is a telltale sign that without their key defensive wings, Denver's roster’s flaws are being exposed.
Gordon’s two-way versatility makes him arguably the Nuggets' most important guy on defense. He provides rim protection, switchability, perimeter cover and enough shooting to keep defenses honest. Without him and Braun, Nikola Jokic is forced to carry much more defensive burden, often guarding poor matchups or scrambling to compensate. That wears down even a great big man over time.
Denver's defense has been lacking without Aaron Gordon
Recent losses have exposed just how thin Denver’s defensive margin is when its key wings are unavailable, and we know that defense has long been the foundation of every serious title contender. With the Nuggets slipping from a top-five defense to “bottom-five” performances in the last few contests, their formula for a deep postseason run is cracking.
Opponents are increasingly attacking the paint and forcing Jokic into tough defensive assignments. This is a recipe that wears teams thin over the course of a full playoff series. The offense is going to continue thriving, but defense is what wins championships. At this rate, Denver risks becoming a high-scoring team that can’t close out tight games under pressure.
Gordon is set to miss four to six weeks in total. His return is going to help things, but it won't solve the entire equation. The Nuggets are lacking enough reliable, high-level two-way wings to routinely stop opposing teams.
What looked like a deep defensive rotation before has turned into a patchwork defense that's vulnerable on every mismatch. This is a structural problem that looks worse given the circumstances. Until Gordon returns, there's no clear solution on the roster. Denver can survive short droughts offensively, but they can't weather an extended stretch of defensive breakdowns, and that's what they're facing right now.