The Nuggets opened the second quarter with a nine-point lead. Two minutes and eight seconds later, it was gone. After the game, head coach David Adelman called that defensive sequence "horrendous." He's not wrong, and it's been happening more frequently, and the Nuggets have been losing. Is it time to panic?
The Nuggets dropped another one at home, this time to the Minnesota Timberwolves, 117-108. The Nuggets have now lost nine of their last 15 games. Their poor performance is no longer a blip. It's a concerning pattern now.
The Nuggets are just 5-8 since Nikola Jokic returned from a 16-game absence. Jokic hasn't been playing his best basketball, but that's not the reason the Nuggets haven't been able to correct the slide.
One of the problems has been the defense and the hole that has become the second unit. This game was no different. The start of the second quarter allowed the momentum to shift to the T-Wolves, and it never came back.
The second team didn't come to play
Adelman didn't hold back his feelings after the game. "It was inexcusable," he said. "I have to find a unit that will do it. Compete at a higher level." Those aren't confidence-inspiring words about the Nuggets' bench. But he's right to call it out.
The Nuggets have made a habit of falling behind when Jokic leaves the floor. Jonas Valanciunas has been atrocious as his replacement. He's got the lowest defensive rating on the team at 119.2. And it feels that way every time he comes in.
Adelman's going to have a problem filling that hole. But thankfully for him, the team is about to receive a huge boost that will make or break the season.
The Nuggets are about to have their opening night starting five back
The Nuggets are only days away from the return of Aaron Gordon, and not a moment too soon. The Nuggets are 17-6 with Gordon on the floor this year, and 20-18 without him.
Gordon's defensive prowess is exactly what the doctor ordered for the reeling Nuggets. With Gordon, the Nuggets have a top-five quality defense, but without him, they're in the bottom five.
Gordon's presence will surely be welcomed in the clutch, too. The Nuggets are just 1-6 in their last seven clutch games. Getting your best defender back can only help. We'll get our first chance to find out just how much help it is when Gordon returns after March 5th.