More than 20% of the Nuggets’ season is in the books, so it’s fair to draw some conclusions and take the data from this sample size at face value. And one thing that sticks out is that despite an emphasis on three-pointers and better spacing, the Nuggets are still in the bottom 10 in three-point attempts per game.
Their offense is incredibly efficient, largely thanks to Nikola Jokic's brilliance, but if they can increase their three-point volume, there’s potential to become an all-time elite offensive juggernaut.
The Nuggets were in the bottom five last season in three-point attempts and made threes per game, despite shooting a high percentage, and it was clear they were losing hte math battle and leaving food on the table. It was clear in the offseason that the team wanted to improve in this regard, bringing in guys like Tim Hardaway Jr. and Cam Johnson, and empowering Jamal Murray, Christian Braun, Aaron Gordon, and others to let it fly more frequently.
We’ve seen it in bursts, but overall, not nearly enough. Denver is 24th in the league in three-point attempts per game, and they’re making just 12.9 a night. The part that’s the most frustrating is that they’re shooting 38% from long range, third best in the league. They have guys who can create these shots, and guys who can make them, yet they’re not taking nearly enough.
Shooting more threes would raise ceiling and floor for Nuggets
It’s tough to nitpick because the Nuggets’ offense is incredible, and the source of very few of their issues. But the reality is that this unit could be even better and more versatile. More threes would give them a higher floor and ceiling, and give them more margin for error in other areas of the game.
That’s going to be important when we get to the playoffs, and Denver is battling with elite teams every night. It’s going to be tough to pull out battles night after night against teams like the Thunder, Rockets, Lakers, and others. They’re going to need every advantage they can get, and hamstringing themselves by not maximizing their shot diet can become a hindrance.
It’s a small tweak, and not something that requires a major change in strategy or scheme. The Nuggets’ best shooters just need to be a little more willing to shoot the ball. We’ve seen the Nugget dominate teams with their offense in a lot of ways. If they can add three-point barrages to the mix, they can become close to unstoppable.