The Nuggets’ defense has been one of the biggest surprises across the NBA early in the season, but DNVR Sports’ Adam Mares threw a bit of cold water on the hot start. On a recent appearance on the Athletic NBA Daily Show, Mares explained how most of the credit for Denver’s strong defensive showing has been a scheme change.
Opponents have become so accustomed to the Nuggets’ defensive coverages in pick and roll with Nikola Jokic on the backline that they’ve been slow to adjust and have been attacking them in the wrong way.
David Adelman talked about coming in and switching up the coverages and schemes on the defensive end, leaning into a more aggressive and physical game plan. The results have been good, but Mares cautions that the word will get out and teams will start scouting and game planning differently for the Nuggets.
Once those adjustments start taking place, it’s unlikely that the Nuggets can sustain an elite defense, as we’ve already seen a drop-off in recent games.
Is Nuggets' elite defense sustainable?
Other keys to the defensive success that Mares pointed to were the schedule, luck, and the added depth. The schedule speaks for itself, as the Nuggets haven’t had to face many elite offenses to start the season.
Luck has more to do with some outside factors, like opponents shooting a very low percentage on open shots against Denver. Generally, those things even out over the course of a season, and with some regression to the mean, the Nuggets are likely to face some hot shooting at some point.
The depth is the part of the defensive success that seems most sustainable as the minutes of the starters are down from recent years, which allows everyone to give just a little bit more effort when they’re on the floor.
With a new scheme, added energy and buy-in, some scheduling luck, and some shooting luck, the Nuggets have gotten off to an impressive start on the defensive end. But will any of that translate once the games really matter?
The argument in favor of the Nuggets would be that, oddly, they almost seem to play better in those contests against elite opposition. Jokic has shown he’s at his best when fully locked in, mentally. In the biggest moments of the biggest games, they have been able to get it done on defense, historically.
With improved depth and personnel, there’s reason to believe the Nuggets will be better equipped to play good playoff defense than ever before. While teams will have had time to adjust to the new scheme, the Nuggets’ players will as well.
If this team is healthy and firing on all cylinders, their defense in the playoffs should be more than good enough to help this team win another championship.