Unfortunately, the Denver Nuggets are wandering down a path that’s all too familiar to other teams around the league. That path, of course, is the one taken by committing to Russell Westbrook last offseason.
The franchise was in a tough spot; they had just lost Kentavious Caldwell-Pope in free agency, they had no cap space to replace him, and no draft assets to swing a trade either. They badly needed depth and rotation players to fortify a roster that had lost a lot of talent since winning the title in 2023.
Nikola Jokic had just won the MVP Award and the team had an obligation to be competitive and put the best possible team on the floor around the Joker. The stars aligned, and out of necessity and convenience, Russell Westbrook ended up signing in Denver on a veteran minimum contract.
There were plenty of critics and naysayers who didn’t believe the signing could work. Doubters referenced the way he flamed out with the Lakers and then the Clippers, proving to be unplayable once the playoffs started.
But for all the negativity, Westbrook came in and proved to be an excellent addition almost immediately. He brought a spark and a burst of energy to the team, and built a sort of mind-meld with Jokic, creating an elite two-man game that was hard for other teams to stop.
He was plugging a lot of holes for the team and it looked like he had finally found a home and a way to be a productive contributor to winning now in this late stage of his Hall of Fame career.
Teams now daring Westbrook to shoot and he’s taking the bait
But since returning from injury and retaking his place on the bench, there has been a dramatic shift in the way teams are defending Russ. This was the fear all along and exactly why his last few teams ultimately gave up on him.
Teams have shifted their defensive gameplan, notably the Lakers and Celtics recently, essentially ignoring Westbrook and using his man as a floater to patrol the paint and constantly double-team Jokic. The result has been a wide open runway for Russ and a loaded shot diet.
Opponents have identified Westbrook as the player whose offense they’re willing to live with. Russ has proven incapable of helping himself and he’s truly never seen a shot he doesn’t like. It’s a perfect storm because the Nuggets need shooting and players who won’t hesitate on offense.
Westbrook fills that void to a tee, but the problem is that he’s not a good shooter. The book has long been out and teams are shifting into the mode where specific gameplans more closely resemble a playoff setting.
Teams are playing off of Russ, hoping to make him the focal point of the Nuggets’ offense and he has shown that he’s more than capable of shooting the team out of games. In the team’s last three losses, Russ has attempted 13, 13, and 17 shots, which is way too many.
When Jokic and Murray are playing at their peak, the Nuggets look like a playoff contender. But when teams focus on limiting those two and make Denver play through others, they look extremely beatable. Unfortunately, guys like Christian Braun (who has played great), Aaron Gordon, and even MPJ can get tentative and hesitant at times.
Russ, to his credit, has no such issue, but if anything, he is overconfident. He truly can only play one way, and if he sees an open shot or an advantageous position, he’s going to be aggressive. When it works, it looks good. But more often than not, we’re seeing Russ monopolize the offense and drag the team down with him.
There’s no clear pivot for Micahel Malone. He needs the minutes and veteran bench presence that Russ provides, but he can’t afford to lean on him heavily once the playoffs start. It’s becoming a major issue for the team and it’s not going away any time soon.