The Denver Nuggets’ offense has produced impressive statistical numbers this season, maintaining high efficiency even when Nikola Jokić is not on the court. Their offensive rating is among the best in league history, reflecting strong overall scoring ability. However, viewers have noticed potential issues when watching the Nuggets try to run their usual half-court offense, centered around the high pick-and-roll and two-man game late in matches.
Defensive Issues Often Overshadow Offensive Concerns
While much of the criticism surrounding the Nuggets focuses on their inconsistent defense—particularly their lack of rim protection without shot-blockers like Aaron Gordon and Peyton Watson—the offense has also shown vulnerability during crucial moments. In late-game situations, opponents intensify their defense, often double- or triple-teaming both Jokić and All-Star Jamal Murray, resulting in the Nuggets’ offense stalling and turnovers increasing. This has kept opposing teams competitive in games Denver should otherwise dominate.
Turnovers and Predictability Highlight Offensive Difficulties
Jokić’s individual turnovers have been notable in recent losses and narrow wins. For example, he committed seven turnovers in a home loss to Cleveland and nine in a win against Memphis before the All-Star break. Although Jokić nearly achieved a quadruple-double in the latter game, the turnovers detracted from the overall performance. This raises questions about whether Denver’s offensive scheme has become too predictable and in need of adjustments.
Longstanding Offensive Approach Under Malone and Adelman
For most of the last decade, the Nuggets have employed the same fundamental offense under former coach Michael Malone and rookie head coach David Adelman. The offense primarily funnels through Jokić, who often positions himself near the three-point line in the half-court, facilitating a pick-and-roll with Murray. The scheme offers options to pass out to shooters on the wing, like Michael Porter Jr., or to cutters such as Aaron Gordon near the basket.
Is Consistency Leading to Offensive Staleness?
While this straightforward approach has yielded strong statistics—largely due to Jokić and Murray’s elite talent—it may have become easier for opponents to prepare against. Interestingly, Denver won 10 of 16 games during Jokić’s absence while deploying a more unpredictable offense, featuring increased ball movement and diverse late-game shot creators, which opponents found harder to defend.
Comparison to Successful Ball Movement Philosophy
Traditionally, top coaches emphasize ball movement over excessive dribbling. Legendary Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, for instance, rarely encouraged dribbling, instead using his star center Tim Duncan as a hub near the paint while circulating the ball around the perimeter—a style that contributed to five NBA titles between 1999 and 2014. Contrastingly, the Nuggets lead the league in dribbles per possession, especially through Murray and Jokić, who often dominate the ball while their teammates remain relatively stationary.
Impact of Jokić’s Passing and Its Consequences
Jokić’s exceptional passing skills enable him to find open shooters frequently, contributing to his high assist totals. Yet, many of these passes lead to turnovers, highlighting a downside to the current offense. When opponents apply heavy defensive pressure with double- or triple-teams, this predictability allows them to force mistakes such as bad shots, turnovers, or even shot-clock violations, undermining Denver’s offensive flow.
Potential Adjustments to Enhance Late-Game Production
Although it is unrealistic for head coach David Adelman or the organization to overhaul the high pick-and-roll offense midseason, minor strategic tweaks could provide alternative scoring options, especially in crunch time. Having additional players step up to punish teams for focusing their defense on Jokić and Jamal Murray could prevent the offense from stalling and reduce turnover risks.
The Importance of Refining, Not Replacing, the Offensive System
Denver’s offense remains effective but is showing signs of strain when faced with intensified defensive strategies. Addressing these issues through small adaptations rather than a complete overhaul may help the Nuggets convert more late leads into wins, improving their chances of sustained success during the season.
“If it ain t broke… that doesn’t mean it can’t still stand a little fixing.” – David Adelman, Head Coach
