Nuggets Suddenly Must Find Way To Be Something More Than Just All Nikola Jokic, All The Time

Denver’s start has been, well, a bit of a reality check. Two wins in four NBA games might not sound the alarm, but the way the Nuggets arrived at those wins should be giving fans some pause.

Both victories required late-game heroics and overtime against teams not exactly penciled in as contenders.

Yes, Nikola Jokic is doing what Jokic does — putting up NBA MVP numbers almost casually — but he’s also openly acknowledging the team’s shooting woes. His blunt honesty about Denver being “just average shooters” outside of Michael Porter Jr. and Jamal Murray is eye-opening.

The departure of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, as Michael Malone has lamented, left a noticeable void in their shooting and defensive reliability. They’re high on Christian Braun, and rightfully so—the 23-year-old has nearly doubled his scoring while shooting a stellar 53.8%.

Braun’s size and hustle bring a certain grit, and his clutch three against Brooklyn Tuesday didn’t go unnoticed. But elevating him to the starting lineup has depleted the second unit, leaving them reliant on Russell Westbrook — a great player, but one who has been erratic at best with his shot so far.

As one scout told ESPN, the Nuggets’ bench is “at Russ’ mercy,” and that’s not necessarily where Denver wants to be.

Then, there’s the matter of Murray and Porter, both of whom are off to a sluggish start by their standards. Porter’s shooting from deep only woke up against Brooklyn, and Murray’s numbers are down, seemingly confirming Malone’s preseason concerns over player conditioning.

Even Jokic, as much as he continues to dominate, isn’t quite in his peak form, though his production — 31.5 points, 12.3 boards, and 9.3 assists on 57% shooting — is nothing short of ridiculous.

For Denver to solidify its status as a contender, they’ll need more than just Jokic’s brilliance. The question is whether Murray and Porter can shake off this early-season malaise, and if Braun’s promotion to the starting lineup can hold up over the long haul.

Right now, it’s on them to figure it out fast because the West doesn’t give anyone time to catch their breath.