The Denver Nuggets slumped to a 104-109 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers yesterday, going 0-2 to start the season after their 102-87 loss to the OKC Thunder to open the season.
Nikola Jokic is still performing at a high level but there are a multitude of issues across the roster that might indicate their championship window has already shut. Jokic spoke to the media after their second loss, imploring everyone on the team, including himself, to play better,
“Just because I scored 40 today, that doesn’t mean I played good. I think we need to be better. I don’t think we need to question my patience, because I’m with the guys. I’m not separate from them, so just because I scored a lot doesn’t mean I played good or bad, I think we all need to play better.”
The media also asked Jokic if there was a deadline by which he wanted the Nuggets to find a solution for their problems, with the three-time MVP frankly responding that the solution should already be there with them.
“Probably yesterday.”
Jokic has averaged 28.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, and 8.5 assists to open the season, continuing on the high level of play that helped him win the 2023-24 NBA MVP award. While he’s not even remotely in contention for the MVP right now due to the team losses, his performance will ultimately stack up as some of the best in the NBA.
Winning is the ultimate goal and the three-time MVP likely doesn’t care about trying to win a fourth until he wins a second NBA title. The loss of Kentavious Caldwell-Pope this offseason is affecting the franchise heavily, with youngsters Christian Braun and Julian Strawther unable to prove they’re starter-caliber players.
Additionally, Russell Westbrook has been an unmitigated disaster through the first two games, averaging 4.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 3.5 assists on 11.1% from the field.
The front office has completely dropped the ball with team-building and now Jokic and head coach Michael Malone will have to figure out a way to bail them out.
Nikola Jokić on his patience:
“Just because I scored 40 today, that doesn’t mean I played good…I don’t think we need to question my patience, because I’m with the guys. I’m not separate from them…I think we all need to play better.” pic.twitter.com/qWvY0jWh7G
— DNVR Nuggets (@DNVR_Nuggets) October 27, 2024
Nikola Jokic Complained About The Team’s Lack Of Shooting
The best way to maximize a playmaking big man like Jokic is to surround him with 3-and-D players who can reliably make open outside shots while ensuring they’re defensively locked in enough to hold their matchup and play help defense if needed. That identity has slowly ebbed away from the team since their 2023 titles, characterized by the departures of Bruce Brown, Jeff Green, and Caldwell-Pope.
After their loss to the Clippers, Jokic openly complained about having a team with just two competent shooters.
“I mean, we don’t shoot the ball really well. We are not a good shooting team. Except (for) Mike [Porter Jr.] and Jamal [Murray]. All of us are kind of streaky. Not streaky, but you know, just average shooters. We have something else, we can probably be better and have advantages in some other areas.”
Michael Porter Jr. is the only career 40% three-point shooter on the franchise, with Jamal Murray having the second-highest 3P% with 38.0%. There really is a complete lack of shooting outside these two, made worse by the presence of players like Braun, Westbrook, and DeAndre Jordan on the bench.
The Nuggets need to make roster tweaks if they want to have a hope of contending this season, but an upgrade might not be on the horizon unless the team trades Michael Porter Jr. or Jamal Murray.
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