Gilbert Arenas recently shared his thoughts on the Denver Nuggets during an episode of his show, ‘Gils Arena’, expressing concerns about the state of the defending champions. According to Arenas, the Nuggets have not improved and have even taken a step back following some key departures. He believes this could be problematic for the team as they aim to defend their title.
“If I’m the coach, I’m a little concerned because, as the champs two years ago, we didn’t get better last year, right? And then we lost some key pieces that helped us. Yeah, we brought in some new pieces, but I don’t think they’re valuable enough.”
“When we bring in Westbrook, who is he passing to? Where are my shooters, right? A team like this needs shooters. You’re relying on Jokic to be Jokic, but you don’t need defenders sitting in the lane saying, ‘All right, shoot the ball over there.'”
“Meanwhile, there are teams out there that got better. So they probably say, ‘Oh yeah, we’re still top three in the West,’ but are we better than some of those teams in the East at this moment? Because if they play Philly in the Finals, we know Jokic is going to get a triple-double, but we also know Embiid will probably average about 40.”
“We know that, and Denver is not going to win that series if Embiid is averaging 40. Now you’ve got Paul George, Maxey, and the rest of that team. Jamal Murray is going to do his thing, and the young guys will too, right? The only thing Murray has to his advantage is he’s a gamer in the clutch.”
“So if it comes down to the last two or three minutes, he’s going to have the advantage over Maxey—the experience. But for the most part, that’s going to be an even matchup. Now you have Embiid and Jokic canceling each other out. So if you’re the coach over there, you’re really concerned. We didn’t get enough pieces.”
“We didn’t get better last year… We lost some key pieces that helped us… If they did play Philly in the Finals… Denver’s not gonna win that series with [Joel] Embiid averaging 40, & now you have Paul George.”
— Gilbert Arenas 👀
(via @GilsArenaShow)pic.twitter.com/UOpcPz713c
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 14, 2024
Gilbert Arenas pointed out the loss of crucial role players like Bruce Brown and Jeff Green, both of whom played significant parts in the Nuggets’ title run. He emphasized that the players who replaced them might not be as impactful, which could weaken the team overall. He also noted the importance of shooters around Nikola Jokic, the team’s superstar center, and questioned whether the team has enough spacing on the floor.
This concern stems from Jokic’s style of play, which thrives on ball movement and outside shooting. Losing key shooters and role players may make it easier for opposing defenses to focus on Jokic, hindering the team’s offensive flow.
Arenas also compared the Nuggets to other top teams in the league, specifically in the East, such as the Philadelphia 76ers. He imagined a potential Finals matchup between the Nuggets and the 76ers and expressed concerns that Jokic and Embiid would likely cancel each other out, leaving Denver vulnerable.
He further compared Jamal Murray, the Nuggets’ star point guard, with Philadelphia’s rising star, Tyrese Maxey, noting that while Murray has more experience and is clutch in critical moments, the two players are fairly even overall. Arenas underscored that the rest of the Sixers’ roster, including Paul George and others, could tilt the balance in Philly’s favor.
From a broader perspective, Arenas’ critique resonates with the fact that the Nuggets have lost more than they’ve gained in terms of their roster. Bruce Brown’s versatility and defense were crucial during their title run, as was Jeff Green’s veteran presence. Their loss leaves significant gaps that may not be filled easily, even with Jokic playing at an MVP level. And while Westbrook’s addition could help in some ways, his fit with a roster that thrives on spacing and ball movement remains uncertain.
Looking back at last season, Denver was one of the best teams in the league, finishing second in the Western Conference with a 57-25 record. However, their playoff journey ended earlier than expected, as they were eliminated in the second round by the Minnesota Timberwolves. After losing the first two games of that series, Jokic led a fierce comeback to win three straight, but the Nuggets ultimately lost in Game 7 after a shocking collapse, surrendering a 20-point lead at home.
This offseason hasn’t brought much comfort to Nuggets fans either, as they lost more key pieces like Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Reggie Jackson. While Westbrook could provide a spark, Arenas’ concerns about the lack of shooters and depth remain valid. Nonetheless, with Jokic, the best player in the world, still on their side, the Nuggets remain a threat. Having the best player gives any team a great shot at making a deep playoff run, even if the supporting cast isn’t as strong as it once was.
In essence, Arenas’ message is clear: while the Nuggets still have the star power to compete, their roster is not as formidable as it was during their title run, and they might face an uphill battle in the coming season.
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