With their star Jamal Murray’s health being uncertain, and their Western Conference rivals being even more menacing than anticipated. Murray played in Game 5 and poured in 32 for the Nuggets to secure the series win. However, he re-aggravated a calf injury in the previous game which is cause for concern given his long injury history. Furthermore, Kentavoius Caldwell Pope‘s injury in Game 5 presents possible challenges for the Nuggets. The Nuggets haven’t looked quite like themselves, and have a bumpy road defending their 2022-2023 season title.
Denver Nuggets Bumpy Road To Title Defense
The Lakers vs Nuggets View
A defeat should not be a reason to get frightened in the postseason. The NBA structures its playoffs accordingly with the best of seven, so no matter how badly one loses it is never truly a disaster. This is especially true when a team wins a series 4-1.
However, even with a 4-1 victory over the Lakers, emerging analysis both in the Nuggets vs Lakers playoffs and the entirety of the Western Conference should give the Nuggets a reason for some worries. The previous season, Denver slid to the title victory without ever facing any major setbacks. They posted a 16-4 playoff record run‚ and did not trail even once in the series. This season’s path isn’t looking as smooth. With teams such as the Timberwolves, Thunder, and Mavericks emerging as more serious threats.
When the Nuggets went face-to-face with the Lakers in the 2022-2023 conference finals last season, they were behind on possessions by 36%. This season the Nuggets have torn that disparity by playing from behind and consistently mounting comebacks. While it’s great to be able to come back from a deficit, it’s even better to set the tone and not need to come back at all.
The Disappointing Stats
The Nuggets’ first concern is overarching. They are declining in their dominance over their fellow Western Conference teams. As the Nuggets prepare for their next series against the Timberwolves they must unlock their previous level of dominance. The Timberwolves dominated their first-round matchup against the Suns and are one of the most difficult matchups for the Nuggets. The Nuggets trailed in nearly 75% of the time in the first round. This is based on an analysis of PBP Stats data. This, in turn, places the Nuggets toward the bottom of all 16 playoff squads.
Lakers this series:
Min % of Time
Leading: 139:28 73%
Trailing: 41:53 22%
Tied: 10:39 5%“The idea that the Nuggets have controlled every aspect of this series is not true. Can they win a game in Denver?” — @getnickwright pic.twitter.com/B0j4wVvfSE
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) April 29, 2024
The Case of Jamal Murray
Jamal Murray isn’t Denver’s most key player; that would given to Nikola Jokic, who will likely win his third MVP award in four seasons. While Murray has been incredible in the playoffs his availability and injury history is concerning. The two-man game with Jokic is central to Denver’s success.
If Jamal Murray gets to continue playing through his calf injury, it may compromise his consistency in this playoff season. He has dealt with various leg ailments over the course of the season, which limited him to 59 games. Additionally, Caldwell Pope’s production after suffering an ankle will be crucial to Denver’s success, especially considering their lack of bench depth. These injuries could potentially derail the Nuggets’ title chances.
Reflection On The Popular Consensus
The betting markets are placing money on the Nuggets to remain heavy favorites to reach the Finals and defend their title. On the surface, the Denver Nuggets’ title defense looks attainable and obvious. When examined under the hood though, everything isn’t going as expected for a top-tier team with a ravaging offensive run.
