The Nuggets have had a brutal season, one defined by injuries. Aaron Gordon still remains sidelined, while Christian Braun is working hard to get back to his old explosive self, and the lingering concerns over Nikola Jokic’s wrist may be the biggest worry of all. But the recent losses can’t be pinned entirely on injuries. Beyond the usual issues — inconsistent defensive effort chief among them — one particularly frustrating problem has emerged, made all the more baffling given Denver’s improved depth this season: Adelman’s insistence on running the non-Jokic and Murray lineups, which have been nothing short of disastrous.
What Adelman Needs to Stop Doing for the Nuggets to Win Games
Adelman’s approach with the Nuggets has some logic behind it. With the Nuggets having more talent on their roster than in previous years, having a dedicated bench unit to empower players like Cameron Johnson — who had a more featured on-ball role with the Nets— and Peyton Watson, who has shown he can be a genuine threat off the dribble, is definitely reasonable on paper. This makes even more sense when you consider how well the two Nuggets all-stars complement each other.
The issue is that without an elite primary creator, these lineups have consistently struggled to produce quality shots—particularly against top competition. Expanding the offensive responsibilities of some perimeter players can bring certain positives. However, it also comes at a cost for others. Take Nuggets backup center Jonas Valanciunas, for example—he benefits significantly from playing alongside Jamal Murray, due to their incredibly effective pick-and-roll partnership. Without the All-Star guard alongside him, he has a much tougher time making an offensive impact.
Adelman’s Rotations Have Contributed To Some Recent Losses
While it would be reductive to pin the Nuggets’ recent run of disappointing results entirely on some lineup decisions, it would be equally unwise to ignore them — particularly given how clearly they’ve led to some devastatingly damaging stretches throughout the entire season, but especially in recent games.
The most glaring example came in their February 27th loss to the Thunder. The Nuggets started incredibly well, building a 33–19 lead after the first quarter. Then, Adelman opened the second with a lineup without either All-Star. The offense stalled immediately against Oklahoma City’s elite defense. That opened the door for the Thunder, who used a quick 9–2 spurt to erase the deficit. By the time Murray returned, OKC had seized all the momentum. The Timberwolves game followed the same script. Denver again controlled the first quarter, building a 31–22 lead — only to unravel in the second. They surrendered a 9–0 run in under two minutes, forcing Adelman to rush Murray back far earlier than intended. You’d expect great opposition to recover from a slow start. However, what’s hard to ignore is how both comebacks followed the exact same blueprint.
Just Stop With The Non-Jokic And Murray Lineups
The frustrating part is that real lineup questions need answering before the postseason — and the focus should shift there, instead of bothering with the clearly futile non-All-Star combinations. Jokic and Murray are undeniably better together, but how effective they are alongside other key pieces like Christian Braun or Peyton Watson varies wildly.
As talented as this roster is, it lacks a reliable shot creator outside of the two All-Stars. That’s why they signed Tyus Jones. Bruce Brown, inexplicably viewed as the backup point guard solution in the offseason, has reaffirmed what we already knew: he’s best used as an off-ball player and defender. Jalen Pickett and Julian Strawther have shown intriguing flashes. However, both are still far away from being reliable difference makers at the highest level. Finally, the shot-creation ability Johnson showcased in Brooklyn has yet to materialize in the Mile High City. He doesn’t seem to have the same level of confidence he had with the Nets. That has also affected his reliability as a knockdown shooter, even when he’s getting wide-open looks.
For now, the focus for Adelman and the team has to stay on what the Nuggets do best. They must keep both All-Stars as the primary offensive engines for all 48 minutes. With playoff seeding on the line, Denver can’t afford to keep learning that lesson through losses.
Featured Image: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images
