Denver Nuggets’ Bumpy Road To Title Defense

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.