Denver Nuggets: How Low Can We Go?

So Denver Nuggets fans, where exactly is the floor? How BAD can we actually get before things start to turn around?

Well, yhe Nuggets have lost 10 of their last 11 games. They’ve lost an ASTOUNDING 17 out of the last 19 games. Just 42 days ago our Nuggets were only two games under .500, but currently they’re 17 games under .500. In the last 10 losses, they’ve been outscored by an average 15.3 points. AN AVERAGE of over 15 points.

It’s so bad.. even the one highlight of the season, Jusuf Nurkic, got hurt in Wednesday night’s home loss against the Suns. It’s so bad … they’ve lost eight straight AT HOME.

THIS HAS TO BE THE FLOOR RIGHT? THIS HAS TO BE AS BAD AS IT GETS?

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Well, that might not be the case guys. The Nuggets straight up stink! But somehow, they’re still not the stinkiest team in the NBA.

Yes, it’s now time (OK, it’s long past time) to pay closer attention to the lottery standings rather the Western Conference playoff standings. And even though I’ve been a little positive that the roster has a new infusion of cash to spend and young talent to mold, I just hate when it the conversation becomes “where will they be in the lotto.”

General manager Tim Connelly has managed to tank this team overnight, though, and the Nuggets have to be in the conversation when it comes to the NBA’s worst. Connelly’s deadline deals really put the team into top lottery pick conversation, and now he’s got plenty of salary to maneuver with this high pick as well. However, now they have less talent, they’ve gotten realllly bad.

Over the last 10 games (since Jan. 31st), the Nuggets’ scoring average of 92.2 points a game is second-lowest in the NBA. Their rebounding average of 42.5 rebounds a game is the sixth-lowest in the NBA (This is crazy. The Nuggets are the sixth-best rebounding team this season overall).

Finally, the Nuggets are only averaging 20.7 assists a game over the last 10 games, and that’s the seventh-worst over that stretch.

The Nuggets have dropped quickly. The recent stats and the product the Nuggets are putting on the floor is plain out atrocious. The above stats aren’t even the worst of the bunch — the Nuggets are shooting 39.2 percent from the floor over the last 10 games,  which is the worst percentage in the league over that stretch! Yes, even the Knicks shoot better than the Nuggets right now.

So, at this point, as much as I want to avoid it (it’s still February!), it’s time to ask the dreaded question. Just how low can the Denver Nuggets go in the lottery?

Well, they currently sit in the sixth place of the tankathon standings. However, given that even Ty Lawson is struggling (since he missed practice his season averages of 16.6 points and 9.9 assists a game have dipped to 12 points and 7.0 assists) we have to imagine this isn’t the bottom.

The teams ahead of the Nuggets in the race for the most ping pong balls are the Orlando Magic, L.A. Lakers, Minnesota Timberwolves, Philadelphia 76ers, and of course the team that Carmelo Anthony left us for — the New York Knicks.

Now, the Nuggets are currently 9.5 games behind the Knicks for the first (last?) spot. Frankly, there is just no way the Nuggets are going to finish last in the entire league this year considering Melo is out for the year – and the Nuggets have double the wins the Knicks do.

However, the Nuggets are only 6.5 games behind Minnesota for the third spot. Given that Minnesota is healthier and Wiggins is starting to emerge as a force, the Lakers are getting some confidence, and the Magic aren’t trying to lose as much as the other teams in this conversation – the Nuggets have a real shot at the third spot in the NBA lottery.

So, how low will they go? The floor for the Nuggets is to become the third-worst team in the league this season, and with the third pick in the draft, it should all be up from there.

Next: Our Latest NBA Mock Draft

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