After having the same head coach for nine straight seasons (or 680 games), the Denver Nuggets have already had two coaches since (or 142 games). As the current head coach has the “interim” tag, the franchise is at risk of having three head coaches in just 165 games.
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Going through two coaches that quickly is usually a sign the franchise is in turmoil, but current head coach Melvin Hunt is showing he’s worthy of removing that “interim” tag and capable of leading the Nuggets out of turmoil.
Since Hunt has taken over head coaching duties, the Nuggets are 4-2 (a winning record!!) and their two losses came on a back-to-back in close games against the San Antonio Spurs (120-111) and against the Houston Rockets (114-110). They’ve managed to beat the New York Knicks, the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the 50-win Atlanta Hawks.
Not to mention, in each of their games under Coach Hunt, their overall play compared to how they played their last 20 games under Brian Shaw is like night and day.
To make the contrast even crazier, the team has only had ONE practice under Hunt.
The Nuggets were eliminated from the playoffs well before coach Hunt took over, so their record isn’t that significant. As fans, we should be far more concerned about the quality of basketball the team is playing. The team is trying to build momentum for next season, they’re trying to develop their young guys, and they’re trying to find their identity.
Right now, the Nuggets and Hunt are proving the team’s identity is to get back to the fast break, and to run opponents out of the gym. The George Karl influence is apparent.
Similar to Karl, the Nuggets are scoring over 100 points consistently again, which is a great benchmark for their offense. Since Hunt began coaching, the Nuggets have scored 100 points or more in all six games. They didn’t get over 100 ONCE in the previous six games under Brian Shaw.
In fact, the Nuggets are better pretty much across the board now. Denver has shot 3.7 percent better under Hunt compared to Shaw this season. They’ve shot 4.8 percent better from three, and 4.5 percent better from the free throw line. Under both coaches they average 44.7 rebounds a game, but under Hunt they average 2.9 more assists a game, 1.5 more steals per game, and 6.9 more points a game.
Now, I’ve covered how the Nuggets are a streaky shooting team, but the confidence the players have in their offense has clearly improved under Hunt, and that should help the shooting consistency a lot.
Advanced stats back up the notion that the Nuggets have significantly improved under Hunt. Their offensive rating under the new coach (points scored over 100 possessions) is 106.1 (5.9 points better), and their defensive rating (points allowed over 100 possessions) is 98.8 (6.5 points better). Their net rating (offensive rating – defensive rating) has gone from -5.1 to +7.3 – the Nuggets are a FULL 12.4 points better with Hunt at the helm.
And all this time we thought Shaw was the one who was going to get the Nuggets playing defense.
Hunt has also brought the best sight for sore Nuggets fans’ eyes that we couldn’t have imagined – the Nuggets are winning (competing even) at home again. Denver already won three games at home under Hunt, and they only won 12 all season under Shaw.
So, Josh Kroenke, you botched one hiring decision with Brian Shaw. Luckily someone is making your next hiring decision easy. Melvin Hunt has proved his worth, and the Nuggets need to make him the permanent head coach.
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