Denver Nuggets: Preventing the clock from striking midnight

DENVER, CO - NOVEMBER 3: Denver Nuggets players celebrate during the game against the Utah Jazz on November 3, 2018 at the Pepsi Center in Denver, Colorado. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Bart Young/NBAE via Getty Images) /

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Maintaining defense and regaining shooting

The most significant issue with Denver’s season involves a lack of splash. The Nuggets are struggling mightily with the outside shot thus far. Checking in at 30.6 percent, Denver sits third-lowest among NBA teams in 3-point percentage.

Meanwhile, the Nuggets’ defense allows a stingy 101.9 points per game to date. This is good for third-best in the league. Their defensive rating, 100.9, also ranks third.

Denver’s defensive improvement will hopefully last, but third overall in the NBA? The Nuggets are hard-pressed to end 2018-19 in this same position.

Meanwhile, the 3-point shooting will certainly improve. Denver shot 37.1 percent from distance in 2017-18, good for seventh-best in the league. How can this same squad shoot so poorly in 2018-19? There is no reason to believe the percentage will remain this low.

Logic says the Nuggets’ defense takes a step back, while their shooting improves. The rate and timing of this is important. Ideally, the defensive dip is small, while the 3-point improvement is significant.

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Look for the Denver Nuggets to return to last year’s brand of basketball – while hopefully maintaining this defensive improvement.

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