Denver Nuggets: 3 takeaways from the Game 6 loss vs. Spurs

2. Defense has to be better

In Game 5, Torrey Craig played excellent defense on DeRozan and Gay, but the same could not be said in Game 6. They were getting any shot that they wanted, and they were converting. The Nuggets were a top-10 defense this season, but they looked like anything but that in Game 6. In Game 7, they’re likely going to get the best shot from the Spurs, and their wing defense will be pushed to the brink.

Paul Millsap has played good defense on Aldridge throughout the series, but he wasn’t able to keep that up in the Game 6 loss. They’ll need him to turn back the clock a little bit in Game 7. He has the size and knowledge to defend Aldridge effectively without letting him parade to the free throw line over and over. He didn’t do that on Thursday, and he has to turn that around to give the team the best chance to win.

When the offense is struggling as it was in Game 6, the team relies on its defense to help carry them through. It was unable to do so, and Denver lost as a result. The offense should get rolling again at home, but the lights are going to be bigger and brighter than they’ve been all year. If the Spurs’ stars are able to step up, will the Nuggets’ defense be able to match them?