Denver Nuggets: 5 takeaways from the 2018-19 NBA season

2. Younger guys need to develop their consistency

One night it would be Jamal Murray. Another it would be Gary Harris. Some nights it was someone completely different. The bottom line is the young players alongside Jokic need to show up on a more consistent basis than they did last year. Far too often, Murray would disappear for large stretches of the game. He also started the season ice-cold from the field for roughly October and November.

Jokic showed during the playoffs that he can carry a heavier load if need be, but it makes the team all the more dangerous when you have to worry about multiple players sinking shots on every possession. Think about the Golden State Warriors when they use lineups featuring just Klay Thompson. You know other guys can shoot, but the focal point is to shut down one guy while forcing others to beat you. When Jokic is slowed down, who is going to step up?

Monte Morris was an excellent player off the bench, and Malik Beasley had plenty of explosiveness throughout the year. This team is going to be dependent on its younger guys to continue their upward trajectory. If the Nuggets are let down in that regard, their ceiling becomes infinitely lower in regards to their championship aspirations.