How Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets are winning with defense
When you think of the Denver Nuggets, you likely think of Nikola Jokic slinging no-look dimes, Jamal Murray dropping bombs from outside, and Michael Porter Jr. rising up for a smooth mid-range over a hapless defender’s outstretched hands.
Well, Murray’s been out with a torn ACL and MPJ was playing poorly even before his most recent back injury. The Nuggets currently have the 23rd ranked offense in the league, per Cleaning the Glass.
Yet despite all of that, they are 7-4 and in the thick of the playoff race, thanks to the second-best defense in the league. They’ve held eight of their 11 opponents under 100 points. How are they cobbling together a top defense with only one true stopper (forward Aaron Gordon) on the team?
How the Denver Nuggets defense is leading the way this season
To figure it out, let’s dive into the weeds like a gopher on the run. Dean Oliver, the author of the Moneyball-esque Basketball on Paper, believes that there are “four factors” that contribute to winning games:
- Shooting (often measured by effective FG%, or eFG%, which accounts for the fact that a three-pointer is worth 50% more than a two-pointer)
- Turnovers (how many possessions end in a turnover on offense/how many turnovers are forced on defense)
- Rebounding (how many offensive rebounds does a team allow)
- Free Throws (how many free throws are made compared to how many field goals are attempted?)
We already know the Nuggets have the second-best defense, giving up just 102.6 points per 100 possessions, but how do they stack up here?
Note: all stats per Cleaning the Glass unless otherwise specified. Stats accurate as of Thursday morning, Nov 11, 2021.