Denver reporter: Nuggets may need to break up the team

[um.]

The series isn't even over. Yes we know Connelly built the Wolves to dismantle the Nuggets. It hasn't been done yet.

Job's not finished.

until it is... STFU

[HotRocks34]

This sounds like a panic move by some bloggers.

Blow it up? Are they crazy??

This guy has covered the team for years. He's solid.

If you can't beat Minny, there are no more rings.

And Minny was built to beat the current Nuggets.

I think the guy is right.

I do like their take on the Pacers/Knicks game . They are right. Pacers got screwed.

They're good.

Obviously Legler is good but Mares is solid. It helps a lot IMO that he played college ball. He understands the game.

He's not a hot take guy. This isn't something he would say lightly.

[Knicks365247]

Maybe don't break the team all the way down, but look to trade MPJr and possibly also AGordon.

[SpreeS]

Era of bigs (Jokic/Giannis/Embiid) could be very short Looking at MIN/OKC/IND/BOS/NY/DAL guards/wings bounce back. And MIN/OKC could be TOP2 teams for next decade.

Oklahoma, Minnesota, Boston and Indiana all have impactful bigs.

Ofcouse They have, but thier leaders are not bigs.

[falcolombardi]

Embiid, giannis and jokic (and davis) are far from not being able to compete next year

Sixers looked like a contender when healthy (yes, i know) and next season they have all the cap space in the world to look for a wing to complement embiid/maxey (paul george?, the hilarious jimmy butler attempt 2?, someone younger and not im the downswing)

Nuggets literally won 56 games, and a ring just a yeat ago too lol, find depth again and maybe upgrade on kcp and run it back with your guys next year (assuming they dont pull off a comeback this same year)

Bucks still have somethingh left in lillard/middleton tanka for next season and a healthy giannis was lowkey the best player in the league this season. If they can pull off the pieces they can compete for a title if giannis is healthy

[dhsilv2]

Denver needs a backup big and a point of attack defensive specialist type. They don't need to blow it up for crying out loud.

[FeatheryTouch]

Defending champs and title favorites lose two games and internet hot takers want to dismantle the one of the league's best teams.

Take a deep breath.

What does "break up the team" even mean? We know Jokic isn't going anywhere, and they damn sure aren't going into rebuild mode with Jokic in his prime.

The Nuggets do have flaws, like all teams. They should be diligent about making improvements and be open to smart trades in the offseason regardless of what happens versus the Wolves...but making a smart trade or two doesn't necessarily equate with "breaking up the team".

[BDM22]

Nah, you keep Jokic and Murray and you tweak the complimentary pieces and add depth. They did make a mistake (that's easy to make) thinking they could roll back with the same squad minus Bruce Brown and just waltz to another title even though teams are naturally less locked in to repeat. If they lose here it'll be a wake up call for their front office and for the whole team, frankly.

Don't forget Minnesota likely has decisions to make in the near future too in terms of whom they can keep around.

[The-Power]

Denver has an absolutely elite starting 5. Just like any team they will have rough patches or difficult match-ups, but the starting five is an awesome fit with tons of talent. That is proven.

What they lack is depth. So when a team can, for instance, neutralize Gordon in the paint, Denver lacks bench alternatives that can effectively change things up. No need to overreact to two games or even a potential series loss. Denver just needs to add bench pieces and they'll continue to be a contender for the foreseeable future.

They aren't an unbeatable juggernaut but a team not being levels above the field is no reason to break things up or else every team in the league should break it up, and that's obviously an insane standard to use.

[Dominator83]

This sounds like a panic move by some bloggers.

Blow it up? Are they crazy??

Yea that wouldn't make any sense. They need a couple of good rotation players and / or specialists. Their core is fine.

[jc23]

Yep, Denver and Chicago are in the exact same boat. Blow it up.

[TheShow2021]

Good informative, insightful thread. I agree big changes should be made.

1) I have been one of the most critical posters of Murray (remember "Jamal Murray is the Weak Link" and I have always wanted to trade him, even right after the title! Sell high on something comically overvalued. Bill Simmons had Jamal #12 on his trade value, just LOL! If I could have ever shorted something, that's the most obvious one I have seen in my lifetime.

Jamal has gotten a huge benefit of playing with Jokic and maxing him would be akin to franchise suicide. Now unfortunately his trade value has cratered.

2) The next big problem is AG. His lack of 3 point shot allows certain elite defenders to double Jokic while AG is in the dunker's spot. They can contend Jokic and block the lob simultaneously. If Jokic had Chet replacing AG, the Nuggets would be an all time great team. Obv. they are never getting Chet, but a poor man's version would suffice.

3) The style of reffing "prison ball" greatly advantages the Wolves. Even with normal officiating they still would likely win the series, but nothing like their dominance in game 2. Just by turning the knobs on the physicality allowed, the NBA can swiftly take out the Nuggets with little resistance.

[SpreeS]

Embiid, giannis and jokic (and davis) are far from not being able to compete next year

Sixers looked like a contender when healthy (yes, i know) and next season they have all the cap space in the world to look for a wing to complement embiid/maxey (paul george?, the hilarious jimmy butler attempt 2?, someone younger and not im the downswing)

Nuggets literally won 56 games, and a ring just a yeat ago too lol, find depth again and maybe upgrade on kcp and run it back with your guys next year (assuming they dont pull off a comeback this same year)

Bucks still have somethingh left in lillard/middleton tanka for next season and a healthy giannis was lowkey the best player in the league this season. If they can pull off the pieces they can compete for a title if giannis is healthy

Ofcouse they will contend for couple years, if Embiid/Giannis/Murray/Middleton/Lillard are healthy and Jokic/Murray/Porter somehow get start to defend oppenents with loaded elite guards/wings.

BOS is way healthier and in prime years, than MIL and PHI. And NY at full power with IND if Hali/Mathurin make next step of develpment will be on same level with PHI and MIL very soon.

Now everyone talk about OKC/MIN with elite guards and good bigs. But I could add MEM to this group too. Morant and Bane with DPOY level big in JJJ could be bad fit for DEN in PO. These young teams are constructed to kill DEN in PO. They all have elite defensive bigs to bother Jokic also good/elite wings/guards to defend Murray. On other end Jokic must deal with front court guys who can score +20pts and to help defend elite fast guards in Edwards/Morant/Shai/Bane/JWill.

[The Box Office]

Man, if Wolves dominate these dudes and kick them out of the playoffs and Jamal Murray still playing like trash during the losses, get rid of him.

That means the league figured them out.

[Prince187]

They should trade Murray. But they’ll probably end up giving him an outrageous 5/260 million max contract instead. And that will cripple them and basically throw jokic’s remaining prime years down the drain.

[Mr Peanut]

Hot take central. How about we wait until this series is over before making these proclamations?

If the Nuggets turn around and evened the series at 2-2 there would probably be someone out there claiming the Wolves need to blow it up.

[Deathray]

They have one perimeter guy in Murray who can create his own shot or drive and draw the defense and he's hurt. The offense can't work against an elite defensive team with just Jokic own his own and nobody else that can force the defense to commit inside of the three point line.

[eyeatoma]

Cause they down 0-2 …. It’s over - they didn’t win a ring last year and don’t have a 3 time mvp…. So yeah break and try to get Beal for Jokic.

Denver gonna have to sweeten the deal with picks…

Last year was an asterisk chip, as were the 3 MVPs.

[eyeatoma]

Era of bigs (Jokic/Giannis/Embiid) could be very short Looking at MIN/OKC/IND/BOS/NY/DAL guards/wings bounce back. And MIN/OKC could be TOP2 teams for next decade.

The era of bigs will last another 15 years with Wemby and Chet about to dominate the league.

[SpreeS]

Era of bigs (Jokic/Giannis/Embiid) could be very short Looking at MIN/OKC/IND/BOS/NY/DAL guards/wings bounce back. And MIN/OKC could be TOP2 teams for next decade.

The era of bigs will last another 15 years with Wemby and Chet about to dominate the league.

The bigs dominated at what? The best case at MVP selections Dominated meaning would be like O'Neal/Duncan had won 8 titles in 9 yeras or Russell/Wilt era.

2019 Kawhi
2020 Lebron
2021 Giannis (big)
2022 Curry
2023 Jokic (big)
2024 Ant? Tatum? Shai?